D'Addario NYXL50105 Bass (.050–.105): the reformulated nickel upgrade to EXL160
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
D'Addario NYXL50105 is the Medium gauge (.050 to .105) in D'Addario's premium NYXL bass line: a reformulated NY Steel hex core under a reformulated nickel-plated steel wrap, built for higher break strength and tuning stability than the standard XL Nickel bass line. Long scale, uncoated. D'Addario's own tension chart reads about 185.7 lbs total, slightly less than EXL160's 189.3 lbs despite the identical gauge.
What this set is
D'Addario NYXL50105 is the Medium gauge of the NYXL bass line, D'Addario's premium uncoated bass string built on a reformulated NY Steel hex core and a reformulated nickel-plated steel wrap. Same .050 to .105 long-scale gauge as the company's standard nickel bass set, EXL160, but with what D'Addario's own product page calls higher break strength, enhanced tuning stability, and accentuated harmonics versus its standard bass strings.
It's the upgrade path for a bassist who already plays EXL160 and wants more durability without changing gauge feel. D'Addario's own copy on this exact SKU describes the 50-105 Medium gauge as carrying higher tension for increased low-end response and output, the same boilerplate phrase the company uses verbatim on EXL160 and EPS160's own pages at this identical gauge. The wire still matters, though: D'Addario's own tension charts show NYXL50105 reading about 3.6 lbs lower total tension than EXL160 despite the identical .050-.105 numbers. What the NY Steel core and reformulated wrap change is durability and tuning stability under repeated use, plus a marginally looser feel, not a heavier one.
Anatomy
- Model
- D'Addario NYXL50105 Nickel Wound Bass Medium
- Family
- D'Addario NYXL Bass (reformulated nickel-plated steel roundwound)
- Variants
- NYXL4095 Super Light (.040-.095), NYXL45100 Regular Light (.045-.100), NYXL45105 Light Top/Medium Bottom (.045-.105), NYXL50105 Medium (.050-.105, this set), NYXL55110 Heavy (.055-.110)
- Gauge
- .050 - .105 (Medium)
- Gauge set
- .050, .070, .085, .105
- String count
- 4 strings
- Core wire
- NY Steel hex (reformulated D'Addario high-carbon steel)
- Wrap wire
- Reformulated nickel-plated steel
- Coating
- None, uncoated
- Winding
- Roundwound
- Intended scale
- Long-scale only. D'Addario does not currently sell this .050-.105 NYXL gauge in short scale, medium scale, or a 5-string configuration
- Intended tunings
- Bass E standard and Eb standard comfortably; the added tension also suits Drop D and other down-tuned styles
- Tension at standard tuning
- .050 G 49.2 lbs, .070 D 53.3 lbs, .085 A 45.5 lbs, .105 E 37.7 lbs (about 185.7 lbs total)
- Made in
- United States (D'Addario manufacturing in Farmingdale, NY)
- Package
- Single pack, recyclable VCI bag with Players Circle code
NYXL50105 Nickel Wound Bass Medium (.050-.105)
Why this one: D'Addario's premium reformulated-nickel bass gauge: the same .050-.105 Medium fit as EXL160, built for more break strength and tuning stability.
Why bassists choose the NYXL upgrade
- Reformulated NY Steel core
- D'Addario's proprietary high-carbon steel core, drawn in-house at its Farmingdale, NY facility. The company markets it for unmatched tuning stability and superior break resistance versus its standard bass wire.
- Reformulated nickel wrap, more midrange
- The nickel-plated wrap wire and core-to-wrap ratio are reformulated versus D'Addario's standard nickel bass strings, for an accentuated midrange that pushes more presence through a mix.
- Slightly less tension than EXL160, same gauge
- At about 185.7 lbs total against EXL160's 189.3 lbs, NYXL50105 carries marginally less tension despite the identical .050-.105 numbers, per D'Addario's own tension charts for each set.
- Long scale only
- Unlike EXL160, D'Addario doesn't currently sell this exact NYXL gauge in short scale, medium scale, or 5-string. Standard long-scale 4-string basses only.
