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For sale 2006 Birdsong Corto, handmade USA short scale, 7.6 lbs

Sold
Rare 2006 handmade USA Birdsong Corto, 31" short scale, 7.6 lbs, excellent condition — original neck pickup, honest disclosure on bridge, priced to move.
$1,200.00 $1,100.00
Location
Arizona, United States
Strings
4
Status
This item has been sold and is no longer available!
Status
7 members are watching this classified ad

Details

Ships to:
  1. United States
2006 Birdsong Corto, handmade USA short scale, 7.6 lbs. These don't come up often and this one plays beautifully. Natural oil finish over a mahogany body, 3-piece neck, 24 frets plus zero fret, 31" scale — the classic Corto recipe. Some modifications, which are reflected in the price.

Pickups:
  • Neck: Original Birdsong pickup (Lace)
  • Bridge: Merlin humbucker (Polish boutique winder) — sounds indistinguishable from the Lace humbuckers I've had on several other Birdsongs; quiet, full, and articulate
Specs:
  • Body: Mahogany
  • Neck: 3-piece construction
  • Scale: 31"
  • Frets: 24 + zero fret
  • Finish: Natural oil
  • Strings: GHS Bass Boomers
  • Weight: 7.6 lbs
Condition is excellent for it's age — a couple of minor scratches on the back, some minor player wear you'd expect on a well-loved and gigged 20-year-old handmade instrument. No gouges or imperfections on the back of the neck. Neck is straight, plays great and well-intonated up and down the board. Truss rod works as it should with no issues.

Full disclosure on the bridge pickup: it is not the original. The Merlin is a humbucker from a small Polish winder — I cannot find detailed specs on it, but tonally it fits the bass perfectly. Priced accordingly. I put in a prewiried V/B/T harness from Fat Bass Tone that I prefer to the original V/V/T, so there is a slight dip in volume when the blend is in the center. Also moved the neck strap button to the tip of the upper horn from the rear, which balances better, and left the original drill hole if you want to move it back. I don't think the chickenhead knobs are original. Please see pictures.

I have two other Birdsongs and I'm about to retire, so I'm trying to consolidate the collection.

Comes with a Fender gig bag.

$1,200 $1100 shipped CONUS. Add $50 to go E of the Mississippi. PayPal G&S preferred. No trades, no PayPal F&F.

PM with questions. Thanks for looking.
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Comments

theschnitt

Supporting Member
Jan 27, 2005
513
518
Tucson, AZ
Beautiful bass! What’s the neck profile like on this one?
Pretty typical of a Birdsong, I'd say it's very similar to the necks on all of Scott's basses I've played. It feels about the same as the only other 4 string Bird I have on hand to compare it to directly, a 2020 Cbass. I just took a bunch of measurements with a digital caliper - the width is 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) at the nut and 2.23 in (56.6mm) at the 24th fret, thickness is 0.88 in (22.4 mm) at the 1st fret and 1.02 in (25.9 mm) at the 12th.

I'd describe the profile as a soft "v" at the nut end smoothing out to a rounder "C" profile starting at around the 7th fret and up, and then the flat section from F17 to the joint with the body (see photos). If you've ever played a Birdsong it's quite familiar and very comfortable.
 
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Bryan Threlkeld

Supporting Member
Jan 6, 2023
291
511
61
Georgetown TX
What is the string spacing in mm's (center of string to center of string) at the bridge? And is it adjustable?

Thanks,
Bryan
 

theschnitt

Supporting Member
Jan 27, 2005
513
518
Tucson, AZ
What is the string spacing in mm's (center of string to center of string) at the bridge? And is it adjustable?

Thanks,
Bryan
The string spacing is 17.5 mm, standard for a Corto. It's a Hipshot A style bridge, according to the manufacturer (see link) there is 1.5 mm of wiggle room in each saddle, but honestly, there's not a lot of room on the neck to push 'em out much farther.

Corto String Spacing.jpg
 

Bryan Threlkeld

Supporting Member
Jan 6, 2023
291
511
61
Georgetown TX
The string spacing is 17.5 mm, standard for a Corto. It's a Hipshot A style bridge, according to the manufacturer (see link) there is 1.5 mm of wiggle room in each saddle, but honestly, there's not a lot of room on the neck to push 'em out much farther.

View attachment 7546279

I’m actually interested in moving the other way. Trying to get my ideal which is 15.5mm spacing.

Hipshot makes a 5 string 16.5mm bridge that can move to 15mm, but I don’t know if they make a 4 string bridge that starts at 16.5mm and can adjust to 15.5mm. If they did I could just swap bridges and voila.
 

Bryan Threlkeld

Supporting Member
Jan 6, 2023
291
511
61
Georgetown TX
The string spacing is 17.5 mm, standard for a Corto. It's a Hipshot A style bridge, according to the manufacturer (see link) there is 1.5 mm of wiggle room in each saddle, but honestly, there's not a lot of room on the neck to push 'em out much farther.

View attachment 7546279
I just followed your link and it appears they have a 656 model that is 4 string 16.5mm. So IF it’s also adjustable and has the same “footprint” and screw holes it could be an easy swap! I wonder if the Birdsong company would know the answer to thieve questions?
 

theschnitt

Supporting Member
Jan 27, 2005
513
518
Tucson, AZ
I just followed your link and it appears they have a 656 model that is 4 string 16.5mm. So IF it’s also adjustable and has the same “footprint” and screw holes it could be an easy swap! I wonder if the Birdsong company would know the answer to thieve questions?
Birdsong is always very helpful and responsive, so it's worth a call.

I looked at the images on the page I linked to (scroll down a bit and there are very detailed drawings), and it's seems to my eye that the 656 and 687 have identical footprints and screw holes.

1785417656246.png1785417681341.png
 
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theschnitt
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For Sale: Bass Guitars
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Location
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