String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

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" scale

45-130 Regular Light 5-String, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 34" scale, tuned to B standard (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 B0), pulls 198.0 lb89.8 kg881 N in total and 39.6 lb17.96 kg176 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 14.6%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +22% from the set average.

Total tension
198.0 lb89.8 kg881 N
Average per string
39.6 lb17.96 kg176 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.6%

Tension per string

02040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04542.5 lb19.29 kg189 N2D2.06548.4 lb21.97 kg215 N3A1.08040.1 lb18.20 kg179 N4E1.10034.7 lb15.75 kg154 N5B0.13032.1 lb14.57 kg143 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 42.5 lb19.29 kg189 N+7%
2D273.4 .065XLB065wound 48.4 lb21.97 kg215 N+22%
3A155.0 .080XLB080wound 40.1 lb18.20 kg179 N+1%
4E141.2 .100XLB100wound 34.7 lb15.75 kg154 N−12%
5B030.9 .130XLB130wound 32.1 lb14.57 kg143 N−19%
Total198.0 lb89.8 kg881 N

Open in the calculator

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL45130 45-65-80-100-13038.7 lb17.57 kg172 N 193.7 lb87.8 kg861 Nlooseuneven
EXL170-5 (this page) 45-65-80-100-13039.6 lb17.96 kg176 N 198.0 lb89.8 kg881 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-13040.6 lb18.43 kg181 N 203.2 lb92.2 kg904 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-13540.8 lb18.52 kg182 N 204.2 lb92.6 kg908 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-13541.9 lb19.00 kg186 N 209.5 lb95.0 kg932 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-13043.3 lb19.65 kg193 N 216.7 lb98.3 kg964 Nmediumuneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 11.7%, average 41.9 lb19.00 kg186 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 14207 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 12.6%, average 43.7 lb19.84 kg195 N, uneven; same gauges: 14782
  3. Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-130 deviation 14.0%, average 43.3 lb19.65 kg193 N, uneven; same gauges: 14777

More for the EXL170-5

B standard (5-string 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.

Sources