D'Addario EPS230 XL ProSteels Bass (.055–.110): the heaviest, brightest stainless bass round
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
D'Addario EPS230 is the Heavy gauge of the XL ProSteels bass family, .055 to .110, stainless-steel roundwound on a hex steel core, long-scale 4-string. It is D'Addario's heaviest standard bass set and its brightest. ProSteels trades the warmth of XL Nickel Wound for harmonic content, pick-attack clarity, and tight-and-tough lows. The lane is heavy rock through metal and down-tuning, where the low E needs authority and the mix needs cut.
Anatomy
- Model
- D'Addario EPS230 XL ProSteels Bass Heavy
- 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), EPS165 Regular Light Top and Medium Bottom (.045–.105), EPS230 Heavy (.055–.110, this set)
- Gauge
- .055 – .110 (Heavy)
- Gauge set
- .055, .075, .090, .110
- 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 with authority; built for Eb standard, Drop D, and lower where the heavy low E earns its keep
- Tension at E standard
- .055 G 57.6 lbs, .075 D 58.4 lbs, .090 A 47.2 lbs, .110 E 38.2 lbs (about 201 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 heavy-gauge stainless bass pick
- D'Addario's heaviest standard set
- EPS230 (.055–.110) is the heaviest 4-string gauge in the XL ProSteels line. The thick low E gives down-tuned and pick-driven parts a fundamental that stays defined instead of going slack. If a Light or Medium set feels rubbery when you dig in or detune, this is the fix.
- 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 across the heavier gauges. The combination is what makes ProSteels read as bright and aggressive in any rock-through-metal context.
- Tension that defies the gauge
- The .110 low E is actually the lowest-tension string in the set at 38.2 lbs, and the .075 D is the highest at 58.4 lbs. So a Heavy set still fingers easily on the low string while staying tight under the higher strings. Heavy gauge, not heavy hands.
- D'Addario manufacturing consistency
- D'Addario's NY production is the industry's tightest-tolerance bass-string manufacturing. Set-to-set consistency means the EPS230 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.
EPS230 Heavy vs EPS170 Regular Light: which gauge
Both are XL ProSteels. Same stainless wrap, same hex core, same long-scale fit. The only thing that changes is the gauge, and that changes the feel and the low end more than people expect.
| EPS230 Heavy (.055–.110) | EPS170 Regular Light (.045–.100) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge set | .055, .075, .090, .110 | .045, .065, .080, .100 |
| Total tension (E std) | About 201 lbs | About 154 lbs |
| Low E feel | Thick, tight, authoritative | Easy, flexible, fast |
| Best tuning lane | E standard, Eb, Drop D and lower | E standard and Eb, all-purpose |
| Pick attack | Holds together when you dig in | Lighter, quicker response |
| Down-tuning | Stays defined detuned | Can go slack below Eb |
| Fretting effort | Higher, especially up the neck | Lower, friendlier for long sets |
| Pick this when | Heavy, down-tuned, pick-driven | Standard tuning, versatility, comfort |
The decision rule is simple. Heavier and lower, EPS230. Easier and more versatile, the lighter EPS170. Same player, same bass, same alloy. The gauge is the only variable, and it is the one you feel under your fingers and hear on the low E.
Verdict
EPS230 ProSteels is the heavy stainless bass round you reach for when the part needs a low E with authority. The .055 to .110 Heavy gauge is built for down-tuning and pick-driven attack: the thick low string stays defined at E standard, Eb, and Drop D where a lighter set would go rubbery, and the stainless wrap delivers the harmonic content and cut that hard rock and metal expect from bass.
Watch the fretting effort. A Heavy set asks more of your hands, especially up the neck. If you play standard tuning and want comfort and speed, the lighter EPS170 is the friendlier ride with the same tone signature. If you down-tune, dig in with a pick, or need the bass to push through a wall of guitars, the heavier set is the right call.
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.
EPS230 XL ProSteels Bass Heavy (.055–.110)
Why this one: The heavy stainless bass round for down-tuning and pick attack: a .110 low E that stays tight where lighter sets go slack.
Related
- Want the easier, all-purpose gauge in the same line? Compare the lighter D'Addario EPS170 ProSteels Regular Light (.045–.100).
- Want less than EPS230's full heft but more than EPS170? D'Addario EPS160 ProSteels Medium (.050–.105) is the middle gauge in the same stainless line.
- 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.