D'Addario EPS170 XL ProSteels Bass (.045–.100): the all-purpose bright stainless bass round
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
D'Addario EPS170 is the Regular Light gauge of the XL ProSteels bass family, .045 to .100, stainless-steel roundwound on a hex steel core, long-scale 4-string. It is the all-purpose ProSteels gauge: light enough for fast fingerstyle and slap, heavy enough for E standard and Drop D without flopping. ProSteels is the brighter, more aggressive sister line to XL Nickel Wound, harmonic-rich and articulate where nickel is warm and rounded.
Anatomy
- Model
- D'Addario EPS170 XL ProSteels Bass Regular Light
- Family
- D'Addario XL ProSteels Bass (stainless-steel roundwound)
- Variants
- EPS220 Super Light (.040–.095), EPS190 Custom Light (.040–.100), EPS170 Regular Light (.045–.100, this set), EPS165 Regular Light Top and Medium Bottom (.045–.105), EPS230 Heavy (.055–.110)
- Gauge
- .045 – .100 (Regular Light)
- Gauge set
- .045, .065, .080, .100
- String count
- 4 strings
- Core wire
- Hex steel
- Wrap wire
- Stainless steel (D'Addario ProSteels alloy)
- Coating
- None, uncoated
- Winding
- Roundwound
- Intended scale
- Long-scale (34") fits Fender Precision, Jazz, Music Man StingRay, Spector, Warwick, Lakland, most production 4-string basses
- Intended tunings
- Bass E standard primary; handles Eb standard and Drop D comfortably
- Tension at E standard
- .045 G 39.7 lbs, .065 D 44.9 lbs, .080 A 37.1 lbs, .100 E 32.1 lbs (about 154 lbs total)
- 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 bass pick
- The default ProSteels gauge
- EPS170 (.045–.100) is the Regular Light gauge most working bassists reach for first. Heavy enough for E standard and Drop D without flopping, light enough for fast fingerstyle and clean slap without wrist fatigue. If you do not know which ProSteels gauge you need, this is the one.
- Stainless wrap, hex core
- Stainless-steel wrap delivers more harmonic content and a sharper pick 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.
- Lower tension, faster feel
- At about 154 lbs total, EPS170 is roughly 47 lbs lighter than the Heavy EPS230. That shows up as easier fretting up the neck and a quicker response under the fingers. The trade is a thinner low E that can go slack if you tune below Eb, which is when you step up a gauge.
- 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 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.
EPS170 Regular Light vs EPS230 Heavy: which gauge
Both are XL ProSteels. Same stainless wrap, same hex core, same long-scale fit. The gauge is the only variable, and on bass it changes the feel and the low end more than people expect.
| EPS170 Regular Light (.045–.100) | EPS230 Heavy (.055–.110) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge set | .045, .065, .080, .100 | .055, .075, .090, .110 |
| Total tension (E std) | About 154 lbs | About 201 lbs |
| Low E feel | Easy, flexible, fast | Thick, tight, authoritative |
| Best tuning lane | E standard and Eb, all-purpose | E standard, Eb, Drop D and lower |
| Fretting effort | Lower, friendlier for long sets | Higher, especially up the neck |
| Down-tuning | Can go slack below Eb | Stays defined detuned |
| Slap and fingerstyle | Fast, articulate, easy | Present but stiffer |
| Pick this when | Standard tuning, versatility, comfort | Heavy, down-tuned, pick-driven |
The decision rule is simple. Easier and more versatile, EPS170. Heavier and lower, the EPS230. Same player, same bass, same alloy. Start with the Light gauge unless you know you down-tune.
Verdict
EPS170 ProSteels is the all-purpose bright stainless bass round, the gauge to reach for first when you want ProSteels tone without committing to a heavy set. The .045 to .100 Light gauge covers E standard, Eb, and Drop D cleanly; fingerstyle stays fast, slap stays present, and the stainless wrap delivers the harmonic content and pick-attack clarity that make ProSteels the brighter alternative to XL Nickel Wound.
If you down-tune below Eb or dig in hard with a pick and want a thicker low E, step up to the Heavy EPS230. For everything else in standard tuning, the Light gauge is the easier, faster, more versatile ride with the same tone signature.
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.
EPS170 XL ProSteels Bass Regular Light (.045–.100)
Why this one: The all-purpose bright stainless bass round: light enough for fast fingerstyle and slap, bright enough to cut, the ProSteels gauge to start with.
Related
- Want nickel instead of stainless? D'Addario EXL170 Nickel Wound Bass (.045–.100) is the closest nickel match at the identical gauge.
- Down-tune or dig in hard? Step up to the heavier D'Addario EPS230 ProSteels Heavy (.055–.110).
- Want more push without the full step to Heavy? D'Addario EPS160 ProSteels Medium (.050–.105) sits between this gauge and EPS230.
- For when bright stainless strings start to dull, see bass string longevity.
- New to restringing a bass? Follow our how to change bass strings guide.
- Steel or nickel for bass? Compare them in nickel vs steel strings.