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

Elixir 12102 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in Drop D on a 27" scale

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 128.7 lb58.4 kg573 N in total and 21.5 lb9.73 kg95 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.6%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −18% from the set average.

Total tension: 128.7 lb58.4 kg573 N
Average per string: 21.5 lb9.73 kg95 N
Feel: tight; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 10.6%

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	E4	329.6	.011	AR011	plain	22.1 lb10.02 kg98 N	+3%
2	B3	246.9	.014	AR014	plain	20.1 lb9.11 kg89 N	−6%
3	G3	196.0	.018	AR018	plain	20.8 lb9.44 kg93 N	−3%
4	D3	146.8	.028	ENN028	wound	23.8 lb10.81 kg106 N	+11%
5	A2	110.0	.038	ENN038	wound	24.3 lb11.03 kg108 N	+13%
6	D2	73.4	.049	ENN049	wound	17.6 lb7.99 kg78 N	−18%
Total						128.7 lb58.4 kg573 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 27"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL1149	11-14-18-28-38-49	21.1 lb9.58 kg94 N	126.7 lb57.5 kg563 N	tight	moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL115	11-14-18-28-38-49	21.2 lb9.60 kg94 N	127.0 lb57.6 kg565 N	tight	moderately uneven
12102 (this page)	11-14-18-28-38-49	21.5 lb9.73 kg95 N	128.7 lb58.4 kg573 N	tight	moderately uneven
Elixir 19102	11-14-18-28-38-49	21.5 lb9.73 kg95 N	128.7 lb58.4 kg573 N	tight	moderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1052	10-13-17-30-42-52	21.5 lb9.75 kg96 N	129.0 lb58.5 kg574 N	tight	uneven
Elixir 12100	11-14-18-28-38-49	21.5 lb9.75 kg96 N	129.0 lb58.5 kg574 N	tight	moderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 27"

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

D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 10.6%, average 18.2 lb8.25 kg81 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.9%, average 17.9 lb8.10 kg79 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
Elixir 12000 9-11-16-24-32-42 deviation 15.7%, average 15.5 lb7.02 kg69 N, uneven; same gauges: 12002, 19002

More for the 12102

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

Drop D on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 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.