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

D'Addario EXL165-5 (45-65-85-105-135) in B 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 B standard (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 B0), pulls 222.0 lb100.7 kg987 N in total and 44.4 lb20.14 kg197 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.5%). String 5 (B0) deviates most: −16% from the set average.

Total tension
222.0 lb100.7 kg987 N
Average per string
44.4 lb20.14 kg197 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.5%

Tension per string

02040lb01020kg0100200Nmedium (45-105)set average1G2.04545.1 lb20.44 kg200 N2D2.06551.3 lb23.28 kg228 N3A1.08548.0 lb21.79 kg214 N4E1.10540.4 lb18.33 kg180 N5B0.13537.1 lb16.84 kg165 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
1G298.0 .045XLB045wound 45.1 lb20.44 kg200 N+2%
2D273.4 .065XLB065wound 51.3 lb23.28 kg228 N+16%
3A155.0 .085XLB085wound 48.0 lb21.79 kg214 N+8%
4E141.2 .105XLB105wound 40.4 lb18.33 kg180 N−9%
5B030.9 .135XLB135wound 37.1 lb16.84 kg165 N−16%
Total222.0 lb100.7 kg987 N

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL170-5 45-65-80-100-13042.0 lb19.03 kg187 N 209.8 lb95.2 kg933 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-13043.1 lb19.53 kg192 N 215.3 lb97.7 kg958 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-13543.3 lb19.63 kg192 N 216.4 lb98.1 kg962 Nmediumuneven
EXL165-5 (this page) 45-65-85-105-13544.4 lb20.14 kg197 N 222.0 lb100.7 kg987 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-13045.9 lb20.83 kg204 N 229.6 lb104.1 kg1021 Ntightuneven
Elixir 14207 45-65-85-105-13546.3 lb21.02 kg206 N 231.7 lb105.1 kg1031 Ntightuneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 11.9%, average 44.4 lb20.14 kg197 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 12.6%, average 43.3 lb19.63 kg192 N, uneven; same gauges: 14207
  3. Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-130 deviation 13.3%, average 43.1 lb19.53 kg192 N, uneven; same gauges: 14202

More for the EXL165-5

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

B standard (5-string bass) on other scales: 30", 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.

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