D'Addario EXL170 XL Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings — Regular Light, 45-100, Long Scale

The Industry Standard In Bass Strings, Set After Set — D'Addario EXL170 XL Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings

The D'Addario EXL170 is a set of four XL Nickel Wound bass guitar strings in the 45-100 regular light gauge, designed for long-scale basses with a scale length of up to 36.25 inches. The strings are round wound, with nickel-plated steel wrap wire around a proprietary hex-core high-carbon steel centre. The hexagonal core — a construction pioneered by D'Addario — grips the wrap wire more securely than a round core, providing improved dimensional stability, consistent intonation along the full length of the string, and better durability over time. The nickel-plated steel wrap delivers the bright, articulate tone the EXL range is known for, with clear note definition, strong fundamental resonance, and a smooth playing surface that is comfortable under the fingers and gentler on frets than stainless steel alternatives. All D'Addario XL strings are produced at the company's New York facility using digitally controlled precision winding equipment, ensuring that every string in every set meets the same exacting tolerances.

Tone And Feel

The EXL170's nickel-plated steel wrap gives it a tone that sits slightly warmer and smoother than pure stainless steel strings while retaining the clarity and output that makes roundwounds the dominant choice for electric bass. The 45-100 gauge provides a comfortable playing tension that suits both fingerstyle and pick playing, and the round wound construction gives the strings the textured feel that fingerstyle players use for technique, slap, and popping. The strings are uncoated, which means they offer the brightest possible version of the nickel wound tone straight from the packet, with no tonal dampening from a coating layer.

Hex Core Construction

D'Addario's proprietary hex core is central to what makes the XL series perform consistently. Unlike a round core, which allows the wrap wire to rotate slightly during winding, a hexagonal core locks the wrap wire in a fixed position, ensuring the winding pitch is consistent along the entire length. This translates directly to accurate intonation at every fret, and to a string that maintains its tonal characteristics and intonation stability over a longer period of use than a round-core equivalent.

Scale Length And Compatibility

The EXL170 is wound for long-scale basses, covering scale lengths up to 36.25 inches. This suits the vast majority of standard electric basses, including 4-string instruments from Fender, Gibson, Music Man, Ibanez, Yamaha, and most other mainstream manufacturers. D'Addario also produces the EXL170 in medium, short, and super long scale variants for instruments with non-standard scale lengths.

Gauges: .045, .065, .080, .100

KEY FEATURES: D'Addario EXL170 XL Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings — Regular Light, 45-100, Long Scale

• Nickel-Plated Steel Wrap Wire: Bright, clear tone with strong magnetic output.
• Proprietary Hex Core: Grips wrap wire for consistent intonation and durability.
• 45-100 Regular Light Gauge: D'Addario's most popular bass string gauge.
• Long Scale: Fits basses with scale length up to 36.25 inches.
• Round Wound Construction: Classic feel and tone for all playing styles.
• Made In The USA: Produced at D'Addario's New York manufacturing facility.