Weights and measures (and other figures)   Updated 8-25-06

This will help in estimating the weight of your Birdsong, and will show the differences between the woods we use. As I weigh more components, these numbers will be added to & adjusted. Keep in mind wood varies from piece to piece and add a couple of ounces to account for shielding, wire, finish, etc. to any total calculated by adding the component weights. I put this page here for guitar geeks like myself, have fun! ~Scott

Complete instruments:
Cortobass Poplar (aluminum bridge - deep routs) 6 lbs. 4 oz.
Cortobass Alder (rear routed) 6 lbs. 13 oz.
Cortobass Alder 7 lbs. 2 oz.
Cortobass Maple (thin body) 7 lbs. 7 oz.
Cortobass Mahogany  7 lbs. 9 oz.
Cortobass Poplar (heavier piece w/Classic bridge) 7 lbs. 12 oz.
Cortobass Pecan (thin body) 7 lbs. 15 oz.
Cortobass Cherry 7 lbs. 15 oz.
Cortobass Purpleheart on Mahogany 8 lbs. 5 oz.
Cortobass Walnut 8 lbs. 11 oz.
Cortobass Mesquite 8 lbs. 13 oz.


CortoClassics: Poplar 6 lbs. 8 oz., 6 lbs. 12 oz, 7 lb. 12 oz. (denser wood)

CortoGT Mesquite 8 lbs. 6 oz.

Sadhana Mahogany 7 lbs. 5 oz.
Sadhana Walnut 7 lbs. 13 oz.
Sadhana Walnut/Purpleheart/Maple 8 lbs. 2 oz.
Sadhana Zebrawood 8 lbs. 6 oz.

CortoFusion prototype Walnut 7 lbs. 8 oz.

For comparison purposes: (probably varies from instrument to instrument, these are the samples I weighed or collected as information from reliable sources)
Fender Precision Bass: 9 lbs. 15 oz.
Squier P-bass: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Fender Bullet Bass, early '80s: 8 lbs. 9 oz.
old Memphis P-bass copy: 8 lbs. 9 oz.
MusicMan Stingray basses: 9 lbs. 5 oz., 2 @ 9 lbs. even, ...
Music Man Sterling bass: 9 lbs.
Peavey Cirrus neck-through (Alder) 4-string bass 8 lbs. 7 oz.
light Fender Strat guitar: 6 lbs. 15 oz.
average Fender Strat guitar: 8 lbs. 4 oz.
Squier Telecaster guitar: 8 lbs. 4 oz.
Gibson Les Paul guitar: 11 lbs.
Folding chair: 8 lbs. 4 oz.

Other short scale basses:

'70s Ampeg Dan Armstrong: 10 lbs. Wait, I think that was just the body...


Cortobass bodies:
Poplar 2 lbs. 13 oz. (lightest - can go up into Mahogany weight)
Chambered Spanish Cedar 2 lbs. 15 oz.
Swamp Ash   3 lbs. 4 oz. (this was a thick body - could get under 3)
Alder 3 lbs. 7 oz. (sometimes as low as 3)
Mahogany 3 lbs. 11 oz.
Rear rout 13 pc. "Rainbow" 3 lbs. 11 oz.
Cherry 4 lbs. 3 oz.
Rear rout Mahogany / Purpleheart top half 4 lbs. 3 oz.
Mesquite 5 lbs. 5 oz.

Sadhana bodies:
Mahogany 3 lbs. 2 oz.
Zebrawood  4 lbs. 10 oz.

Routed, shaped but uncontoured comparison of Sadhana blanks:
One piece Honduran Mahogany 3 lbs. 3 oz. (anticipated bass weight - mid 6-lbs)
2 pc. Walnut w/Purpleheart stringer 4 lbs. 10 oz. (anticipated bass weight - mid 8-lbs)

Roundover & contouring removes 1 - 2 oz. from a Sadhana body

Birdsong 31" scale bass neck, fretted: 1 lb. 10 oz.
Same neck, but fre
tless w/Ebony board: 1 lb. 13 oz.

Parts (Everything other than neck & body):
Complete set for Cortobass (including 9oz. brass Hipshot bridge): 1 lb. 7 oz.

Hipshot style A bridge, brass: 9 oz.
Hipshot style B bridge, aluminum: 3 oz.
Hipshot style B bridge, brass: 4.5 oz.

Set of 4 Hipshot Ultralite tuners: 5 oz.




BACK to the Detritus page

HOME to Birdsong Guitars