Grangur Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 (edited) I'm intrigued by these and think I'd like to explore them. I'm wondering about getting a fretless and making it picolo, but would it work? Who here has a piccolo? Is it 34" or did you go short-scale? What have you used it to play? Any other experiences to share? Pictures and recordings welcome. Edited August 31, 2016 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Shall I get the joke about six string, short scale piccolo basses out of the way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I modded an old Squire Bronco (30") to piccolo a long time ago. Was fun for a while for chordal stuff, but no real real-world usage for me. Unfortunately I didn't really know what I was doing when I strung it up, and so the setup and string tension was too much for the poor quality of the bass. High action and scared to pluck the strings for them breaking lol. Hasn't got the same range, but had much more fun with a 5 string bass with a high C, think I even had a 4 string strung A,D,G,C for a while (Tenor?) Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I had a Zon Hyperbass for a while. 34 scale with D'Addario piccolo strings on it. It was excellent and great fun. By the time I sold it, I managed a half-way acceptable version of Michael Manrings "Monkey Business Man" and "Adhern" - the latter needing 2 ebows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 This has interested me too. Found this the other day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pjp44QCzKs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1472636233' post='3122758'] the latter needing 2 e[i][b]L[/b][/i]bows. [/quote] Fixed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 (edited) A guy I knew at uni built one, though I never got around to hearing it. There's a guy called Joe Foley McCreary who played with Miles Davis credited here as playing 'lead electric bass', plays one. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG-sCIYKMBg[/media] Edited September 1, 2016 by ambient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 There's a beautiful song by John Patitucci called Sachi's eyes, played on a 6 string piccolo bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 OK, here's a question for the (other) oldies on here: when I were a lad and the Hollies were at their peak, Eric Haydock's bass had 6 strings on it. Generically speaking, what was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 (edited) [quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1472808953' post='3124389'] OK, here's a question for the (other) oldies on here: when I were a lad and the Hollies were at their peak, Eric Haydock's bass had 6 strings on it. Generically speaking, what was it? [/quote] A Fender Bass VI. 30" scale length, with Fender guitar string spacing (so fairly tight) and tuned an octave lower than a normal guitar. What it does depends on how you play it. However, despite it's looks, IMO it's not really a guitar as the voicing doesn't suit chords unless you play quite high up the neck in which case you should have probably bought a Baritone guitar instead. If you are a pick player that doesn't slap and you don't need any notes below low E, then it can be a perfectly acceptable substitute for a more "traditional" bass. I've done gigs with a couple of bands who use them this way and if you didn't look, you wouldn't know from the sound and parts being played that it wasn't a more "conventional" bass. Edited September 2, 2016 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 [quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1472808953' post='3124389'] OK, here's a question for the (other) oldies on here: when I were a lad and the Hollies were at their peak, Eric Haydock's bass had 6 strings on it. Generically speaking, what was it? [/quote] As BRX said ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 Thanks guys - I remember thinking at the time that it was 'dead cool' and how perfectly the songs, bass parts and instrument complemented each other - which is, I guess, the ultimate achievement for any bass player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 [quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1472832234' post='3124647'] Thanks guys - I remember thinking at the time that it was 'dead cool' and how perfectly the songs, bass parts and instrument complemented each other - which is, I guess, the ultimate achievement for any bass player. [/quote] Jack Bruce also used a Bass VI with the Graham Bond Organisation and then with early Cream, Entwistle with early Who, and Lennon and Harrison both used one when McCartney was playing piano. Plus plenty of others too. But it is tuned normal bass pitch, not piccolo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 Thanks for the info ET - the Bruce and Entwistle ref was a real surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1472839461' post='3124730'] Jack Bruce also used a Bass VI with the Graham Bond Organisation and then with early Cream, Entwistle with early Who, and Lennon and Harrison both used one when McCartney was playing piano. Plus plenty of others too. But it is tuned normal bass pitch, not piccolo. [/quote] If it was tuned piccolo it would be a guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1472890992' post='3125040'] If it was tuned piccolo it would be a guitar. [/quote] Ha ha yes, 30" scale standard tuned guitar. I expect someone has done it and to twangy effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 [quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1472847255' post='3124831'] Thanks for the info ET - the Bruce and Entwistle ref was a real surprise. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 (edited) Here's a really beautiful example of piccolo bass. A fretless this time. This guy is amazingly talented. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?sns=fb&v=IEulWe8eDwM&app=desktop"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?sns=fb&v=IEulWe8eDwM&app=desktop[/url] Edited September 3, 2016 by ambient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 3, 2016 Author Share Posted September 3, 2016 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1472920352' post='3125371'] Here's a really beautiful example of piccolo bass. A fretless this time. This guy is amazingly talented. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OzVNGz6Bx2A [/quote] That is really nice. I know where we can buy 4string sets of piccolo strings, bug does anyone know of any 5 string sets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1472920352' post='3125371'] Here's a really beautiful example of piccolo bass. A fretless this time. This guy is amazingly talented. [url="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OzVNGz6Bx2A"]https://m.youtube.co...h?v=OzVNGz6Bx2A[/url] [/quote] Very nice but surely that was a fretted instrument? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1472920720' post='3125376'] I know where we can buy 4string sets of piccolo strings, bug does anyone know of any 5 string sets? [/quote] Newtone will probably make you some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1472920720' post='3125376'] That is really nice. I know where we can buy 4string sets of piccolo strings, bug does anyone know of any 5 string sets? [/quote] I bought a 4 string set of D'Addario EXL280s, and added a separate .065 as a B string, and a .018 as a C string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ixlramp Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 (edited) Piccolo bass works certainly. I often string up my fretted and fretless basses with thin strings. My basses are 34" or 35" a short scale is not at all necessary. It's simply a case of finding thin strings long enough, and choosing the right gauges to keep the tension low. Tension must be low for very thin roundwounds or thin plains to not break them. But the lower strings need more tension, so the optimum is tension falling steadily from low to high. This also turns out to be optimum for chording, tapping, bending and other alternative techniques, and best for general playability. Kalium Strings of USA have a huge range of piccolo sets in any string count, and bass length singles down to .008. But postage is expensive. Much cheaper is to buy D'Addario 'loop end' plain steel strings, which are extremely long, and improvise ball ends for them (or even squeeze old bass ball ends into the loop). I buy mine from Strings Direct. Then use those beside standard bass wound singles down to .025 or so. For the tuner post nearest the nut some guitar strings are long enough, just thread an old bass ball end onto one. To design a set the Kalium tension chart is very useful as it covers all scales, all gauges and a complete pitch range, the data roughly approximates any brand of roundwound. [url="http://store.kaliumstrings.com/TensionCalculator/index.html"]http://store.kaliums...ator/index.html[/url] Soon i will be stringing up a 5 string fretless with a mix of D'Addario Chromes bass flats, a Chromes guitar flat and a plain steel string. Edited September 5, 2016 by ixlramp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ixlramp Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 (edited) Yves Carbonne and 12 string fretless [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPwMoiKaNOY"]https://www.youtube....h?v=hPwMoiKaNOY[/url] Edited September 5, 2016 by ixlramp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 [quote name='ixlramp' timestamp='1473071753' post='3126507'] Yves Carbonne and 12 string fretless [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPwMoiKaNOY"]https://www.youtube....h?v=hPwMoiKaNOY[/url] [/quote] Yves is an amazing player . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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