WORKSHOP CRAFTED GUITARS & BASSES
“I've been 100% Birdsong since 2012 and don't really have a need for anything else, they do it all. For anyone on the fence... do it! These things will make you rethink what a short scale bass can do, simply amazing instruments.” (Jay A.)
“Spectacular craftsmanship, perfectly balanced, stable, sound great live and recorded.” (Dean G.)
“I received my Birdsong in 2019 and it totally changed my relationship to the bass guitar. The short scale and 24 frets unlocked a whole new chordal palette for me to write on, and it helped me to blossom as both a bass player and a songwriter.” (Nora P.)
Birdsong celebrates 20 years in 2024
Founder Scott Beckwith and luthier Jake Goede in 2009 with a Goede guitar and a Birdsong Sadhana bass, and in 2024 with a fresh-off-the-workbench Birdsong Corto2. Birdsongs are always small Texas workshop crafted!
MODELS AND PRICING
20 YEARS. The classic Birdsong basses that got us here will get you there. Check inventory or order yours from the workshop, completely bench-crafted by head luthier Jake Goede and hands in the Texas Hill Country!
Ordering info is on this page
BIRDSONG GUITARS began in the corner of a friend’s workshop, and in 2004 Scott Beckwith and Jamie Hornbuckle launched this site and turned it into a company. (More: About us). Since then Birdsong has been known for basses that handle more comfortably, balance better, and sound big and warm. We didn’t invent the short scale, we just made it a lot better. The philosophy? There should be pro-payer designed, great sounding, hand built basses that just happen to be short scale and comfortable. With none of the issues of the "old classics" or other short scales cheaply made for students. Evidently, we were not alone!
CORTOBASS
“Eleven years on it’s performing just as well as it did day one. A huge sounding bass with playability so good it feels like cheating.” (Grayden P., Australia)
Video: Cortobass on stage for 80,000
A Sadhana (same pickups and tones)
Twin humbucker version (2013)
The bass that launched the company, THE classic Birdsong – the bass most other Birdsongs were versions of! Comfy ergonomic body, the legendary Birdsong proprietary 31” scale neck, our own pickup recipe that gives a huge variety of tones, and all the hand-built care and small-workshop mojo! It’s all right here. J-width nut, 17.5mm string spacing at bridge, 24 frets plus zero fret for low action and consistent tone, Hipshot bridge and Hipshot or Gotoh tuners, 2-way truss rod, fully shielded and star grounded. Hand made in the USA.
$ 2200
Includes quality padded bag or softcase and shipping in the continental US.
Standard: Walnut, mahogany or poplar body, matte black or vintage tort control plate, chrome hardware.
OPTIONS: $100 each - black or gold hardware, headstock plate of different/matching wood, wood control plate (face), rear rout instead, center stripe/stringer, additional stripes/stringers (per join). For tops, exotic woods, etc. INQUIRE
“After left shoulder replacement 5 years ago,my almost 10lb G&L wasn’t good for the shoulder. The Corto was the answer for me. Lightweight and plays unbelievable!!! I wish I bought it sooner!!!” (Peter B.)
CORTO2
Video: Corto2 tones
Imagine all the playability, balance, and soul of a Birdsong Cortobass but with twin soapbars and a clean, rear routed look. The one for your exotic top wood dreams and THE short scale bass for bigger, fuller versions of the “J-bass” tones. And, being humbuckers, NO HUM - and with the volume & tone rolled back a little that front pickup does a good “P” as well. Our most popular model. J-width nut, 17.5mm string spacing at bridge, 24 frets plus zero fret for low action and consistent tone, Hipshot bridge and Hipshot or Gotoh tuners, 2-way truss rod, fully shielded and star grounded. Hand made in the USA.
$ 2300
Includes quality padded bag or softcase and shipping in the continental US.
Standard: Rear routed walnut, mahogany or poplar body and chrome hardware.
OPTIONS: $100 each - black or gold hardware, headstock plate of different/matching wood, center stripe/stringer, additional stripes/stringers (per join). For tops, exotic woods, etc. INQUIRE
H5 and C5 5-strings
“Can't recommend the H5 strongly enough.” (Bobby R.)
