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Birdsong HY5

tedw

tedw

Supporting Member
Jun 13, 2006
641
625
Northwest U.S.
#1
Can anybody who has played a Birdsong HY5 tell me what you think of it? I currently play a Rob Allen Mouse and am very happy with it. It would be nice to also have a fretted short scale 5er if it sounds a good as the Birdsong website suggests. Any opinions on this specific bass would be greatly appreciated.
 
#2
Last time I talked to Rob, his designs don't really work well with a low B shorter than 34" scale. His designs utilize a very resonant instrument. In short, it's hard to serve the purpose of a resonant semi-acoustic and a structure rigid enough to have a low B in that scale.

If you want a shorty with a killer low B, I've heard nothing but the best about Cliff Bordwell. I was so impressed with the high opinion of TBers that I have one on order that is nearing completion, although it's a 35" scale 4 string...because I'm crazy like that.

If you're willing to ditch the low B, Rob can build ya a 32" scale MB2 with a high C. I will eventually order one of these. No bull.
 
#3
Spade2you, I know you're a fellow Mouser, so your input means a lot to me. Eventually, I'll post the Mouse I got from Rob a year ago. It's a beauty and plays like a dream.

I'm sure CB makes fabulous instruments and I've also heard a lot of good about the Birdsong HY5. So I'm hoping to hear input on the Birdsong bass as well.

Thanks again.
 
#5
We'll that's not so good.... If I play a 5 string, I like all the strings to play similarly. I was hoping that the HY5 had cracked the code on short-scale 5 strings with it's "wrap-around" string design. Oh well, if you get a chance to try one, let me know what you think. Thanks again.
 
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#8
Sorry - not "a lot of hours" - I got about 15 minutes playing the HY5 prototype at the Birdsong Gathering last April. I'm not a 5-string player, but if I were, I'd want one of them. The low B is better than many 34" scale B-strings I've tried. Is there a noticeable difference in tension and feel at 31" - of COURSE there is. But it still feels and plays great.

It WILL take a delicate touch - relatively speaking - but again, I won't believe anyone who says they build a short scale 5-string that doesn't take a delicate touch.
 
#9
spade2you said:
I'd need to try one out first. The argument that tension doesn't matter only goes so far. I'd need to try before I buy in that case. I've heard it's a decent low B, but requires a very delicate touch.
Click to expand...

I've heard just the opposite. I've heard that the B comes as close to a 34" feel as one can get.

I would suggest that you talk to Birdsong. Their wrap around stringing system looks like it solves the string tension problem.
 
#10
bunny10 said:
I've heard just the opposite. I've heard that the B comes as close to a 34" feel as one can get.

I would suggest that you talk to Birdsong. Their wrap around stringing system looks like it solves the string tension problem.
Click to expand...

Saying that it's close to 34" scale could be taken either way. Not all 34" scale basses are created equal. Comparing an SX to a Curbow isn't exactly a fair fight. I love the Curbow (RIP) low B, but most cheapies aren't gonna have the same low B, by a longshot.

I believe a few people own the Birdsong, but that's where I got that it required a bit of a delicate touch. The extra string length isn't going to increase tension as only 31" of the string is used to bring it to pitch. The breakaway angles will help, although I'd suspect that the long string through is to facilitate use of normal strings. Otherwise, it would be problematic getting the string in the tuning peg.
 
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#11
The whole "overall string tension/connection vs. nut-to-bridge tension" debate and whether it makes a difference has beaten into the ground without anyone coming out the other side with a consensus.

Scott at Birdsong tinkered and prototyped for a LONG time before being happy with the sound and feel of the Hy5. That tells me that for him, there was a noticeable difference between "stringing a low-B on a 31" scale without the double-thru bridge" and "stringing the low-B at 31" scale WITH the double-thru bridge." That difference for him was "I'm willing to put this out and let me rep hang on it" vs. "no way - this thing isn't worth offering."

And again - I don't play 5-strings (I owned one for about a year and it didn't get played once the new-bass novelty wore off) and I REALLY dug the Hy5 prototype. The string spacing was a touch narrower than was comfortable, but even with 15 minutes of playing time, I got used to it awfully quick.

Subjective opinion of feel/tone aside, the Hy5 bridge system DOES have the benefit of letting you use long scale strings. So there is value added - but Scott would say that was secondary to his primary goal of improving the tone and feel.

And all that said, YES it will take a delicate touch to play the Hy5. Even Scott's text on the Birdsong site says as much. This is not a low B suitable for drop-tuned Korn slapping.
 
#12
I have no doubt that the Birdsong has the best possible low B in 31" scale, but it's a relatively new bass with very few reviews and it's an extremely uncommon bass. Low B debates are a crapshoot as some of the most popular names aren't something I'd consider.

Physics wise, it's much easier to utilize the longer scale length to get a tighter feel and superior to use a fanned scale. I will most likely be ordering a 36-33" fanned 7 for dropped A applications AND a 33" scale fretless 7 from Mr. Bordwell in the near future. If tension didn't play a role, I'd suspect Dingwall wouldn't use 37" scale and you'd be able to get a good low B out of guitar scale lengths.

My criteria is being able to hit it with the same vigor as the rest of the strings and produce the same consistency without farting out. I have a very consistent right hand technique that I don't feel should be modified.
 
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