Piccolo Wound G String

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vultan

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Jul 2, 2017
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#1
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.
 
#4
I disagree a wound .020 would sound like a plain .020, i find wounds are more flexible and have a sweeter more harmonic tone, a plain of .020 will be stiff so have a 'stiff' inharmonic tone. Both will sound 'thin' of course but 'tinny' makes them seem worse than they are.
Piccolo sets have plain Gs because reaching G on 34" is difficult with a wound.
Wounds are near their limit at F on 34", which is equivalent tension to G on 30", but there are wounds designed for high tension and designed for F on 34", they are ones made for 7 string basses, you can buy .020w and .022w here by mail order (i've used these myself) Conklin Guitars Snakeskins Extended-Range Bass Strings
For cheap experimentation you could try a guitar wound .020 with a bass ball-end threaded onto it, but be warned guitar wounds are designed for lower tensions so may break, don't let that put you off a dedicated bass high F.
 
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#5
ixlramp said:
I disagree a wound .020 would sound like a plain .020, i find wounds are more flexible and have a sweeter more harmonic tone, a plain of .020 will be stiff so have a 'stiff' inharmonic tone. Both will sound 'thin' of course but 'tinny' makes them seem worse than they are.
Piccolo sets have plain Gs because reaching G on 34" is difficult with a wound.
Wounds are near their limit at F on 34", which is equivalent tension to G on 30", but there are wounds designed for high tension and designed for F on 34", they are ones made for 7 string basses, you can buy .020w and .022w here by mail order (i've used these myself) Conklin Guitars Snakeskins Extended-Range Bass Strings
For cheap experimentation you could try a guitar wound .020 with a bass ball-end threaded onto it, but be warned guitar wounds are designed for lower tensions so may break, don't let that put you off a dedicated bass high F.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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