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

Elixir 14702 (50-70-85-105) in Drop D (bass) on a 34" scale

NANOWEB Stainless Bass (coated) 4-String Medium, Long Scale (50-105) on a bass with a 34" scale, tuned to Drop D (bass) (G2 D2 A1 D1), pulls 179.5 lb81.4 kg799 N in total and 44.9 lb20.36 kg200 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 21.8%). String 4 (D1) deviates most: −35% from the set average.

Total tension
179.5 lb81.4 kg799 N
Average per string
44.9 lb20.36 kg200 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 21.8%

Tension per string

0204060lb01020kg0100200Nmedium (45-105)set average1G2.05049.0 lb22.24 kg218 N2D2.07056.0 lb25.42 kg249 N3A1.08545.0 lb20.43 kg200 N4D1.10529.4 lb13.33 kg131 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 49.0 lb22.24 kg218 N+9%
2D273.4 .070BSN070wound 56.0 lb25.42 kg249 N+25%
3A155.0 .085BSN085wound 45.0 lb20.43 kg200 N+0%
4D136.7 .105BSN105wound 29.4 lb13.33 kg131 N−35%
Total179.5 lb81.4 kg799 N

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Similar sets in Drop D (bass), 34"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL165 45-65-85-10541.6 lb18.89 kg185 N 166.6 lb75.6 kg741 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14077 45-65-85-10543.6 lb19.77 kg194 N 174.4 lb79.1 kg776 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 14087 45-65-85-10543.6 lb19.77 kg194 N 174.4 lb79.1 kg776 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario ECB81 45-65-80-10044.7 lb20.27 kg199 N 178.7 lb81.1 kg795 Nmediumuneven
14702 (this page) 50-70-85-10544.9 lb20.36 kg200 N 179.5 lb81.4 kg799 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL160 50-70-85-10545.4 lb20.59 kg202 N 181.6 lb82.4 kg808 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 14702

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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