Short scale 5-strings that really work? We’ve been doing them since 2007. This shorter, lighter, better balanced and much easier playing 5 is the answer, with a strong, powerful low B that has to be heard to be believed – thanks in part to our special stringing of that low string, pioneered and patented by Birdsong. 16.5mm string spacing at bridge, 24 frets plus zero fret for low action and consistent tone, Hipshot bridge and Hipshot or Gotoh tuners, 2-way truss rod, fully shielded and star grounded. Hand made in the USA.
The “H5” is the return of the original swoopy Hy5 body shape as a no-cost option.
The “C5” is the modern, rounded, Cortobass inspired body shape.
$ 2500
Includes quality padded bag or softcase and shipping in the continental US.
Standard: Rear routed walnut, mahogany or poplar body and chrome hardware.
OPTIONS: $100 each - black or gold hardware, headstock plate of different/matching wood, center stripe/stringer, additional stripes/stringers (per join). For tops, exotic woods, etc. INQUIRE
TO ORDER
Contact to work out options and have all of your questions answered.
Scott 512-395-5126 any day, any time.
OR email scott@birdsongguitars.com (“INQUIRY” in title)
We work up a bass, price, and usually get half to order. Card by phone, or PayPal.
Progress pictures are posted on luthier Jake’s Birdsong Progress page.
Changes are fine but may add to the cost and/or time.
Once in final assembly, we collect the balance payment.
Once done, we ship FedEx insured, signature required.
We DO sell internationally - there will be a 3rd payment at time of shipping to cover that, ALL customs duties and taxes in your country are yours, and we DO declare full value so it’s properly covered if anything happens in shipping.
ALL PRICING includes insured shipping and high quality gig bag or softcase, whatever we were able to source and have on hand at that time.
CURRENT wait times are 90 days to 5 months depending on how custom your order is, and we aim to stay with that.
ORDER PAYMENTS cancel to credit only - we all commit to seeing your bass made. Please get all your permissions and have some aside for the car trouble BEFORE you order. Once you receive the bass there is an absolute satisfaction guarantee and we have less than 1% returned over 20 years!
For 2024, the 25.5” scale SPORT BASS and all the super short scale “pocket bass” designs have moved to www.sbeckwith.com as “Scott Signature” builds. Please contact Scott directly for one! 512.395.5126
“Love my Birdsongs. When we have a full band I use the Corto. When we are missing our Pianist and drummer we do an acoustic set and the Sport is perfect!” (Ed W.)
“I love my Sparrow bass, and it makes friends everywhere I take it.” (Tim M.)
FREQUENTLY ASKED ABOUT
OLD MODELS
We’re a small workshop and can only serve up so many at a time. Models have rotated out and back in throughout our 20 years; think of it as a band changing up the set list to keep it fresh. We can only play so many at a time. Model history will show recent and past models you may see. We are currently focusing on the classic Birdsong 31” short scale Cortobass, Corto2, and 5-strings. Some special orders for others can be accommodated - get in touch!
“SHORT SCALE”
Simply put - a shorter bass with less reach and the frets a little bit closer together. Great for anyone wanting a more comfortable, better balanced bass. What WE are known for with our shorter scale offerings is designing them so they keep the BIG bass tone, and hand building them in Texas! For size comparison, here are (left to right) - Fender P (34" FULL long scale) with our short scale bass; headstock and reach comparison, our 1st fret is about the reach to a full scale bass’ 3rd fret; our 25-1/2” scale Sport next to a standard “J Bass”; a short scale 5 string vs. a full size 5.
FINISHES, HARDWARE, PICKUPS and OTHER SHAPES
Though you may see some variations, we build primarily NATURAL oil finished instruments with PASSIVE electronics and only use the hardware we use. These are recipes, we’re not reinventing piles of different parts every time. We won’t use other makers’ shapes or headstocks. what makes a Birdsong sound like a Birdsong, which is why you came here, is the recipe. On pickups, if we don’t talk about the specifics it’s because things are being used differently than they were designed - so it doesn’t matter. It’s now just part of that Birdsong recipe.
A MUCH MORE COMPLETE FAQ IS HERE.