Piccolo Tuning: Why the hate?

[BillW87]

This thread is in response to comments I have received from fellow bassists regarding the piccolo tuning of bass guitars (using special, lighter gauge strings that allow a bass guitar to be tuned to a variety of higher pitched tunings). While a negative reaction from the guitar community might be expected towards a bassist who seeks to expand beyond the traditional roles of the instrument, it surprised me as to how much hate there is in our own community toward the idea.

There seems to be a misconception that piccolo bassists are simply "trying to be guitarists", are "too flashy", or are somehow "less of a bassist" because they have chosen to explore a specific facet of our instrument. I'd like to hear some people's thoughts on the topic from the tb community, since many of the bassists that I've discussed piccolo tuning with in the past have had some strong opinions on the topic.

For those not familiar with piccolo tuning, I have some videos of me playing piccolo tuned on my youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BillW87 (sorry for the shameless self-promotion)

Also, if this thread is in the wrong forum please feel free to move it to wherever is appropriate.

 

[Infidelity]

Let haters be haters! You must check Zander Zon on youtube he made it big on a piccolo bass.

 

[Big_Daddy]

Had no idea such a thing existed until now. Upon watching some videos of it, I've come to the conclusion that there is nothing to hate.

As for the shamelessly promoted YouTube channel...I'm liking the FFX covers. Very much so.

//EDIT: ...Actually, all of the piccolo videos in general .

 

[onosson]

These are great. I can really appreciate the piccolo tuning, even though I've never tried it myself. I play guitar quite a bit, but having played bass so much more, I only play fingerstyle never with a pick, and I like the idea of having larger frets and more space between the strings .... um, just like a bass in fact!

 

[Munjibunga]

How can you not like piccolo tuning? Here's a clip of the late Wayman Tisdale, playing with Dave Koz's band. Brian Simpson on keys and MD, Bill Sharpe on bass, Stevo Theard on drums, and I think the guitarist is Tony Maiden.

 

[dannster]

Do what you do. Who cares what others think.
I dig piccolo stuff I've seen over the years. Not my bag but I definitely can appreciate what others are doing with it. Same goes for all kinds of variations of bass.

 

[bassteban]

There will always be hate. Not to derail, but it's not really the opposite of love, IMO; I think that would be indifference- a much worse sentiment to any real artist. I'd rather be hated than not noticed.

 

[DougD]

This thread is in response to comments I have received from fellow bassists regarding the piccolo tuning of bass guitars (using special, lighter gauge strings that allow a bass guitar to be tuned to a variety of higher pitched tunings). While a negative reaction from the guitar community might be expected towards a bassist who seeks to expand beyond the traditional roles of the instrument, it surprised me as to how much hate there is in our own community toward the idea.

There seems to be a misconception that piccolo bassists are simply "trying to be guitarists", are "too flashy", or are somehow "less of a bassist" because they have chosen to explore a specific facet of our instrument. I'd like to hear some people's thoughts on the topic from the tb community, since many of the bassists that I've discussed piccolo tuning with in the past have had some strong opinions on the topic.

For those not familiar with piccolo tuning, I have some videos of me playing piccolo tuned on my youtube channel:
So I think there is a lot of love for it

 

[DougD]

Oh and I forgot to say Good job

 

[ric stave]

Very nice on the youtube stuff.

I wouldn't say hate, just sometimes lack of appreciation - it's really a whole different usage of the instrument, so some people/bass players can't relate.

Personally, I love listening to people who can do different things on bass.

 

[Hot Rats]

Stanley Clark turned me on to piccalo bass years ago. An absolutly beautiful way express ideas. Closed mindedness is a disease within music. Sometimes it can be cured, other times...well, heads are too thick. If you think piccalo is beautiful...then it is. Let those with a limited spectrum of imagination suffer and worry not of their foul vitriol.

 

[mccartneyman]

If no piccolo bass, why baritone guitar?

 

[lug]

How do you feel about fretless, lefty, upside down, piccolo?

 

[MEKer]

I like'em.

Other than using a short scale for it, are there any "piccolo basses" available that do not cost a bunch of cash yet are still good players?

 

[MD]

^^ $20.00 set of piccolo strings on any old bass will do it.

I haven't felt any hate here, and I love blowing over standards accompanied by a full rhythm section with band in a box.

 

[DougD]

Stanley Clark turned me on to piccalo bass years ago. An absolutly beautiful way express ideas. Closed mindedness is a disease within music. Sometimes it can be cured, other times...well, heads are too thick. If you think piccalo is beautiful...then it is. Let those with a limited spectrum of imagination suffer and worry not of their foul vitriol.

+1
Well said.

 

[BillW87]

Stanley Clark turned me on to piccalo bass years ago. An absolutly beautiful way express ideas. Closed mindedness is a disease within music. Sometimes it can be cured, other times...well, heads are too thick. If you think piccalo is beautiful...then it is. Let those with a limited spectrum of imagination suffer and worry not of their foul vitriol.

+1

I'm glad to see that the majority of the bass community is not as closed minded as the individuals I've encountered in the past who were so negative toward the idea of piccolo tuning. Also, great links all through the thread to so much piccolo tuned stuff; I've got plenty of new inspiration now to work with.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Hate...

So if some folks don't care for something or choose not to embraceit - it's "Hate"???

Odd... Hate used to mean the emotion you use before putting a round a man's belly. Things change, I suppose.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Right after Stanley started using them, I converted an EBO to a "piccolo" bass.

I used to tune it like a guitar...it just sounded different that a guitar....I described it as "plucky"

I also saw Fernando Saunders play a Piccolo bass using a Rickenbacker with Jan Hammer.

 

[lucas vigor]

Does anyone have any examples of this "hate" you are talking about?

Is anyone not posting warm and fuzzy feel-good posts all the time a "hater"?

Can't people just have different opinions, and then state them in public without people assuming there is the strong emotion of "hate" somehow involved?