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

D'Addario EXL165 (45-65-85-105) in D standard (bass) on a 34" scale

45-105 Regular Light Top/Medium Bottom, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 34" scale, tuned to D standard (bass) (F2 C2 G1 D1), pulls 138.5 lb62.8 kg616 N in total and 34.6 lb15.70 kg154 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
138.5 lb62.8 kg616 N
Average per string
34.6 lb15.70 kg154 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

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1F2.04533.8 lb15.31 kg150 N2C2.06538.4 lb17.44 kg171 N3G1.08536.0 lb16.32 kg160 N4D1.10530.3 lb13.73 kg135 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 33.8 lb15.31 kg150 N−2%
2C265.4 .065XLB065wound 38.4 lb17.44 kg171 N+11%
3G149.0 .085XLB085wound 36.0 lb16.32 kg160 N+4%
4D136.7 .105XLB105wound 30.3 lb13.73 kg135 N−13%
Total138.5 lb62.8 kg616 N

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Similar sets in D standard (bass), 34"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-10534.0 lb15.40 kg151 N 135.8 lb61.6 kg604 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL45105 45-65-85-10534.0 lb15.41 kg151 N 135.9 lb61.6 kg605 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14052 45-65-80-10034.4 lb15.61 kg153 N 137.6 lb62.4 kg612 Nloosemoderately uneven
EXL165 (this page) 45-65-85-10534.6 lb15.70 kg154 N 138.5 lb62.8 kg616 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10536.2 lb16.44 kg161 N 145.0 lb65.7 kg645 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10536.2 lb16.44 kg161 N 145.0 lb65.7 kg645 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in D standard (bass), 34"

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

  1. Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 15.6%, average 40.0 lb18.12 kg178 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
  2. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 17.3%, average 37.1 lb16.84 kg165 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 18.1%, average 37.6 lb17.05 kg167 N, uneven

More for the EXL165

Other tunings on 34": E standard (bass), Drop D (bass), Eb standard (bass)

D standard (bass) on other scales: 32", 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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