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

Elixir 12102 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in C standard on a 25.5" scale

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 74.9 lb34.0 kg333 N in total and 12.5 lb5.66 kg56 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 6.8%). String 2 (G3) deviates most: −10% from the set average.

Total tension: 74.9 lb34.0 kg333 N
Average per string: 12.5 lb5.66 kg56 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: even; spread 6.8%

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	12.4 lb5.63 kg55 N	−1%
2	G3	196.0	.014	AR014	plain	11.3 lb5.12 kg50 N	−10%
3	Eb3	155.6	.018	AR018	plain	11.7 lb5.30 kg52 N	−6%
4	Bb2	116.5	.028	ENN028	wound	13.4 lb6.07 kg60 N	+7%
5	F2	87.3	.038	ENN038	wound	13.7 lb6.20 kg61 N	+9%
6	C2	65.4	.049	ENN049	wound	12.5 lb5.66 kg55 N	−0%
Total						74.9 lb34.0 kg333 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in C standard, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL1149	11-14-18-28-38-49	12.3 lb5.57 kg55 N	73.6 lb33.4 kg328 N	loose	even
D'Addario EXL115	11-14-18-28-38-49	12.3 lb5.58 kg55 N	73.8 lb33.5 kg328 N	loose	even
12102 (this page)	11-14-18-28-38-49	12.5 lb5.66 kg56 N	74.9 lb34.0 kg333 N	loose	even
Elixir 19102	11-14-18-28-38-49	12.5 lb5.66 kg56 N	74.9 lb34.0 kg333 N	loose	even
Elixir 12100	11-14-18-28-38-49	12.5 lb5.68 kg56 N	75.1 lb34.1 kg334 N	loose	even
D'Addario EXL115BT	11-15-19-28-37-50	12.8 lb5.80 kg57 N	76.8 lb34.8 kg342 N	loose	very even

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 25.5"

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

Elixir 12152 12-16-24-32-42-52 deviation 11.4%, average 15.9 lb7.21 kg71 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 11.7%, average 15.4 lb6.98 kg68 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 12.6%, average 16.7 lb7.59 kg74 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148

More for the 12102

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

C standard on other scales: 26.5", 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.