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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 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 E standard (bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 203.2 lb92.2 kg904 N in total and 50.8 lb23.05 kg226 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.9%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
203.2 lb92.2 kg904 N
Average per string
50.8 lb23.05 kg226 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.9%

Tension per string

0204060lb01020kg0100200Nmedium (45-105)set average1G2.04547.0 lb21.34 kg209 N2D2.06557.2 lb25.93 kg254 N3A1.08051.3 lb23.26 kg228 N4E1.10047.8 lb21.67 kg212 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
1G298.0 .045CB045flatwound 34" 47.0 lb21.34 kg209 N−7%
2D273.4 .065CB065flatwound 35" 57.2 lb25.93 kg254 N+13%
3A155.0 .080CB080flatwound 36" 51.3 lb23.26 kg228 N+1%
4E141.2 .100CB100flatwound 37" 47.8 lb21.67 kg212 N−6%
Total203.2 lb92.2 kg904 N

Open in the calculator

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

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-10547.5 lb21.53 kg211 N 189.8 lb86.1 kg844 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10549.7 lb22.56 kg221 N 198.9 lb90.2 kg885 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10549.7 lb22.56 kg221 N 198.9 lb90.2 kg885 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 14702 50-70-85-10550.7 lb22.99 kg225 N 202.8 lb92.0 kg902 Ntightmoderately uneven
ECB81 (this page) 45-65-80-10050.8 lb23.05 kg226 N 203.2 lb92.2 kg904 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-10551.3 lb23.28 kg228 N 205.3 lb93.1 kg913 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in E 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 EPS165 45-65-85-105 deviation 8.0%, average 43.9 lb19.93 kg195 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL45105, EXL165
  2. Elixir 14652 45-65-80-100 deviation 8.4%, average 44.3 lb20.08 kg197 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14052
  3. D'Addario EXL170 45-65-80-100 deviation 9.5%, average 45.0 lb20.41 kg200 N, moderately uneven

More for the ECB81

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

E standard (bass) on other scales: 30", 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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