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My hands are a tad smaller than my wife's. For example, I can clear stubborn obstructions from our garbage disposal's blades, while she cannot even get her hand into the drain. For me, the "mild V" neck on my fretless Shortbass is so much more comfortable than the one on my MIJ reissue Fender Mustang that I'm having Scott build me a fretted Shortbass.
I really like the pickup/pickup placement on the Shortbass as well. It has a considerably wider range of tones than the reissue Mustang. Plus, it's less noisy (which really surprised me, since the split single-coil Mustang pickup is inherently noise-cancelling).
Also, the Shortbasses (and Birdsongs as well, I assume) are better balanced than any of the Fenders I've owned over the years (since '72).
I could go on about other things like fit and finish, etc., but if I had to name one feature that I like the most, it would be Scott's handmade neck.
Shortbass builds have a different numbering formula, which relates to the order date. My new one is #SB180109.
77stingray
Supporting Member
Actually I'm pretty sure the necks are NOT handmade - it's just the bodies that are.
I guess I considered that if Scott's hands were guiding whatever machinery necessary, the product was handmade.
Sorry - Scott designed the neck, but he finds people with CNC machines to build small batches based on his specs. Still - I agree that the neck design is one of my all-time favorite features on any bass.
Oh he'll build you a neck the old school way if you want to pay for it....there is a place for both.
Does he really have the necks made with a CNC machine? I'm not doubting anyone, but I remember him posting a picture of the guy he used to help with the necks. Scott told me once that the guy doing the necks had a background in cabinetry and is much better at sanding them. I also recall plenty of pictures of square headstocks before they are shaped into the headstocks we know.
I don't know much about guitar making but I wouldn't be surprised if they are still largely hand made, or perhaps hand guided would be a better way to put it. I'm sure they use machine equipment to cut off the excess wood, but I highly doubt Scott has it in full blown automated CNC machine mode.
Either way they are great basses and I can't wait to add more to my collection!
I don't know much about guitar making but I wouldn't be surprised if they are still largely hand made, or perhaps hand guided would be a better way to put it. I'm sure they use machine equipment to cut off the excess wood, but I highly doubt Scott has it in full blown automated CNC machine mode.
Either way they are great basses and I can't wait to add more to my collection!
1. the neck is great...and perhaps, just perhaps, yes. if no one told you it was a "soft V", you might not notice. however, you would notice how comfortable it is
2. weight is driven largely by the type (density) of wood and (obviously) the size of the body. a mesquite body or a walnut body with burls, might be almost twice as heavy as some poplar or cedar bodies of the same shape. if weight is an overriding concern, Scott can probably steer you to a body style and wood selection that will get you what you want
3. Birdsongs are way more fun than pedals
I'm not sure if this club is still handing out numbers, but if so I'll take one.
Either way, I'm sure you Birdsong fans will appreciate more eye candy.
I've put a picture of my Corto at the bottom of this post. I've had it for about a year, and it's become my main player.
Scott's basses are so comfortable, I've recently ordered a fretless walnut Sadhana; it will have ebony stringers and a single Delano pickup. It is number BX036 on the builds page, although there are no pictures of it posted as of right now. ETA is September/October.
Either way, I'm sure you Birdsong fans will appreciate more eye candy.
I've put a picture of my Corto at the bottom of this post. I've had it for about a year, and it's become my main player.
Scott's basses are so comfortable, I've recently ordered a fretless walnut Sadhana; it will have ebony stringers and a single Delano pickup. It is number BX036 on the builds page, although there are no pictures of it posted as of right now. ETA is September/October.
Love the korina. That will look great with rosewood. If I hadn't bought mine from inventory I might have chosen ebony for aesthetics, but the maple neck is wonderful too. Looking forward to seeing yours; the world needs more korina!
Fretless with the humongous Delano sound is going to be wild! Congrats! I'm sure acleex will hand you a number soon.
Is anyone in this group located in North Carolina? I am relocating there for new job. My bird will be flying further south soon...
ScottB
Commercial User
- Jul 6, 2004
- 44
- 181
- Disclosures
- Owner, Birdsong - (former) SD Curlee - D'Aquila Guitars brands
Greetings & gratitude to all of you - I took notes on some questions and I'll talk a bit now and a bit mid-week as the weather here is about to turn bad enough to keep me out of the woodshop for a few days. It's 3AM right now, going wood shopping later this morning after a nap.
OK - necks - let's keep in mind there are 14 years and probably close to 1000 instruments, specs drift over years and through different batches & helping hands as there have been. Different chapters mean different processes. Some (past) were more V, some (especially maple board necks) are tending to finish out a hair rounder & fuller. But the VAST majority are in between, a very soft V graduating to C as you go up the neck. That's the original I designed in 2003 and that's what gets carved at least closely most of the time.
Many necks have CNC work in them to varying degrees, there's always shaping & sanding & dressing left regardless, but there are also - and have been - hand made necks in the mix too. Some by me and some by others in the very tight little Birdsong circle for years. Much of the time it would take my eyes - being the nutty professor in here and having helped birth every single one of the instruments - to tell them apart. I really like necks to happen in batches for consistency and work flow of how the basses best come to be in the workshop.
More coming... hope this is helpful. Thank you all so much. ~Woodgnome Scott of the Birdsong Forest
OK - necks - let's keep in mind there are 14 years and probably close to 1000 instruments, specs drift over years and through different batches & helping hands as there have been. Different chapters mean different processes. Some (past) were more V, some (especially maple board necks) are tending to finish out a hair rounder & fuller. But the VAST majority are in between, a very soft V graduating to C as you go up the neck. That's the original I designed in 2003 and that's what gets carved at least closely most of the time.
