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D'Addario · XL Nickel Bass · 45-65-80-100-130

D'Addario EXL170-5 (45-65-80-100-130) in B standard (5-string bass) on a 32" scale

45-130 Regular Light 5-String, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 32" scale, tuned to B standard (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 B0), pulls 175.4 lb79.5 kg780 N in total and 35.1 lb15.91 kg156 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 14.6%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +22% from the set average.

Total tension
175.4 lb79.5 kg780 N
Average per string
35.1 lb15.91 kg156 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.6%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04537.7 lb17.09 kg168 N2D2.06542.9 lb19.46 kg191 N3A1.08035.5 lb16.13 kg158 N4E1.10030.8 lb13.95 kg137 N5B0.13028.5 lb12.91 kg127 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+7%
2D273.4 .065XLB065wound 42.9 lb19.46 kg191 N+22%
3A155.0 .080XLB080wound 35.5 lb16.13 kg158 N+1%
4E141.2 .100XLB100wound 30.8 lb13.95 kg137 N−12%
5B030.9 .130XLB130wound 28.5 lb12.91 kg127 N−19%
Total175.4 lb79.5 kg780 N

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Similar sets in B standard (5-string bass), 32"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL45130 45-65-80-100-13034.3 lb15.56 kg153 N 171.5 lb77.8 kg763 Nlooseuneven
EXL170-5 (this page) 45-65-80-100-13035.1 lb15.91 kg156 N 175.4 lb79.5 kg780 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-13036.0 lb16.33 kg160 N 180.0 lb81.6 kg801 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-13536.2 lb16.41 kg161 N 180.9 lb82.0 kg804 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-13537.1 lb16.83 kg165 N 185.6 lb84.2 kg825 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-13038.4 lb17.41 kg171 N 191.9 lb87.1 kg854 Nlooseuneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard (5-string bass), 32"

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 15.8%, average 38.7 lb17.57 kg172 N, uneven; same gauges: 14782
  2. Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-130 deviation 17.2%, average 38.4 lb17.41 kg171 N, uneven; same gauges: 14777
  3. D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 17.8%, average 37.1 lb16.83 kg165 N, moderately uneven

More for the EXL170-5

B standard (5-string 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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