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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 34"–37" multiscale scale

45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to E standard (bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 180.0 lb81.6 kg801 N in total and 45.0 lb20.41 kg200 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.7%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +14% from the set average.

Total tension
180.0 lb81.6 kg801 N
Average per string
45.0 lb20.41 kg200 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 8.7%

Tension per string

02040lb01020kg0100200Nmedium (45-105)set average1G2.04542.5 lb19.29 kg189 N2D2.06551.3 lb23.28 kg228 N3A1.08045.0 lb20.41 kg200 N4E1.10041.1 lb18.65 kg183 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−5%
2D273.4 .065XLB065wound 35" 51.3 lb23.28 kg228 N+14%
3A155.0 .080XLB080wound 36" 45.0 lb20.41 kg200 N−0%
4E141.2 .100XLB100wound 37" 41.1 lb18.65 kg183 N−9%
Total180.0 lb81.6 kg801 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in E standard (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EPS165 45-65-85-10543.9 lb19.93 kg195 N 175.7 lb79.7 kg782 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14652 45-65-80-10044.3 lb20.08 kg197 N 177.1 lb80.3 kg788 Nmediummoderately uneven
EXL170 (this page) 45-65-80-10045.0 lb20.41 kg200 N 180.0 lb81.6 kg801 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-10546.6 lb21.12 kg207 N 186.2 lb84.5 kg828 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL45105 45-65-85-10546.6 lb21.15 kg207 N 186.5 lb84.6 kg830 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 14052 45-65-80-10047.1 lb21.36 kg210 N 188.4 lb85.5 kg838 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

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

  1. D'Addario EPS165 45-65-85-105 deviation 8.0%, average 43.9 lb19.93 kg195 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL45105, EXL165
  2. Elixir 14652 45-65-80-100 deviation 8.4%, average 44.3 lb20.08 kg197 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14052
  3. D'Addario EXL170 45-65-80-100 deviation 9.5%, average 45.0 lb20.41 kg200 N, moderately uneven

More for the EXL170

Other tunings on 34"–37" multiscale: Drop D (bass), Eb standard (bass), D standard (bass)

E standard (bass) on other scales: 30", 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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