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

Elixir 12050 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in DADGAD on a 28" scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Light (10-46) on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to DADGAD (D4 A3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 112.1 lb50.8 kg498 N in total and 18.7 lb8.47 kg83 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 18.9%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +29% from the set average.

Total tension: 112.1 lb50.8 kg498 N
Average per string: 18.7 lb8.47 kg83 N
Feel: tight; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 18.9%

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	15.4 lb6.97 kg68 N	−18%
2	A3	220.0	.013	AR013	plain	14.5 lb6.58 kg65 N	−22%
3	G3	196.0	.017	AR017	plain	20.0 lb9.08 kg89 N	+7%
4	D3	146.8	.026	ENP026	wound	21.7 lb9.85 kg97 N	+16%
5	A2	110.0	.036	ENP036	wound	24.1 lb10.95 kg107 N	+29%
6	D2	73.4	.046	ENP046	wound	16.3 lb7.39 kg72 N	−13%
Total						112.1 lb50.8 kg498 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in DADGAD, 28"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL1046	10-13-17-26-36-46	18.6 lb8.42 kg83 N	111.4 lb50.5 kg496 N	tight	uneven
D'Addario XSE1046	10-13-17-26-36-46	18.6 lb8.42 kg83 N	111.4 lb50.5 kg496 N	tight	uneven
D'Addario EXL110	10-13-17-26-36-46	18.6 lb8.44 kg83 N	111.6 lb50.6 kg496 N	tight	uneven
12050 (this page)	10-13-17-26-36-46	18.7 lb8.47 kg83 N	112.1 lb50.8 kg498 N	tight	uneven
Elixir 12052	10-13-17-26-36-46	18.8 lb8.52 kg84 N	112.7 lb51.1 kg501 N	tight	uneven
Elixir 19052	10-13-17-26-36-46	18.8 lb8.52 kg84 N	112.7 lb51.1 kg501 N	tight	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in DADGAD, 28"

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

D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 15.1%, average 18.2 lb8.25 kg81 N, uneven
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 17.1%, average 17.9 lb8.12 kg80 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
D'Addario EXL120BT 9-12-15-22-30-40 deviation 19.2%, average 14.4 lb6.51 kg64 N, uneven

More for the 12050

Other tunings on 28": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D

DADGAD on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 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.