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Elixir · NANOWEB Stainless Bass (coated) · 45-65-85-105-130

Elixir 14777 (45-65-85-105-130) in Drop A (5-string bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

NANOWEB Stainless Bass (coated) 5-String Light, Long Scale (45-130) on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to Drop A (5-string bass) (G2 D2 A1 E1 A0), pulls 212.5 lb96.4 kg945 N in total and 42.5 lb19.27 kg189 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 16.4%). String 5 (A0) deviates most: −29% from the set average.

Total tension
212.5 lb96.4 kg945 N
Average per string
42.5 lb19.27 kg189 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 16.4%

Tension per string

02040lb05101520kg050100150200Nset averagemedium (45-105)1G2.04542.0 lb19.07 kg187 N2D2.06549.1 lb22.29 kg219 N3A1.08549.1 lb22.27 kg218 N4E1.10542.1 lb19.09 kg187 N5A0.13030.1 lb13.65 kg134 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−1%
2D273.4 .065BSN065wound 34.75" 49.1 lb22.29 kg219 N+16%
3A155.0 .085BSN085wound 35.5" 49.1 lb22.27 kg218 N+16%
4E141.2 .105BSN105wound 36.25" 42.1 lb19.09 kg187 N−1%
5A027.5 .130BSN130wound 37" 30.1 lb13.65 kg134 N−29%
Total212.5 lb96.4 kg945 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 NYXL45130 45-65-80-100-13040.4 lb18.32 kg180 N 202.0 lb91.6 kg898 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL170-5 45-65-80-100-13041.3 lb18.74 kg184 N 206.6 lb93.7 kg919 Nmediumuneven
14777 (this page) 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

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 14777

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

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