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Birdsong Club

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#461
Mine is first on the list when the next set of necks gets here... I am SO CLOSE!!! My first gig is this Sunday, so no 8C-117 for that... but we are going to try to get into the studio within the next 2-3 weeks to record a few songs... Hoping the Corto gets here, but idunno...

I am about to bust.
 
#464
Any Birders gone up to a 50-110 set of strings? Scott told me it's possible they'd fit without needing to adjust the nut, but just as possible the nut slots would need to be widened a bit. He also said some people go up in size only on the E string.

I'm hesitant to make any permanent alterations, but wondering if the bigger gauge strings would make any notable difference in terms of feel (I'd like a little bit more stiffness) and maybe a little more tonal thickness for the D and G strings (the G is especially zingy to my ears.)

Thoughts?
 
#466
Those look great! I can't begin to tell you how many times I've been to Birdsong site just hoping beyond hope that I'll find new pix :).

invsycamoremahog.jpg


Sort of like waiting for the UPS truck or your birthday!
 
#470
slejhamer said:
Any Birders gone up to a 50-110 set of strings? Scott told me it's possible they'd fit without needing to adjust the nut, but just as possible the nut slots would need to be widened a bit. He also said some people go up in size only on the E string.

I'm hesitant to make any permanent alterations, but wondering if the bigger gauge strings would make any notable difference in terms of feel (I'd like a little bit more stiffness) and maybe a little more tonal thickness for the D and G strings (the G is especially zingy to my ears.)

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I'm currently using Zachary ZOG nickel roundwounds on my Sadhana. (gift from my guitarist) They're arrogantly described as the 'perfect set' on the packaging and the website.

Here's my take on them. Only tensions are listed for each string so I approximated them using the formula on the D'Addario website to be 120, 80, 55, 40. The first thing I noticed is that the E String is much tighter and the D & G strings are a bit lighter. After playing for a while on them, I noticed that you get a nice solid feeling when your finger lands on the lower string from the one you are plucking. This is especially noticable when you're plucking the A string. Kinda makes plucking feel more even because your finger is always landing on a string of higher tension than the one that you are plucking.

The extra tension on the E String is what I like most about this set. It has a nice beefy sound and a very solid feeling. Even when I flip the Hipshot for Drop-D is still feels solid.

The tone sounds about the same as the original strings on my Sadhana.

Also, I had to file down the sides of the E String groove on the nut.
 
#471
120, eh? Huge! Sounds like an interesting set, Jeffski.

I did a little experimenting recently.

On a whim, I picked up the short-scale set of TI Jazz Flats, which come with a 106 E-string (their regular long-scale set has a 100.) I strung them through the body (they are for 32" scale basses) and they fit perfectly on my Cortobass with no need to cut the strings. Still, they are very low-tension, and I had to loosen the truss rod quite a bit to bring some relief back to the neck. I had to use a very light touch when playing. Took them to band practice at church and ... removed them that same night. Now, they sounded really really good on our slowest acoustic-only songs. Very pretty. But I did not like them on our more upbeat stuff - the initial attack seemed soft, and the sound tended to "bloom" rather than punch. Hard to describe, sorry, but that's the way it seemed to me. Anyway, I think they'd be great on a hollow-body in a jazz or acoustic-folk setting, but they (and flats in general, probably) are just not for me. If someone wants to experiment with this set on their Bird, let me know (Andrew, your fretless maybe?)

Now I've got a D'ad 110 nickel round on the E and SIT 45-65-85s on the others. The D'ad 110 fit the nut with no adjustment needed, but to my fingers it still feels soft compared to the others. I guess SIT is known for higher tension, which is probably why Scott used them previously, but the feel is noticeable. I see that SIT has individual 110s and 115s available through Juststrings, and I'll likely try the 115s next. Or maybe I'll grab one of those Zachary sets. :)
 
#475
slejhamer said:
If someone wants to experiment with this set on their Bird, let me know (Andrew, your fretless maybe?)
Click to expand...

I just read this post - thanks for the offer, Mitch. I'm tempted, and flats are DEFINITELY for me, fretted or fretless. That said, I'm sold on the Chromes for now, and I don't need bloom - even on the fretless, I dig in pretty hard and go for a high-attack tone lately.

This past Sunday at a gig w/the "on loan" house rig - Fretless Birdsong + Chrome flats + Fender Bassman 300 Pro tube head + 8x10 cabinet = thunderous awesome.
 
#478
Indeed - my four year old daughter has repeatedly said "Daddy, I want you to have your beard like Mr. Scott's."

That beard is even more awesome in person - it catches the little bits of food and sauces that you or I would leave behind and drains them of all their nutrients.

Bobby - GENIUS bass, dude. Just fantastic.
 
#479
Bobby that's gorgeous! (The bass, not Scott's beard. ;) ) Usually I like Birds better with the signature control plate, but that one looks perfect without it.


acleex38 said:
I dig in pretty hard and go for a high-attack tone lately.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you don't want the TIs for that. Very different feel vs. Chromes. I'll keep 'em around though, if you're bored. Or if you just wanna come over and check out my new Epifani PS112 cab ... :bassist:
 
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