Birdsong Club

[etoncrow]

I sure am glad I have my waders handy. It's getting a little deep around here.

 

[rfclef]

And 8C-123 shall be known henceforth as LORD OF ALL BASSES ( LOAB ).

The fairest among all and the envy of everyone in BASSLAND.

Some People are just too silly.

I look forward to seeing pics of your bass... I am sure they will be better than most...

Just for the sake of argument, describe it to us...

 

[bunny10]

Some People are just too silly.

I look forward to seeing pics of your bass... I am sure they will be better than most...

Just for the sake of argument, describe it to us...

I can't describe it except that it is maple. Scott and I decided that since my current bass is mahogany and a soft wood, he would build one with a hard wood this time. Both ends of the wood family.

He is going to build it the way that he sees fit. He did say it would probably have gold hardware which is something I never would have chosen, but I trust his judgement.

There were two things that I did want. 1) I did want to modify the Varitone with an idea that I have been kicking around for the last year and Scott was agreeable to try. If it works like I think it will then I will be extremely happy. 2) I wanted fret markers on the fingerboard. Scott has always resisted this until recently.

I assume it will be beautiful because I've never seen a bad looking Birdsong. As for the sound, I expect the Varitone mod to enhance the sounds available. I say this because I have played my current Corto for the last 2 years and have tinkered with it on and off. I even had Lindy Fralin make a special pickup for it. But in the end it didn't add much, so I went back to the EMG and then the Punchbucker. I even put in various different Varitones ( different capacitors and manufacturers ). Again Scotts original design was better.

Over the last 2 years I have been going back and forth between a 32" Fender Precision and my Corto. The Corto always wins out because of the variety of sounds I can dial in and even more important the neck and the total weight of the bass. I've never played a better neck and after playing for 4 hours on Friday and Saturday night I never have any hand or back issues. When I put the bass on I feel like an old friend has returned to me and I feel like I'm at the wheel of a Rolls Royce or a Ferrari (you pick which one) and totally in control.

RFCLEF, I hope I didn't ramble to much. I hate email and forums because you can't always get humor across, so much depends on voice inflection and timing, and I am the worst at both of these when using the printed word.

 

[rfclef]

He is going to build it the way that he sees fit. He did say it would probably have gold hardware which is something I never would have chosen, but I trust his judgement.
(snip)
RFCLEF, I hope I didn't ramble to much. I hate email and forums because you can't always get humor across, so much depends on voice inflection and timing, and I am the worst at both of these when using the printed word.

That is kinda how I went... I knew I wanted frets, 2 pickups, rear routed, and 3 wood knobs (I don't care for the "chicken heads"). But there were so many wood choices, I did not know where to start. I could look at previous basses he made and say "I like that, or that" but did not want to copy someone else's bass. Scott suggested the walnut center, ebony stringer, and sycamore wings. My first thought was "nahh, not what I want". But the more I thought about it, the more I knew that was what I wanted. I have told Scott a few things I wanted, but to me this is like commissioning a work of art... you don't tell the artist every detail... or you might as well do it yourself... And I have not seen any of Scott's axes that were not beautiful.

As far as the humor, yeah, good natured ribbing here. There is not a birdsong out there that I would not love to have. I am sure yours will be almost as beautiful as mine.

 

[slejhamer]

I say get the straplocks - if just because it lets Scott place them differently if they should be in a different spot than the Gripper Ts would otherwise be (I don't know if that's necessary - I know the recessed straplocks required advance notice because of drilling and finishing.

Just wanted to chime in on the straplock vs. Gripper T discussion. When I saw Andrew's basses, I made a mental note to get the recessed straplocks when I placed my order. The recessed positioning is elegant and they seemed very stable.

But, sometimes the mind is like a sieve, and I forgot to order them and instead ended up with the Gripper T's.

These are certainly an improvement over small "vintage" style strap buttons, but I noticed they were coming loose just from the movement of the 3-1/2" leather strap I was using. I unscrewed them, and was surprised that the screws are fairly thin and not very long.

I have since gotten a narrower light-weight suede Levy's strap (in rust red which matches nicely with the bloodwood trim on the bass) and have not had a problem with the Ts coming loose again, though I will plan to check and tighten them regularly if needed. That said, I worry about their long-term stability, especially with those skinny short screws. Kinda feel like they'll just rip out one day.

In short, I'd get the straplocks.

 

[rfclef]

Great Googly Moogly!... Scott just sent this!!
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Well, I can't quite get the pics posted, so for pics, head to
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and scroll down to 8c117!!!

 

[DeanT]

OK. I'm looking at getting a top-quality, high-end short scale and have been eyeing a Birdsong (please shoot me now before my wife finds out!). I was wondering if all you Birdsong fans (and we all know who you are CT) out there could clue me in to the ergonomics of the bass.

How comfortable are they while playing sitting? I assume there's no neck dive when standing (correct?) Is the Corto more/less comfortable than the Sadhana or the CortoFusion?

I'm considering the Cortobass and the Cortofusion, but can't decide between the two yet. Do you prefer one or two pickups? How's the regular tone knob vs. the varitone switch?

I sent for the demo CD so when it arrives maybe it'll help me decide. I wish there was somewhere I could go to actually play one, but my local GC doesn't usually carry them.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[acleex38]

Both of mine have the Cortofusion body, even my "Cortobass": It's the most comfortable body shape, sitting or standing, I've played. I like it standing, sitting with it on my right leg, shifted over to the left leg, sitting on a stool.

