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

Elixir 12102 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in E standard 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 E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 126.2 lb57.3 kg561 N in total and 21.0 lb9.54 kg94 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.4%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
126.2 lb57.3 kg561 N
Average per string
21.0 lb9.54 kg94 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 9.4%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1E4.01119.7 lb8.94 kg88 N2B3.01418.3 lb8.31 kg82 N3G3.01819.4 lb8.82 kg86 N4D3.02822.8 lb10.33 kg101 N5A2.03823.8 lb10.79 kg106 N6E2.04922.2 lb10.07 kg99 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
1E4329.6 .011AR011plain 25.5" 19.7 lb8.94 kg88 N−6%
2B3246.9 .014AR014plain 25.8" 18.3 lb8.31 kg82 N−13%
3G3196.0 .018AR018plain 26.1" 19.4 lb8.82 kg86 N−8%
4D3146.8 .028ENN028wound 26.4" 22.8 lb10.33 kg101 N+8%
5A2110.0 .038ENN038wound 26.7" 23.8 lb10.79 kg106 N+13%
6E282.4 .049ENN049wound 27" 22.2 lb10.07 kg99 N+6%
Total126.2 lb57.3 kg561 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in E standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4920.7 lb9.40 kg92 N 124.4 lb56.4 kg553 Ntightmoderately uneven
12102 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4921.0 lb9.54 kg94 N 126.2 lb57.3 kg561 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 19102 11-14-18-28-38-4921.0 lb9.54 kg94 N 126.2 lb57.3 kg561 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 12100 11-14-18-28-38-4921.1 lb9.57 kg94 N 126.6 lb57.4 kg563 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5221.2 lb9.63 kg94 N 127.3 lb57.8 kg566 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5221.3 lb9.65 kg95 N 127.7 lb57.9 kg568 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard, 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 7.3%, average 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N, even
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 7.6%, average 17.5 lb7.93 kg78 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. Elixir 12050 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 14.3%, average 18.2 lb8.26 kg81 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 12052, 19052

More for the 12102

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

E standard 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