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Curiosity got the better of me and I just had to weigh my Feather Bass - just a scootch under 6 pounds. Honestly, I have no idea how that's possible with a solid body, but I like it!
A bass this pretty and amazing deserves to be shown off…. This is my Birdsong AC-1
Unbelievably great instrument. A true joy to play.
Unbelievably great instrument. A true joy to play.
ScottB
Commercial User
- Jul 6, 2004
- 44
- 181
- Disclosures
- Owner, Birdsong - (former) SD Curlee - D'Aquila Guitars brands
May you play it with joy. Hey, Birdsong's 22nd Anniversary is coming up July 4th and 5th, I'll have a news page update about it up this coming week. Thank EVERYONE for everything from interest and mentions to making them a part of your music and life. Would love to hear from you all over the weekend, and as always I'm happy to answer any questions myself. I'm very grateful. Wishing you all a great week and weekend! ~S.
ScottB
Commercial User
- Jul 6, 2004
- 44
- 181
- Disclosures
- Owner, Birdsong - (former) SD Curlee - D'Aquila Guitars brands
Hi - new to this thread and intrigued about Birdsong basses. I'm thinking about a Fusion 4 string fretless, if anyone has one tucked under their bed they'd like to sell, pm me!!
Welcome! Nothing for sale on my end (I have a couple of fretless Fusions with different pickup configurations, but they aren't going anywhere). But please stick around - Scott from Birdsong pokes his head in periodically to say hello and answer questions.
Thx - I have started an email conversation with Scott about a new order for one, but still trying to learn my way around the options. I am curious about the different configurations you have, if you don't mind my asking what you were looking for/achieved beyond the stock Fusion pickup?
First bass from Birdsong was the prototype for the Fusion (20 years ago this month). He eventually went with a different neck pickup than the one I have, and I have an old 6 position varitone installed instead of a tone knob. At the time of purchase, I was doing "acoustic living room jams with acoustic 12-string, djembe, and singalongs." Good for blues and jazz - Scott's promotional language for the model is basically "what I was doing with it."
Second bass - ebony fretless fingerboard, Corto1 pickups (without a toneknob) - the most "upright" sounding of any solid-body bass I've played. Completely supplanted the prototype and saw ALL of the playing time, 2007-2015. These days, if it comes out, I don't use the bridge pickup much if at all.
Third bass - "Richard the Test Bass" - just the Lace single coil at the neck (and holes routed for 3 other pickups that aren't there). My main fretted bass, 2014-2020. Ask Scott about Richard the Test Bass.
Fourth bass- fusion body in mesquite, fretless rosewood fingerboard, Delano Xtender pickup. 1 volume, no tone knob. Everything I wanted in a fretless that the earlier one didn't do (better for funkier/poppier/more fusiony stuff). Absolutely glorious.
Fifth Bass - mesquite/walnut fusion body, C-bass pickup config. Like any p-bass, it may not be "the perfect choice" but it's NEVER the wrong choice. Since late 2020, this one gets 90%+ of the playing time.
Since 2020, #5 is primary while #2 and #3 are the most likely backups on any given gig.
Thank you for all this information- a lot to digest. I may pm you with any more questions to keep from clogging the thread, but thank you!!!!
On a side note, are there any Birdsong owners in the SF Bay Area willing to let me try out their bass?
The more I get into this bass thing, the more I really appreciate Scott's thinking and craftsmanship.
If a birdsong is *exactly* what I'd want to build, I might as well save time and just buy a bass from him.
The more I get into this bass thing, the more I really appreciate Scott's thinking and craftsmanship.
If a birdsong is *exactly* what I'd want to build, I might as well save time and just buy a bass from him.
Hello,
I just purchased an older Birdsong Cortobass and I'd like to get it strung with flatwounds. This bass would be used mainly for home practice and in a praise band worship setting at church.
If there is anyone willing to comment and/or recommend any of the strings below it would be appreciated.
Thanks!
1) D'Addario XL Chromes (ECB82) String gauges: .050 .070 .085 .105
2) Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt (PO2812) String gauges: .050 .070 .085 .105
3) Ernie Ball Group Flatwound Group II String gauges: .050 - .070 - .085 - .105
4) GHS Precision (M3050) String gauges: .045 .065 .085 .105
6) Rotosound RS77LD Jazz Bass Monel Flats String gauges: 045 .065 .085 .105
I just purchased an older Birdsong Cortobass and I'd like to get it strung with flatwounds. This bass would be used mainly for home practice and in a praise band worship setting at church.
