D'Addario EXL165 XL Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings — Custom Light, 45-105, Long Scale
Why Hybrid Gauge Bass Strings Might Be For You
Why Hybrid Gauge Bass Strings Might Be For You
D'Addario | When you know you know!
D'Addario | When you know you know!
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For over three centuries, the D'Addario brand has been synonymous with musical excellence, tracing its roots back to the Italian town of Salle, where the craft of string making began.
Today, that enduring legacy continues, making D'Addario the world's most trusted name in guitar strings and premium musical accessories.
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Why buy D'Addario from us?
Description
Description
The Best Of Both Standard Bass Gauges In A Single Set — D'Addario EXL165 XL Nickel Wound, Custom Light 45-105
The D'Addario EXL165 is a four-string XL Nickel Wound bass guitar string set in the custom light 45-105 gauge, designed for long-scale basses with a scale length of up to 36.25 inches. It is a hybrid set, combining the lighter top two gauges of the EXL170 (.045 G and .065 D) with the heavier bottom two gauges of the EXL160 (.085 A and .105 E). All four strings are round wound with nickel-plated steel wrap wire over D'Addario's proprietary hexagonal high-carbon steel core, produced to the same precision standards as every other string in the XL range at D'Addario's New York manufacturing facility using digitally controlled winding equipment.
The hybrid construction gives the EXL165 a deliberately asymmetric tension profile: the top two strings are lighter and more responsive, while the bottom two strings carry more mass for a firmer, more defined low end. This balance suits players who want easy, nimble feel on the G and D strings for melodic playing and upper-register work, paired with a punchy, authoritative A and E string that can hold its own in a full-band mix without sounding thin.
The Hybrid Gauge Concept
The gauge relationship between the four strings in a bass set directly affects how the instrument feels and sounds. A conventional set like the EXL170 keeps the tension profile relatively even across all four strings, which works well for most playing. But some bassists — particularly those who play with heavier right-hand technique, who play in drop-D or other low tunings, or who simply prefer more resistance and output on the lower strings — find that the A and E in a 45-100 set don't give them quite enough. The EXL165 answers that by stepping up the A from .080 to .085 and the E from .100 to .105, adding tension and mass to the lower strings while keeping the familiar .045 and .065 on top. It is D'Addario's most direct answer to players who want something between the two most popular standard gauges.
Hex Core Construction And Nickel-Plated Steel Wrap
D'Addario's hexagonal core was designed specifically to address a problem common to round-core strings: wrap wire that can rotate during winding, leading to inconsistent winding pitch and unpredictable intonation. The six-sided geometry of the hex core grips the wrap wire at each facet, locking it in position and ensuring the winding is consistent along the full length of every string. Paired with nickel-plated steel wrap wire — chosen for its balance of brightness, magnetic output, and playing comfort — the hex core construction is central to the EXL range's long-standing reputation for accurate intonation and consistent performance set after set.
Gauges: .045, .065, .017, .085, .105
KEY FEATURES: D'Addario EXL165 XL Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings — Custom Light, 45-105, Long Scale
- Hybrid Custom Light Gauge: .045/.065 top strings from EXL170, .085/.105 bottom strings from EXL160.
- Lighter Top, Heavier Bottom: Bright, articulate highs with firmer, punchier low end.
- Nickel-Plated Steel Wrap: Clear fundamentals and strong magnetic pickup output.
- Proprietary Hex Core: Consistent intonation and dimensional stability across all strings.
- Long Scale: Fits basses with scale length up to 36.25 inches.
- Round Wound, Uncoated: Full, immediate tonal response from the first play.
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Made In The USA: Produced at D'Addario's New York manufacturing facility.
Specification
Specification
What's in the box?
What's in the box?
Downloads & Manuals
Downloads & Manuals
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