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Elixir · NANOWEB Nickel Bass (coated) · 50-70-85-105

Elixir 14102 (50-70-85-105) in BEAD (bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

NANOWEB Nickel Bass (coated) 4-String Medium, Long Scale (50-105) on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to BEAD (bass) (D2 A1 E1 B0), pulls 122.4 lb55.5 kg545 N in total and 30.6 lb13.89 kg136 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.6%). String 2 (A1) deviates most: +17% from the set average.

Total tension
122.4 lb55.5 kg545 N
Average per string
30.6 lb13.89 kg136 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.6%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1D2.05029.8 lb13.50 kg132 N2A1.07035.7 lb16.20 kg159 N3E1.08530.3 lb13.74 kg135 N4B0.10526.7 lb12.10 kg119 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
1D273.4 .050BNN050wound 34" 29.8 lb13.50 kg132 N−3%
2A155.0 .070BNN070wound 35" 35.7 lb16.20 kg159 N+17%
3E141.2 .085BNN085wound 36" 30.3 lb13.74 kg135 N−1%
4B030.9 .105BNN105wound 37" 26.7 lb12.10 kg119 N−13%
Total122.4 lb55.5 kg545 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in BEAD (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
14102 (this page) 50-70-85-10530.6 lb13.89 kg136 N 122.4 lb55.5 kg545 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in BEAD (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

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

  1. Elixir 14102 50-70-85-105 deviation 30.7%, average 30.6 lb13.89 kg136 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14702
  2. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 34.5%, average 28.8 lb13.07 kg128 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 35.0%, average 28.5 lb12.93 kg127 N, moderately uneven

More for the 14102

Other tunings on 34"–37" multiscale: Eb standard (bass), D standard (bass), Drop C (bass), C standard (bass)

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