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

D'Addario EXL170-5 (45-65-80-100-130) in Drop A (5-string bass) on a 35" scale

45-130 Regular Light 5-String, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 35" scale, tuned to Drop A (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 A0), pulls 202.8 lb92.0 kg902 N in total and 40.6 lb18.39 kg180 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 20.3%). String 5 (A0) deviates most: −33% from the set average.

Total tension
202.8 lb92.0 kg902 N
Average per string
40.6 lb18.39 kg180 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 20.3%

Tension per string

02040lb01020kg0100200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04545.1 lb20.44 kg200 N2D2.06551.3 lb23.28 kg228 N3A1.08042.5 lb19.29 kg189 N4E1.10036.8 lb16.69 kg164 N5A0.13027.0 lb12.26 kg120 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 45.1 lb20.44 kg200 N+11%
2D273.4 .065XLB065wound 51.3 lb23.28 kg228 N+27%
3A155.0 .080XLB080wound 42.5 lb19.29 kg189 N+5%
4E141.2 .100XLB100wound 36.8 lb16.69 kg164 N−9%
5A027.5 .130XLB130wound 27.0 lb12.26 kg120 N−33%
Total202.8 lb92.0 kg902 N

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Similar sets in Drop A (5-string bass), 35"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL45130 45-65-80-100-13039.6 lb17.96 kg176 N 198.0 lb89.8 kg881 Nmediumuneven
EXL170-5 (this page) 45-65-80-100-13040.6 lb18.39 kg180 N 202.8 lb92.0 kg902 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-13041.7 lb18.90 kg185 N 208.3 lb94.5 kg927 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-13541.8 lb18.97 kg186 N 209.1 lb94.9 kg930 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-13542.9 lb19.44 kg191 N 214.3 lb97.2 kg953 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-13044.4 lb20.15 kg198 N 222.1 lb100.8 kg988 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A (5-string bass), 35"

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 17.5%, average 42.9 lb19.44 kg191 N, uneven
  2. Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 18.5%, average 41.8 lb18.97 kg186 N, uneven; same gauges: 14207
  3. Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-130 deviation 19.3%, average 41.7 lb18.90 kg185 N, uneven; same gauges: 14202

More for the EXL170-5

Other tunings on 35": B standard (5-string bass), A standard (5-string bass)

Drop A (5-string bass) on other scales: 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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