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D'Addario · Chromes Flatwound Bass · 45-65-80-100

D'Addario ECB81 (45-65-80-100) in E standard (bass) on a 30" scale

45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Bass Strings on a bass with a 30" scale, tuned to E standard (bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 145.6 lb66.1 kg648 N in total and 36.4 lb16.51 kg162 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.4%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
145.6 lb66.1 kg648 N
Average per string
36.4 lb16.51 kg162 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.4%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04536.6 lb16.61 kg163 N2D2.06542.0 lb19.05 kg187 N3A1.08035.6 lb16.15 kg158 N4E1.10031.4 lb14.24 kg140 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 45-105 set on a 34" scale in E standard (bass) (43.6 lb19.78 kg194 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
1G298.0 .045CB045flatwound 36.6 lb16.61 kg163 N+1%
2D273.4 .065CB065flatwound 42.0 lb19.05 kg187 N+15%
3A155.0 .080CB080flatwound 35.6 lb16.15 kg158 N−2%
4E141.2 .100CB100flatwound 31.4 lb14.24 kg140 N−14%
Total145.6 lb66.1 kg648 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in E standard (bass), 30"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-10534.0 lb15.40 kg151 N 135.8 lb61.6 kg604 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10535.5 lb16.12 kg158 N 142.2 lb64.5 kg632 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10535.5 lb16.12 kg158 N 142.2 lb64.5 kg632 Nloosemoderately uneven
ECB81 (this page) 45-65-80-10036.4 lb16.51 kg162 N 145.6 lb66.1 kg648 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14702 50-70-85-10536.4 lb16.52 kg162 N 145.7 lb66.1 kg648 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-10536.9 lb16.73 kg164 N 147.5 lb66.9 kg656 Nlooseuneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard (bass), 30"

Ranked by how close every string is to 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 16.4%, average 39.2 lb17.78 kg174 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
  2. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 18.6%, average 36.4 lb16.51 kg162 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 19.3%, average 36.9 lb16.73 kg164 N, uneven

More for the ECB81

Other tunings on 30": Eb standard (bass)

E standard (bass) on other scales: 32", 34", 35", 34"–37" 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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