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

Elixir 12100 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in C standard on a 26.5" scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 81.1 lb36.8 kg361 N in total and 13.5 lb6.13 kg60 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 7.0%). String 5 (F2) deviates most: +11% from the set average.

Total tension: 81.1 lb36.8 kg361 N
Average per string: 13.5 lb6.13 kg60 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: even; spread 7.0%

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	C4	261.6	.011	AR011	plain	13.4 lb6.08 kg60 N	−1%
2	G3	196.0	.014	AR014	plain	12.2 lb5.53 kg54 N	−10%
3	Eb3	155.6	.018	AR018	plain	12.6 lb5.73 kg56 N	−7%
4	Bb2	116.5	.028	ENP028	wound	14.3 lb6.49 kg64 N	+6%
5	F2	87.3	.038	ENP038	wound	15.0 lb6.79 kg67 N	+11%
6	C2	65.4	.049	ENP049	wound	13.6 lb6.18 kg61 N	+1%
Total						81.1 lb36.8 kg361 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in C standard, 26.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL1149	11-14-18-28-38-49	13.3 lb6.01 kg59 N	79.5 lb36.1 kg354 N	loose	even
D'Addario EXL115	11-14-18-28-38-49	13.3 lb6.03 kg59 N	79.7 lb36.2 kg355 N	loose	even
Elixir 12102	11-14-18-28-38-49	13.5 lb6.12 kg60 N	80.9 lb36.7 kg360 N	loose	even
Elixir 19102	11-14-18-28-38-49	13.5 lb6.12 kg60 N	80.9 lb36.7 kg360 N	loose	even
12100 (this page)	11-14-18-28-38-49	13.5 lb6.13 kg60 N	81.1 lb36.8 kg361 N	loose	even
D'Addario EXL115BT	11-15-19-28-37-50	13.8 lb6.27 kg61 N	82.9 lb37.6 kg369 N	loose	very even

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

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

D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 7.1%, average 16.6 lb7.52 kg74 N, even; same gauges: EXL145
Elixir 12152 12-16-24-32-42-52 deviation 9.7%, average 17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-50 deviation 14.4%, average 16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N, uneven

More for the 12100

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

C standard on other scales: 25.5", 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 ±2% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.