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Elixir · NANOWEB Nickel Bass (coated) · 45-65-85-105-130

Elixir 14202 (45-65-85-105-130) in B standard (5-string bass) on a 30" scale

NANOWEB Nickel Bass (coated) 5-String Light, Long Scale (45-130) on a bass with a 30" scale, tuned to B standard (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 B0), pulls 168.7 lb76.5 kg750 N in total and 33.7 lb15.30 kg150 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 14.1%). String 5 (B0) deviates most: −21% from the set average.

Total tension
168.7 lb76.5 kg750 N
Average per string
33.7 lb15.30 kg150 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.1%

Tension per string

010203040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04533.4 lb15.16 kg149 N2D2.06540.0 lb18.16 kg178 N3A1.08537.5 lb17.00 kg167 N4E1.10531.2 lb14.17 kg139 N5B0.13026.5 lb12.02 kg118 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 .045BNN045wound 33.4 lb15.16 kg149 N−1%
2D273.4 .065BNN065wound 40.0 lb18.16 kg178 N+19%
3A155.0 .085BNN085wound 37.5 lb17.00 kg167 N+11%
4E141.2 .105BNN105wound 31.2 lb14.17 kg139 N−7%
5B030.9 .130BNN130wound 26.5 lb12.02 kg118 N−21%
Total168.7 lb76.5 kg750 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in B standard (5-string bass), 30"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-13532.6 lb14.79 kg145 N 163.1 lb74.0 kg725 Nloosemoderately uneven
14202 (this page) 45-65-85-105-13033.7 lb15.30 kg150 N 168.7 lb76.5 kg750 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 14207 45-65-85-105-13534.0 lb15.44 kg151 N 170.2 lb77.2 kg757 Nlooseuneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard (5-string bass), 30"

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 24.0%, average 34.0 lb15.44 kg151 N, uneven; same gauges: 14782
  2. Elixir 14202 45-65-85-105-130 deviation 25.1%, average 33.7 lb15.30 kg150 N, uneven; same gauges: 14777
  3. D'Addario EXL165-5 45-65-85-105-135 deviation 26.6%, average 32.6 lb14.79 kg145 N, moderately uneven

More for the 14202

B standard (5-string bass) on other scales: 32", 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.

Sources