D'Addario · XL Nickel Bass · 50-70-85-105

D'Addario EXL160 (50-70-85-105) in Drop D (bass) on a 32" scale

50-105 Medium, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 32" scale, tuned to Drop D (bass) (G2 D2 A1 D1), pulls 160.9 lb73.0 kg716 N in total and 40.2 lb18.24 kg179 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 20.9%). String 4 (D1) deviates most: −33% from the set average.

Total tension: 160.9 lb73.0 kg716 N
Average per string: 40.2 lb18.24 kg179 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 20.9%

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	.050	XLB050	wound	44.6 lb20.23 kg198 N	+11%
2	D2	73.4	.070	XLB070	wound	49.3 lb22.36 kg219 N	+23%
3	A1	55.0	.085	XLB085	wound	40.2 lb18.22 kg179 N	−0%
4	D1	36.7	.105	XLB105	wound	26.8 lb12.16 kg119 N	−33%
Total						160.9 lb73.0 kg716 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D (bass), 32"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EXL165	45-65-85-105	36.9 lb16.73 kg164 N	147.6 lb66.9 kg656 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 14077	45-65-85-105	38.6 lb17.51 kg172 N	154.4 lb70.1 kg687 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 14087	45-65-85-105	38.6 lb17.51 kg172 N	154.4 lb70.1 kg687 N	loose	uneven
D'Addario ECB81	45-65-80-100	39.6 lb17.95 kg176 N	158.3 lb71.8 kg704 N	medium	uneven
EXL160 (this page)	50-70-85-105	40.2 lb18.24 kg179 N	160.9 lb73.0 kg716 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 14102	50-70-85-105	42.8 lb19.40 kg190 N	171.0 lb77.6 kg761 N	medium	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D (bass), 32"

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

D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 18.6%, average 39.6 lb17.95 kg176 N, uneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-105 deviation 18.9%, average 38.6 lb17.51 kg172 N, uneven; same gauges: 14087, 14677
D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 20.7%, average 40.2 lb18.24 kg179 N, uneven

More for the EXL160

Other tunings on 32": E standard (bass), Eb standard (bass), D standard (bass)

Drop D (bass) on other scales: 34", 35", 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 EXL160 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.