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Birdsong Club Pt 2

#61
Any idea what he uses if customers don't specify something different? I also wonder if he used different strings for the 5 DST design versus the current design.

I asked Scott this question via email a couple weeks ago but have not heard from him.

etoncrow said:
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.
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#62
banditcosmo said:
Greg,
How much of a difference is the sound between the tone control and the varitone ? I find myself really only using 2 of the settings on the varitone, the 2 lowest setting (pointing towards the ground).
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There is a lot of difference to my ear. The varitone has a much broader range of sound than the tone control. The tone control reminds me of the range you find on a P-bass for example. I believe that by working with the varitone and the pick-up volume pots you can duplicate any sound the tone control would give you but not vice versa.
 
#63
vroc38 said:
Any idea what he uses if customers don't specify something different? I also wonder if he used different strings for the 5 DST design versus the current design.

I asked Scott this question via email a couple weeks ago but have not heard from him.
Click to expand...

I thought Scott uses Curt Mangan nickel roundwounds .045-.105 gauge on the Cortobass, Hy5, and Skyrider, but maybe I'm wrong. My Cherry Cortobass came with the Curt Mangan nickel roundwounds. If you don't like the Mangans, Scott suggested to me that SIT Strings would be good as well (don't get the short scale strings). I use SIT Power Wound Nickel roundwound strings on my ESP B50 and there great sounding strings with a nice even bass response across all of the strings from the E to the G (it's a 4 string bass).
 
#65
Hello, ladies and gentlemen (or dudes and dudesses if that's more appropriate).

OK, after lurking :ninja: this forum (and this thread in particular) for a long time, and wasting far too much of my employer's time on the Birdsong site over the last year, I finally plunked down the cash to get mine started. Sold an Entreprise FN-FAL and a .308 synthetic-stocked Remington bolt action to do it. Wonder if that's ever happened before?

I was gonna be all cool-like until I had it in my hot little hands, but then the pictures showed up:

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and my cool just evaporated. That's a "super blackout wash" and he's (yes, my Corto is a he and his name is "Crow") will be as dark as Scott can make him. The plan is for ebony for the control cover, headstock overlay, truss rod cover, and thumb rest. Black hardware and a Hipshot tuner. I may have to try DR Black Beauty strings on him at some point, too.

For a birthday my wife got me the little Ibanez shortscale and I found I really liked the form factor, I'm anxious to see what a pro-quality one is like to play. :bassist: And yes, my wife feeds my addictions, she's the greatest.

It's really sucky around SW Ohio right now, but after every communication with Scott I'm a little uplifted. Wonder if he's just like that, or if that comes from doing something you love to do every day....

Hope to be checking in regularly.
 
#66
Croooow said:
I was gonna be all cool-like until I had it in my hot little hands, but then the pictures showed up:

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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

and my cool just evaporated. That's a "super blackout wash" and he's (yes, my Corto is a he and his name is "Crow") will be as dark as Scott can make him. The plan is for ebony for the control cover, headstock overlay, truss rod cover, and thumb rest. Black hardware and a Hipshot tuner. I may have to try DR Black Beauty strings on him at some point, too.


Hope to be checking in regularly.
Click to expand...

So that's YOUR Cortobass I was ogling on Friday. Congratulations and good luck. I'll be keeping an eye out to see how your build progresses. Is Scott using the striped Macassar Ebony on yours? Should turn out to be a beauty.

I'm a few numbers behind you at 10C-191. With my wife and dad's help I was able to open up the budget a wee bit and I'm going with natural mahogany, Macassar Ebony and black hardware. It remains to be seen what will be done as I told Scott to follow his muse on this one.

Scott is one in a billion and we're lucky to have him around. It really shows that he loves what he does and it all goes into the instrument. Can't go wrong with that approach.

Cheers!
 
#67
greggster59 said:
So that's YOUR Cortobass I was ogling on Friday. Congratulations and good luck. I'll be keeping an eye out to see how your build progresses. Is Scott using the striped Macassar Ebony on yours? Should turn out to be a beauty.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

I don't think the term Macasar has come up. Had to Google that one. Good looking, but I think the plan is plain ebony, since I'm hoping for a sort of subdued, shadowy look.

You're only a couple spaces down. I know the work doesn't necessarily go linearly, but it looks like the chief woodsgnome is cranking them out after the break. So hopefully it won't be long till you see some concrete results.
 
#68
I own several Cortobasses and have been toying with the idea of getting a Cortofusion. I am concerned that it is not versatile enough for me. I play in several Classic rock and Country bands. The Corto does a very good job when played through Ampeg cabs and amps and Markbass cabs and LMII amps. I love its sound for those genres

I listened to the clips on YouTube and liked the sound and the looks of the Cortofusion, but I am concerned that the Fusion won't sound strong or thumpy enough in a rock or country group. I worry that it's more of a jazz or soloist's bass.

Am I wrong ??????

I am very old school. No slapping or popping.

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks.
 
#69
I got the Fusion prototype for acoustic rock stuff. #2 belongs to the bassist for My Morning Jacket and has made numerous concert appearances, including on the Tonight Show a year or two ago. I went for the varitone over the tone knob he normally uses on it and it is NOT a one-trick pony by any stretch.
 
#70
Hello fellow Birdsongers,

Just put down a deposit on this body. Scott says it's going to be 10S-006. Why 006? Scott told me that this body is from an order that changed. For some reason, he never got around to reusing the number.

The only change I made to the suggested configuration was to request a fretted neck.

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I'll be paying as I sell off other gear and accumulate gig money. The building will probably start later this summer...

Mark from Wisconsin
 
#75
Thanks for the compliments on my Skyrider! I was blown away when Scott first emailed the sketch. To think it all started with me saying to Scott, "How about HY5 horns on a Cortobass body?" Part of the conversation was about my bass influences: Jack Cassidy, Andy Frazier, etc.

As to the weight, I think it's lighter than my EB3. I don't know how it would compare to a Cortobass. For the time being, the Skyrider is the only Birdsong I know of in Central Wissonsin. I'm guessing the difference is only a pound or two.

I'll have to ask Scott about the weight--if he even knows. I'm 6'3", with no serious back or shoulder problems--so weight never came up. The balance is perfect. I don't know if you can tell from the picture--my left hand isn't supporting the neck at all.

Croooow (MST3K rules), the Sadhana body is made from a special stash of Texas pecan that Scott got from his mentor Uncle Johnny. It's the last body from that wood. Here's the link to the story: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Just scroll down. To me the wood looks like it came from a tree that's been through a lot. It just has a great look.

I'll post pictures and a review once I have the bass in my hands.
 
#76
mazareth said:
Hello fellow Birdsongers,

Just put down a deposit on this body. Scott says it's going to be 10S-006. Why 006? Scott told me that this body is from an order that changed. For some reason, he never got around to reusing the number.

I'll be paying as I sell off other gear and accumulate gig money. The building will probably start later this summer...

Mark from Wisconsin
Click to expand...

That's gonna be a beauty! Talk about 'character'...
 
#79
vroc38 said:
Any idea what he uses if customers don't specify something different? I also wonder if he used different strings for the 5 DST design versus the current design.

I asked Scott this question via email a couple weeks ago but have not heard from him.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to add that it seems strange to me Scott didn't answer your mail, it might have not arrived. I wrote a few times just to say hi and ask questions, and he always answers quite fast. Seems llike a great guy.
Still I can't afford one, but i wish i can have a birdsong one day.
 

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