Elixir · NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) · 10-14-23-30-39-47

Elixir 16002 (10-14-23-30-39-47) in Drop D on a 25.5" scale

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) Extra Light (10-47) on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 130.7 lb59.3 kg581 N in total and 21.8 lb9.88 kg97 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.6%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −23% from the set average.

Total tension: 130.7 lb59.3 kg581 N
Average per string: 21.8 lb9.88 kg97 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 12.6%

Tension per string

The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 12-53 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (26.8 lb12.14 kg119 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	.010	AR010	plain	16.1 lb7.29 kg71 N	−26%
2	B3	246.9	.014	AR014	plain	17.9 lb8.12 kg80 N	−18%
3	G3	196.0	.023	APN023	wound	28.0 lb12.71 kg125 N	+29%
4	D3	146.8	.030	APN030	wound	27.0 lb12.26 kg120 N	+24%
5	A2	110.0	.039	APN039	wound	25.0 lb11.35 kg111 N	+15%
6	D2	73.4	.047	APN047	wound	16.7 lb7.57 kg74 N	−23%
Total						130.7 lb59.3 kg581 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 11000	10-14-23-30-39-47	21.2 lb9.60 kg94 N	126.9 lb57.6 kg565 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11002	10-14-23-30-39-47	21.2 lb9.60 kg94 N	126.9 lb57.6 kg565 N	loose	moderately uneven
16002 (this page)	10-14-23-30-39-47	21.8 lb9.88 kg97 N	130.7 lb59.3 kg581 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 11025	11-15-22-32-42-52	23.6 lb10.72 kg105 N	141.8 lb64.3 kg631 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11027	11-15-22-32-42-52	23.6 lb10.72 kg105 N	141.8 lb64.3 kg631 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario EJ26	11-15-22-32-42-52	23.9 lb10.86 kg106 N	143.6 lb65.1 kg639 N	loose	moderately uneven

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

Ranked by how close every string is to 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N (lower deviation is better).

Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 7.2%, average 26.3 lb11.92 kg117 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11050, 11052
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 8.4%, average 25.9 lb11.76 kg115 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-56 deviation 10.2%, average 27.6 lb12.53 kg123 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11077, 16077

More for the 16002

Other tunings on 25.5": E standard

Drop D on other scales: 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 ±3% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.