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Birdsong Cortobass?

#61
Well...I guess old Hambone did not know what he was talking about considering the popularity and high praise Scott has received from players over the past 5 years. I see Hambone is a builder, although I've never heard of him.

I'm looking forward to my bass (C182) being completed over the next few months.
 
#64
millard said:
I continue to play mine (one of which is the first he ever sold to anyone) and they continue to delight. It has reached the point where I have almost zero interest in any other bass. Pretty much nothing I pick up feels or responds like this nor sounds as good.

And there is something about supporting a fellow citizen building high quality products within our borders from parts built by other citizens within our borders that feels right, especially these days.
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I went from 5 basses down to 2 for that reason... I never wanted to play any of my others... The Corto rocks!. I am down to Corto 8c-117 and a crappy Epi EB-0 as a backup and beater. When I can afford it, I would like to get a 2nd Corto.
 
#65
Wow, pretty good raving session here. I have spoken once to someone over at Birdsong, but haven't had the scratch to jump into the pool. Maybe this year.

I have made a little fun of the name after a few beers...(sorry! I make fun of everything ;D) but I like the scale-length and the good attitude I've been witness to here and there. Also some nice-looking wood grains! And that Sadhana looks pretty hip! Anyone playing a 31 1/2" 5-string with a low-B? What's the word?
 
#66
I am also thinking of purchasing a birdsong bass. as the previous person stated..i would like to know what you think of the tone as compared to other basses. I have a sterling HH and a fender mustang. the mustang is obviously easier for me to handle and play....but i love the deep lows of the sterling so i rarely play the fender. thanks for any help
 
#67
SactoBass said:
I do not own a Birdsong bass.........yet. For those of you who own a Birdsong bass, what are your comments on the actual tone of your bass compared to the sound clips on the Birdsong website? Those sound clips sound very good. Does the Birdsong bass you own sound like the clips?
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Yes, and better. My Cortobass has the 6-position Varitone switch and I can dial in just about any tone I need. I can get a nice, mellow jazz tone, hard rock tone and a nice Dub Reggae tone if needed. It's very versatile.
 
#68
Since I got my first Birdsong, a fretless Mesquito, I have sold or traded my Lakland Glaub, Lakland JO5 and my Epiphone Jack Casady and bought or traded for three more Birdsongs - a fretted Cortobass w/tone pot, fretless Cortobass w/varitone and fretted Hy5 w/varitone. I can get any sound I desire out of this collection of basses.....I might keep a HY5 fretless on the GAS list
 
#73
Hambone said:
Way overpriced, obviously designed by a g****r player, and nothing special to boot.

You can do much better in a short scale to look to other builders. This guy is talking through his hat about how "different" his bass is. It's all standard - standard construction and standard materials. His hokey woodburning looks like a summer camp project. And look at his options list - he actually claims "gold plating" for an extra $120!!! That's outrageous.
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And who is building basses now? I remember this post and still think the same thing.

I'm still mulling a Hy5. Wish I could try one first to see if it's for me.
 
#74
DeanT said:
Yes, and better. My Cortobass has the 6-position Varitone switch and I can dial in just about any tone I need. I can get a nice, mellow jazz tone, hard rock tone and a nice Dub Reggae tone if needed. It's very versatile.
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Thanks DT. I have played 34" scale basses all my life (since I was 16 and I am now 53). I sure like the idea of going to a shorter scale bass (easier to play, lighter, etc) but what concerns me is the ability to achieve nice deep lows. I currently play a US Lakland Bob Glaub P bass (34" scale). Have you found that the 31" Birdsong basses have as much deep low end as 34" scale basses?
 
#75
SactoBass said:
Thanks DT. I have played 34" scale basses all my life (since I was 16 and I am now 53). I sure like the idea of going to a shorter scale bass (easier to play, lighter, etc) but what concerns me is the ability to achieve nice deep lows. I currently play a US Lakland Bob Glaub P bass (34" scale). Have you found that the 31" Birdsong basses have as much deep low end as 34" scale basses?
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My question about the 5-string is along this line...
 
#78
Count Bassie said:
My question about the 5-string is along this line...
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I had a Lakland JO5 and I still have a Warwick Corvette fretless 5. The low B on the Birdsong Hy5 is every bit as "low" and chest thumping as as of them. I can say the same thing about the E on the fours...my Cortobass fours are actually stronger sounding than the Glaub P or the Casady I had and a lot more versatile..
 
#79
i wish someone had one in minnesota--i kinda mirror Hambone's sentiments with the price point--I really like some of the designs, but they just don't look like they are worth 2000 dollars. I mean, I am sure they are decent basses, but they just don't look unique to me--the pickups and hardware are not proprietary or anything, and the woods don't look super special to me. I remember when Birdsong first came out as well as a few people here coming out with fists ready haha they also offered woodburning, which didn't really look like it justified that kind of price point to me either. I mean, in all respects it looks like it should be in the 800-1000 dollar range.

Flame away if you must, and I am more than willing to test one out, I just don't see the justification in price :)
 
#80
superbassman2000 said:
i wish someone had one in minnesota--)
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Go to the Birdsong Club and post to see if anyone lives close enough:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=615233

The rest of your comment could really be applied to American Fenders, anything by Warwick over the Corvette line, American Laklands and the list goes on. I did not spend over $1800 for any of my Birdsongs except for the Hy5 and they are essentially made by one guy in a back yard shop in Texas as opposed to an assembly line like the aforementioned products. That means a lot to me. I obviously believe you get what you pay for with a Birdsong; on the other hand, nothing is for everybody and that is why we have such a selection of gear to choose from. :)
 

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