Elixir · POLYWEB Nickel (coated) · 10-13-17-26-36-46

Elixir 12050 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Drop C on a 26.5" scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Light (10-46) on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 85.2 lb38.6 kg379 N in total and 14.2 lb6.44 kg63 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.5%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +21% from the set average.

Total tension: 85.2 lb38.6 kg379 N
Average per string: 14.2 lb6.44 kg63 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 12.5%

Tension per string

The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N). Loose and tight are measured against it.Line thickness follows the string gauge; textured lines are wound strings. Hover, tap or tab to a string for details.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Tension	vs avg
1	D4	293.7	.010	AR010	plain	13.8 lb6.25 kg61 N	−3%
2	A3	220.0	.013	AR013	plain	13.0 lb5.90 kg58 N	−8%
3	F3	174.6	.017	AR017	plain	14.2 lb6.46 kg63 N	+0%
4	C3	130.8	.026	ENP026	wound	15.4 lb7.00 kg69 N	+9%
5	G2	98.0	.036	ENP036	wound	17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N	+21%
6	C2	65.4	.046	ENP046	wound	11.6 lb5.25 kg51 N	−18%
Total						85.2 lb38.6 kg379 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop C, 26.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL1046	10-13-17-26-36-46	14.1 lb6.41 kg63 N	84.8 lb38.5 kg377 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario XSE1046	10-13-17-26-36-46	14.1 lb6.41 kg63 N	84.8 lb38.5 kg377 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110	10-13-17-26-36-46	14.2 lb6.42 kg63 N	84.9 lb38.5 kg378 N	loose	moderately uneven
12050 (this page)	10-13-17-26-36-46	14.2 lb6.44 kg63 N	85.2 lb38.6 kg379 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 12052	10-13-17-26-36-46	14.3 lb6.47 kg63 N	85.6 lb38.8 kg381 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 19052	10-13-17-26-36-46	14.3 lb6.47 kg63 N	85.6 lb38.8 kg381 N	loose	moderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop C, 26.5"

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 9.4%, average 16.8 lb7.63 kg75 N, moderately uneven
Elixir 12100 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 10.8%, average 16.4 lb7.46 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 12102, 19102
D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 11.4%, average 16.8 lb7.63 kg75 N, moderately uneven

More for the 12050

Other tunings on 26.5": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Drop C on other scales: 27", 28", 25.5"–27" multiscale

About these numbers

Tension is calculated, not measured: T = μ · (2 · L · f)², where μ is the string's mass per unit length (unit weight), L the vibrating length (scale) and f the pitch (A4 = 440 Hz, equal temperament). kg means kilogram-force: 1 kg ≈ 9.81 N ≈ 2.205 lb.

How a set feels also depends on the guitar's setup: action height, break angle over the nut and saddle, string length behind the nut and bridge, and your playing style. Plain strings feel stiffer than wound strings at the same tension. Use these figures to compare sets, not as an absolute measure of feel.

Sources

Elixir Strings — String Tension for Tuning Guitar (2026-11-01): unit weights derived from tensions printed in whole pounds; rounding leaves up to ±3% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.