short-Scale Question (Hofner, Birdsong content)

[IxnayE2000]

Hi all,

I'm on the search for a great bass for a guy who's short, scrawny, and likes to play in the lower frets.

Thanks to a couple of generous talkbassers, I've gotten the chance to play Birdsong basses, and the experience of playing was phenomenal. I'm not yet 100% sure that they have the sound that I want...but 100% for something as mysterious as sound can be a lot to ask, so I guess I'll leave that question for right before I'm about to buy one.....

The other brand that gets me going is Hofner. I'm a serious McCartney fanboy, and most of my studying up on style falls to either his work or Jamerson's. Beyond that, I like to play in a fairly traditional role, so I don't think the "almost-upright" or "thuddy" or lack of versatility would be a problem. But how's the balance? Is there a difference between the violin and the club? Would they be a great playing experience for someone as sensitive as I am?

Thanks. Any comments or advice is welcome. Talkbass has been very helpful in my search thus far; I hope to find my dream bass soon so I can start giving back (and practicing more!)

-Dan

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

You should look into Stambaugh. He made me a beautiful shortscale J style bass. Let me have alot of choice including woods, pickups etc.

The price is not cheap (mine was about $2000 when all was said and done) but you are getting a FANTASTIC bass. Expect about a 10 to 12 month build time. Chris Stambaugh is a super nice guy and an amazing luthier.

Here's mine:

 

[DeanT]

Dan, as a TBer who owns both the basses you ask about (at least the Icon version of the Hofner anyway), I can tell you that the Birdsong is more versatile than the Hofner.

The Hofner is great, but it's not overly versatile. While not a one-trick-pony, it's more like a one-and-a-half-trick-pony. It can do the McCartney thing and the early British invasion thing very well, but that's about its range.

The Birdsong with the Varitone circuit can do almost anything you need. It can do a Jazz bass, a P-bass, get pretty close to a StingRay and is great for Reggae.

I love my Icon and I had a Conteporary that was great, but my Birdsong is there for me in any situation. I can't say that about Hofners.

Either way, though, they are both great basses to have.

 

[Jade Stolar]

Dan, While I don't own a Hofner I do own a Birdsong Cortobass and being short (barely 5 ft tall with small hands) the Cortobass is a very good fit. It fits me like a glove and everyone that has played it has said how amazing it sounds and feels. It's not a cheap bass(mine was $1634 US), but it's worth every penny.
If you are looking for a more treditional sound, Scott has just started making a new model of Cortobass with a DiMarzio split P pickup instead of the Lace Sensor and Humbucker. I haven't heard it yet, but I think it will sound amazing.