String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

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

Elixir 14677 (45-65-85-105) in Drop D (bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

NANOWEB Stainless Bass (coated) 4-String Light/Medium, Long Scale (45-105) on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to Drop D (bass) (G2 D2 A1 D1), pulls 177.2 lb80.4 kg788 N in total and 44.3 lb20.09 kg197 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 14.5%). String 4 (D1) deviates most: −21% from the set average.

Total tension
177.2 lb80.4 kg788 N
Average per string
44.3 lb20.09 kg197 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.5%

Tension per string

02040lb01020kg0100200Nmedium (45-105)set average1G2.04542.0 lb19.07 kg187 N2D2.06549.8 lb22.61 kg222 N3A1.08550.5 lb22.90 kg225 N4D1.10534.8 lb15.79 kg155 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 .045BSN045wound 34" 42.0 lb19.07 kg187 N−5%
2D273.4 .065BSN065wound 35" 49.8 lb22.61 kg222 N+13%
3A155.0 .085BSN085wound 36" 50.5 lb22.90 kg225 N+14%
4D136.7 .105BSN105wound 37" 34.8 lb15.79 kg155 N−21%
Total177.2 lb80.4 kg788 N

Open in the calculator

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

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 14652 45-65-80-10042.2 lb19.14 kg188 N 168.7 lb76.5 kg751 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL170 45-65-80-10042.9 lb19.45 kg191 N 171.5 lb77.8 kg763 Nmediumuneven
14677 (this page) 45-65-85-10544.3 lb20.09 kg197 N 177.2 lb80.4 kg788 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL45105 45-65-85-10544.3 lb20.11 kg197 N 177.3 lb80.4 kg789 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14052 45-65-80-10044.8 lb20.34 kg199 N 179.4 lb81.4 kg798 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-10545.1 lb20.47 kg201 N 180.5 lb81.9 kg803 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D (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 EPS165 45-65-85-105 deviation 14.6%, average 41.8 lb18.96 kg186 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL165, NYXL45105
  2. Elixir 14677 45-65-85-105 deviation 14.8%, average 44.3 lb20.09 kg197 N, uneven; same gauges: 14077, 14087
  3. Elixir 14652 45-65-80-100 deviation 15.3%, average 42.2 lb19.14 kg188 N, uneven; same gauges: 14052

More for the 14677

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

Drop D (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.

Sources