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

D'Addario EXL160 (50-70-85-105) in D standard (bass) on a 35" scale

50-105 Medium, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 35" scale, tuned to D standard (bass) (F2 C2 G1 D1), pulls 159.3 lb72.3 kg709 N in total and 39.8 lb18.07 kg177 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 13.6%). String 4 (D1) deviates most: −19% from the set average.

Total tension: 159.3 lb72.3 kg709 N
Average per string: 39.8 lb18.07 kg177 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 13.6%

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	F2	87.3	.050	XLB050	wound	42.3 lb19.21 kg188 N	+6%
2	C2	65.4	.070	XLB070	wound	46.8 lb21.23 kg208 N	+17%
3	G1	49.0	.085	XLB085	wound	38.1 lb17.30 kg170 N	−4%
4	D1	36.7	.105	XLB105	wound	32.1 lb14.55 kg143 N	−19%
Total						159.3 lb72.3 kg709 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in D standard (bass), 35"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 14077	45-65-85-105	38.4 lb17.42 kg171 N	153.6 lb69.7 kg683 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 14087	45-65-85-105	38.4 lb17.42 kg171 N	153.6 lb69.7 kg683 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario ECB81	45-65-80-100	39.3 lb17.84 kg175 N	157.3 lb71.4 kg700 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 14702	50-70-85-105	39.4 lb17.85 kg175 N	157.4 lb71.4 kg700 N	loose	uneven
EXL160 (this page)	50-70-85-105	39.8 lb18.07 kg177 N	159.3 lb72.3 kg709 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 14102	50-70-85-105	42.3 lb19.21 kg188 N	169.4 lb76.8 kg753 N	medium	uneven

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

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 13.6%, average 39.3 lb17.84 kg175 N, moderately uneven
Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 14.3%, average 42.3 lb19.21 kg188 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-105 deviation 14.7%, average 38.4 lb17.42 kg171 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14087, 14677

More for the EXL160

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

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