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

D'Addario EXL165 (45-65-85-105) in D standard (bass) on a 32" scale

45-105 Regular Light Top/Medium Bottom, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 32" scale, tuned to D standard (bass) (F2 C2 G1 D1), pulls 122.6 lb55.6 kg546 N in total and 30.7 lb13.91 kg136 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.7%). String 4 (D1) deviates most: −13% from the set average.

Total tension: 122.6 lb55.6 kg546 N
Average per string: 30.7 lb13.91 kg136 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 8.7%

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	.045	XLB045	wound	29.9 lb13.56 kg133 N	−2%
2	C2	65.4	.065	XLB065	wound	34.1 lb15.45 kg151 N	+11%
3	G1	49.0	.085	XLB085	wound	31.9 lb14.46 kg142 N	+4%
4	D1	36.7	.105	XLB105	wound	26.8 lb12.16 kg119 N	−13%
Total						122.6 lb55.6 kg546 N

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Similar sets in D standard (bass), 32"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL45105	45-65-85-105	30.1 lb13.65 kg134 N	120.4 lb54.6 kg536 N	loose	moderately uneven
EXL165 (this page)	45-65-85-105	30.7 lb13.91 kg136 N	122.6 lb55.6 kg546 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 14077	45-65-85-105	32.1 lb14.56 kg143 N	128.4 lb58.2 kg571 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 14087	45-65-85-105	32.1 lb14.56 kg143 N	128.4 lb58.2 kg571 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario ECB81	45-65-80-100	32.9 lb14.91 kg146 N	131.5 lb59.7 kg585 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL160	50-70-85-105	33.3 lb15.10 kg148 N	133.2 lb60.4 kg592 N	loose	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in D standard (bass), 32"

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

Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 22.2%, average 35.4 lb16.05 kg157 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 25.8%, average 32.9 lb14.91 kg146 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 25.8%, average 33.3 lb15.10 kg148 N, uneven

More for the EXL165

Other tunings on 32": E standard (bass), Drop D (bass), Eb standard (bass)

D standard (bass) on other scales: 34", 35", 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 EXL165 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.