NYXL50105 vs EXL160 vs EPS160: same gauge, three metallurgies
D'Addario sells this exact .050-.105 Medium gauge in three alloys, and each reads a different total tension on the company's own charts despite the identical gauge numbers. All three product pages were fetched live this session.
| EXL160 (Standard Nickel) | NYXL50105 (Premium Nickel, this set) | EPS160 (ProSteels Stainless) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauge set | .050, .070, .085, .105 | .050, .070, .085, .105 | .050, .070, .085, .105 |
| Core wire | High-carbon steel hex core | NY Steel hex core (reformulated) | High-carbon steel hex core |
| Wrap wire | Nickel-plated steel | Nickel-plated steel (reformulated) | Stainless steel (ProSteels alloy) |
| Total tension (std tuning) | About 189.3 lbs | About 185.7 lbs | About 175.4 lbs |
| D'Addario's own positioning | "Top-selling heavy gauge bass set" | Premium uncoated: more break strength, more stability | "D'Addario's brightest bass guitar string" |
| D'Addario's "Ideal For" tag | All Genres | All Genres | Metal, All Genres, Nickel free |
| Pick this when | You want the reliable default at the lowest price | You want more durability and presence, same gauge feel | You want maximum brightness or you're nickel-sensitive |
D'Addario's own copy backs that positioning up. The NYXL50105 page promises higher break strength, enhanced tuning stability, and accentuated harmonics versus the company's standard bass strings, meaning EXL160. EPS160's own page calls itself flatly D'Addario's brightest bass guitar string and tags it "Ideal For: Metal, All Genres, Nickel free," a line neither EXL160 nor NYXL50105 carries. If all you want is the heavier gauge that works, EXL160 is D'Addario's cheapest answer in this identical fit.
NYXL50105 vs NYXL45100: stepping up within the NYXL line
Both use the identical reformulated NY Steel core and reformulated nickel wrap, D'Addario's premium NYXL bass construction. The difference is entirely in the gauge numbers, the same choice EXL160 and EXL170 present in the standard nickel line.
| NYXL45100 (.045-.100) | NYXL50105 (.050-.105, this set) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge set | .045, .065, .080, .100 | .050, .070, .085, .105 |
| Total tension (std tuning) | About 160.6 lbs | About 185.7 lbs |
| D'Addario's own positioning | Regular Light | Medium |
| Feel | Lighter under the fretting hand, easier bends | Firmer, more resistance, more low-end push |
| Pick this when | You want the standard NYXL bass fit | You want more tension, or you tune to Eb standard or Drop D often |
If you already own a set of NYXL45100 and it feels loose under a pick or a slap thumb, NYXL50105 is the direct next step up in D'Addario's own reformulated nickel line: same wire, same core technology, just more of it.
Best for
- Bassists who already play EXL160 and want more break strength and tuning stability without changing gauge feel.
- Touring and session players who restring often and want the NY Steel core's durability under repeated setup and teardown.
- Eb standard and Drop D bassists who want a firmer, higher-output string in D'Addario's premium nickel line.
- Funk and slap players who want the reformulated wrap's extra midrange presence cutting through a mix.
Worst for
- Budget-conscious players. EXL160 delivers the same .050-.105 gauge feel at a lower price in the standard nickel wire.
- Players needing short scale, medium scale, or 5-string. D'Addario doesn't sell this exact NYXL gauge in those configurations; EXL160 does.
- Maximum-brightness or nickel-sensitive players. EPS160 ProSteels is D'Addario's nickel-free, brighter alternative in this identical gauge (not yet reviewed on CYS).
Verdict
NYXL50105 is the durability upgrade for anyone who already knows they want the .050-.105 Medium gauge. Same fit as EXL160, a reformulated NY Steel core and nickel wrap underneath it, and per D'Addario's own tension charts it actually reads a touch looser (about 185.7 lbs against EXL160's 189.3 lbs) despite the identical numbers on the package.
If price matters more than durability, EXL160 is the same gauge at D'Addario's standard nickel price. If you want maximum brightness or you're nickel-sensitive, EPS160 ProSteels covers that in stainless at this identical gauge (not yet reviewed here, flagged for a future page). If you'd rather stay in the NYXL family at a lighter gauge, NYXL45100 is the Regular Light starting point. For everything else, standard-tuned or down-tuned rock and funk on a long-scale 4-string bass, NYXL50105 is D'Addario's own answer.
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