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

D'Addario NYXL45130 (45-65-80-100-130) in Drop A (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 Drop A (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 A0), pulls 202.0 lb91.6 kg898 N in total and 40.4 lb18.32 kg180 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 14.9%). String 5 (A0) deviates most: −23% from the set average.

Total tension
202.0 lb91.6 kg898 N
Average per string
40.4 lb18.32 kg180 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.9%

Tension per string

02040lb01020kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04540.3 lb18.29 kg179 N2D2.06549.8 lb22.57 kg221 N3A1.08041.9 lb19.00 kg186 N4E1.10039.0 lb17.70 kg174 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
1G298.0 .045NYXLB045wound 34" 40.3 lb18.29 kg179 N−0%
2D273.4 .065NYXLB065wound 34.75" 49.8 lb22.57 kg221 N+23%
3A155.0 .080NYXLB080wound 35.5" 41.9 lb19.00 kg186 N+4%
4E141.2 .100NYXLB100wound 36.25" 39.0 lb17.70 kg174 N−3%
5A027.5 .130NYXLB130wound 37" 30.9 lb14.04 kg138 N−23%
Total202.0 lb91.6 kg898 N

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

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL45130 (this page) 45-65-80-100-13040.4 lb18.32 kg180 N 202.0 lb91.6 kg898 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL170-5 45-65-80-100-13041.3 lb18.74 kg184 N 206.6 lb93.7 kg919 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14777 45-65-85-105-13042.5 lb19.27 kg189 N 212.5 lb96.4 kg945 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-13542.7 lb19.36 kg190 N 213.4 lb96.8 kg949 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-13543.8 lb19.85 kg195 N 218.8 lb99.3 kg973 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-13045.3 lb20.57 kg202 N 226.7 lb102.8 kg1009 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A (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. D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 14.4%, average 43.8 lb19.85 kg195 N, uneven
  2. Elixir 14782 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 15.3%, average 42.7 lb19.36 kg190 N, uneven; same gauges: 14207
  3. D'Addario NYXL45130 45-65-80-100-130 deviation 15.6%, average 40.4 lb18.32 kg180 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL170-5

More for the NYXL45130

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

Drop A (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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