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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 35" scale

45-135 Regular Light Top/Medium Bottom 5-String, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 35" scale, tuned to A standard (5-string bass) (F2 C2 G1 D1 A0), pulls 176.2 lb79.9 kg784 N in total and 35.2 lb15.98 kg157 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.5%). String 5 (A0) deviates most: −16% from the set average.

Total tension
176.2 lb79.9 kg784 N
Average per string
35.2 lb15.98 kg157 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.5%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1F2.04535.8 lb16.23 kg159 N2C2.06540.7 lb18.48 kg181 N3G1.08538.1 lb17.30 kg170 N4D1.10532.1 lb14.55 kg143 N5A0.13529.5 lb13.36 kg131 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 Tensionvs avg
1F287.3 .045XLB045wound 35.8 lb16.23 kg159 N+2%
2C265.4 .065XLB065wound 40.7 lb18.48 kg181 N+16%
3G149.0 .085XLB085wound 38.1 lb17.30 kg170 N+8%
4D136.7 .105XLB105wound 32.1 lb14.55 kg143 N−9%
5A027.5 .135XLB135wound 29.5 lb13.36 kg131 N−16%
Total176.2 lb79.9 kg784 N

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Similar sets in A standard (5-string bass), 35"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL170-5 45-65-80-100-13033.3 lb15.10 kg148 N 166.5 lb75.5 kg741 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-13034.2 lb15.50 kg152 N 170.9 lb77.5 kg760 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-13534.3 lb15.58 kg153 N 171.7 lb77.9 kg764 Nlooseuneven
EXL165-5 (this page) 45-65-85-105-13535.2 lb15.98 kg157 N 176.2 lb79.9 kg784 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-13036.4 lb16.53 kg162 N 182.2 lb82.7 kg811 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14207 45-65-85-105-13536.8 lb16.68 kg164 N 183.9 lb83.4 kg818 Nlooseuneven

Best match for a medium feel in A standard (5-string bass), 35"

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

  1. Elixir 14207 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 18.9%, average 36.8 lb16.68 kg164 N, uneven; same gauges: 14782
  2. Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-130 deviation 20.2%, average 36.4 lb16.53 kg162 N, uneven; same gauges: 14777
  3. D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 21.3%, average 35.2 lb15.98 kg157 N, moderately uneven

More for the EXL165-5

Other tunings on 35": B standard (5-string bass), Drop A (5-string bass)

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

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