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Elixir · OPTIWEB Nickel (coated) · 11-14-18-28-38-49

Elixir 19102 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in D standard on a 28" scale

OPTIWEB Nickel (coated) Medium (11-49) on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 113.8 lb51.6 kg506 N in total and 19.0 lb8.60 kg84 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 6.8%). String 2 (A3) deviates most: −10% from the set average.

Total tension
113.8 lb51.6 kg506 N
Average per string
19.0 lb8.60 kg84 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 6.8%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01118.9 lb8.55 kg84 N2A3.01417.1 lb7.77 kg76 N3F3.01817.8 lb8.05 kg79 N4C3.02820.3 lb9.22 kg90 N5G2.03820.8 lb9.42 kg92 N6D2.04918.9 lb8.59 kg84 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 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 .011AR011plain 18.9 lb8.55 kg84 N−1%
2A3220.0 .014AR014plain 17.1 lb7.77 kg76 N−10%
3F3174.6 .018AR018plain 17.8 lb8.05 kg79 N−6%
4C3130.8 .028ENO028wound 20.3 lb9.22 kg90 N+7%
5G298.0 .038ENO038wound 20.8 lb9.42 kg92 N+9%
6D273.4 .049ENO049wound 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N−0%
Total113.8 lb51.6 kg506 N

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Similar sets in D standard, 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4918.7 lb8.48 kg83 N 112.2 lb50.9 kg499 Ntighteven
19102 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4919.0 lb8.60 kg84 N 113.8 lb51.6 kg506 Ntighteven
Elixir 12102 11-14-18-28-38-4919.0 lb8.60 kg84 N 113.8 lb51.6 kg506 Ntighteven
Elixir 12100 11-14-18-28-38-4919.0 lb8.62 kg85 N 114.1 lb51.7 kg507 Ntighteven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5219.0 lb8.64 kg85 N 114.3 lb51.8 kg508 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5219.1 lb8.66 kg85 N 114.6 lb52.0 kg510 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in D standard, 28"

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 6.3%, average 16.1 lb7.29 kg71 N, very even
  2. D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 8.2%, average 16.4 lb7.42 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EPS510
  3. Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 9.2%, average 16.5 lb7.49 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19052, 12050

More for the 19102

Other tunings on 28": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, Drop C, C standard, B standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

D standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 25.5"–27" multiscale

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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