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Piccolo Bass?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Sandman1278, May 1, 2005.


  1. May 1, 2005 #1
    Sandman1278

    Sandman1278

    Mar 9, 2005
    New York, NY
    Just kinda curious about these things, all i know is that there supposivly tuned up an octave, so then wouldnt that just be the 4 low strings of a guitar? If so what purpose would a piccolo bass serve over a guitar?
     
  5. May 1, 2005 #2
    FireAarro

    FireAarro

    Aug 8, 2004
    austr-
    Feels like a bass, sounds some different. Makes your ego swell when people are amazed the guitar solo is coming from that bass? Stuff like that :D, it's cool.
     
  10. May 1, 2005 #3
    Sandman1278

    Sandman1278

    Mar 9, 2005
    New York, NY
    If you were playing this wouldnt you need another bass player to play real bass? lol
     
  14. May 1, 2005 #4
    Petary791

    Petary791

    Feb 20, 2005
    Michigan, USA
    It sounds a lot mellow-er too in my experience. :)
     
  18. May 1, 2005 #5
    tplyons

    tplyons

    Apr 6, 2003
    Madison, NJ
    They're fun to play, I like having one around for miscellaneous playing and it's a great way to use bass playing styles on a guitar-tuned instrument. Also Pic basses are preferred for getting a bass feel on an instrument for midi because it tracks better.
     
  22. May 2, 2005 #6
    embellisher

    embellisher Holy Ghost filled Bass Player Supporting Member

    Apr 18, 2000
    Heber Springs, Arkansas
    The feel and sound is different than a guitar, due to the longer scale.
     
  26. May 2, 2005 #7
    Sandman1278

    Sandman1278

    Mar 9, 2005
    New York, NY
    what scale are these usualy at? I'm assuming somewhere between a standard bass and guitar?
     
  31. May 2, 2005 #8
    tplyons

    tplyons

    Apr 6, 2003
    Madison, NJ
    Common to see 30" but there are a lot of converted standard 34" out there like mine.
     
  35. May 2, 2005 #9
    embellisher

    embellisher Holy Ghost filled Bass Player Supporting Member

    Apr 18, 2000
    Heber Springs, Arkansas
    It varies. There have been a few that were custom built from the ground up as a piccolo, but most are just a standard bass with piccolo strings.

    I have seen 30", 30.75", 32", 33.25", 33.75", and 34".
     
  39. May 2, 2005 #10
    Sandman1278

    Sandman1278

    Mar 9, 2005
    New York, NY
    what kinda strings would one use with those
     
  43. May 2, 2005 #11
    tplyons

    tplyons

    Apr 6, 2003
    Madison, NJ
    Piccolo bass strings. Ken Smith makes em, LaBella does and a few others.