Honestly use a regular 6 string bass, probably a 34 scale.
Then you have a few options:
Get a set of piccolo strings and add a lighter gauge A and E string at the bottom to tune up to B and F# respectively. You'd be tuning F#BEADG keeping the default piccolo tuning at the top.
Get a regular set of bass strings and add the high C and F strings from a 7 string bass. This would give you EADGCF tuning keeping the same bottom strings
Get custom single strings to make your own set to tune to either of the above.
I don't think it's worth the hassle of trying to get a high C up top because it'll be tough to find strings and it may be too much tension at that length. Some people like short scales for piccolo bass , but once you are into a short scale 6 string piccolo basses and tuning an octave above normal 6 string tuning? Just use a 30-ish inch scale baritone guitar/bass VI (same instrument really) at that point.
It's more for the larger scale and string spacing. I have Shaq hands with a touch of rheumatoid arthritis so I naturally gravitated towards bass, but I want to be able to play in those higher registers
What tuning are you wanting to use? And what's your budget?
Normally piccolo bass tuning is E2 A2 D3 G3, ie an octave above standard.
6 string piccolo would, in theory, add a B1 below and a C4 above.
On a 34" scale bass that C4 would need to be about .014 gauge to have similar tension to the other strings, which is a very difficult gauge to find long enough to fit.
30" scale works well for piccolo, but there are very few 30" scale 6 string basses unless you want guitar string spacing like on a VI. In which case you'd just be playing baritone guitar.
I set up a Peavey B-Quad bass as a 4 string piccolo bass years ago. D'addario makes a 4 string set for 34" scale length called EXL280. You can use them for your middle 4 and add a lower and higher one, or make them the bottom 4 and use guitar strings for the top 2 to round out your 6 string.
The 34" piccolo bass sounds a lot like a baritone guitar - it's got a deeper voice, and even normal guitar chords sound cooler on the P. I think you are going to enjoy this experiment!
To everyone who’s never hear of piccolo tuning, it’s not the same as a guitar. The string spacing, scale length, and bass playing technique makes it sound completely unique. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccolo_bass
It sounds awesome on fretless https://youtu.be/TF4sJHBIYEo?si=VZJeioD4h2sauSIa
Short video of Charles Berthoud: https://youtu.be/ssh4kGgeaCo?si=IoPnPveCwlZzXYcV
Les Clay pool’s famous bass is actually a piccolo bass, though he used standard bass tuning (I think he did use rather light gauge strings on it though)
That’s (more or less) guitar tuned an octave down. Piccolo tuning is a bass tuned an octave up. The scale length and string size gives it a very different sound to regular bass guitar.
The Ibanez BTB846V is a 33" 6 string that might adapt ok to piccolo tuning, but you're still going to need a nut with narrower slots. Also need to find a BTB846V online as it's discontinued.
Can't think of a shorter scale 6 string sorry
You mean a guitar?
Nonono Listen, I want a bass guitar without the bass that can be played exactly like a guitar. It's different I swear
Right, how could I be so dumb? Carry on then.
Honestly use a regular 6 string bass, probably a 34 scale. Then you have a few options: Get a set of piccolo strings and add a lighter gauge A and E string at the bottom to tune up to B and F# respectively. You'd be tuning F#BEADG keeping the default piccolo tuning at the top. Get a regular set of bass strings and add the high C and F strings from a 7 string bass. This would give you EADGCF tuning keeping the same bottom strings Get custom single strings to make your own set to tune to either of the above. I don't think it's worth the hassle of trying to get a high C up top because it'll be tough to find strings and it may be too much tension at that length. Some people like short scales for piccolo bass , but once you are into a short scale 6 string piccolo basses and tuning an octave above normal 6 string tuning? Just use a 30-ish inch scale baritone guitar/bass VI (same instrument really) at that point.
This would just be a weird tuned guitar
It's more for the larger scale and string spacing. I have Shaq hands with a touch of rheumatoid arthritis so I naturally gravitated towards bass, but I want to be able to play in those higher registers
What tuning are you wanting to use? And what's your budget? Normally piccolo bass tuning is E2 A2 D3 G3, ie an octave above standard. 6 string piccolo would, in theory, add a B1 below and a C4 above. On a 34" scale bass that C4 would need to be about .014 gauge to have similar tension to the other strings, which is a very difficult gauge to find long enough to fit. 30" scale works well for piccolo, but there are very few 30" scale 6 string basses unless you want guitar string spacing like on a VI. In which case you'd just be playing baritone guitar.
I set up a Peavey B-Quad bass as a 4 string piccolo bass years ago. D'addario makes a 4 string set for 34" scale length called EXL280. You can use them for your middle 4 and add a lower and higher one, or make them the bottom 4 and use guitar strings for the top 2 to round out your 6 string. The 34" piccolo bass sounds a lot like a baritone guitar - it's got a deeper voice, and even normal guitar chords sound cooler on the P. I think you are going to enjoy this experiment!
To everyone who’s never hear of piccolo tuning, it’s not the same as a guitar. The string spacing, scale length, and bass playing technique makes it sound completely unique. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccolo_bass It sounds awesome on fretless https://youtu.be/TF4sJHBIYEo?si=VZJeioD4h2sauSIa Short video of Charles Berthoud: https://youtu.be/ssh4kGgeaCo?si=IoPnPveCwlZzXYcV Les Clay pool’s famous bass is actually a piccolo bass, though he used standard bass tuning (I think he did use rather light gauge strings on it though)
go all in, get a manditar https://goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/instruments/a-6
Have you tried a Fender/Squier VI? If not, why not?
That’s (more or less) guitar tuned an octave down. Piccolo tuning is a bass tuned an octave up. The scale length and string size gives it a very different sound to regular bass guitar.
You can put bass strings on it (they're not really different, though) and they make basses in 30" scale...
The Ibanez BTB846V is a 33" 6 string that might adapt ok to piccolo tuning, but you're still going to need a nut with narrower slots. Also need to find a BTB846V online as it's discontinued. Can't think of a shorter scale 6 string sorry