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D'Addario · XL Nickel Bass · 40-60-75-95

D'Addario EXL220 (40-60-75-95) in E standard (bass) on a 32" scale

40-95 Super Light, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 32" scale, tuned to E standard (bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 124.5 lb56.5 kg554 N in total and 31.1 lb14.11 kg138 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.3%). String 2 (D2) deviates most: +17% from the set average.

Total tension
124.5 lb56.5 kg554 N
Average per string
31.1 lb14.11 kg138 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.3%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04028.7 lb13.03 kg128 N2D2.06036.3 lb16.45 kg161 N3A1.07531.4 lb14.24 kg140 N4E1.09528.1 lb12.75 kg125 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 .040XLB040wound 28.7 lb13.03 kg128 N−8%
2D273.4 .060XLB060wound 36.3 lb16.45 kg161 N+17%
3A155.0 .075XLB075wound 31.4 lb14.24 kg140 N+1%
4E141.2 .095XLB095wound 28.1 lb12.75 kg125 N−10%
Total124.5 lb56.5 kg554 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in E standard (bass), 32"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
EXL220 (this page) 40-60-75-9531.1 lb14.11 kg138 N 124.5 lb56.5 kg554 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14002 40-60-75-9533.0 lb14.98 kg147 N 132.1 lb59.9 kg588 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EPS165 45-65-85-10535.8 lb16.23 kg159 N 143.1 lb64.9 kg636 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14652 45-65-80-10036.1 lb16.39 kg161 N 144.5 lb65.5 kg643 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL170 45-65-80-10036.7 lb16.66 kg163 N 146.9 lb66.6 kg653 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-10537.9 lb17.19 kg169 N 151.6 lb68.8 kg674 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard (bass), 32"

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 11.1%, average 41.4 lb18.79 kg184 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 14077 45-65-85-105 deviation 11.5%, average 40.4 lb18.34 kg180 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14087, 14677
  3. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 13.7%, average 42.0 lb19.03 kg187 N, uneven

More for the EXL220

E standard (bass) on other scales: 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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