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

Elixir 14652 (45-65-80-100) in Drop D (bass) on a 34" scale

NANOWEB Stainless Bass (coated) 4-String Light, Long Scale (45-100) on a bass with a 34" scale, tuned to Drop D (bass) (G2 D2 A1 D1), pulls 156.1 lb70.8 kg694 N in total and 39.0 lb17.70 kg174 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 18.9%). String 4 (D1) deviates most: −31% from the set average.

Total tension
156.1 lb70.8 kg694 N
Average per string
39.0 lb17.70 kg174 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 18.9%

Tension per string

02040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04542.0 lb19.07 kg187 N2D2.06547.0 lb21.34 kg209 N3A1.08040.0 lb18.16 kg178 N4D1.10027.0 lb12.25 kg120 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 .045BSN045wound 42.0 lb19.07 kg187 N+8%
2D273.4 .065BSN065wound 47.0 lb21.34 kg209 N+21%
3A155.0 .080BSN080wound 40.0 lb18.16 kg178 N+3%
4D136.7 .100BSN100wound 27.0 lb12.25 kg120 N−31%
Total156.1 lb70.8 kg694 N

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Similar sets in Drop D (bass), 34"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EPS165 45-65-85-10538.6 lb17.50 kg172 N 154.3 lb70.0 kg687 Nlooseuneven
14652 (this page) 45-65-80-10039.0 lb17.70 kg174 N 156.1 lb70.8 kg694 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL170 45-65-80-10039.7 lb17.99 kg176 N 158.7 lb72.0 kg706 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL45105 45-65-85-10540.9 lb18.54 kg182 N 163.5 lb74.1 kg727 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-10540.9 lb18.54 kg182 N 163.5 lb74.2 kg727 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14052 45-65-80-10041.4 lb18.80 kg184 N 165.8 lb75.2 kg737 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D (bass), 34"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-105 deviation 16.4%, average 41.6 lb18.89 kg185 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL45105, EPS165
  2. Elixir 14677 45-65-85-105 deviation 16.9%, average 40.9 lb18.54 kg182 N, uneven; same gauges: 14077, 14087
  3. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 18.4%, average 44.7 lb20.27 kg199 N, uneven

More for the 14652

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

Drop D (bass) on other scales: 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.

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