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

Elixir 12050 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in DADGAD on a 27" scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Light (10-46) on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to DADGAD (D4 A3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 104.2 lb47.3 kg463 N in total and 17.4 lb7.88 kg77 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 18.9%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +29% from the set average.

Total tension
104.2 lb47.3 kg463 N
Average per string
17.4 lb7.88 kg77 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 18.9%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01014.3 lb6.49 kg64 N2A3.01313.5 lb6.12 kg60 N3G3.01718.6 lb8.45 kg83 N4D3.02620.2 lb9.16 kg90 N5A2.03622.4 lb10.18 kg100 N6D2.04615.1 lb6.87 kg67 N
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.
#NoteHzGaugeItemType Tensionvs avg
1D4293.7 .010AR010plain 14.3 lb6.49 kg64 N−18%
2A3220.0 .013AR013plain 13.5 lb6.12 kg60 N−22%
3G3196.0 .017AR017plain 18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N+7%
4D3146.8 .026ENP026wound 20.2 lb9.16 kg90 N+16%
5A2110.0 .036ENP036wound 22.4 lb10.18 kg100 N+29%
6D273.4 .046ENP046wound 15.1 lb6.87 kg67 N−13%
Total104.2 lb47.3 kg463 N

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Similar sets in DADGAD, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4617.3 lb7.83 kg77 N 103.6 lb47.0 kg461 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4617.3 lb7.83 kg77 N 103.6 lb47.0 kg461 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4617.3 lb7.85 kg77 N 103.8 lb47.1 kg462 Nmediumuneven
12050 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4617.4 lb7.88 kg77 N 104.2 lb47.3 kg463 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-4617.5 lb7.92 kg78 N 104.8 lb47.5 kg466 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19052 10-13-17-26-36-4617.5 lb7.92 kg78 N 104.8 lb47.5 kg466 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in DADGAD, 27"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 12.8%, average 16.9 lb7.67 kg75 N, uneven
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 15.5%, average 16.6 lb7.55 kg74 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 19.1%, average 17.5 lb7.92 kg78 N, uneven; same gauges: 19052, 12050

More for the 12050

Other tunings on 27": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D

DADGAD on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 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.

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