String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

Elixir · NANOWEB Nickel Bass (coated) · 45-65-80-100

Elixir 14052 (45-65-80-100) in Eb standard (bass) on a 34" scale

NANOWEB Nickel Bass (coated) 4-String Light, Long Scale (45-100) on a bass with a 34" scale, tuned to Eb standard (bass) (Gb2 Db2 Ab1 Eb1), pulls 154.5 lb70.1 kg687 N in total and 38.6 lb17.52 kg172 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.9%). String 2 (Db2) deviates most: +19% from the set average.

Total tension
154.5 lb70.1 kg687 N
Average per string
38.6 lb17.52 kg172 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

02040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1Gb2.04538.2 lb17.34 kg170 N2Db2.06545.8 lb20.79 kg204 N3Ab1.08037.4 lb16.99 kg167 N4Eb1.10033.0 lb14.96 kg147 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
1Gb292.5 .045BNN045wound 38.2 lb17.34 kg170 N−1%
2Db269.3 .065BNN065wound 45.8 lb20.79 kg204 N+19%
3Ab151.9 .080BNN080wound 37.4 lb16.99 kg167 N−3%
4Eb138.9 .100BNN100wound 33.0 lb14.96 kg147 N−15%
Total154.5 lb70.1 kg687 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Eb standard (bass), 34"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL170 45-65-80-10036.9 lb16.75 kg164 N 147.7 lb67.0 kg657 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-10538.1 lb17.29 kg170 N 152.5 lb69.2 kg678 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL45105 45-65-85-10538.1 lb17.30 kg170 N 152.6 lb69.2 kg679 Nloosemoderately uneven
14052 (this page) 45-65-80-10038.6 lb17.52 kg172 N 154.5 lb70.1 kg687 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-10538.9 lb17.62 kg173 N 155.4 lb70.5 kg691 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10540.7 lb18.45 kg181 N 162.7 lb73.8 kg724 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard (bass), 34"

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 10.9%, average 41.7 lb18.90 kg185 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 14077 45-65-85-105 deviation 11.2%, average 40.7 lb18.45 kg181 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14087, 14677
  3. D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-105 deviation 13.4%, average 38.9 lb17.62 kg173 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL45105, EPS165

More for the 14052

Other tunings on 34": E standard (bass), Drop D (bass), D standard (bass)

Eb standard (bass) on other scales: 32", 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.

Sources