Birdsong Club

[rfclef]

It's because they consider the knots to be a natural "beautiful" part of working with wood. I think Scott specifically mentioned that the knot in that picture looked like a "rose" . That said, if he were building a bass for you from scratch, he would let you know/give you a choice as to whether or not you'd accept a knot.

The vast majority of the couple hundred Birdsongs out there do not have visible knots in the wood...

when mine was made, some "imperfections" showed in the wood as he sanded them down... He sent me pics and asked what I thought and I thought it just made the wood interesting and gave it character, which he agreed, and continued building. I love the knots and swirls in the wood. Some of my favorite axes he has made are the 2nd (I think) annivesary pecan basses... beautiful.

 

[Mean Bone]

Neat.

Does your Birdsong just have the one pickup, up against the neck?

It'll have the two.

Sorry, BASSIST, your question was not to me. I guess I should actually read a post before I answer it.

 

[pandapaul]

I tried to get some recording done today, but my girlfriend called me in the middle of it. When I played back the footage, though, I found it kind of funny and entertaining, so I decided to go ahead and toss it on Youtube.



I love my Cortofusion, but I also love my girlfriend. She won this round.

 

[slejhamer]

Pandapaul, that sounds great! Love the vintagey thumbwork. What strings are on there? What amp? Nice warm, round sound.

 

[pandapaul]

Pandapaul, that sounds great! Love the vintagey thumbwork. What strings are on there? What amp? Nice warm, round sound.

Well thank ya, Slejhamer! The strings are some worn down, 6-month old D'Addario nickel round wounds. I ended up just using my amp as a monitor, so the recorded sound came straight from my DigiTech GNX4. All I had the GNX4 do though was adjust a little EQ and give me some more volume, so it was just a very slightly tweaked version of the Cortofusion's natural sound. It's king of warm and round in my book. Thanks so much for listening.

 

[slejhamer]

a very slightly tweaked version of the Cortofusion's natural sound. It's king of warm and round in my book.

Indeed! That's a really nice tone. Thanks for the reply!

My Cortobass gets a little clanky when I play up the neck, mostly from my poor playing technique, but I am surprised at how much difference the strings can make (based on the ones I've tried so far.) I might do some more experimenting with brands and gauges ...

Or maybe I need a C'fusion?

 

[acleex38]

I get clanky up the neck with Rounds too. It's on the long list of reasons I went back to flats on my Fusion.

 

[slejhamer]

I get clanky up the neck with Rounds too. It's on the long list of reasons I went back to flats on my Fusion.

I am considering flats, or even tapewounds! But not sure if the latter has enough versatility. In church we go from very mellow stuff, me and the pianist doing duets during communion, to some up-tempo acoustic rock and a little bit of light gospel. Anyone have experience with tapes on a Bird? Would flats be better for what I describe?

I did try the SIT Silencers, which are ground-rounds, but kept having weird intonation problems on the E string (even on the replacement that SIT sent.) Otherwise these were nice.

Currently using Elixirs. Sound like regular old nickel rounds to me, maybe just a tad more mellow, with big thick mids, but they still clank for me. Pretty similar to the Mangans and SIT Power Nickels.

 

[DeanT]

The Cortobass is in assembly. It's got pickups! Shouldn't be long now.

Scott sent a photo of the neck with the woodburning of my daughters' names. It looks great.

 

[slejhamer]

Lovely names for your girls, Dean! Will that be a church bass too?

By the way, has anyone noticed the finish on their basses getting somewhat darker over time? When I was fixing the buzz problem and had the control plate unscrewed, I could see a distinct line where the exposed wood was a couple shades darker than the wood under the plate. Doesn't look bad at all, just "aged" slightly. I'd like to say its from all the smoke-filled bars in which I gig, but the church air is pretty clean. Not worried, just wondering if that's the norm with Scott's special finish sauce.

My string-quest continues ... just ordered some Chromes ...

 

[acleex38]

I think that's just the nature of "exposure to air and light." I haven't seen it, but I haven't opened up either of my basses.

 

[slejhamer]

I think that's just the nature of "exposure to air and light."

You are probably right. Or I need to check the air filters in my house ...

 

[pandapaul]

Lovely names for your girls, Dean! Will that be a church bass too?

By the way, has anyone noticed the finish on their basses getting somewhat darker over time?

Lovely names and a lovely bass with meaningful touches and handsome woods, Dean. Way to go!

