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Birdsong Club Pt 2

#1,101
JayDA said:
I have a Sparrow, it's a really great little instrument....sounds just like my Cortobass.
I'm actually letting it go, as I'm just to in love with my recently acquired HY5 to play anything else lately!
Click to expand...

How is the Sparrow in terms of play ability? Are the strings loose compared to a standard Birdsong, or is it just a smaller version of what we already know?

What about weight? I'm very interested in a sparrow, I might reach out to Scott to see if he would customize one.
 
#1,102
beatlebass64 said:
How is the Sparrow in terms of play ability? Are the strings loose compared to a standard Birdsong, or is it just a smaller version of what we already know?

What about weight? I'm very interested in a sparrow, I might reach out to Scott to see if he would customize one.
Click to expand...

No string tension issue at all, exactly as you said, it's a smaller version of what we already know and love.
Mine is made of Walnut, so it's probably not the best one to compare....but I imagine one made out of something like the Spanish Cedar that Scott likes to use would be CRAZY LIGHT.
 
#1,105
JayDA said:
No string tension issue at all, exactly as you said, it's a smaller version of what we already know and love.
Mine is made of Walnut, so it's probably not the best one to compare....but I imagine one made out of something like the Spanish Cedar that Scott likes to use would be CRAZY LIGHT.
Click to expand...

The Mystic is made of Walnut too, mainly because of how it looks with the rosewood board and wenge inlays. Lots of browns, making for a sort of rustic/vintage look. Even with the hollowed out parts its still a little heavier than I expected. Nothing a good strap can't fix, and it balances perfectly.

Scott and I talked once about a Birdsong that "thought it was a Gibson". He mentioned possibly using the SD Curlee pickups (the rectangular brick ones). I guess he wanted to make something like that in the past using Darkstars, but no one showed any interest and he likes the SD Curlee pickups even more. He mentions on the website that the Sparrow sounds like a 30inch scale, which makes me want to try it out to get that more traditional short scale sound (where as the standard Birdsongs sound more like full scale 34 inch basses).

Have you ever played the Sparrow with a group? I am curious if it stands out in a band setting. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't.

Is the spacing between frets smaller on the Sparrow? I imagine it would have to be seeing as it is a smaller scale.
 
#1,108
OK! So I'm liking the thought of the Hy5, with a Corto2 body shape and pickup placement, mahogany body/maple top, maple neck/rosewood fingerboard, as my do-it-all short scale bass. Scott has been fantastic in talking me through the process.

Thoughts? This will be used for classic rock/blues, probably through a Mesa or Aguilar Class D amp.

Am I asking too much expecting this to be a 5-string P/J substitute?

Any thoughts appreciated!
 
#1,109
Hambone 70 said:
OK! So I'm liking the thought of the Hy5, with a Corto2 body shape and pickup placement, mahogany body/maple top, maple neck/rosewood fingerboard, as my do-it-all short scale bass. Scott has been fantastic in talking me through the process.

Thoughts? This will be used for classic rock/blues, probably through a Mesa or Aguilar Class D amp.

Am I asking too much expecting this to be a 5-string P/J substitute?

Any thoughts appreciated!
Click to expand...

I don't think you're asking to much, my HY5 can cover pretty much anything. I find it really doesn't have a "color" baked into it, it's a basic (for lack of a better word) passive instrument, that lets whatever preamp you plug into do the majority of the tone shaping.
It wouldn't be my first choice for a more modern scooped, "slap type" tone, but that's probably because I don't really favor those tones anyway. I think it would be perfect for what you're describing.

FYI, I run a tube pre/power rig through an Aguilar DB115, and that B string will kick your ass! You can really feel the air move....I've also used a Tone Hammer 500 with similar results.

I have another HY5 on order now, mine will be a skyrider body (SKY5) with the older style narrow string spacing. Scott is the man, I have 5 Birdsongs currently in the stable, and everything he's ever built me is of impeccable craftsmanship, you can't go wrong.
 
#1,110
Hambone 70 said:
OK! So I'm liking the thought of the Hy5, with a Corto2 body shape and pickup placement, mahogany body/maple top, maple neck/rosewood fingerboard, as my do-it-all short scale bass. Scott has been fantastic in talking me through the process.

Thoughts? This will be used for classic rock/blues, probably through a Mesa or Aguilar Class D amp.

Am I asking too much expecting this to be a 5-string P/J substitute?

Any thoughts appreciated!
Click to expand...


I have owned a Corto2, and while it is a fantastic bass, it definitely has a more "modern" tone (as the description on the website states.

If you are really set on having a P/J substitute perhaps you should try using the Reverse P Pickup that Scott uses in the CBass design? I'm not sure if that pickup would work with the 5 string, but I'm sure Scott could come up with something if you mentioned the P/J configuration to him.

Overall, my experience with Birdsongs is that they fit in quite well in a band setting while having their own sound. If this is your first Birdsong I am sure you will be very pleased!
 
#1,113
Hambone 70 said:
OK... another question for you Birdsong owners!

Aesthetics aside, are there any advantages/disadvantages to having a laminated top vs a single solid piece of wood?
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Only one of my 5 isn't a solid chunk (or chunks) of wood, and I don't notice a difference, in sustain or anything else.
I wouldn't hesitate to order something like that if it was what did it for me......what are you thinking about?
 
#1,115
Hambone 70 said:
I was thinking that perhaps it would affect the tone, or maybe the possibility of the lamination coming off.

So I reckon those aren't really concerns, and I do like the laminated top.
Click to expand...

Scott has previously told me that woods are "seasonings in the sonic soup". From what I've taken away, at least with his builds, is that tone is mostly taken from the pickups used, how they are wired, and where they are placed. The woods season that tone, so a brighter wood is like adding a little highs to the mix, a warmer wood would add a little lows, but overall they don't determine the sound as much as the pickups.

I have never used a laminate top, but I would imagine it would be a good way to keep the weight down. For example, a lighter weight wood could be used for the body (like Spanish Cedar) and topped with a more visually appealing wood, like figured maple or walnut or something.

I'm sure Scott would love to have a conversation about this subject with you!
 
#1,116
Scott has been fantastic in answering my (sometimes, er... usually ignorant) questions. It is refreshing to deal with someone so professional, passionate and knowledgeable about their profession.

So I'm about ready to pull the trigger:

Hy5.2
Corto2 body shape/pickup placement
Sky5 headstock shape
Hard mahogany body
Spalted maple top/matching headstock laminate
Maple neck/Rosewood fingerboard
Black hardware

Thoughts?
 
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#1,117
Hambone 70 said:
Scott has been fantastic in answering my (sometimes, er... usually ignorant) questions. It is refreshing to deal with someone so professional, passionate and knowledgeable about their profession.

So I'm about ready to pull the trigger:

Hy5.2
Corto2 body shape/pickup placement
Sky5 headstock shape
Hard mahogany body
Spalted maple top/matching headstock laminate
Maple neck/Rosewood fingerboard
Black hardware

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

My only thought is that if the mahogany is dense then the weight could be a little higher with the maple top. If that is a concern you could use Spanish Cedar, which Scott says is tonally similar to mahogany but lighter weight. Other than that I say trust your instincts and pull the trigger! I love the maple neck/rosewood board combo, and black hardware is my preferred choice usually. Black hardware should look pretty nice with a lighter maple top too!
 

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