Elixir · NANOWEB Nickel (coated) · 12-16-24-32-42-52

Elixir 12152 (12-16-24-32-42-52) in Drop D on a 25.5" scale

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) Heavy (12-52) on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 146.7 lb66.6 kg653 N in total and 24.5 lb11.09 kg109 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 15.0%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −28% from the set average.

Total tension: 146.7 lb66.6 kg653 N
Average per string: 24.5 lb11.09 kg109 N
Feel: tight; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 15.0%

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	.012	AR012	plain	23.3 lb10.56 kg104 N	−5%
2	B3	246.9	.016	AR016	plain	23.2 lb10.52 kg103 N	−5%
3	G3	196.0	.024	ENN024	wound	28.2 lb12.78 kg125 N	+15%
4	D3	146.8	.032	ENN032	wound	28.2 lb12.78 kg125 N	+15%
5	A2	110.0	.042	ENN042	wound	26.3 lb11.92 kg117 N	+7%
6	D2	73.4	.052	ENN052	wound	17.6 lb7.99 kg78 N	−28%
Total						146.7 lb66.6 kg653 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EXL116	11-14-18-30-42-52	20.5 lb9.31 kg91 N	123.2 lb55.9 kg548 N	tight	uneven
D'Addario NYXL1156	11-14-19-32-44-56	22.2 lb10.07 kg99 N	133.2 lb60.4 kg593 N	tight	uneven
D'Addario EXL117	11-14-19-32-44-56	22.3 lb10.10 kg99 N	133.6 lb60.6 kg594 N	tight	uneven
D'Addario NYXL1254	12-16-20-32-42-54	23.6 lb10.69 kg105 N	141.4 lb64.1 kg629 N	tight	moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145	12-16-20-32-42-54	23.6 lb10.71 kg105 N	141.7 lb64.3 kg630 N	tight	moderately uneven
12152 (this page)	12-16-24-32-42-52	24.5 lb11.09 kg109 N	146.7 lb66.6 kg653 N	tight	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 25.5"

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 9.2%, average 16.2 lb7.35 kg72 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.4%, average 16.5 lb7.49 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EPS510
Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.8%, average 16.7 lb7.55 kg74 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19052, 12050

More for the 12152

Other tunings on 25.5": 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"

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 ±1% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.