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

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

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) Medium (13-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to DADGAD (D4 A3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 164.8 lb74.8 kg733 N in total and 27.5 lb12.46 kg122 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is uneven (spread 13.4%). String 2 (A3) deviates most: −27% from the set average.

Total tension
164.8 lb74.8 kg733 N
Average per string
27.5 lb12.46 kg122 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 13.4%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nmedium (12-53)set average1D4.01320.6 lb9.35 kg92 N2A3.01720.1 lb9.12 kg89 N3G3.02633.7 lb15.27 kg150 N4D3.03535.6 lb16.14 kg158 N5A2.04532.7 lb14.84 kg145 N6D2.05622.1 lb10.04 kg98 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
1D4293.7 .013AR013plain 20.6 lb9.35 kg92 N−25%
2A3220.0 .017AR017plain 20.1 lb9.12 kg89 N−27%
3G3196.0 .026APN026wound 33.7 lb15.27 kg150 N+23%
4D3146.8 .035APN035wound 35.6 lb16.14 kg158 N+30%
5A2110.0 .045APN045wound 32.7 lb14.84 kg145 N+19%
6D273.4 .056APN056wound 22.1 lb10.04 kg98 N−19%
Total164.8 lb74.8 kg733 N

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Similar sets in DADGAD, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5325.2 lb11.45 kg112 N 151.5 lb68.7 kg674 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-5625.8 lb11.70 kg115 N 154.8 lb70.2 kg688 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-5626.7 lb12.11 kg119 N 160.2 lb72.7 kg713 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11102 13-17-26-35-45-5626.7 lb12.11 kg119 N 160.2 lb72.7 kg713 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-5627.0 lb12.26 kg120 N 162.1 lb73.5 kg721 Nmediumuneven
16102 (this page) 13-17-26-35-45-5627.5 lb12.46 kg122 N 164.8 lb74.8 kg733 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in DADGAD, 25"

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

  1. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 11.7%, average 25.2 lb11.45 kg112 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11182
  2. Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.0%, average 26.7 lb12.11 kg119 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  3. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.8%, average 27.0 lb12.26 kg120 N, uneven

More for the 16102

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

DADGAD 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.

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