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Elixir · POLYWEB Nickel (coated) · 11-14-18-28-38-49

Elixir 12100 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in Open G on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to Open G (D4 B3 G3 D3 G2 D2), pulls 112.9 lb51.2 kg502 N in total and 18.8 lb8.54 kg84 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.0%). String 4 (D3) deviates most: +20% from the set average.

Total tension
112.9 lb51.2 kg502 N
Average per string
18.8 lb8.54 kg84 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.0%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01115.6 lb7.09 kg70 N2B3.01418.3 lb8.31 kg82 N3G3.01819.4 lb8.82 kg86 N4D3.02822.5 lb10.22 kg100 N5G2.03819.2 lb8.69 kg85 N6D2.04917.8 lb8.08 kg79 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1D4293.7 .011AR011plain 25.5" 15.6 lb7.09 kg70 N−17%
2B3246.9 .014AR014plain 25.8" 18.3 lb8.31 kg82 N−3%
3G3196.0 .018AR018plain 26.1" 19.4 lb8.82 kg86 N+3%
4D3146.8 .028ENP028wound 26.4" 22.5 lb10.22 kg100 N+20%
5G298.0 .038ENP038wound 26.7" 19.2 lb8.69 kg85 N+2%
6D273.4 .049ENP049wound 27" 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N−5%
Total112.9 lb51.2 kg502 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 25.5" (treble) to 27" (bass).

Similar sets in Open G, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4918.5 lb8.40 kg82 N 111.2 lb50.4 kg494 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 12102 11-14-18-28-38-4918.8 lb8.52 kg84 N 112.7 lb51.1 kg501 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 19102 11-14-18-28-38-4918.8 lb8.52 kg84 N 112.7 lb51.1 kg501 Ntightmoderately uneven
12100 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4918.8 lb8.54 kg84 N 112.9 lb51.2 kg502 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5218.9 lb8.57 kg84 N 113.3 lb51.4 kg504 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5218.9 lb8.59 kg84 N 113.7 lb51.6 kg506 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Open G, 25.5"–27" multiscale

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 12.7%, average 16.0 lb7.24 kg71 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 12050 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 13.1%, average 16.3 lb7.37 kg72 N, uneven; same gauges: 12052, 19052
  3. D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 13.3%, average 16.2 lb7.35 kg72 N, uneven; same gauges: XSE1046, EXL110, EPS510

More for the 12100

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open D, DADGAD

Open G on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28"

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