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

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

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 127.7 lb57.9 kg568 N in total and 21.3 lb9.66 kg95 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 6.8%). String 2 (Bb3) deviates most: −10% from the set average.

Total tension
127.7 lb57.9 kg568 N
Average per string
21.3 lb9.66 kg95 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 6.8%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01121.2 lb9.60 kg94 N2Bb3.01419.2 lb8.72 kg86 N3Gb3.01819.9 lb9.04 kg89 N4Db3.02822.8 lb10.35 kg102 N5Ab2.03823.3 lb10.57 kg104 N6Eb2.04921.3 lb9.65 kg95 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
1Eb4311.1 .011AR011plain 21.2 lb9.60 kg94 N−1%
2Bb3233.1 .014AR014plain 19.2 lb8.72 kg86 N−10%
3Gb3185.0 .018AR018plain 19.9 lb9.04 kg89 N−6%
4Db3138.6 .028ENN028wound 22.8 lb10.35 kg102 N+7%
5Ab2103.8 .038ENN038wound 23.3 lb10.57 kg104 N+9%
6Eb277.8 .049ENN049wound 21.3 lb9.65 kg95 N−0%
Total127.7 lb57.9 kg568 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4921.0 lb9.52 kg93 N 125.9 lb57.1 kg560 Ntighteven
12102 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4921.3 lb9.66 kg95 N 127.7 lb57.9 kg568 Ntighteven
Elixir 19102 11-14-18-28-38-4921.3 lb9.66 kg95 N 127.7 lb57.9 kg568 Ntighteven
Elixir 12100 11-14-18-28-38-4921.3 lb9.68 kg95 N 128.1 lb58.1 kg570 Ntighteven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5221.4 lb9.70 kg95 N 128.2 lb58.2 kg570 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5221.4 lb9.72 kg95 N 128.6 lb58.3 kg572 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 28"

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 6.0%, average 18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N, very even
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 6.1%, average 17.7 lb8.03 kg79 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. Elixir 12050 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 12.4%, average 18.4 lb8.35 kg82 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 12052, 19052

More for the 12102

Other tunings on 28": E standard, Drop D, D standard, Drop C, C standard, B standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 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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