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

D'Addario EXL170 (45-65-80-100) in D standard (bass) on a 35" scale

45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 35" scale, tuned to D standard (bass) (F2 C2 G1 D1), pulls 139.5 lb63.3 kg620 N in total and 34.9 lb15.82 kg155 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.9%). String 2 (C2) deviates most: +17% from the set average.

Total tension
139.5 lb63.3 kg620 N
Average per string
34.9 lb15.82 kg155 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)1F2.04535.8 lb16.23 kg159 N2C2.06540.7 lb18.48 kg181 N3G1.08033.8 lb15.31 kg150 N4D1.10029.2 lb13.25 kg130 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
1F287.3 .045XLB045wound 35.8 lb16.23 kg159 N+3%
2C265.4 .065XLB065wound 40.7 lb18.48 kg181 N+17%
3G149.0 .080XLB080wound 33.8 lb15.31 kg150 N−3%
4D136.7 .100XLB100wound 29.2 lb13.25 kg130 N−16%
Total139.5 lb63.3 kg620 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in D standard (bass), 35"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EPS165 45-65-85-10534.0 lb15.41 kg151 N 135.9 lb61.6 kg604 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14652 45-65-80-10034.3 lb15.56 kg153 N 137.2 lb62.2 kg610 Nloosemoderately uneven
EXL170 (this page) 45-65-80-10034.9 lb15.82 kg155 N 139.5 lb63.3 kg620 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-10536.0 lb16.32 kg160 N 143.9 lb65.3 kg640 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL45105 45-65-85-10536.0 lb16.33 kg160 N 144.0 lb65.3 kg641 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14052 45-65-80-10036.5 lb16.54 kg162 N 145.9 lb66.2 kg649 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in D standard (bass), 35"

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

  1. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 13.6%, average 39.3 lb17.84 kg175 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 14.3%, average 42.3 lb19.21 kg188 N, uneven; same gauges: 14702
  3. Elixir 14077 45-65-85-105 deviation 14.7%, average 38.4 lb17.42 kg171 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14087, 14677

More for the EXL170

Other tunings on 35": E standard (bass), Drop D (bass), Eb standard (bass)

D standard (bass) on other scales: 34", 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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