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

D'Addario EXL160 (50-70-85-105) in Drop C (bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

50-105 Medium, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to Drop C (bass) (F2 C2 G1 C1), pulls 155.5 lb70.6 kg692 N in total and 38.9 lb17.64 kg173 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 17.0%). String 4 (C1) deviates most: −27% from the set average.

Total tension
155.5 lb70.6 kg692 N
Average per string
38.9 lb17.64 kg173 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 17.0%

Tension per string

02040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1F2.05040.0 lb18.12 kg178 N2C2.07046.8 lb21.23 kg208 N3G1.08540.3 lb18.30 kg179 N4C1.10528.4 lb12.90 kg127 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
1F287.3 .050XLB050wound 34" 40.0 lb18.12 kg178 N+3%
2C265.4 .070XLB070wound 35" 46.8 lb21.23 kg208 N+20%
3G149.0 .085XLB085wound 36" 40.3 lb18.30 kg179 N+4%
4C132.7 .105XLB105wound 37" 28.4 lb12.90 kg127 N−27%
Total155.5 lb70.6 kg692 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in Drop C (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10537.5 lb17.02 kg167 N 150.1 lb68.1 kg668 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10537.5 lb17.02 kg167 N 150.1 lb68.1 kg668 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-10038.4 lb17.41 kg171 N 153.5 lb69.6 kg683 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14702 50-70-85-10538.4 lb17.44 kg171 N 153.8 lb69.7 kg684 Nlooseuneven
EXL160 (this page) 50-70-85-10538.9 lb17.64 kg173 N 155.5 lb70.6 kg692 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14102 50-70-85-10541.3 lb18.75 kg184 N 165.4 lb75.0 kg736 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop C (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 ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 17.5%, average 38.4 lb17.41 kg171 N, uneven
  2. Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 17.7%, average 41.3 lb18.75 kg184 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
  3. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 18.6%, average 38.9 lb17.64 kg173 N, uneven

More for the EXL160

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

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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