If there is anyone willing to comment and/or recommend any of the strings below it would be appreciated.
Thanks!
1) D'Addario XL Chromes (ECB82) String gauges: .050 .070 .085 .105
2) Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt (PO2812) String gauges: .050 .070 .085 .105
3) Ernie Ball Group Flatwound Group II String gauges: .050 - .070 - .085 - .105
4) GHS Precision (M3050) String gauges: .045 .065 .085 .105
5) La Bella 760FS-TB Deep Talkin' Bass String gauges: .045 .065 .085 .105
6) Rotosound RS77LD Jazz Bass Monel Flats String gauges: 045 .065 .085 .105
I like Chromes or La bellas.....but i also like higher tension. I've tried everything you mentioned except the Rotosounds. Chromes will be a lot brighter than the La Bellas ....depends on what you're looking for.
La Bella 760FS-TB Deep Talkin' Bass or La Bella model 760 F-MUS. I'm getting conflicting information regarding which one of these is appropriate for 31 inch scale length being strung through the body. The difference is the 760 F – TB is 37.25 inches in length which means the flat wound coating would wrap around the tuning pegs and could cause breakage, while the 760 F – MUS is 34 inches in length and gives the appropriate amount of string to wrap around the tuning pegs.
Also, regarding the D'Addario XL Chromes (ECB82):
From AI: On a 31-inch scale Birdsong bass routed string-through-body, standard long-scale sets (which have a 36.25" winding length from ball to silk) are too long, regardless of whether you choose the ECB81 or ECB82.
The Physical Fit Problem on a Birdsong:
1. The Target Path: On a 31" scale Birdsong, the distance from the string-through ferrules on the back of the body to the nut is approximately 33.5 to 34.5 inches.
2. What Happens with ECB81 or ECB82 (Long Scale):
Both sets have a 36.25-inch ball-to-silk winding length.
On your Birdsong, the full-diameter flat ribbon wrap will pass the nut and extend roughly 1.75 to 2.75 inches onto the headstock.
This forces the heavy stainless steel flat ribbon wire directly onto the tuning peg shafts.
Can someone please confirm which is the appropriate model numbers for the above brands? Thanks.
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I've been using the long scale, medium (50-105) D'Addario's with all of my Birdsongs for the last 20 years. I've developed a preference for the medium-light (45-100) recently, but D'Addario (flat, half-round, nickel-round) have been my main choice on Birdsongs since 2006. No problems on that front (one string popped at the saddle back in 2007, but I was playing REALLY rough that night). I *always* string "thru-body." Even with the flats.
BUT - I fell in love with the Labella Deep Talkin Flats last year. I did what I normally do with the the D'Addarios - used the long-scale and strung through body, despite warnings on the packaging.
Yes - the Labella E-string broke after a month or two. The bridge might get some folks - for me, it was the un-silked windings around the tuning post.
So I bought a set of the Labella Mustang DTFs - I still haven't put them on the bass yet because I didn't want to waste the set of rounds I put on it as an emergency the day of the string breakage. But that's my roundabout way of saying "for Labella Deep Talking Flats, take the warnings seriously about stringing thru-body with the long-scale strings. They aren't kidding."
The mustang strings are going on in the next couple of weeks. If anyone else has tried them on a Birdsong and has strong feelings (pro or con), let us know here.
BUT - I fell in love with the Labella Deep Talkin Flats last year. I did what I normally do with the the D'Addarios - used the long-scale and strung through body, despite warnings on the packaging.
Yes - the Labella E-string broke after a month or two. The bridge might get some folks - for me, it was the un-silked windings around the tuning post.
So I bought a set of the Labella Mustang DTFs - I still haven't put them on the bass yet because I didn't want to waste the set of rounds I put on it as an emergency the day of the string breakage. But that's my roundabout way of saying "for Labella Deep Talking Flats, take the warnings seriously about stringing thru-body with the long-scale strings. They aren't kidding."
The mustang strings are going on in the next couple of weeks. If anyone else has tried them on a Birdsong and has strong feelings (pro or con), let us know here.
I put long scale TI JF344 jazz flats on mine. Strung through body no issues. That said it's an expensive experiment with those.
I use TI JF324s on mine, top-loaded. Works fine. Have had these strings on since 2019 or 2020!
You can see the fat part of the E string and G string wrap around the post. Never had any issues on any short scale bass either these strings, even though there's always a bit of fat string on the post.
You can see the fat part of the E string and G string wrap around the post. Never had any issues on any short scale bass either these strings, even though there's always a bit of fat string on the post.
