Author Topic: Choosing strings/ making my axe a piccolo (Read 82 times)

chalie_holmes · « **on:** April 27, 2009, 10:45:31 AM »

I'm not sure as to what type of strings to purchase for my bass but I want to change it to a piccolo. I want to use strings that feel flexible and not so taut that it feels as though your fingers will severed. The bass I'm going to change is my Schecter which was customized by my friend Kenny Wittman. I had him split my pickups and replace the neck pickup with another Music Man, put a 5 pin female plug to switch from the Alembic to the Schecter. In addition, I had him install 3 concentric potentiometers (the top half control bass, middle, treble for neck and bottom half for bridge pickup)I had kenny install another concentric (top half for Volume on the bridge and bottom half for bridge pickup volume and lastly one potentiometer for overall volume. It's a really great sounding bass! Photos to follow. Anyway any suggestions for piccolo strings? Please let me know your thoughts! I welcome all suggestions!
Chalie

heike · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2009, 08:36:47 AM »

There are piccolo sets from various manufacturers, e.g. D'Addario EXL280 and Pyramid. Of course, you also could check with your favorite manufacturer, or maybe even ask for a custom set.

eligilam · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2009, 09:44:31 AM »

I use the D'Addario set that heike mentioned on my '74 Fender Jazz...they're pretty good strings, IMO, nice and bright and (so far) long-lasting.

dnburgess · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2009, 06:15:55 PM »

I have tried D'Addario and GHS piccolo sets and preferred the D'Addario - a little smoother to the touch and slightly nicer sound.

georgie_boy · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2009, 08:57:27 AM »

When I played Piccolo bass way back when, I used a 1966 Gibson EB2D bass, with the Push switch engaged.
it gave the most amazing Les Paul type sound, and would even produce that old octave feedback sound that old Juniors gave.
I loved it..........my strings were.....
20,32,50,62.....all guitar strings!
It was great until I loaned it to my friend in London, and he snapped the head of it......twice!!! Arghhhhh.
I traded it after that.....wish I still had it though!

George

mike1762 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 05, 2009, 04:28:39 PM »

My Spoiler was strung/set-up as a Piccolo when I got it. I'm not sure what gauge strings it had on it, but I remember they felt like rebar!!! Stanley Clarke had actually used it (as a Piccolo) for a workshop he did in Atlanta (in the interest of full disclose I must admit that he said he hated the bass). I would imagine high string tension is going to be an issue on everything but a short-scale bass (short of using guitar strings).