So I have been planning a six string piccolo and know what strings to use for E,A,D and G. I want to go higher with a B and E string and am wondering what gauges will work for that on a 34" scale? Any ideas?
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Strings for a piccolo?
- Thread starter Slidlow
- Start date
Octave-up EADGBE, same pitches as a guitar?
If so, it is not possible, the highest practical pitch on 34" is D4 using a .008 or .009.
DGCFAD on 34" is possible.
Or do you mean bass EADG plus higher B and E?
Either way, the answer depends on what gauges you chose for EADG.
If so, it is not possible, the highest practical pitch on 34" is D4 using a .008 or .009.
DGCFAD on 34" is possible.
Or do you mean bass EADG plus higher B and E?
Either way, the answer depends on what gauges you chose for EADG.
Maybe. Do you own a standard, 25.5" scale guitar? If so, try tuning the high E up to G#, but make sure you use a .007"~.009" for the experiment and no heavier: whichever turns out to be the most durable gauge (at that scale and pitch, it is a narrow window between fragility due to thinness>reduced-resistance-to-oxidation and fragility due to heavy-gauge>excessive-tension) is what you could use as a high E on a 32" scale instrument.
Oh: the same experiment, with 440-Hz A instead of G#, would convince you of the impracticality of 34" scale for the intended tuning.
Interesting, you do mean guitar pitches =)
Capos are a pain and reduce tuning stability by adding an additional friction point, best avoided for a primary tuning.
The highest pitch D4 on 34" has E4 at the 2nd fret, which is 30" from the bridge, so you would need a 30" scale 6 string bass to acheive guitar pitch EADGBE.
Here's a tip for where to cheaply obtain plain steel strings long enough for 34"/35" scale.
You can use D'Addario 'Loop End' plain steel strings, intended for mandolin, they are extremely long, and cheap (no ferrule).
You just need to improvise a ferrule. I use 5mm long M6 set screws (also known as grub screws), they screw into the loop securely.
Capos are a pain and reduce tuning stability by adding an additional friction point, best avoided for a primary tuning.
The highest pitch D4 on 34" has E4 at the 2nd fret, which is 30" from the bridge, so you would need a 30" scale 6 string bass to acheive guitar pitch EADGBE.
Here's a tip for where to cheaply obtain plain steel strings long enough for 34"/35" scale.
You can use D'Addario 'Loop End' plain steel strings, intended for mandolin, they are extremely long, and cheap (no ferrule).
You just need to improvise a ferrule. I use 5mm long M6 set screws (also known as grub screws), they screw into the loop securely.
Not the intention. Investigating the option of a double neck. It may end up as a 34" six and a 30" Piccolo six.