Slej, I have noticed a good bit of darkening on my old Ibanez K5 (my main bass before my Cortofusion). I was under the impression it's a pretty common occurrence, but I can't say for sure really. I know that the padauk used for the top and back of that bass' body starts out as a deep red and naturally ages into a noticeably dark shade, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if it happens with other woods. They are, after all, little chunks of nature, which is an ever-changing, constantly moving arrangement of matter and paired energy. Anything's possible

On a side note, I recorded two more loop jams with my Cortofusion, and every time something random has happened to cut it short or change it in some way. I like the idea of displaying my mistakes in order to learn from them, though, so I went ahead and uploaded them to youtube:

When I ran the line in too hot:


I really need to get better at this whole recording thing so that I can do the Cortofusion justice. The volume's either too high or too low or somethin. Phooey.

 

[DeanT]

Lovely names for your girls, Dean! Will that be a church bass too?

By the way, has anyone noticed the finish on their basses getting somewhat darker over time?

Thanks Slej and PandaPaul for the kind words about my kids and my bass. No, Slej, I won't be using it in church as I don't play church gigs. But I'm sure it would fit right in there.

As to the finish "ageing," according to the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], that's normal because of the oil finish.

"An oil finish will age and show wear...With a hand rubbed oil finish you have traded away a thick plastic sound-deadening permanent lamination of your instrument for a more natural finish that feels better in the hands, allows for better tone, and gives a more organic and natural look to the wood. The oil finish protects against moisture, but hard knocks and scrapes will show, and the finish will take on the patina of something that is being used regularly."

 

[ProfessorYaffle]

Looking very nice DeanT...

It's getting to that exciting stage now, as mine is also starting to come together (albeit a little behind yours).

I'm well pleased with how Scott's 'experimentation' with the finish has turned out.

Two basses from the same wood, but each with their own character.

Very Birdsong...

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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Hopper]

What's the balance like on these basses?

How about the neck profile?

Will they fit active pickups and preamps for you?

 

[acleex38]

What's the balance like on these basses?

How about the neck profile?

Will they fit active pickups and preamps for you?

The balance is exceptional. I have personal experience with the strap uses to test balance and if they won't shift or neck dive on THAT strap, they won't shift or neck dive at all.

The neck profile is kind of a soft V, tapering into a U as you move away from the nut. 1.5 width at the nut, but a thicker front-to-back so it fills the hand. I loath going back to any other neck.

Scott's word on active pickups and preamps (from the faq/contact page)

"We do not put in active electronics. Birdsongs are passive only.
To my ears, the best tone a bass can have is a natural, woody tone with warmth and a pleasant "voice" to the midrange. It should have natural rich lows and clear highs, but nothing artificial or overly-boosted. This is the tone that naturally cuts through a mix and can be heard onstage. Any boosting and cutting or drastic tonal shaping should be done with your amplifier, not (to my ears) with circuit boards & batteries in your bass. So with all respect to the active electronics community, all Birdsongs leave the nest with simple, warm, natural sounding passive electronics."

 

[Hopper]

The balance is exceptional. I have personal experience with the strap uses to test balance and if they won't shift or neck dive on THAT strap, they won't shift or neck dive at all.

The neck profile is kind of a soft V, tapering into a U as you move away from the nut. 1.5 width at the nut, but a thicker front-to-back so it fills the hand. I loath going back to any other neck.

Scott's word on active pickups and preamps (from the faq/contact page)

"We do not put in active electronics. Birdsongs are passive only.
To my ears, the best tone a bass can have is a natural, woody tone with warmth and a pleasant "voice" to the midrange. It should have natural rich lows and clear highs, but nothing artificial or overly-boosted. This is the tone that naturally cuts through a mix and can be heard onstage. Any boosting and cutting or drastic tonal shaping should be done with your amplifier, not (to my ears) with circuit boards & batteries in your bass. So with all respect to the active electronics community, all Birdsongs leave the nest with simple, warm, natural sounding passive electronics."

Thanks for the info. I wish we could play these things in the UK. I've never seen one.

 

[acleex38]

Thanks for the info. I wish we could play these things in the UK. I've never seen one.

There are several UK owners, but since they aren't available in stores or anywhere except a.) from Birdsong directly or b.) bought used from a current owner, you aren't in much different shape than anyone in the US. slejhamer got to try mine out because we live 15 minutes away from each other, but most folks don't get that chance.

If you want to hear the sounds, contact Scott at Birdsong (www.birdsongguitars.com for contact info) and ask for the free sample CD.

 

[CTbass&birdsong]

Thanks for the info. I wish we could play these things in the UK. I've never seen one.

I sold cortobass #49 (1 of 2 2nd anniversary bass) to a player in UK in the city of Ilford, Essex in 3/08..I am not sure how far that is from you..but if it is close , give me your # and I will pass it on to the new owner...maybe we may be able to get a Birdsong in your hands and you can see why we love our Birdsongs !!!!
At one time I had 15 great Birdsongs, but due to a medical condition and medical bills Most have been sold to fantastic new Birdsong lovers..I currently still have up to 5 Birdsongs available for sale !