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

Elixir 12102 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in Drop C on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 96.6 lb43.8 kg429 N in total and 16.1 lb7.30 kg72 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.1%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +17% from the set average.

Total tension
96.6 lb43.8 kg429 N
Average per string
16.1 lb7.30 kg72 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.1%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01115.6 lb7.09 kg70 N2A3.01414.5 lb6.60 kg65 N3F3.01815.4 lb7.00 kg69 N4C3.02818.1 lb8.20 kg80 N5G2.03818.9 lb8.56 kg84 N6C2.04914.0 lb6.34 kg62 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−3%
2A3220.0 .014AR014plain 25.8" 14.5 lb6.60 kg65 N−10%
3F3174.6 .018AR018plain 26.1" 15.4 lb7.00 kg69 N−4%
4C3130.8 .028ENN028wound 26.4" 18.1 lb8.20 kg80 N+12%
5G298.0 .038ENN038wound 26.7" 18.9 lb8.56 kg84 N+17%
6C265.4 .049ENN049wound 27" 14.0 lb6.34 kg62 N−13%
Total96.6 lb43.8 kg429 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in Drop C, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4915.9 lb7.20 kg71 N 95.2 lb43.2 kg424 Nmediummoderately uneven
12102 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4916.1 lb7.30 kg72 N 96.6 lb43.8 kg429 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 19102 11-14-18-28-38-4916.1 lb7.30 kg72 N 96.6 lb43.8 kg429 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 12100 11-14-18-28-38-4916.1 lb7.32 kg72 N 96.8 lb43.9 kg431 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5216.2 lb7.35 kg72 N 97.2 lb44.1 kg432 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5216.2 lb7.37 kg72 N 97.5 lb44.2 kg434 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop C, 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 EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 8.8%, average 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 12100 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 11.9%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 12102, 19102
  3. D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 12.5%, average 15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1149

More for the 12102

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

Drop C 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