Many necks have CNC work in them to varying degrees, there's always shaping & sanding & dressing left regardless, but there are also - and have been - hand made necks in the mix too. Some by me and some by others in the very tight little Birdsong circle for years. Much of the time it would take my eyes - being the nutty professor in here and having helped birth every single one of the instruments - to tell them apart. I really like necks to happen in batches for consistency and work flow of how the basses best come to be in the workshop.
More coming... hope this is helpful. Thank you all so much. ~Woodgnome Scott of the Birdsong Forest
ScottB
Commercial User
- Jul 6, 2004
- 44
- 181
- Disclosures
- Owner, Birdsong - (former) SD Curlee - D'Aquila Guitars brands
OK, back to necks. When it's time to shave the heel to fit the pocket, I'm no longer thinking about how this neck was worked into shape vs. that neck; they're all the same functionally to me at this point and all work the same from this point... so don't worry about it. This also, to whatever degree a neck may have some CNC involved, that's the only place the wood in a Birdsong or Shortbass has been touched by anything other than hands and hand guided tools, sometimes hand guided through woodshop machines. None of which are even as big as a cabinet shop, more like what you'd find in a small furniture maker's shop. Technology, like many things, can be a great ally used wisely in moderation for specific tasks - but a soulless master to become enslaved to. Then again, that's from a guy who still uses a flip phone and drives a '74 Plymouth. I got into this to be a craftsman for music and it made me into a luthier - but I really rather leave that term and "hand made" for archtop jazz and flamenco guitar makers. I build things.
Shortbass necks are Birdsong necks.
Soft V is most comfy for me, this was all an answer for my needs first and that's the basic neck spec still. No deliberate "change" - and I'm 5'3" with tiny hands. Any V in a neck helps keep more wood in it which is SO beneficial structurally & tonally. It's really soft most of the time, and is where your hand Vs.
Landing was mentioned - good man, I talked with him once or twice years ago. I still refer people to him who really want a more Fendery painted bass. Rob Allen too - great stuff, his own recipe. We all share clients. If we're the "Big 3" of this tiny little corner of bassgeardom, I'm honored to be here with them.
One more thing on the slight V, yes just ask and I'll keep carving / sanding on that one for you to a C. Thinking back, there was more V on a run of 2-piece necks maybe 10 years ago. Most Birdsongs are 3-piece. As for any "infamous" variations, there are none - just a spec substitution here or a, say, zero fret slot that didn't get cut. Same basic neck, and I've replaced less than a handful over the whole ride - regardless of the different details in any of them. Occasionally we've had to substitute a 2-way rod, but it's a big one! LOL. No worries. I'm here.
Leftkla - definitely will be busy, this is only some I'm starting on. Won't be as busy as 2017 though - that was so much fun but unsustainable without growing it and I don't want that. But we'll get plenty of work done in '18, no worries! Thank you.
Loopee, if you're buying pedals rather than the Birdsong you want - that's a metric assload of pedals, my man! But I bet you're having fun, which is really what this is about. Painting the air as we choose, with the colors we like and the tools that inspire us. It'd be fun to talk sometime. No pressure.
Weight - can get down around 6, but a 6.5 perfectly balanced feels much better than one lighter but longer. I've done one chambered Cortobass (very early) and one hollow. Really my passion is planks - I find them so much more tonally consistent and controllable as far as "if I combine this with that I'll get this result and it'll sound like THIS down here and THAT all the way up the board"... fewer surprises in response and peaks. I have my ways of lightening any given recipe.
OK, nap time. I'll check back mid-week. Drive safe out there & stay cool. Thanks! ~Scottibus of Wingfeather
Shortbass necks are Birdsong necks.
Soft V is most comfy for me, this was all an answer for my needs first and that's the basic neck spec still. No deliberate "change" - and I'm 5'3" with tiny hands. Any V in a neck helps keep more wood in it which is SO beneficial structurally & tonally. It's really soft most of the time, and is where your hand Vs.
Landing was mentioned - good man, I talked with him once or twice years ago. I still refer people to him who really want a more Fendery painted bass. Rob Allen too - great stuff, his own recipe. We all share clients. If we're the "Big 3" of this tiny little corner of bassgeardom, I'm honored to be here with them.
One more thing on the slight V, yes just ask and I'll keep carving / sanding on that one for you to a C. Thinking back, there was more V on a run of 2-piece necks maybe 10 years ago. Most Birdsongs are 3-piece. As for any "infamous" variations, there are none - just a spec substitution here or a, say, zero fret slot that didn't get cut. Same basic neck, and I've replaced less than a handful over the whole ride - regardless of the different details in any of them. Occasionally we've had to substitute a 2-way rod, but it's a big one! LOL. No worries. I'm here.
Leftkla - definitely will be busy, this is only some I'm starting on. Won't be as busy as 2017 though - that was so much fun but unsustainable without growing it and I don't want that. But we'll get plenty of work done in '18, no worries! Thank you.
Loopee, if you're buying pedals rather than the Birdsong you want - that's a metric assload of pedals, my man! But I bet you're having fun, which is really what this is about. Painting the air as we choose, with the colors we like and the tools that inspire us. It'd be fun to talk sometime. No pressure.
Weight - can get down around 6, but a 6.5 perfectly balanced feels much better than one lighter but longer. I've done one chambered Cortobass (very early) and one hollow. Really my passion is planks - I find them so much more tonally consistent and controllable as far as "if I combine this with that I'll get this result and it'll sound like THIS down here and THAT all the way up the board"... fewer surprises in response and peaks. I have my ways of lightening any given recipe.
OK, nap time. I'll check back mid-week. Drive safe out there & stay cool. Thanks! ~Scottibus of Wingfeather
