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

D'Addario ECB81 (45-65-80-100) in D standard (bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Bass Strings on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to D standard (bass) (F2 C2 G1 D1), pulls 161.3 lb73.2 kg718 N in total and 40.3 lb18.29 kg179 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.9%). String 2 (C2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
161.3 lb73.2 kg718 N
Average per string
40.3 lb18.29 kg179 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.9%

Tension per string

02040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1F2.04537.3 lb16.93 kg166 N2C2.06545.4 lb20.58 kg202 N3G1.08040.7 lb18.46 kg181 N4D1.10037.9 lb17.20 kg169 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1F287.3 .045CB045flatwound 34" 37.3 lb16.93 kg166 N−7%
2C265.4 .065CB065flatwound 35" 45.4 lb20.58 kg202 N+13%
3G149.0 .080CB080flatwound 36" 40.7 lb18.46 kg181 N+1%
4D136.7 .100CB100flatwound 37" 37.9 lb17.20 kg169 N−6%
Total161.3 lb73.2 kg718 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 34" (treble) to 37" (bass).

Similar sets in D standard (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-10537.7 lb17.09 kg168 N 150.7 lb68.3 kg670 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10539.5 lb17.90 kg176 N 157.9 lb71.6 kg702 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10539.5 lb17.90 kg176 N 157.9 lb71.6 kg702 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14702 50-70-85-10540.2 lb18.25 kg179 N 160.9 lb73.0 kg716 Nmediummoderately uneven
ECB81 (this page) 45-65-80-10040.3 lb18.29 kg179 N 161.3 lb73.2 kg718 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-10540.7 lb18.48 kg181 N 162.9 lb73.9 kg725 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in D standard (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

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

  1. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 10.5%, average 40.3 lb18.29 kg179 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 10.6%, average 43.3 lb19.64 kg193 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14702
  3. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 11.2%, average 40.7 lb18.48 kg181 N, moderately uneven

More for the ECB81

Other tunings on 34"–37" multiscale: E standard (bass), Drop D (bass), Eb standard (bass), Drop C (bass), C standard (bass)

D standard (bass) on other scales: 32", 34", 35"

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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