D'Addario EPS170-5 XL ProSteels 5-String Bass (.045–.130): the all-purpose bright stainless five-string round

Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team · 2026-08-24

D'Addario

EPS170-5 XL ProSteels 5-String Bass Regular Light (.045–.130)

.45–.130

D'Addario EPS170-5 is the Regular Light five-string set in the XL ProSteels bass family, .045 to .130, stainless-steel roundwound on a hex steel core, long scale. It is the all-purpose ProSteels five-string gauge: a manageable .130 low B, plus the same .045 to .100 core as the four-string EPS170. ProSteels is the brighter, more aggressive sister line to XL Nickel Wound, harmonic-rich and articulate where nickel reads warm.

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How it rates (0–10)

CYS editorial

Output7

Brightness9

Warmth4

Tension5

Flexibility6

Longevity6

Our editorial read of how this product behaves, scored relative to others in its class. A guide, not a lab measurement.

Anatomy

Model: D'Addario EPS170-5 XL ProSteels 5-String Bass Regular Light
Family: D'Addario XL ProSteels Bass (stainless-steel roundwound)
Five-string gauges: EPS170-5 Regular Light (.045–.130, this set), EPS165-5 Regular Light Top and Medium Bottom (.045–.135), EPS160-5 Medium (.050–.135)
Gauge: .045 – .130 (Regular Light)
Gauge set: .045, .065, .080, .100, .130
String count: 5 strings
Core wire: Hex steel
Wrap wire: Stainless steel (D'Addario ProSteels alloy)
Coating: None, uncoated
Winding: Roundwound
Intended scale: Long-scale (34") fits most production 5-string basses: Fender fives, Music Man StingRay 5, Spector, Warwick, Lakland, Ibanez SR
Intended tunings: Bass B standard (5-string) primary; the E, A, D, G core also covers standard four-string tuning
Tension at B standard: See D'Addario's published per-string tension chart on the product page. The .045 to .100 top four match the four-string EPS170; the added .130 low B raises total tension
Made in: United States (D'Addario manufacturing in Farmingdale, NY)
Package: Single pack, recyclable VCI bag with Players Circle code

Why this is the all-purpose stainless five-string pick

The default five-string ProSteels gauge: EPS170-5 (.045–.130) is the Regular Light five-string set most working bassists reach for first. The top four strings are the same .045 to .100 you know from the four-string EPS170, and the added .130 low B is manageable rather than a fence post. If you do not know which ProSteels five-string gauge you need, this is the one.
Stainless wrap, hex core: Stainless-steel wrap delivers more harmonic content and a sharper attack than nickel-plated. The hex core gives the wrap stable mechanical grip and tight intonation. The combination is what makes ProSteels read as bright and articulate where XL Nickel Wound reads warm and rounded, and it is why the low B stays defined instead of turning to mud.
A low B that speaks: The .130 B is the quickest-responding low string in the five-string ProSteels line because it is the lightest of the three common B gauges. It tracks fast under fingers and pick, and the stainless brightness keeps the fundamental clear. If you tune the B down or want it to feel tighter, step up to the .135 low B on EPS165-5 or EPS160-5.
D'Addario manufacturing consistency: D'Addario's NY production is the industry's tightest-tolerance bass-string manufacturing. Set-to-set consistency means the EPS170-5 you string this week feels like the one you strung six months ago, which matters for working bassists who restring per tour leg or before sessions.

The three ProSteels five-string gauges compared

All three are XL ProSteels. Same stainless wrap, same hex core, same long-scale fit. The gauge is the only variable, and on a five-string it changes the feel of the low B and the mass under your fingers more than the numbers suggest.

	EPS170-5 Regular Light (.045–.130)	EPS165-5 Light Top / Medium Bottom (.045–.135)	EPS160-5 Medium (.050–.135)
Gauge set	.045, .065, .080, .100, .130	.045, .065, .085, .105, .135	.050, .070, .085, .105, .135
Top-string feel	Lightest, fastest .045 G	Light .045 G top	Fuller .050 G, more push
Low B	.130, articulate and quick	.135, thicker and tighter	.135, thicker and tighter
Best tuning lane	B standard, all-purpose	B standard, low-B focus	B standard, dig-in and detune
Fretting effort	Lowest	Low up top, firmer bottom	Firmer overall
Pick this when	Versatility and comfort	Light top over a beefier low B	Maximum mass and grip

The decision rule mirrors the four-string ProSteels line. Lightest and most versatile, EPS170-5. A light top with a beefier low end, the EPS165-5. Maximum mass under the pick and the firmest low B, the EPS160-5. Same alloy, same bass, same brightness. Start with the Regular Light unless you already know you want more tension.

