Birdsong Guitars News Page

IN THE NEWS

Seen one like this? Scroll down left column...

Also for info on Ben's basses for sale in Georgia, scroll down left column...

LATEST NEWS...

July 24, 2008
Quickie update:
Temporarily stopped taking orders for the Hy5 so we can stay current on the builds in progress.
Put more pics up on the client page. Like this...

Listening to Coldplay Rush Of Blood To The Head.
WOOHOOOO!!! RAIN!!!
~S

July 22, 2008
Fuscia because, gosh I don't really know. Perhaps this is a saucy moment. What can I say.

All right! 4 basses out this week. On to the next ones! We've been listening to a great big batch of eclectic music around here, so I'll lead with that... "Listening to":

Boston Don't Look Back
The Singles soundtrack
Heart Best Of (Just the '70s stuff - great CD!)
Vinny Taylor Give Thanks And Praise (Reggae)
Michael Brecker Tales from the Hudson
Blind Faith Deluxe Edition Disc 2 (the "jams" CD)
Winton Marsalis Septet Live at the Village Vanguard Disc 3
John McLaughlin After The Rain
Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells

And I'm sure I'm missing something. Heck, the voices have been telling me that for years.

"Squirrel? Did somebody say squirrel?"

FUN! This past weekend we had a visit from client Paul from Georgia. (A few pics are over on the left side of this page). We hung out, ate our way through central Texas, and he got to experience the real "Birdsong Experience" I wish we could share with every one of you... so we try to put as much of those vibrations as possible into the instruments so you all at least get a dose. Speaking of which, this font color is making the walls breathe at me... so I'll go now before things get completely out of hand.

You'll see a bunch more updates before we break in August, and know we're working steady to fill all the orders we can. For today however, stick a fork in me - I'm done! Off like a dirty shirt.

Peace,
~Scott

July 11, 2008
Green for growth!

An amazing burst of work going on here - check the client page, and this picture:

Everyone remember the August break is coming up - know we're working steadily on everything and will get out all we can. :)

Usually it comes down to having everything needed to complete a bass, all the hardware, the right pickups, etc. Like right now, our plaque shop snuck out on a 2-week vacation after taking our order. So there will be a few going out sans plaques - we'll ship them separately when they get here. Nothing we can do about it. Same thing if it's down to the wire and we still haven't been shipped our black hardware, for example... in that case we wait for the hardware. If it's during August, now the hardware waits for us. Once the best you can do is done, you know, it's time to be done and get some rest and everybody can just be patient. And not say what I said when I found out about the plaque order! :) Heh, heh.

All that said, an amazing thing is happening... we're gaining on it! We're really close to EVERY Mahogany Cortobass order being "in progress" with a couple to spare! A day of cutting & gluing and ALL the Sadhana orders will be "in progress". It feels like we've hit high gear, the gears are meshing, the pistons are pumping, and the rubber is rollin' down the road. Year #5 is rockin' already!

Peace,
~S

Listening to:
Soundgarden Superunknown
Foo Fighters Foo Fighters
Alice Coltrane A Monastic Trio
Frank Zappa Hot Rats (Skips! Sheeesh!!)

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July 4, 2008
Happy 4th, wishing you all a fun & safe weekend!

Updated accessories with the latest Bbox - Mesquite!
Updated inventory with info on the 4th Anniversary 'Fusion AND an EJ prototype!
Updated the client page with new pics & words!

In addition to Independence Day, it is also the anniversary of Birdsong's launching of our website - the first domino over on this awesome ride we're all on together. Jamie & I, on behalf of all those behind the scenes that keep this spaced-ship in the air and the wood evolving into instruments, want to thank you very much for... everything. Everything. There's no other way to put it. Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.

And thank you to all Veterans for your service & sacrifice.
Let's all for a moment put politics & idiocy aside and bow
for the men & women, our brothers and sisters, who serve
a country that, however flawed it may be, allows us the
rights & freedoms it does. God bless them, it & YOU.

Listening to:
Blue Cheer Vincebus Eruptum
Jefferson Airplane After Bathing At Baxter's
Jimmy Cliff The Harder They Come
Rage Against The Machine Renegades
The Rolling Stones Goat's Head Soup

Peace, love & music; we'll talk more later.
~S

*

June 27, 2008

Ok, we're back - computer all fixed up nice and armed to the teeth, so all the wonderful guys out there making their money via infecting others' computers and getting their kicks spreading viruses can go - every last one of them in all their glory, all their progeny as well as those who bequeathed them - take a collective long walk off a short pier... and hug an octopus. To them I say emphatically, "Thppppphhht!"

"Put th' evah-dence in th' cah, Junior."

Thank you all for your patience & well wishes during our little communications issue.

