String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

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

Elixir 14702 (50-70-85-105) in E standard (bass) on a 32" scale

NANOWEB Stainless Bass (coated) 4-String Medium, Long Scale (50-105) on a bass with a 32" scale, tuned to E standard (bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 165.8 lb75.2 kg737 N in total and 41.4 lb18.80 kg184 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 14.7%). String 4 (E1) deviates most: −21% from the set average.

Total tension
165.8 lb75.2 kg737 N
Average per string
41.4 lb18.80 kg184 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.7%

Tension per string

02040lb01020kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.05043.4 lb19.70 kg193 N2D2.07049.6 lb22.52 kg221 N3A1.08539.9 lb18.10 kg177 N4E1.10532.8 lb14.88 kg146 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 .050BSN050wound 43.4 lb19.70 kg193 N+5%
2D273.4 .070BSN070wound 49.6 lb22.52 kg221 N+20%
3A155.0 .085BSN085wound 39.9 lb18.10 kg177 N−4%
4E141.2 .105BSN105wound 32.8 lb14.88 kg146 N−21%
Total165.8 lb75.2 kg737 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in E standard (bass), 32"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-10538.6 lb17.52 kg172 N 154.5 lb70.1 kg687 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10540.4 lb18.34 kg180 N 161.8 lb73.4 kg720 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10540.4 lb18.34 kg180 N 161.8 lb73.4 kg720 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-10041.4 lb18.79 kg184 N 165.7 lb75.2 kg737 Nmediummoderately uneven
14702 (this page) 50-70-85-10541.4 lb18.80 kg184 N 165.8 lb75.2 kg737 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-10542.0 lb19.03 kg187 N 167.8 lb76.1 kg746 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard (bass), 32"

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

  1. D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-100 deviation 11.1%, average 41.4 lb18.79 kg184 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 14077 45-65-85-105 deviation 11.5%, average 40.4 lb18.34 kg180 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 14087, 14677
  3. D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-105 deviation 13.7%, average 42.0 lb19.03 kg187 N, uneven

More for the 14702

Other tunings on 32": Eb standard (bass)

E standard (bass) on other scales: 30", 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