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

D'Addario ECB81 (45-65-80-100) in Eb 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 Eb standard (bass) (Gb2 Db2 Ab1 Eb1), pulls 129.7 lb58.8 kg577 N in total and 32.4 lb14.71 kg144 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.4%). String 2 (Db2) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
129.7 lb58.8 kg577 N
Average per string
32.4 lb14.71 kg144 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)1Gb2.04532.6 lb14.80 kg145 N2Db2.06537.4 lb16.97 kg166 N3Ab1.08031.7 lb14.39 kg141 N4Eb1.10028.0 lb12.69 kg124 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
1Gb292.5 .045CB045flatwound 32.6 lb14.80 kg145 N+1%
2Db269.3 .065CB065flatwound 37.4 lb16.97 kg166 N+15%
3Ab151.9 .080CB080flatwound 31.7 lb14.39 kg141 N−2%
4Eb138.9 .100CB100flatwound 28.0 lb12.69 kg124 N−14%
Total129.7 lb58.8 kg577 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard (bass), 30"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10531.7 lb14.36 kg141 N 126.7 lb57.5 kg563 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10531.7 lb14.36 kg141 N 126.7 lb57.5 kg563 Nloosemoderately uneven
ECB81 (this page) 45-65-80-10032.4 lb14.71 kg144 N 129.7 lb58.8 kg577 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14102 50-70-85-10534.9 lb15.84 kg155 N 139.7 lb63.4 kg621 Nlooseuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb 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 23.0%, average 34.9 lb15.84 kg155 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
  2. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 26.7%, average 32.9 lb14.90 kg146 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 26.8%, average 32.4 lb14.71 kg144 N, moderately uneven

More for the ECB81

Other tunings on 30": E standard (bass)

Eb 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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