D'Addario XB170TSL Single Bass String

Heavy-Gauge Replacement String for Super-Long Scale Basses

The D'Addario XB170TSL is a single XL-Series bass string built for super-long scale instruments where a heavier-gauge replacement is needed. Designed and manufactured in the USA, it pairs a high-carbon steel hex core with a round-wound nickel-plated steel wrap wire to produce the bright, powerful character that has made the XL-Series a benchmark for electric bass tone. The .170" gauge makes it a natural choice for the low B or low E position on extended-range basses, or as a heavy replacement for any super-long scale bass that has lost its bottom-end punch.

Technical Specifications

• Number of Strings: 1 — sold as a single replacement string
• Gauge: .170" / 4.32 mm — heavy-gauge single for low B or low E positions
• Wrap Material: Nickel-Plated Steel — bright tone with clear fundamentals
• Winding Type: Round Wound on a hex core for consistent feel
• Core: High-Carbon Steel Hex Core for stability and tuning reliability
• Scale Length: Super Long Scale — fits super-long scale basses
• Total Length: 48-½" / 1230 mm
• Ball-to-Taper Length: 38" / 965 mm
• Ending: Ball End, Tapered — for maximum bridge compatibility

Who It's For

This single string is the right choice for bassists who need a heavy-gauge replacement for a super-long scale instrument, whether they're restocking after a broken low B on a 5-string or rebuilding a custom set with non-standard gauges. It suits players who want the bright, cutting character of nickel-plated steel rather than the warmer, rounder sound of flatwound or tape-wound strings. The tapered ball-end design also makes it a practical pick for basses with through-body string routing, where the taper helps the string seat cleanly at the bridge. Manufactured in the USA to D'Addario's digitally-controlled consistency standards, this model delivers the same reliable tone and feel found across full XL-Series sets, with the 38" / 965 mm ball-to-taper length seating cleanly at through-body bridges on 35" and 36" scale instruments.