D'Addario · XL Nickel Bass · 45-65-85-105-135

D'Addario EXL165-5 (45-65-85-105-135) in A standard (5-string bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

45-135 Regular Light Top/Medium Bottom 5-String, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to A standard (5-string bass) (F2 C2 G1 D1 A0), pulls 180.5 lb81.9 kg803 N in total and 36.1 lb16.37 kg161 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.3%). String 2 (C2) deviates most: +11% from the set average.

Total tension: 180.5 lb81.9 kg803 N
Average per string: 36.1 lb16.37 kg161 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 8.3%

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	Length	Tension	vs avg
1	F2	87.3	.045	XLB045	wound	34"	33.8 lb15.31 kg150 N	−6%
2	C2	65.4	.065	XLB065	wound	34.75"	40.2 lb18.22 kg179 N	+11%
3	G1	49.0	.085	XLB085	wound	35.5"	39.2 lb17.79 kg174 N	+9%
4	D1	36.7	.105	XLB105	wound	36.25"	34.4 lb15.60 kg153 N	−5%
5	A0	27.5	.135	XLB135	wound	37"	32.9 lb14.93 kg146 N	−9%
Total							180.5 lb81.9 kg803 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in A standard (5-string bass), 34"–37" multiscale

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EXL170-5	45-65-80-100-130	34.0 lb15.44 kg151 N	170.2 lb77.2 kg757 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 14777	45-65-85-105-130	35.0 lb15.86 kg156 N	174.8 lb79.3 kg778 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 14782	45-65-85-105-135	35.2 lb15.95 kg156 N	175.8 lb79.7 kg782 N	loose	moderately uneven
EXL165-5 (this page)	45-65-85-105-135	36.1 lb16.37 kg161 N	180.5 lb81.9 kg803 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 14202	45-65-85-105-130	37.3 lb16.92 kg166 N	186.6 lb84.6 kg830 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 14207	45-65-85-105-135	37.7 lb17.09 kg168 N	188.4 lb85.5 kg838 N	loose	moderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in A standard (5-string bass), 34"–37" multiscale

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

Elixir 14207 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 16.1%, average 37.7 lb17.09 kg168 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14782
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-130 deviation 17.3%, average 37.3 lb16.92 kg166 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14777
D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 18.5%, average 36.1 lb16.37 kg161 N, moderately uneven

More for the EXL165-5

Other tunings on 34"–37" multiscale: B standard (5-string bass), Drop A (5-string bass)

A standard (5-string bass) on other scales: 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.

Sources

D'Addario product page, tension chart for EXL165-5 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.