Piccolo Wound G String

I'm driving myself nuts with string tension calculators. And I haven't been able to find exactly what I'm looking for using the search function, so hopefully you guys can help me out.

I'm looking to string a Fender Mustang (30" scale) as a piccolo bass. The problem? I'm set on using all wound strings. So, this rules out all prepackaged piccolo string sets, which all include a plain steel G string.

Solution? Buy a single 0.020w to go with a prepackaged set. HOWEVER, I've read some comments on this forum that suggest that a string with such a thin core might not be able to withstand the tension needed for a G (~27 lbs). Can anyone confirm this to be true?

Workaround? Buy the 0.020w and tune it down to an F (for DGCF tuning). A 0.020w tuned to F produces a much more manageable ~21 lbs of tension. HOWEVER, I'm afraid with such low tension, it will throw off the tension distribution of the bass. For example, if I use this 0.020 F as part of a progressive tension scheme (with a 0.065 D (~37 lbs), a 0.045 G (~32 lbs), and a 0.032 C (~30 lbs), am I risking damage to my bass? The last thing I want is a warped neck.

Another workaround? Buy a single 0.025w and string it as an F. A 0.025w tuned to F produces ~33 lbs of tension. This tension makes it much easier to build a string set with either traditional or balanced tension. HOWEVER, can a 0.025w withstand 33 lbs of tension?

So, based on your expertise and experience, what's the best course of action? 0.020w as a G string? 0.020w as an F string? 0.025w as an F string?

I realize I could just buy a bunch of single strings and figure it out on my own. However, I'd rather not buy strings just to have them break on me right away--especially if someone here has already been through this.

Anyway, thanks for reading my memoirs. And thanks in advance for any help. It's very much appreciated.

 

Cool. Thanks for the input. The tinny sound doesn't sound too appealing. Maybe downtuning to an F is the better option afterall.

 

Thanks for the input. I've looked into Conklin strings; however, since I'm outside of the US, the shipping costs make the price pretty unreasonable. But both Ken Smith and MTD make 0.020w strings, which I can obtain for much less money.