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D'Addario · NYXL Bass · 45-65-80-100-130

D'Addario NYXL45130 (45-65-80-100-130) in A standard (5-string bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

45-130 Regular Light 5-String, Long Scale, NYXL Bass Strings on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to A standard (5-string bass) (F2 C2 G1 D1 A0), pulls 166.7 lb75.6 kg741 N in total and 33.3 lb15.12 kg148 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.6%). String 2 (C2) deviates most: +18% from the set average.

Total tension
166.7 lb75.6 kg741 N
Average per string
33.3 lb15.12 kg148 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 9.6%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1F2.04532.0 lb14.52 kg142 N2C2.06539.5 lb17.92 kg176 N3G1.08033.3 lb15.08 kg148 N4D1.10031.0 lb14.05 kg138 N5A0.13030.9 lb14.04 kg138 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
1F287.3 .045NYXLB045wound 34" 32.0 lb14.52 kg142 N−4%
2C265.4 .065NYXLB065wound 34.75" 39.5 lb17.92 kg176 N+18%
3G149.0 .080NYXLB080wound 35.5" 33.3 lb15.08 kg148 N−0%
4D136.7 .100NYXLB100wound 36.25" 31.0 lb14.05 kg138 N−7%
5A027.5 .130NYXLB130wound 37" 30.9 lb14.04 kg138 N−7%
Total166.7 lb75.6 kg741 N

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

Similar sets in A standard (5-string bass), 34"–37" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL45130 (this page) 45-65-80-100-13033.3 lb15.12 kg148 N 166.7 lb75.6 kg741 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL170-5 45-65-80-100-13034.0 lb15.44 kg151 N 170.2 lb77.2 kg757 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-13035.0 lb15.86 kg156 N 174.8 lb79.3 kg778 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-13535.2 lb15.95 kg156 N 175.8 lb79.7 kg782 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-13536.1 lb16.37 kg161 N 180.5 lb81.9 kg803 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-13037.3 lb16.92 kg166 N 186.6 lb84.6 kg830 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in A standard (5-string bass), 34"–37" multiscale

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

  1. Elixir 14207 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 16.1%, average 37.7 lb17.09 kg168 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14782
  2. Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-130 deviation 17.3%, average 37.3 lb16.92 kg166 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14777
  3. D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 18.5%, average 36.1 lb16.37 kg161 N, moderately uneven

More for the NYXL45130

Other tunings on 34"–37" multiscale: B standard (5-string bass), Drop A (5-string bass)

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