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Elixir · NANOWEB Nickel Bass (coated) · 45-65-85-105-135

Elixir 14207 (45-65-85-105-135) in Drop A (5-string bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

NANOWEB Nickel Bass (coated) 5-String Light/Medium, Long Scale (45-135) on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to Drop A (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 A0), pulls 228.6 lb103.7 kg1017 N in total and 45.7 lb20.74 kg203 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 15.7%). String 5 (A0) deviates most: −26% from the set average.

Total tension
228.6 lb103.7 kg1017 N
Average per string
45.7 lb20.74 kg203 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 15.7%

Tension per string

0204060lb01020kg0100200Nmedium (45-105)set average1G2.04542.9 lb19.47 kg191 N2D2.06553.7 lb24.37 kg239 N3A1.08552.5 lb23.81 kg233 N4E1.10545.6 lb20.69 kg203 N5A0.13533.9 lb15.36 kg151 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 .045BNN045wound 34" 42.9 lb19.47 kg191 N−6%
2D273.4 .065BNN065wound 34.75" 53.7 lb24.37 kg239 N+18%
3A155.0 .085BNN085wound 35.5" 52.5 lb23.81 kg233 N+15%
4E141.2 .105BNN105wound 36.25" 45.6 lb20.69 kg203 N−0%
5A027.5 .135BNN135wound 37" 33.9 lb15.36 kg151 N−26%
Total228.6 lb103.7 kg1017 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
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
14207 (this page) 45-65-85-105-13545.7 lb20.74 kg203 N 228.6 lb103.7 kg1017 Ntightuneven

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 14207

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

Drop A (5-string bass) on other scales: 34", 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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