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

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

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 102.2 lb46.4 kg455 N in total and 17.0 lb7.73 kg76 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 7.0%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +11% from the set average.

Total tension: 102.2 lb46.4 kg455 N
Average per string: 17.0 lb7.73 kg76 N
Feel: medium; 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	D4	293.7	.011	AR011	plain	16.9 lb7.66 kg75 N	−1%
2	A3	220.0	.014	AR014	plain	15.3 lb6.96 kg68 N	−10%
3	F3	174.6	.018	AR018	plain	15.9 lb7.22 kg71 N	−7%
4	C3	130.8	.028	ENP028	wound	18.0 lb8.17 kg80 N	+6%
5	G2	98.0	.038	ENP038	wound	18.9 lb8.56 kg84 N	+11%
6	D2	73.4	.049	ENP049	wound	17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N	+1%
Total						102.2 lb46.4 kg455 N

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Similar sets in D standard, 26.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EXL115	11-14-18-28-38-49	16.7 lb7.60 kg74 N	100.5 lb45.6 kg447 N	medium	even
Elixir 12102	11-14-18-28-38-49	17.0 lb7.71 kg76 N	101.9 lb46.2 kg453 N	medium	even
Elixir 19102	11-14-18-28-38-49	17.0 lb7.71 kg76 N	101.9 lb46.2 kg453 N	medium	even
12100 (this page)	11-14-18-28-38-49	17.0 lb7.73 kg76 N	102.2 lb46.4 kg455 N	medium	even
D'Addario NYXL1052	10-13-17-30-42-52	17.1 lb7.74 kg76 N	102.3 lb46.4 kg455 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL140	10-13-17-30-42-52	17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N	102.6 lb46.5 kg456 N	medium	uneven

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

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

D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 3.2%, average 17.4 lb7.90 kg77 N, very even
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 6.3%, average 16.7 lb7.57 kg74 N, even; same gauges: EXL115
Elixir 12102 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 6.8%, average 17.0 lb7.71 kg76 N, even; same gauges: 19102, 12100

More for the 12100

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

D standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 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.