Elixir · NANOWEB Nickel (coated) · 12-16-22-38-52-68

Elixir 12302 (12-16-22-38-52-68) in Drop A on a 28" scale

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) Baritone (12-68) on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to Drop A (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 A1), pulls 123.2 lb55.9 kg548 N in total and 20.5 lb9.31 kg91 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 21.9%). String 5 (E2) deviates most: +30% from the set average.

Total tension: 123.2 lb55.9 kg548 N
Average per string: 20.5 lb9.31 kg91 N
Feel: tight; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 21.9%

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	B3	246.9	.012	AR012	plain	15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N	−23%
2	F#3	185.0	.016	AR016	plain	15.7 lb7.12 kg70 N	−24%
3	D3	146.8	.022	ENN022	wound	18.3 lb8.30 kg81 N	−11%
4	A2	110.0	.038	ENN038	wound	26.2 lb11.86 kg116 N	+27%
5	E2	82.4	.052	ENN052	wound	26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N	+30%
6	A1	55.0	.068	ENN068	wound	20.5 lb9.30 kg91 N	−0%
Total						123.2 lb55.9 kg548 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop A, 28"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EXL145	12-16-20-32-42-54	16.0 lb7.25 kg71 N	95.9 lb43.5 kg427 N	medium	moderately uneven
Elixir 12152	12-16-24-32-42-52	16.5 lb7.51 kg74 N	99.3 lb45.0 kg442 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario NYXL1260	12-16-20-34-46-60	17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N	103.8 lb47.1 kg462 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL148	12-16-20-34-46-60	17.4 lb7.87 kg77 N	104.1 lb47.2 kg463 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL158	13-17-26-36-46-62	19.8 lb8.97 kg88 N	118.7 lb53.8 kg528 N	tight	moderately uneven
12302 (this page)	12-16-22-38-52-68	20.5 lb9.31 kg91 N	123.2 lb55.9 kg548 N	tight	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A, 28"

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

D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 12.6%, average 16.0 lb7.25 kg71 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1254
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 13.1%, average 17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
Elixir 12152 12-16-24-32-42-52 deviation 14.9%, average 16.5 lb7.51 kg74 N, uneven

More for the 12302

Other tunings on 28": B standard

Drop A 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.

Sources

Elixir Strings — String Tension for Tuning Guitar (2026-11-01): unit weights derived from tensions printed in whole pounds; rounding leaves up to ±3% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.