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Converting to Piccolo

L

labgnat

Inactive
Oct 29, 2005
3,507
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outta this world
www.garageband.com
#1
I've got a 4 string sx bass, it has some poor fretwork, i want to make it a piccolo bass. if i can't get a very low action with regular bass strings can i get it lower with piccolo strings and reduce the buzz? to convert a bass to piccolo is there anything other than thinner gauge strings that i need to alter on the bass?

what gauge strings do i use for piccolo?
 
#2
Sounds to me like you need a fret level and dress first off. ONce you change the strings to a smaller gauge, you'll also need to make a new nut, for the thinner strings. Most likely you'll have to adjust the truss rod/tension/ and tweak the setup a bit.
But I think you can do the higher tuning/piccolo thing with only thinner strings and NOT having to compensate the scale length.
 
#3
JSPguitars said:
Sounds to me like you need a fret level and dress first off. ONce you change the strings to a smaller gauge, you'll also need to make a new nut, for the thinner strings. Most likely you'll have to adjust the truss rod/tension/ and tweak the setup a bit.
But I think you can do the higher tuning/piccolo thing with only thinner strings and NOT having to compensate the scale length.
Click to expand...
yeah it defintely needs a set up. i didn't think about the nut, thanks for that. do you know what gauge of strings is good?
 
#4
Several manufacturers sell a piccolo gauge. You are likely to find that the tension required to tune them to pitch is similar to a regularly tuned bass. Your best bet is to teach yourself to give a decent setup and have the frets checked for high spots (or teach yourself to do that as well).

I was at a large local music store the other day. Nearly all the basses in the $400-800 range were in desperate need of a setup. Many of the high end basses were as well. A reasonable setup is something anyone can do and can make a $150 bass play better than an $800 bass and a bad setup can make an $800 play worse than a $150 bass. For those with more money than time, $50 and a competent tech is all that it generally takes.
 
#6
get a straightedge/small square and a cheap jeweler's block file to find and level the frets. Cheap and effecient, and it'll get you going on finding high/low frets.
A lot of techs will let you watch them set up an instrument and kind of tell you the steps they take as they go along, as long as you pay them $50. Well worth the investment.
 

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