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

D'Addario EXL170 (45-65-80-100) in E standard (bass) on a 30" scale

45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 30" scale, tuned to E standard (bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 129.1 lb58.6 kg574 N in total and 32.3 lb14.64 kg144 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.9%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +17% from the set average.

Total tension
129.1 lb58.6 kg574 N
Average per string
32.3 lb14.64 kg144 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.9%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04533.1 lb15.02 kg147 N2D2.06537.7 lb17.11 kg168 N3A1.08031.2 lb14.17 kg139 N4E1.10027.0 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 33.1 lb15.02 kg147 N+3%
2D273.4 .065XLB065wound 37.7 lb17.11 kg168 N+17%
3A155.0 .080XLB080wound 31.2 lb14.17 kg139 N−3%
4E141.2 .100XLB100wound 27.0 lb12.26 kg120 N−16%
Total129.1 lb58.6 kg574 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in E standard (bass), 30"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EPS165 45-65-85-10531.4 lb14.26 kg140 N 125.8 lb57.0 kg559 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14652 45-65-80-10031.8 lb14.40 kg141 N 127.0 lb57.6 kg565 Nloosemoderately uneven
EXL170 (this page) 45-65-80-10032.3 lb14.64 kg144 N 129.1 lb58.6 kg574 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-10533.3 lb15.11 kg148 N 133.2 lb60.4 kg593 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL45105 45-65-85-10533.3 lb15.12 kg148 N 133.3 lb60.5 kg593 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14052 45-65-80-10033.8 lb15.31 kg150 N 135.0 lb61.2 kg601 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard (bass), 30"

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 16.4%, average 39.2 lb17.78 kg174 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
  2. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 18.6%, average 36.4 lb16.51 kg162 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 19.3%, average 36.9 lb16.73 kg164 N, uneven

More for the EXL170

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