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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 34"–37" multiscale scale

45-130 Regular Light 5-String, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to B standard (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 B0), pulls 214.4 lb97.3 kg954 N in total and 42.9 lb19.45 kg191 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.2%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +18% from the set average.

Total tension
214.4 lb97.3 kg954 N
Average per string
42.9 lb19.45 kg191 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.2%

Tension per string

02040lb01020kg0100200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04542.5 lb19.29 kg189 N2D2.06550.6 lb22.95 kg225 N3A1.08043.8 lb19.85 kg195 N4E1.10039.5 lb17.91 kg176 N5B0.13038.0 lb17.26 kg169 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1G298.0 .045XLB045wound 34" 42.5 lb19.29 kg189 N−1%
2D273.4 .065XLB065wound 34.75" 50.6 lb22.95 kg225 N+18%
3A155.0 .080XLB080wound 35.5" 43.8 lb19.85 kg195 N+2%
4E141.2 .100XLB100wound 36.25" 39.5 lb17.91 kg176 N−8%
5B030.9 .130XLB130wound 37" 38.0 lb17.26 kg169 N−11%
Total214.4 lb97.3 kg954 N

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Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 34" (treble) to 37" (bass).

Similar sets in B standard (5-string bass), 34"–37" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL45130 45-65-80-100-13042.0 lb19.05 kg187 N 210.0 lb95.3 kg934 Nmediummoderately uneven
EXL170-5 (this page) 45-65-80-100-13042.9 lb19.45 kg191 N 214.4 lb97.3 kg954 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-13044.1 lb19.98 kg196 N 220.3 lb99.9 kg980 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-13544.3 lb20.09 kg197 N 221.5 lb100.5 kg985 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-13545.5 lb20.63 kg202 N 227.4 lb103.1 kg1011 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-13047.0 lb21.32 kg209 N 235.0 lb106.6 kg1046 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard (5-string bass), 34"–37" multiscale

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

  1. Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 9.5%, average 44.3 lb20.09 kg197 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14207
  2. D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 9.6%, average 45.5 lb20.63 kg202 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL45130 45-65-80-100-130 deviation 9.9%, average 42.0 lb19.05 kg187 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL170-5

More for the EXL170-5

Other tunings on 34"–37" multiscale: Drop A (5-string bass), A standard (5-string bass)

B standard (5-string bass) on other scales: 32", 34", 35"

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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