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

Elixir 16182 (13-17-25-32-42-53) in Eb standard on a 25.5" scale

NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze (coated) HD Light (13-53) on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 155.0 lb70.3 kg689 N in total and 25.8 lb11.72 kg115 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is even (spread 4.9%). String 1 (Eb4) deviates most: −7% from the set average.

Total tension
155.0 lb70.3 kg689 N
Average per string
25.8 lb11.72 kg115 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 4.9%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nset averagemedium (12-53)1Eb4.01324.1 lb10.92 kg107 N2Bb3.01723.5 lb10.66 kg104 N3Gb3.02530.3 lb13.75 kg135 N4Db3.03227.2 lb12.34 kg121 N5Ab2.04226.7 lb12.13 kg119 N6Eb2.05323.2 lb10.52 kg103 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 .013AR013plain 24.1 lb10.92 kg107 N−7%
2Bb3233.1 .017AR017plain 23.5 lb10.66 kg104 N−9%
3Gb3185.0 .025APN025wound 30.3 lb13.75 kg135 N+17%
4Db3138.6 .032APN032wound 27.2 lb12.34 kg121 N+5%
5Ab2103.8 .042APN042wound 26.7 lb12.13 kg119 N+4%
6Eb277.8 .053APN053wound 23.2 lb10.52 kg103 N−10%
Total155.0 lb70.3 kg689 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-5325.0 lb11.35 kg111 N 150.1 lb68.1 kg668 Nlooseeven
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-5625.5 lb11.56 kg113 N 152.9 lb69.3 kg680 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11077 12-16-24-35-45-5625.5 lb11.56 kg113 N 152.9 lb69.3 kg680 Nloosemoderately uneven
16182 (this page) 13-17-25-32-42-5325.8 lb11.72 kg115 N 155.0 lb70.3 kg689 Nmediumeven
Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-5626.2 lb11.89 kg117 N 157.3 lb71.4 kg700 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-5627.2 lb12.36 kg121 N 163.5 lb74.2 kg727 Nmediumvery even

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 25.5"

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 2.3%, average 27.2 lb12.36 kg121 N, very even; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  2. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 3.8%, average 27.5 lb12.50 kg123 N, very even
  3. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 5.7%, average 25.8 lb11.72 kg115 N, even; same gauges: 11182

More for the 16182

Other tunings on 25.5": E standard, Drop D, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard 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.

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