Piccolo Bass

[MusicManLN3]

I've been playing for awhile, and I am always interested in finding new sounds. After hearing a few piccolo basses being played, I thought that I would expand my sound by buying or attempting to make some sort of piccolo bass. Is it possible to buy a small bass, like a 30" Ibanez Mikro Bass, for example, and re-string it with D'Addario piccolo bass strings? I'm only 15 and I want something affordable.

 

[Basshappi]

Just use a regular 34" scale bass, no need for short scale unless you just want it.

 

[peoriashows]

I'm planning to take my 5 string and tune it A-D-G-C-F. The only things I gotta do is get a new nut cut for for it and find an F string.

 

[MarshallLaw]

i have an aversion to piccolo bass because of Joey DeMaio

 

[Ale the Snail]

i have an aversion to piccolo bass because of Joey DeMaio

Let each note I now play, be a black arrow of death. Sent straight to the hearts of all those who play false metal.

 

[lug]

I turned my EBO into a piccolo simply by stringing it with the 4 lowest strings of a guitar string set. If you are going 30" scale, I'd just to do that.

 

[lousybassplayer]

Or get a guitar.

 

[ehque]

I know some guitar strings can be installed on some 30" basses.

Mikros are well reviewed, but they are not 30", they are shorter. Also look at SX shortscales.

 

[pjmuck]

Does anybody make flat wound piccolo strings? Preferably 32" scale, however.

 

[ehque]

Does anybody make flat wound piccolo strings? Preferably 32" scale, however.

Look at cello strings?

 

[Florox]

Well, piccolo strings on long scale have a pretty tight tension, and low tension on lower scale basses, so it really just depends on your taste. Also, putting piccolo strings on your bass, assuming you play on bands, will make it almost obsolete as it'll be almost impossible getting some good low end out of it, and that's riding the E string exclusively. So, if you can find a cheap bass, then do it. There's many things that can be done on piccolo if you're into that. Search Jewtube for Zander Zon and Michael Manring; they are pretty good examples, especially Zander.

 

[MusicManLN3]

Alright, thanks for the insight guys. I'll look into it more soon.

 

[fretlessrock]

I get it, you are 15 and want a piccolo bass. Look for something like the bargain short scale basses from Rondo. Take a trip to a pawn shop or a place with used inventory. Find a beater on evilbay. Get two piccolo sets (breakage alert), like the Zon sets, or see if a place like Big City or Juststrings has a good solution. You will have a short scale piccolo that is playable (and a setup away from being very playable) for under $200, and you are a string change away from having a normal bass. Doing it with a 34" is a few more bucks but you have a different normal bass when you do the string change.

 

[ehque]

Using a piccolo bass and a microPOG or other clean-down octaver can cover your "standard" bass needs fine. I know i'd do fine.

 

[shroomt]

Piccolo bass... is not bass...

 

[Basshappi]