Elixir · NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) · 13-17-26-35-45-56

Elixir 16102 (13-17-26-35-45-56) in C standard on a 25" scale

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) Medium (13-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 114.1 lb51.8 kg508 N in total and 19.0 lb8.63 kg85 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is very even (spread 2.8%). String 4 (Bb2) deviates most: +18% from the set average.

Total tension: 114.1 lb51.8 kg508 N
Average per string: 19.0 lb8.63 kg85 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: very even; spread 2.8%

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	C4	261.6	.013	AR013	plain	16.4 lb7.42 kg73 N	−14%
2	G3	196.0	.017	AR017	plain	16.0 lb7.24 kg71 N	−16%
3	Eb3	155.6	.026	APN026	wound	21.2 lb9.62 kg94 N	+11%
4	Bb2	116.5	.035	APN035	wound	22.4 lb10.17 kg100 N	+18%
5	F2	87.3	.045	APN045	wound	20.6 lb9.35 kg92 N	+8%
6	C2	65.4	.056	APN056	wound	17.6 lb7.97 kg78 N	−8%
Total						114.1 lb51.8 kg508 N

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Similar sets in C standard, 25"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 16182	13-17-25-32-42-53	17.6 lb7.96 kg78 N	105.3 lb47.8 kg469 N	loose	even
Elixir 11100	13-17-26-35-45-56	18.5 lb8.40 kg82 N	111.1 lb50.4 kg494 N	loose	very even
Elixir 11102	13-17-26-35-45-56	18.5 lb8.40 kg82 N	111.1 lb50.4 kg494 N	loose	very even
D'Addario EJ17	13-17-26-35-45-56	18.7 lb8.49 kg83 N	112.3 lb51.0 kg500 N	loose	very even
16102 (this page)	13-17-26-35-45-56	19.0 lb8.63 kg85 N	114.1 lb51.8 kg508 N	loose	very even
Elixir 11125	16-18-28-35-45-56	20.9 lb9.47 kg93 N	125.3 lb56.8 kg557 N	loose	uneven

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

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

Elixir 11125 16-18-28-35-45-56 deviation 25.2%, average 20.9 lb9.47 kg93 N, uneven
Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 29.2%, average 19.0 lb8.63 kg85 N, very even; same gauges: 11100, 11102
D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 30.2%, average 18.7 lb8.49 kg83 N, very even

More for the 16102

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

C 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

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.