Verdict

EPS170-5 ProSteels is the all-purpose bright stainless five-string round, the gauge to reach for first when you want ProSteels tone with a low B and no interest in fighting a heavy set. The .045 to .100 top four feel exactly like the four-string EPS170, so nothing about the neck changes except that you now have a .130 B underneath, articulate, quick, and clear thanks to the stainless wrap and hex core.

If you dig in hard with a pick, want more mass under the fingers, or tune the low B down, step up to the Medium EPS160-5 or the light-top, medium-bottom EPS165-5. For nickel warmth instead of stainless bite, the exact tonal alternative at this gauge is the nickel-plated EXL170-5.

D'Addario manufactures bass strings in Farmingdale, NY, with the tightest tolerances in the industry. Set-to-set consistency is the practical reason working bassists trust D'Addario for session and tour discipline.

View D'Addario EPS170-5 XL ProSteels 5-String Bass Regular Light (.045–.130) on Amazon

Want a thicker, tighter low B and more push? Step up to D'Addario EPS160-5 ProSteels Medium (.050–.135).
Want a light top over a beefier bottom? See D'Addario EPS165-5 ProSteels Light Top / Medium Bottom (.045–.135).
Play four-string too? The four-string D'Addario EPS170 (.045–.100) is the same Regular Light gauge without the low B.
Adding a high C? The six-string D'Addario EPS170-6 (.032–.130) is this set plus a .032 top string.
Steel or nickel for bass? Compare them in nickel vs steel strings.
New to restringing a bass? Follow our how to change bass strings guide.

Frequently asked questions

What gauge is D'Addario EPS170-5?

.045, .065, .080, .100, .130. Long-scale (34-inch) fit, 5-string. EPS170-5 is the Regular Light gauge of the XL ProSteels five-string family, the all-purpose five-string ProSteels set. Its top four strings match the four-string EPS170 (.045 to .100); the added .130 low B is what makes it a five-string. Among the common five-string ProSteels gauges it sits below the EPS165-5 Light Top and Medium Bottom (.045 to .135) and the EPS160-5 Medium (.050 to .135).

What is the string tension of EPS170-5?

D'Addario publishes a full per-string tension chart on the EPS170-5 product page. Check the numbers there; we do not reprint guessed figures. In feel, the .045 to .100 top four match the four-string EPS170, so the neck tension you already know carries over, and the added .130 low B is the thickest, stiffest string in the set. Total tension is higher than the four-string set because of that fifth string, but the four strings you fret most feel the same.

What's the difference between EPS170-5 and EPS160-5?

Gauge, not alloy. Both are XL ProSteels, stainless-steel roundwound on a hex steel core, long scale, five-string. EPS170-5 is Regular Light (.045 to .130): easier fretting, faster response, an articulate .130 B. EPS160-5 is Medium (.050 to .135): a thicker spread with a stiffer, more authoritative feel that holds up better when you dig in with a pick or tune the low B down. Start with EPS170-5 unless you want more mass under the fingers.

What's the difference between ProSteels and D'Addario XL Nickel Wound?

Wrap alloy. ProSteels (EPS series) uses a stainless-steel wrap; XL Nickel Wound (EXL series) uses nickel-plated steel. Same hex steel core, same long-scale fit, same gauge ranges across both lines. Stainless reads brighter, with more harmonic content, more aggressive attack, and more finger and pick noise. Nickel reads warmer and rounder. The closest nickel match to EPS170-5 is EXL170-5, the same .045 to .130 Light gauge in nickel-plated wrap. Pick by sonic goal, not by quality.

RelatedNickel vs steel bass strings

Which bassists play D'Addario ProSteels?

D'Addario's bass roster is one of the deepest in the industry: Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica, Voivod, Newsted), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Mike Inez (Alice in Chains), Cliff Williams (AC/DC, retired), Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne), Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck / NIN session), and Bryan Beller (Aristocrats / Joe Satriani / Dethklok) are documented D'Addario artists. Specific ProSteels-vs-XL-Nickel and exact-gauge attribution per artist, including who runs a five-string EPS170-5, requires primary-source citation. CYS flags the line where Sleuth has a documented source and flags it unconfirmed where we don't. We do not fabricate gear claims.

Will EPS170-5 fit my 5-string bass?

Yes, if your bass is long scale. The 34-inch fit covers most production five-string basses: Fender and Squier five-strings, Music Man StingRay 5, Spector, Warwick, Lakland, Yamaha, and Ibanez SR fives. Confirm your bass is long scale before buying, some five-strings are 35-inch super-long scale and need a super-long set. If you are unsure, measure from the nut to the bridge saddle or check the maker's spec sheet.

Are ProSteels coated?

No. EPS170-5 ships uncoated stainless. D'Addario's coated options are the XT and XS lines; uncoated ProSteels is the standard SKU and the one most bassists prefer for the unfiltered stainless high-frequency content and pick attack. Stainless roundwound also holds its brightness longer than nickel-plated roundwound, so the trade for skipping a coating is smaller on this alloy.