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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 26.5" scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to Open G (D4 B3 G3 D3 G2 D2), pulls 115.0 lb52.2 kg512 N in total and 19.2 lb8.69 kg85 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.1%). String 4 (D3) deviates most: +18% from the set average.

Total tension
115.0 lb52.2 kg512 N
Average per string
19.2 lb8.69 kg85 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.1%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01116.9 lb7.66 kg75 N2B3.01419.3 lb8.77 kg86 N3G3.01820.0 lb9.09 kg89 N4D3.02822.7 lb10.30 kg101 N5G2.03818.9 lb8.56 kg84 N6D2.04917.2 lb7.78 kg76 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
1D4293.7 .011AR011plain 16.9 lb7.66 kg75 N−12%
2B3246.9 .014AR014plain 19.3 lb8.77 kg86 N+1%
3G3196.0 .018AR018plain 20.0 lb9.09 kg89 N+5%
4D3146.8 .028ENP028wound 22.7 lb10.30 kg101 N+18%
5G298.0 .038ENP038wound 18.9 lb8.56 kg84 N−2%
6D273.4 .049ENP049wound 17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N−10%
Total115.0 lb52.2 kg512 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Open G, 26.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4918.9 lb8.56 kg84 N 113.3 lb51.4 kg504 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 12102 11-14-18-28-38-4919.1 lb8.68 kg85 N 114.8 lb52.1 kg511 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 19102 11-14-18-28-38-4919.1 lb8.68 kg85 N 114.8 lb52.1 kg511 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5219.2 lb8.69 kg85 N 115.0 lb52.1 kg511 Ntightuneven
12100 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4919.2 lb8.69 kg85 N 115.0 lb52.2 kg512 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5219.2 lb8.71 kg85 N 115.3 lb52.3 kg513 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Open G, 26.5"

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

  1. Elixir 12050 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.7%, average 16.5 lb7.51 kg74 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 12052, 19052
  2. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 12.2%, average 16.3 lb7.38 kg72 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 12.2%, average 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N, uneven; same gauges: XSE1046, EXL110, EPS510

More for the 12100

Other tunings on 26.5": 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", 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.

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