MODEL HISTORY

*** IN PROGRESS ***
9/7/23 - Just did the latest layer. On it as I can. :) LOTS of pictures to come. This will be a basic guide to the current, recent, and past Birdsong bass & guitar models you will see out in the world. We’ve kept designing and rotating in new models throughout the brand’s 23 (and official company’s 19) years. They’ve all been small batch crafted, but some are rarer than others. Watch for which turn up as special builds in inventory from time to time!

A SMALL WORKSHOP WITH A BIG REPUTATION…

Since 2004, the workshop of Birdsong Guitars has built a wide variety of models. Our specialty and what we got known for is our line of short scale bass guitars; a Birdsong is considered one of the best in the world, to the point where we’re mentioned in lists of “Great basses” and ours just happens to BE short scale. Balance, less reach, high performance, very natural in look and tone… high end craftsmanship bench-made in small batches. This is how we started and that’s how we do it by choice.

I still hand pick all the woods and make it happen with a little help from my friends; any parts or tasks done for us are all to my spec. We craft each one in the Hill Country workshop, then offer it on the inventory page; we don’t make many compared to factories, they go quickly, and they do get around!

ARTIST - Artist builds are the very high end of what we do. They overlap with individual models and customs because either could be turned into an Artist build with enough time & budget. So the serial numbers may or may not say “Artist #12” or something. Heirloom quality pieces you can display but also play, maybe it was time to mark a chapter in life. Exotic materials, woodcraft, maybe inlays and/or hand engraved silverwork from Clint Orms Silversmith in Ingram, TX. There are less than 20 labeled as Artists.  

BLISS - An evolution of the Sadhana with a hand carved scroll horn. The scroll design has evolved over the years. Very (and increasingly) laborious to carve, but one of my favorite things to do. Serial number code BL.

COMPANION - 2022-2023, an evolution of our super short scale (guitar scale, “Pocket bass”) designs. Serial number code CN.

CONTENDER Simpler model, basically a 1 pickup Corto2 with a Shortbass control plate (then a Cortobass plate), slab body, and more offset Corto body. Introduced July of 2021, just as key pieces became unavailable. Only a handful of these. Serial number code CR.

CORTOBASS - Introduced in 2004 as we were launching the company. Single Lace pickup (neck), humbucker (EMG Select, then Birdsong Punchbucker, then Lace) (bridge). 31” scale, all Birdsongs are in some way based off of this model. Versions include CortoBasic and CortoGT single humbucker. Body was revised a few times. Most feature a curvy pointed control plate but rear routing is an option too. Two humbuckers was an option as well. Serial number code is a C.
Production: Approx. 420 Cortobasses & variations have been built.

(Variations: CortoClassic/CortoBasic, lefty, 2 humbucker, single pickup)

CORTO2 - A standard Cortobass with two soapbars and rear routing. Very strong J-bass family of tones but with great mids and no hum. A very popular model. Serial numbered in with the Cortobasses.

CORTO3 - A standard Cortobass with triple humbuckers! Not every idea is well received… despite a rainbow of tones, no orders were taken initially and the prototype was the only one sold. Serial numbered in with the Cortobasses.

CORTO4 - A standard Cortobass with a single Delano humbucker. Very powerful yet hi-fi, this pickup in this bass was a slapper’s dream. Serial numbered in with the Cortobasses.

CORTOBASIC Serial numbered in with the Cortobasses.

CORTO GT Serial numbered in with the Cortobasses.

C BASS

C5
The C5 is the latest revision to the 5-string model, giving it an upsized Cortobass shape. See Hy5

CUSTOM

Featherbass

Hy5
A Birdsong 5-string is a miracle bass of sorts, mostly because people will still tell you "It can't exist..." but it does. Really it's nothing more than the Birdsong 4-string recipe for a BIG sounding, resonant short scale bass expanded and tweaked for a 5. In the line since 2007 as the Hy5 (“High five”… for Hybrid5), in 2017 we made a custom order with a slightly up-sized Cortobass body that felt SO right we took it back apart, pulled templates, made measurements, and it became our new standard 5 string bass... The Corto5. Kent Armstrong soapbars let the clear yet woody voice of the bass through, giving a strong but defined and modern tone, with deep lows and clear highs. The body style has changed a few times, and there are other models occasionally built as 5-strings and serialized in with that model, such as the Bliss. The first 12 5-strings were super narrow spacing, all strings double-strung-through, and had ebony bridge bases. After that, Hipshot bridges and just the B double strung through, with a slightly wider neck. All basic 5-strings made that weren’t just a 5 string version of another model, have been serialized with an “H” even after they became the C5, since that became the standard 5-string body shape. Status: We still make one occasionally. Demo video of the 5-string
Production: Just over 100 have been made so far.

FUSION - Originally called the CortoFusion. Serial number code “F”. Still being built now and then. The Fusion was designed as a classy jazzy blues bass with an almost upright tone. It can rock too - Tommy from My Morning Jacket toured with one - and is great for backing up acoustic players. Body lines are swoopy but elegant, and it’s a wood lover’s dream with no plastic - all hand crafted and carved wood trim, many with body matching headstock. Front routed with wood control plate or rear routed with or without a stylish little scratchplate. A Fusion sounds like it looks in its standard walnut & rosewood vision. A popular fretless. Most have a single wood covered pickup, a handful were “Double Fusions” and got two. The pickup is a humbucker that got wired, placed, and mounted differently than designed - which is why I don’t talk about it. Because “What it is” isn’t “What you’d get” if you found one, and any description of how it sounds in anything else doesn’t apply.
Production: Up to #66 currently.

Scott’s Personal Fusion (since sold) * Demo - The Fusion Variations * Demo - Fretless Fusion * Paul’s Good Mojo Jam * Rocking out in Detroit

PROTOTYPES

ESPECIAL

THE BIRDSONG GUITAR

GUITARS

FEATHERBASS

TULIP BASS

SADHANA - A wild shape that got various pickup arrangements through its run. It was the first variation off of the Cortobass, like a Cortobass for extroverts. Was initially called something else, which resulted in two uncomfortable conversations - one with a legendary west coast luthier, who was very nice - and one with his bluegrass friend whose name I’d come a wee bit too close to - who was not - and couldn’t believe we’d never heard of him despite his having no internet presence and building a handful of guitars a year. Sorry, dude.

EMBRACE

MESQUITO

THE ELEVEN

”SCOTT’S BASS” - An Anniversary offering of “my” personal recipe, based on my personal Birdsong bass. A Cortobass with the Bliss scroll, German carved edge, and Fusion pickup and control plate. 3 were made, plus my original.

GS - We made a couple of these. Sometimes you follow where the plank you have has room for and connect the dots ‘til it looks like something.

GUITAR

MISC. GUITARS

SPARROW

DOMANI
One prototype was made of this model.

THE ELEVEN

ANNIVERSARY

PB “PowerBass”

RAT ROD

T-BASS by Thin The Herd / Custom Build IS NOT A BIRDSONG. “Designed by” does not mean we MADE it.

SPECIAL
Introduced July, 2023
STANDARD
Introduced July, 2023
SUPREME
Introduced July, 2023
SPORT
Introduced July, 2023



DOUBLENECK

SKYRIDER

ODYSSEY

EAGLET

CHOPPER

BEAUMONT BLUES GUITAR

”Scott” STUFF:
SHORTBASS
SUPER 24 GUITAR
DRAGONFLY
BLUES DAWG
BEAN GUITAR

Good Lord, this page is a project!