String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

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

Elixir 16077 (12-16-24-35-45-56) in Eb standard on a 25" scale

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) Light/Medium (12-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 151.2 lb68.6 kg673 N in total and 25.2 lb11.43 kg112 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.2%). String 4 (Db3) deviates most: +26% from the set average.

Total tension
151.2 lb68.6 kg673 N
Average per string
25.2 lb11.43 kg112 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

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nset averagemedium (12-53)1Eb4.01219.9 lb9.05 kg89 N2Bb3.01619.9 lb9.01 kg88 N3Gb3.02425.7 lb11.66 kg114 N4Db3.03531.7 lb14.38 kg141 N5Ab2.04529.1 lb13.22 kg130 N6Eb2.05624.9 lb11.27 kg111 N
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.
#NoteHzGaugeItemType Tensionvs avg
1Eb4311.1 .012AR012plain 19.9 lb9.05 kg89 N−21%
2Bb3233.1 .016AR016plain 19.9 lb9.01 kg88 N−21%
3Gb3185.0 .024APN024wound 25.7 lb11.66 kg114 N+2%
4Db3138.6 .035APN035wound 31.7 lb14.38 kg141 N+26%
5Ab2103.8 .045APN045wound 29.1 lb13.22 kg130 N+16%
6Eb277.8 .056APN056wound 24.9 lb11.27 kg111 N−1%
Total151.2 lb68.6 kg673 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Eb standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-5624.5 lb11.11 kg109 N 146.9 lb66.6 kg654 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11077 12-16-24-35-45-5624.5 lb11.11 kg109 N 146.9 lb66.6 kg654 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5324.8 lb11.26 kg110 N 149.0 lb67.6 kg663 Nlooseeven
16077 (this page) 12-16-24-35-45-5625.2 lb11.43 kg112 N 151.2 lb68.6 kg673 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-5626.2 lb11.88 kg116 N 157.1 lb71.3 kg699 Nmediumvery even
Elixir 11102 13-17-26-35-45-5626.2 lb11.88 kg116 N 157.1 lb71.3 kg699 Nmediumvery even

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 25"

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

  1. Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 2.6%, average 26.2 lb11.88 kg116 N, very even; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  2. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 2.8%, average 26.5 lb12.01 kg118 N, very even
  3. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 8.4%, average 24.8 lb11.26 kg110 N, even; same gauges: 11182

More for the 16077

Other tunings on 25": E standard, Drop D, D standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard 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