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Elixir · NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) · 13-17-25-32-42-53

Elixir 16182 (13-17-25-32-42-53) in Drop D on a 24.75" scale

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) HD Light (13-53) on an acoustic guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 158.8 lb72.1 kg707 N in total and 26.5 lb12.01 kg118 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.6%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −27% from the set average.

Total tension
158.8 lb72.1 kg707 N
Average per string
26.5 lb12.01 kg118 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

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nset averagemedium (12-53)1E4.01325.5 lb11.55 kg113 N2B3.01724.8 lb11.27 kg110 N3G3.02532.1 lb14.54 kg143 N4D3.03228.8 lb13.04 kg128 N5A2.04228.3 lb12.83 kg126 N6D2.05319.5 lb8.83 kg87 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
1E4329.6 .013AR013plain 25.5 lb11.55 kg113 N−4%
2B3246.9 .017AR017plain 24.8 lb11.27 kg110 N−6%
3G3196.0 .025APN025wound 32.1 lb14.54 kg143 N+21%
4D3146.8 .032APN032wound 28.8 lb13.04 kg128 N+9%
5A2110.0 .042APN042wound 28.3 lb12.83 kg126 N+7%
6D273.4 .053APN053wound 19.5 lb8.83 kg87 N−27%
Total158.8 lb72.1 kg707 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-5325.6 lb11.63 kg114 N 153.9 lb69.8 kg684 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-5626.0 lb11.81 kg116 N 156.2 lb70.8 kg695 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11077 12-16-24-35-45-5626.0 lb11.81 kg116 N 156.2 lb70.8 kg695 Nmediummoderately uneven
16182 (this page) 13-17-25-32-42-5326.5 lb12.01 kg118 N 158.8 lb72.1 kg707 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-5626.8 lb12.15 kg119 N 160.7 lb72.9 kg715 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-5627.9 lb12.66 kg124 N 167.4 lb75.9 kg745 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 24.75"

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 9.8%, average 27.9 lb12.66 kg124 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  2. Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-56 deviation 9.8%, average 26.0 lb11.81 kg116 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11077, 16077
  3. Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 10.2%, average 24.8 lb11.23 kg110 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11050, 11052

More for the 16182

Other tunings on 24.75": E standard, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Drop D on other scales: 25", 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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