I can also confirm this. I have three Birdsongs: Mesquito: 7M-004, Cortobsss: 8C-155 & Hy5: 13-062. Not only have they not moved they are almost always in tune when I pick one up. Minor tune tweaking.
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I can also confirm this. I have three Birdsongs: Mesquito: 7M-004, Cortobsss: 8C-155 & Hy5: 13-062. Not only have they not moved they are almost always in tune when I pick one up. Minor tune tweaking.
77stingray
Supporting Member
@JayDA is this your six string bliss? It is one of the coolest Birdsongs I have seen!
@77stingray it sure is! Scott should be delivering it to me in a few weeks....since I got my fretted six last year ....its pretty much all I've played. I can't wait to get my hands on it's fretless twin!
ScottB
Commercial User
- Jul 6, 2004
- 44
- 182
- Disclosures
- Owner, Birdsong - (former) SD Curlee - D'Aquila Guitars brands
Hi all! Geepers, thanks for the question about our approach to strict moisture percentages. As a series of small workshops mostly in the woods, working with windows and doors open, we've embraced a "wood's good when it's good" approach. We source our main woods kiln dried from sources we've used for decades, and the rest we just let hang around and settle in where WE are. We watch it and work with what it tells us. On noticeably humid days there are certain routs I won't do, but past that, it's more like Grandma's cooking than a science lab. Not every piece that comes in goes out as instruments; some never settles, and sometimes we pick up a piece and just know... no. This one's going to give me trouble. Most of the time, especially at this point, we're able to handle pieces and know when it's ready. Obviously there's a range, but I really don't know if forcing wood to a numerical percentage and then sending that finished instrument out to who knows what environment or other season is better than just letting the wood be and do as wood does - fluctuate within reason - just paying attention and building and finishing it with care. Like most things, it's not as black and white as "6% it's the best way ever, and 7% it explodes!!" It's just not that cut and dried... (thank you, thank you very much). The process has windows in it depending on the wood, what you're asking it to do, the seasons, where you're working, what type of instrument you're making out of it. We've found them to be wide enough, and kinda obvious when not. Bigger companies making far more instruments than we ever will have to eliminate such variables efficiently, so it's easier to climate control a room and standardize that a bit. Just my experience, doing what I've done, as we do it. Don't apply any of this to what any other hands anywhere should or shouldn't do. But, if the way we handle it hadn't worked for us, this answer would have been very different by now! This piece of walnut has been stored indoors for decades, for example. I'm not even worried about it. If it makes it through our hands and build process, it's fine - and should stay that way for you. 
Thanks for the question. ~S.
Thanks for the question. ~S.Attachments
ScottB
Commercial User
- Jul 6, 2004
- 44
- 182
- Disclosures
- Owner, Birdsong - (former) SD Curlee - D'Aquila Guitars brands
Happy Independence Day weekend! A note on our email, if you have Birdsong as scott@ or info@, these are going. Email is [email protected]. Thanks so much! ALSO, I have the old main computer hooked in for the 20th Anniversary sale weekend, so if anybody wants the build pics I have of their Birdsong, email me with your serial number and I'll send what I have! Be safe, stay cool, rock on. ~Scott B.
Hi Birdsong fans! Gonna throw a Hail Mary here and see if there is anyone within a couple hours of St. Louis MO who owns a 4 string Birdsong and would be willing to let me see how it feels. Hoping to jump in on Scott's 20th anniversary sale, but would really like to see how his basses fit me before committing to a build. TIA!
Greetings fellow Birdsong bassists! I am going to be flying soon with my Cortobass, and I am looking to buy a good flight case for the travel. I was wondering if y'all have used a flight case for your birdsong before, and/or what you would recommend. Thanks!
I'm in a different part of the world to you but I had this flight case custom made and was surprised at how affordable it was (about $US300). Might be an option?
Attachments
I have not personally put a Corto in one of these, but judging by the measurements it will fit. I have quite a few iSeries SKB cases, and they're rock solid. I always put my Birdsongs in a mono guitar bag and into the overhead, but I've checked expensive electronics in these type cases and they've come through ok.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/3i4214-OP--skb-3i-4214-op-open-cavity
I'm not sure if it qualifies, but Style B #2403 (Texas Mesquite) arrived this afternoon.
While I'm nowhere near your location I will say that there is a good chance that almost all of us in this thread took a blind leap at Birdsong without having played one first. I don't think you would regret a Birdsong at all and if you did make the purchase and it wasn't right for you it would likely sell very quickly without much if any loss since someone wouldn't have to wait for it to be made.
The only major issue I can think of is if the bass is a little too small for you, since they are about the size of a fender electric guitar. Don't let that steer you away though. They are very comfortable to play and if you've ever played a short scale before and enjoyed it then the Birdsong would likely knock your socks off.
I took a blind leap at Birdsong. Ended up with six of them. Sold the three fretted; still have the three fretless ones. They've been my go-to's for almost 15 years.
