String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

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

Elixir 12052 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in C standard on a 28" scale

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) Light (10-46) on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 78.6 lb35.7 kg350 N in total and 13.1 lb5.94 kg58 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.9%). String 5 (F2) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
78.6 lb35.7 kg350 N
Average per string
13.1 lb5.94 kg58 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 8.9%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1C4.01012.2 lb5.54 kg54 N2G3.01311.5 lb5.22 kg51 N3Eb3.01712.6 lb5.72 kg56 N4Bb2.02614.0 lb6.34 kg62 N5F2.03615.0 lb6.82 kg67 N6C2.04613.3 lb6.02 kg59 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
1C4261.6 .010AR010plain 12.2 lb5.54 kg54 N−7%
2G3196.0 .013AR013plain 11.5 lb5.22 kg51 N−12%
3Eb3155.6 .017AR017plain 12.6 lb5.72 kg56 N−4%
4Bb2116.5 .026ENN026wound 14.0 lb6.34 kg62 N+7%
5F287.3 .036ENN036wound 15.0 lb6.82 kg67 N+15%
6C265.4 .046ENN046wound 13.3 lb6.02 kg59 N+1%
Total78.6 lb35.7 kg350 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in C standard, 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4613.0 lb5.88 kg58 N 77.8 lb35.3 kg346 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4613.0 lb5.88 kg58 N 77.8 lb35.3 kg346 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4613.0 lb5.89 kg58 N 77.9 lb35.3 kg347 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 12050 10-13-17-26-36-4613.0 lb5.91 kg58 N 78.1 lb35.4 kg348 Nloosemoderately uneven
12052 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4613.1 lb5.94 kg58 N 78.6 lb35.7 kg350 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 19052 10-13-17-26-36-4613.1 lb5.94 kg58 N 78.6 lb35.7 kg350 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 28"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 10.0%, average 15.4 lb7.00 kg69 N, very even
  2. D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 11.0%, average 18.5 lb8.40 kg82 N, even; same gauges: EXL145
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 12.6%, average 15.5 lb7.01 kg69 N, moderately uneven

More for the 12052

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

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