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

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

45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Bass Strings on a bass with a 35" scale, tuned to Drop C (bass) (F2 C2 G1 C1), pulls 150.3 lb68.2 kg669 N in total and 37.6 lb17.05 kg167 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 17.8%). String 4 (C1) deviates most: −28% from the set average.

Total tension
150.3 lb68.2 kg669 N
Average per string
37.6 lb17.05 kg167 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 17.8%

Tension per string

02040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1F2.04539.6 lb17.95 kg176 N2C2.06545.4 lb20.58 kg202 N3G1.08038.5 lb17.45 kg171 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
1F287.3 .045CB045flatwound 39.6 lb17.95 kg176 N+5%
2C265.4 .065CB065flatwound 45.4 lb20.58 kg202 N+21%
3G149.0 .080CB080flatwound 38.5 lb17.45 kg171 N+2%
4C132.7 .100CB100flatwound 26.9 lb12.21 kg120 N−28%
Total150.3 lb68.2 kg669 N

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Similar sets in Drop C (bass), 35"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10536.7 lb16.63 kg163 N 146.6 lb66.5 kg652 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10536.7 lb16.63 kg163 N 146.6 lb66.5 kg652 Nlooseuneven
ECB81 (this page) 45-65-80-10037.6 lb17.05 kg167 N 150.3 lb68.2 kg669 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14102 50-70-85-10540.6 lb18.42 kg181 N 162.4 lb73.7 kg722 Nmediumuneven

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

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 20.6%, average 37.6 lb17.05 kg167 N, uneven
  2. Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 21.2%, average 40.6 lb18.42 kg181 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
  3. Elixir 14077 45-65-85-105 deviation 21.4%, average 36.7 lb16.63 kg163 N, uneven; same gauges: 14087, 14677

More for the ECB81

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

Drop C (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.

Sources