• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Birdsong Club Pt 2

#41
All, thanks for the info. That's what I was looking for.

I communicated with Scott briefly about the Cherry and received a similar response concerning a Birdsong generally sounding like a Birdsong no matter what wood is used. I was going to discuss it further with him but was comfortable with my choice. I just figured I would explore it a bit more here.

I certainly buy into the fact that the body wood will generally only add 5 - 10% to the tonal characteristics of an instument. I am not sure if my ear is refined enough to tell the difference, but it's nice to know.

Mitch - do you have a Cherry Birdsong?
 
#42
I'm not good at all at describing how a bass sounds but I have 2 Birdsong's a fretless and a fretted and besides the frets they sound quite a bit different to me. They are both mahogany the fretless is black-washed.
In my opinion I don't each Birdsong is going to exactly the same even with the same woods.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jlaudin
#43
Cherry is reputed to have a bit of a mid-scoop. Mahogany historically is thought to bring a slight low-mid bump and warmth. This will vary piece-by-piece, and pair-of-ears by pair-of-ears..
 
#44
RLS said:
Mitch - do you have a Cherry Birdsong?
Click to expand...

Indeed! Cherry body with bloodwood stringer, control plate and arrowhead. Ebony knobs and nut.
:cool:

90966637.gif


90966655.gif


90966634.gif
 
#46
I think it has darkened a bit, but that could be from Scott's magic finishing sauce as much as the wood. The bloodwood pieces also seem darker than they once were, so I think the finish has something to do with it.

I'd like to say it's from all the smoke-filled bars I play in ... but my gig is smoke-free every Sunday morning. :)

If I have time this weekend I'll see if I can post some updated pictures for comparison.
 
#49
check this out ! I just got this pic from Jimmy Wilson at Landing Guitars and someone sent him a Cortobass for Jimmy to install EMG's in it. The pickguard is by Jeannie's pickguards.
2 EMG 35 TW pickups (switchable single/dual mode on push pull pots)
EMG BQC control EQ

Bet you that bass sounds awesome. I like the vari-tone but sometimes wish for more standard pickup controls. I also would love to have a humbucker in the neck position.

Wonder how it would sound with Dark Stars ?

attachment.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 444444444.jpg
    444444444.jpg
    28.1 KB · Views: 2,792
  • Like
Reactions: tomshepp
#52
Nice! Love that pickguard.

I bet Dark Stars would really work well with a Birdsong. Was also thinking about modifying a shorty to use G&L MFD pickups and pre. G&L L-2000 is my holy grail bass tone. Would be awesome to have that tone and the short-scale ergos in the same bass.

I gigged my Hy5 for the first time on Saturday. Loved it! If I experiment with pickups on a shorty it won't be on this bass. It's fine as it is. The squareness of the neck edges kinda bugged me at first but it's becoming less an issue and never noticed it at all on the gig. It's a keeper for sure.

I emailed Scott a couple times to discuss a few issues but never got a reply. Maybe I said something he didn't care to hear. Anybody else experience this?

banditcosmo said:
check this out ! I just got this pic from Jimmy Wilson at Landing Guitars and someone sent him a Cortobass for Jimmy to install EMG's in it. The pickguard is by Jeannie's pickguards.
2 EMG 35 TW pickups (switchable single/dual mode on push pull pots)
EMG BQC control EQ

Bet you that bass sounds awesome. I like the vari-tone but sometimes wish for more standard pickup controls. I also would love to have a humbucker in the neck position.

Wonder how it would sound with Dark Stars ?

attachment.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#56
Scott recognizes that what was done to this bass was the kind of thing that he did to EVERY SINGLE STOCK BASS he ever owned.

He also says the owner has several Birdsongs, so it's not like he was modding the heck out of his only one. Scott was just genuinely impressed by the quality of work - especially in getting the pickguard to go even up against the end of the neck. It's an odd shape to have to deal with.
 
#57
I have four Birdsongs, a fretless Mesquito w/tone control, a maple fretted Cortobass w/tone control, a fretless mahogany Cortobass w/varitone and a fretted mahogany Hy5 w/varitone and I cannot imagine changing anything including the strings. I really do love the way they sound and the range of sound that much. Now, I do have a Warmoth/Allparts/Bill Lawrence fretless P-bass I can experiment with if i get an itch.
 
#59
What strings came stock on the Hy5? Mine came with D'Addario XL170-5. They don't fit the bass so well - the tapered portion of the B and E strings passes over the nut.


etoncrow said:
I have four Birdsongs, a fretless Mesquito w/tone control, a maple fretted Cortobass w/tone control, a fretless mahogany Cortobass w/varitone and a fretted mahogany Hy5 w/varitone and I cannot imagine changing anything including the strings. I really do love the way they sound and the range of sound that much. Now, I do have a Warmoth/Allparts/Bill Lawrence fretless P-bass I can experiment with if i get an itch.
Click to expand...
 
#60
vroc38 said:
What strings came stock on the Hy5?
Click to expand...

I am "old school" and specifically asked for flatwound Chromes on my Hy5. My Hy5 was also the new proto-type in inventory so Scott had to take off the stock strings and redo the nut and intonation to accomodate the flats. I mostly play country and old R&B and I really like them but they are not for everybody.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back