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

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

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) Light/Medium (12-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 170.6 lb77.4 kg759 N in total and 28.4 lb12.90 kg126 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.6%). String 4 (D3) deviates most: +30% from the set average.

Total tension: 170.6 lb77.4 kg759 N
Average per string: 28.4 lb12.90 kg126 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 10.6%

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	.012	AR012	plain	23.3 lb10.56 kg104 N	−18%
2	B3	246.9	.016	AR016	plain	23.2 lb10.52 kg103 N	−18%
3	G3	196.0	.024	APN024	wound	30.0 lb13.62 kg134 N	+6%
4	D3	146.8	.035	APN035	wound	37.0 lb16.80 kg165 N	+30%
5	A2	110.0	.045	APN045	wound	34.0 lb15.43 kg151 N	+20%
6	D2	73.4	.056	APN056	wound	23.0 lb10.45 kg102 N	−19%
Total						170.6 lb77.4 kg759 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 11075	12-16-24-35-45-56	27.6 lb12.53 kg123 N	165.8 lb75.2 kg738 N	medium	moderately uneven
Elixir 11077	12-16-24-35-45-56	27.6 lb12.53 kg123 N	165.8 lb75.2 kg738 N	medium	moderately uneven
Elixir 16182	13-17-25-32-42-53	28.1 lb12.75 kg125 N	168.6 lb76.5 kg750 N	medium	moderately uneven
16077 (this page)	12-16-24-35-45-56	28.4 lb12.90 kg126 N	170.6 lb77.4 kg759 N	medium	moderately uneven
Elixir 11100	13-17-26-35-45-56	29.6 lb13.43 kg132 N	177.7 lb80.6 kg791 N	tight	moderately uneven
Elixir 11102	13-17-26-35-45-56	29.6 lb13.43 kg132 N	177.7 lb80.6 kg791 N	tight	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 16077

Other tunings on 25.5": E standard, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, 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 ±2% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.