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

D'Addario ECB81 (45-65-80-100) in E 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 E standard (bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 198.2 lb89.9 kg882 N in total and 49.6 lb22.48 kg220 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.4%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension: 198.2 lb89.9 kg882 N
Average per string: 49.6 lb22.48 kg220 N
Feel: tight; medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 10.4%

Tension per string

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.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Tension	vs avg
1	G2	98.0	.045	CB045	flatwound	49.8 lb22.61 kg222 N	+1%
2	D2	73.4	.065	CB065	flatwound	57.2 lb25.93 kg254 N	+15%
3	A1	55.0	.080	CB080	flatwound	48.5 lb21.98 kg216 N	−2%
4	E1	41.2	.100	CB100	flatwound	42.7 lb19.39 kg190 N	−14%
Total						198.2 lb89.9 kg882 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in E standard (bass), 35"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EXL165	45-65-85-105	46.2 lb20.96 kg206 N	184.9 lb83.8 kg822 N	tight	moderately uneven
Elixir 14077	45-65-85-105	48.4 lb21.95 kg215 N	193.5 lb87.8 kg861 N	tight	moderately uneven
Elixir 14087	45-65-85-105	48.4 lb21.95 kg215 N	193.5 lb87.8 kg861 N	tight	moderately uneven
ECB81 (this page)	45-65-80-100	49.6 lb22.48 kg220 N	198.2 lb89.9 kg882 N	tight	moderately uneven
Elixir 14702	50-70-85-105	49.6 lb22.49 kg221 N	198.3 lb90.0 kg882 N	tight	uneven
D'Addario EXL160	50-70-85-105	50.2 lb22.77 kg223 N	200.8 lb91.1 kg893 N	tight	uneven

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

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

D'Addario EPS165 45-65-85-105 deviation 9.2%, average 42.8 lb19.41 kg190 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL45105, EXL165
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-105 deviation 10.0%, average 45.3 lb20.57 kg202 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14077, 14087
Elixir 14652 45-65-80-100 deviation 11.4%, average 43.2 lb19.60 kg192 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14052

More for the ECB81

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

E standard (bass) on other scales: 30", 32", 34", 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

D'Addario product page, tension chart for ECB81 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.