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

D'Addario EXL165 (45-65-85-105) in Drop D (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 Drop D (bass) (G2 D2 A1 D1), pulls 147.6 lb66.9 kg656 N in total and 36.9 lb16.73 kg164 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 16.6%). String 4 (D1) deviates most: −27% from the set average.

Total tension
147.6 lb66.9 kg656 N
Average per string
36.9 lb16.73 kg164 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 16.6%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04537.7 lb17.09 kg168 N2D2.06542.9 lb19.46 kg191 N3A1.08540.2 lb18.22 kg179 N4D1.10526.8 lb12.16 kg119 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 37.7 lb17.09 kg168 N+2%
2D273.4 .065XLB065wound 42.9 lb19.46 kg191 N+16%
3A155.0 .085XLB085wound 40.2 lb18.22 kg179 N+9%
4D136.7 .105XLB105wound 26.8 lb12.16 kg119 N−27%
Total147.6 lb66.9 kg656 N

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Similar sets in Drop D (bass), 32"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL45105 45-65-85-10536.2 lb16.42 kg161 N 144.8 lb65.7 kg644 Nlooseuneven
EXL165 (this page) 45-65-85-10536.9 lb16.73 kg164 N 147.6 lb66.9 kg656 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10538.6 lb17.51 kg172 N 154.4 lb70.1 kg687 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10538.6 lb17.51 kg172 N 154.4 lb70.1 kg687 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-10039.6 lb17.95 kg176 N 158.3 lb71.8 kg704 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-10540.2 lb18.24 kg179 N 160.9 lb73.0 kg716 Nmediumuneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 18.6%, average 39.6 lb17.95 kg176 N, uneven
  2. Elixir 14077 45-65-85-105 deviation 18.9%, average 38.6 lb17.51 kg172 N, uneven; same gauges: 14087, 14677
  3. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 20.7%, average 40.2 lb18.24 kg179 N, uneven

More for the EXL165

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

Drop D (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.

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