I know Bobby already said good things about the Cortobass body and he's right. My only experience with the Cortobass was trying "Richard the test bass" when I was out there last spring to visit and I remember it also being very comfortable. I know one owner returned a Sadhana in exchange for a Cortobass due to comfort issues - the Sadhana is smaller.

I love my one pickup Fusion and the varitone. I can't say enough good things. That said, the single neck-humbucker sound isn't for everyone. For versatility, I'd say go 2-pickup with Varitone.

Everyone else in this thread is probably better qualified to speak to the comfort of Cortobass vs. Sadhana body shapes. My exposure/playing time on anything other than the Fusion shape is less than 3-5 minutes each.

 

[DeanT]

Well, now you've done it. Because of you guys I will soon be a member of the Birdsong family.

I just got off email with Jamie and Scott will soon be working this up for me:

It's a Cortobass body from 2006 (#61) made from a Maple center, Honduran Mahogany wings and Walnut pinstripe.

It'll have ebony knobs, Varitone, black hardware, ebony thumbrest, Walnut control plate and Scotts woodburning skills on the back of the neck.

 

[dlmarquez]

ASAIC.....there are exactly 3 makers of short scale basses that are truely boutique quality:
The Birdsong Cortobass, Sadhana, and Hy5
The Rob Allen Allen Mouse
The Veillette Minotaur

I would be an ecstatically happy fellow if I had a fretless mouse and a fretless Cortofusion (make that a fretless cortofusion with a Dark Star pickup!!!!!)

 

[Yvon]

ASAIC.....there are exactly 3 makers of short scale basses that are truely boutique quality:
The Birdsong Cortobass, Sadhana, and Hy5
The Rob Allen Allen Mouse
The Veillette Minotaur

I would be an ecstatically happy fellow if I had a fretless mouse and a fretless Cortofusion (make that a fretless cortofusion with a Dark Star pickup!!!!!)

George Furlanetto (F bass) has a 5 string picolo bass prototype(29"), he made a few of them. I asked him if it could work as a 4 string short scale. He said no problem and he would build it. Just have to call him. We went with the birdsong though.

 

[Yvon]

here's a pictures of the bass in 5 string picolo configuration.

 

[acleex38]

Well, now you've done it. Because of you guys I will soon be a member of the Birdsong family.

I just got off email with Jamie and Scott will soon be working this up for me:

It's a Cortobass body from 2006 (#61) made from a Maple center, Honduran Mahogany wings and Walnut pinstripe.

It'll have ebony knobs, Varitone, black hardware, ebony thumbrest, Walnut control plate and Scotts woodburning skills on the back of the neck.

That's so cool - one of the Summertime Specials. BTW - I saw it when we were out there back in April 07 and it looks even better in person.

Oh - and...
#26 - DeanT

 

[DeanT]

Hey, thanks for the number. It's nice to know that it looks great in person. I can't wait for it to be done.

 

[CTbass&birdsong]

Hey, thanks for the number. It's nice to know that it looks great in person. I can't wait for it to be done.

congrads and welcome to the Birdsong family !!!!

 

[acleex38]

Hey, thanks for the number. It's nice to know that it looks great in person. I can't wait for it to be done.

I'll be honest, when I first saw the pictures when Scott posted them the first time, I wasn't a fan. When I actually saw it in the shop last year, I coveted it greatly.

Congrats and welcome to the club. I'm jealous - I miss the ordering/waiting process.

 

[rfclef]

I'm jealous - I miss the ordering/waiting process.

Well, if you miss it that much, you could order a 5er and send it to me...

 

[acleex38]

Well, if you miss it that much, you could order a 5er and send it to me...

If I could afford that, I'd have 2 pickup fretted bass w/Cortofusion body on the way already. As it is, two Birdsongs in 1 year (along w/new amplification and effects) pretty well maxed me out for...well...at least 3-5 years. Easy. Unless the Easter 100 comes through.

 

[slejhamer]

I'll be honest, when I first saw the pictures when Scott posted them the first time, I wasn't a fan.

I remember those inventory pics too; judging from these, the old ones didn't do the body justice. It'll look gorgeous when oiled up.

I was seriously considering that one, but then I spec'd out a Sadhana ... and then finally the cherry and bloodwood Corto knocked me over the head and said "You're mine!" (She's an angry growling one!)

As to comfort, I previously had a Mustang reissue, which didn't have contours for forearm or belly. Just a slab. In contrast, the Corto fits like a glove.

The Mustang also suffered from neck dive; I was very conscious of it when playing standing up and I had to reposition it quite frequently. My Corto's body is probably slightly lighter than the standard mahogany body, but is still very well balanced. It's not quite as perfectly balanced as the EBMM Bongo that I also had, but any neck tilt is so slight that I really don't notice it when playing. It's also a third lighter than the Bongo.

Mine has two pickups with the varitone. I leave my amp mostly flat and use the varitone in combination with the volume knobs for my tone settings. There's a little tip buried somewhere on the Birdsong site about just barely rolling off one of the knobs for blended tones, and that works really well for me.

 

[DeanT]

I just got word from Jamie that Scott is going to begin work on my Cortobass. Yeah!!! I am stoked.

You guys were right, Jamie and Scott are wonderful people to work with. They treat you like you're one of the family. That's very rare these days.