So while we haven't been able to answer emails or update the site, we've been (guess where) in the workshops! There's a bunch of new pictures on the client page.

Our shop helper Travis came back from Jamaica with some cool CDs from "local" musicians & groups. Totally grooving on this instrumental Reggae with horns & Jazz guitar... and we now have the team together for Birdsong's next chapter! Jamie & I are proud to welcome Jake aboard. He has just made the step into the circle from the fringes... setup, building & carving tools in-hand. More on the about us page.

Jamie just called and told me to get my honky butt home 'cause it's time to eat and I've been working hard today on Emails and updates. And frankly, my head is ready to spin around like some kind of hairy radar dish. So I'll pack it in for the day... hug yourself, love to the wife & give the kids a noogie for me.

Peace,
~Scott

Listening to:
Too much to list, but the usual eclectic variety...
Ernest Ranglin E.B.@Noon
The Mars Volta De-Loused In The Comatorium
John Coltrane Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, Disc 2
Phillip Schroeder Move In The Changing Light
Tool Aenima

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June 13, 2008

So much great stuff happening it's hard to even know where to begin. A very productive week has made things shift around - the batch up for routing is now all the way through sanding & into finishing! Here are some pics with more on the client page. Yours in here?

Assembly awaiting necks - all blackwashed Mahogany - and final setup a few days ago.

If not, it won't be long. For any of you on the fringes out there going back and forth on ordering, I'm going to share the latest batch of "client enthusiasm" with you... maybe this'll help. After all, anticipation isn't as hard to take as indecision. Just a thought. :)

Terry, C118: "It's amazing - ever meet someone whom you feel like you've known all your life? That's how I am with this beautiful bass. It's as though we were always together in some other universe, but were only recently united in this realm. Probably because since 1965, I've imagined what it would be like to hold and play an instrument that felt so much like a part of me - something so responsive - so natural feeling in my hands - like an extension of my body. It's helping me become a better player because it's not in the way - not a hindrance.  It becomes part of the creative process. I know you understand what I'm saying."

Bobby: "8C-117 got its first outing Sunday morning. I just spent a couple hours on it Saturday night... and it is simply incredible. What a beautiful piece of work. It is so comfortable, and the sound just blows my old stuff outta the water. So fat, and with such great definition. You know how sometimes you want something so bad, and it just is not quite as good as what you thought it would be? Well, this just blew my expectations away!"

Kent: "The bass arrived yesterday in perfect shape. It is truly a beautiful creation. Thank you so much for this experience."

Hey you all, thank YOU for these experiences!

And from Paul, here's a "Good Mojo Jam" with his CortoFusion!

We're so happy you're so happy! This all feeds us in ways that transcend bread on the table and juice in the fridge... we thank you all so much. There is no cooler group of folks we'd rather be working for than our clients. You all rock so completely & with such density you develop your own gravitational pull. :)

Speaking of celestial-quality coolness, I had the pleasure of meeting the parents of the late Tim M., a young local who left before his time about a year and a half ago. Not only are they wonderful folks, and not only was Tim an artist & a true brother (unfortunately one I never got to meet or exchange music, talk guitars or swap existential books with), but Dad M. graduated high school in the late '60s with a well-known member of the Birdsong extended family now living in Georgia... he knew who I was the minute I said "I build guitars..." Talk about a small world. And Mom M. knew our beloved "Uncle Johnny." All I did was follow my instinct & stop at a yard sale and strike up conversation over some tools. After we talked, laughed & cried for three hours, they gifted me with two of Tim's tools - so they may be used in the making of instruments (which he would've loved) and mingle with some of Johnny's old tools.

I cannot begin to describe the incredible connections Birdsong has brought into our lives, and the connections between us all that seem so random. Please give a moment and wish Tim Mesch peace on his journeys and his parents continued healing on theirs...

(thanks)

Speaking of incredible connections, Tommy stopped in & visited with his lady Malinda. They were in from San Fran CA. Tommy was the first Birdsong helper, even coming in one Halloween dressed like... well, like ME! Here he is now and then.

It was great to see them and Tommy interviewed me on video for an hour. I'm so honored. I hope I answered his questions ok, you know there's just no simple answers from some people. I believe it's even been mentioned before that I could "talk the balls off a brass monkey."

Ok, well that's a heck of a big update. It's NAP:30. Off like a dirty shirt!

