Elixir · NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) · 12-16-24-35-45-56

Elixir 16077 (12-16-24-35-45-56) in D standard on a 25.5" scale

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) Light/Medium (12-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 140.2 lb63.6 kg623 N in total and 23.4 lb10.60 kg104 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.2%). String 4 (C3) deviates most: +26% from the set average.

Total tension: 140.2 lb63.6 kg623 N
Average per string: 23.4 lb10.60 kg104 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 9.2%

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	D4	293.7	.012	AR012	plain	18.5 lb8.39 kg82 N	−21%
2	A3	220.0	.016	AR016	plain	18.4 lb8.35 kg82 N	−21%
3	F3	174.6	.024	APN024	wound	23.8 lb10.81 kg106 N	+2%
4	C3	130.8	.035	APN035	wound	29.4 lb13.33 kg131 N	+26%
5	G2	98.0	.045	APN045	wound	27.0 lb12.25 kg120 N	+16%
6	D2	73.4	.056	APN056	wound	23.0 lb10.45 kg102 N	−1%
Total						140.2 lb63.6 kg623 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in D standard, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 11075	12-16-24-35-45-56	22.7 lb10.30 kg101 N	136.2 lb61.8 kg606 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11077	12-16-24-35-45-56	22.7 lb10.30 kg101 N	136.2 lb61.8 kg606 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 16182	13-17-25-32-42-53	23.0 lb10.44 kg102 N	138.1 lb62.6 kg614 N	loose	even
16077 (this page)	12-16-24-35-45-56	23.4 lb10.60 kg104 N	140.2 lb63.6 kg623 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11100	13-17-26-35-45-56	24.3 lb11.01 kg108 N	145.6 lb66.1 kg648 N	loose	very even
Elixir 11102	13-17-26-35-45-56	24.3 lb11.01 kg108 N	145.6 lb66.1 kg648 N	loose	very even

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

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

Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 7.5%, average 24.9 lb11.31 kg111 N, very even; same gauges: 11100, 11102
D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 8.8%, average 24.5 lb11.13 kg109 N, very even
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 14.4%, average 23.0 lb10.44 kg102 N, even; same gauges: 11182

More for the 16077

Other tunings on 25.5": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

D standard 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 ±2% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.