Elixir · NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) · 11-15-22-32-42-52

Elixir 16027 (11-15-22-32-42-52) in Drop D on a 25" scale

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) Custom Light (11-52) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 139.5 lb63.3 kg621 N in total and 23.3 lb10.55 kg103 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.5%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +24% from the set average.

Total tension: 139.5 lb63.3 kg621 N
Average per string: 23.3 lb10.55 kg103 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 10.5%

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	.011	AR011	plain	18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N	−19%
2	B3	246.9	.015	AR015	plain	19.2 lb8.73 kg86 N	−17%
3	G3	196.0	.022	APN022	wound	24.0 lb10.91 kg107 N	+3%
4	D3	146.8	.032	APN032	wound	29.3 lb13.31 kg131 N	+26%
5	A2	110.0	.042	APN042	wound	28.9 lb13.09 kg128 N	+24%
6	D2	73.4	.052	APN052	wound	19.1 lb8.66 kg85 N	−18%
Total						139.5 lb63.3 kg621 N

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Similar sets in Drop D, 25"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 11025	11-15-22-32-42-52	22.7 lb10.31 kg101 N	136.3 lb61.8 kg606 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11027	11-15-22-32-42-52	22.7 lb10.31 kg101 N	136.3 lb61.8 kg606 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario EJ26	11-15-22-32-42-52	23.0 lb10.44 kg102 N	138.0 lb62.6 kg614 N	loose	moderately uneven
16027 (this page)	11-15-22-32-42-52	23.3 lb10.55 kg103 N	139.5 lb63.3 kg621 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario XSABR1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.4 lb11.06 kg108 N	146.3 lb66.3 kg651 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11050	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.6 lb11.15 kg109 N	147.4 lb66.9 kg656 N	loose	moderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 25"

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 8.9%, average 25.3 lb11.46 kg112 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11050, 11052
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-56 deviation 9.6%, average 26.6 lb12.05 kg118 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11077, 16077
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 10.3%, average 24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253

More for the 16027

Other tunings on 25": E standard, Eb standard

Drop D on other scales: 24.75", 25.5"

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.