This came yesterday, and I've already put my other two basses up for sale at the local shop, and have a fretless Fusion on order (although I had ordered it before getting the Style B).
What specific model are you thinking about? I agree with the above....a Corto or a C-Bass will "feel small", but that's about the only thing I can say. The original Corto pickup arrangement is different until you get used to it, but the 2 soapbars feel more "modern" and "like what you're used to". I'm a big guy, so the 4 strings look like toys strapped on....HY5s look pretty much normal.
I'd be glad to let you try mine, but - I'm just outside of South Bend, Indiana; mine's a Fusion lined fretless; and it's also a lefty. The Fusion is a little small, but... not tiny, by any means. TBH, it's pretty much the same size as my Warmoth Mini-Precision Bass. Just shaped a little different around the upper bouts. Fits in the same made-for-a-Stratocaster case the Warmoth lives in, in fact. If you've never played a short scale bass before? That might throw you off at first, but my impression is that most people get over that pretty fast. I've never had a problem switching scales, but a few people certainly do. I have... 10? shorty's now (I forget); some are definitely harder to play than the others; But a Flying Vee is a pain, regardless of scale. And so is a Gretsch Broadkaster; yeah. it's 30'5" scale, but that thing is huge... But, the Birdsong? Easy-peasy. If a Fender Mustang, or a Squier Bronco feels OK to you? You will LOVE a Birdsong...
Looks like I'll be joining yall soon….
77stingray
Supporting Member
Thanks for the offer! I currently own 2 Schecter Banshee short scales, and had both a Sterling Stingray Short scale and a my first was a VM jag SS. My main player is a 32" 24 fret Muckelroy Bernal. My main reason for looking into Birdsong is the short scale jazz width neck. My index finger on my fretting hand has recently started giving me trouble and I was hoping the Birdsong neck would help. The Banshees have a thin neck and the Muckelroy is great - just a little wide and chunky. It is a big expenditure for me at this time, so I was hoping to try out first to see if it brought any relief. At this point I am almost ready to start selling everything off and quit my bands. It's very disheartening.I'd be glad to let you try mine, but - I'm just outside of South Bend, Indiana; mine's a Fusion lined fretless; and it's also a lefty. The Fusion is a little small, but... not tiny, by any means. TBH, it's pretty much the same size as my Warmoth Mini-Precision Bass. Just shaped a little different around the upper bouts. Fits in the same made-for-a-Stratocaster case the Warmoth lives in, in fact. If you've never played a short scale bass before? That might throw you off at first, but my impression is that most people get over that pretty fast. I've never had a problem switching scales, but a few people certainly do. I have... 10? shorty's now (I forget); some are definitely harder to play than the others; But a Flying Vee is a pain, regardless of scale. And so is a Gretsch Broadkaster; yeah. it's 30'5" scale, but that thing is huge... But, the Birdsong? Easy-peasy. If a Fender Mustang, or a Squier Bronco feels OK to you? You will LOVE a Birdsong...
I messed around with my Birdsong Fusion a little, the other night; taking some measurements - as best I could, without taking the strings off.* So, here are some numbers re the Fusion's neck:
Width
- 1 1/2" @ nut
- 1 7/8" @ 12th fret
- 2 1/8" @ 24th fret
Thickness
- 3/4" @ 1st fret
- 3/4" @ 8th fret
- 15/16" @ 12th fret
- 1" @ 17th fret (neck begins to transition into the heel at this point)
The neck contour is a definite flattened "D". Which is by far my favorite. The fingerboard radius? Don't know, exactly; 10", maybe...
Overall, with the exception of my Hofner 500/2, and my 2 violin basses? This is the thinnest, narrowest neck of any bass I own - and I own 28 of them. The neck on my Serek Sacramento is... kinda close; starts out as thin and narrow, but gets wider and thicker a bit quicker. And the contour is a slightly flattened "C". A very nice neck, IMO - but not quite as nice as the Fusion's. For me? Playing the Fusion is about as effortless as it can get...
* I would not stake my life on these measurements. I didn't use my calipers, since I would have had to take the strings off to do so. Instead, I used a Rube Goldberg setup, involving a couple of rulers and a bubble level
However. I have a lot of practice with lash-up's like that, so... the numbers should be pretty accurate; "close enough for government work", anyway...
ScottB
Commercial User
- Jul 6, 2004
- 44
- 182
- Disclosures
- Owner, Birdsong - (former) SD Curlee - D'Aquila Guitars brands
3rdcurve - "At this point I am almost ready to start selling everything off and quit my bands. It's very disheartening." Sir, DO NOT do this. Between Birdsong, me, and Jake, we can come up with an answer for you to keep you playing. It's in you, it's a part of you and you need it, and the world needs you and your music. We'll make it work however we need to. Just reach out when you feel it's time and let me know who you are from on here. Try not to be discouraged. ~S.
