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

D'Addario ECB81 (45-65-80-100) in C standard (bass) on a 35" scale

45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Bass Strings on a bass with a 35" scale, tuned to C standard (bass) (Eb2 Bb1 F1 C1), pulls 124.9 lb56.6 kg555 N in total and 31.2 lb14.16 kg139 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.4%). String 2 (Bb1) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
124.9 lb56.6 kg555 N
Average per string
31.2 lb14.16 kg139 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)1Eb2.04531.4 lb14.24 kg140 N2Bb1.06536.0 lb16.33 kg160 N3F1.08030.5 lb13.85 kg136 N4C1.10026.9 lb12.21 kg120 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
1Eb277.8 .045CB045flatwound 31.4 lb14.24 kg140 N+1%
2Bb158.3 .065CB065flatwound 36.0 lb16.33 kg160 N+15%
3F143.7 .080CB080flatwound 30.5 lb13.85 kg136 N−2%
4C132.7 .100CB100flatwound 26.9 lb12.21 kg120 N−14%
Total124.9 lb56.6 kg555 N

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Similar sets in C standard (bass), 35"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10530.5 lb13.83 kg136 N 121.9 lb55.3 kg542 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10530.5 lb13.83 kg136 N 121.9 lb55.3 kg542 Nloosemoderately uneven
ECB81 (this page) 45-65-80-10031.2 lb14.16 kg139 N 124.9 lb56.6 kg555 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14102 50-70-85-10533.6 lb15.24 kg149 N 134.4 lb61.0 kg598 Nlooseuneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard (bass), 35"

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 25.5%, average 33.6 lb15.24 kg149 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
  2. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 29.2%, average 31.6 lb14.34 kg141 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 29.4%, average 31.2 lb14.16 kg139 N, moderately uneven

More for the ECB81

Other tunings on 35": E standard (bass), Drop D (bass), Eb standard (bass), D standard (bass), Drop C (bass)

C standard (bass) on other scales: 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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