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

D'Addario EXL160 (50-70-85-105) in Eb standard (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 Eb standard (bass) (Gb2 Db2 Ab1 Eb1), pulls 182.9 lb83.0 kg814 N in total and 45.7 lb20.74 kg203 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.6%). String 2 (Db2) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
182.9 lb83.0 kg814 N
Average per string
45.7 lb20.74 kg203 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 9.6%

Tension per string

02040lb01020kg0100200Nmedium (45-105)set average1Gb2.05044.8 lb20.34 kg199 N2Db2.07052.5 lb23.83 kg234 N3Ab1.08545.3 lb20.54 kg201 N4Eb1.10540.2 lb18.25 kg179 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
1Gb292.5 .050XLB050wound 34" 44.8 lb20.34 kg199 N−2%
2Db269.3 .070XLB070wound 35" 52.5 lb23.83 kg234 N+15%
3Ab151.9 .085XLB085wound 36" 45.3 lb20.54 kg201 N−1%
4Eb138.9 .105XLB105wound 37" 40.2 lb18.25 kg179 N−12%
Total182.9 lb83.0 kg814 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in Eb standard (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10544.3 lb20.10 kg197 N 177.2 lb80.4 kg788 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10544.3 lb20.10 kg197 N 177.2 lb80.4 kg788 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14702 50-70-85-10545.2 lb20.49 kg201 N 180.7 lb81.9 kg804 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-10045.3 lb20.53 kg201 N 181.1 lb82.1 kg805 Nmediummoderately uneven
EXL160 (this page) 50-70-85-10545.7 lb20.74 kg203 N 182.9 lb83.0 kg814 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 14102 50-70-85-10548.6 lb22.04 kg216 N 194.4 lb88.2 kg865 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard (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 EXL165 45-65-85-105 deviation 8.2%, average 42.3 lb19.18 kg188 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL45105, EPS165
  2. Elixir 14677 45-65-85-105 deviation 9.0%, average 41.5 lb18.81 kg184 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14077, 14087
  3. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 9.0%, average 45.3 lb20.53 kg201 N, moderately uneven

More for the EXL160

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

Eb standard (bass) on other scales: 32", 34", 35"

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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