Peace,
~S

Listening to:
Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens): An Other Cup (I just LOVE this album.)
Rage Against The Machine Renegades
Tom Baehr Ancient Echoes ~ Music For Dulcimers and Flutes

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June 4, 2008

For those of you waiting patiently, thanks so much for your patience. We knew they were good, we knew most of you'd like 'em, we knew we'd grow. We know it's sometimes "grow or die" and sometimes it seems like "grow or die trying." The only thing we underestimated was the amount by which we overestimated how many of you there are, how much you love them... this is all great, no complaints, we're honored. But I just wanted to be real with you - yes you, there on the other side of this screen - and let you know we appreciate your trust & encouragement, your interest & orders. And as I said, your patience as we do all we can do - as much as can be done one day at a time - in the process of getting to, building, and shipping your order. Very exciting times here at the nest!

All new orders from June forward: estimated build times
Cortobass, Sadhana: 4 to 6 months
CortoFusion, Hy5: 6 to 9 months
Wild custom builds: 9 - 12 months

With this, we're also going to try to start having some in inventory. Keep watching that page...

There's no factory - it's a "Mom 'n Pop" workshop and we're in here having fun, listening to cool music, putting all we have into every instrument, and doing everything we can do to make each one great. And unless you want a McBass, that takes the time it takes. :) But we do know we're a little behind time estimates on some stuff. Keep plugged into the client page (massive update today) and know there's a bunch of stuff going on with these instruments. Not one is ever out of sight or out of mind.

Speaking of "out of mind" here is the latest pic of yours truly.

Yeah, I know. Believe me I know. You should see it all from in here.

Listening to:
Rage Against The Machine Renegades
Radiohead The Bends

Peace,
~S

*

June 2, 2008
Orange for... well, orange you glad you're here? (Sorry)

IN HONOR OF BO DIDDLEY who sadly has left us...

And in other news, Wyatt, my right hand man, is leaving to go start his life in Austin. We've known the day was coming, and it's here tomorrow. What a journey we've had - he's seen the whole Birdsong thing happen, and we've seen the whole Wyatt thing happen. We wish him great success with Goodnight Goddess and thanks for your years of service brother. Here's a collection of great Wyatt moments in honor of our departing comrade.

Any one of these would make fine wallpaper or a screen saver the whole family will cherish forever.

Ok, I'm off. Day's done, basses are shipped, others are wired, and it's time to relax and rest up... routing/shop day tomorrow! Pics to follow. Perhaps I'll do another gallery like to the left. Or perhaps I won't. We'll see just how zesty I feel when the time comes.

Peace,
~S.

Listening to:
Mars Volta De-Loused In The Comatorium
Red Hot Chili Peppers By The Way
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Free For All
Jackson Browne Running On Empty

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May 30, 2008
Green for growth!

Here's a cool shot from setup, Cs 115, 129, 124, 117. The last 3 could be going out top o'the week, with the 1st to follow in the following week's batch.

Here's what happens when you talk to Andrew near a cluttered work surface.

Just kidding... I was actually talking to another friend, Haydn, about life & art, the path through this world, and grinding grain. Speaking of art, path & grain... here's a shot of one of the latest basses, Cortobass #117 (Can you believe that? Seems like just yesterday we were trying to get #002 out the door to Millard in California), one of three basses featuring part of a plank of Sycamore we came up with. In this bass it's paired to Ebony stringers and Walnut centerpiece.

Wowee, eh? We have so much fun helping these to "become." We really tried to get some of the standard Cortobasses out quicker, but you know at this point four years in it has just taken its own pace and orders are running 4 to 6 months. Not too bad, not incredibly far off. Of course each of the Hy5s is like giving birth (the first 10 to 15 of anything have been) and they & more customized stuff take longer. Know we give our all for all of you. :)

August is coming up, that's a month we take off. We bust butt except for two times - August and a month over the Holidays mid December - January. Then it's road trip time or work on the homestead time... we'll see what happens. If the '78 Magnum ever comes out of getting the tranny rebuilt I'm thinking of at least a run to Kansas & back, possibly Kansas - Arizona and back to Texas. I'll have a box of strings & setup tools with me and gladly trade an in-person setup on your Birdsong for a place to rest up... (or work on an old Mopar in your driveway, as the case may be). If you're near I35 through OK, KS, or near I40 or I10 in NM or AZ drop me an email with "Road Trip" in the subject. I'll know more as the time gets closer...

Meanwhile it's bass buildin' deluxe here at the nest! Actually, it's time for me to go get a well-earned vanilla malt. Thanks for checking in, peace be with all of you. Have a great weekend.

Spun in the past week:

Grateful Dead at Cornell '77
The Carter Family (a CD comp of great old Gospel & stuff)
The Mars Volta De-Loused In The Comatorium
Some cool heavy-duty Hindu chanting
Ozzy Osbourne Diary Of A Madman
John Coltrane A Love Supreme
The Allman Bros. Eat A Peach
Rage Against The Machine
Muddy Waters Electric Mud

I'm off like a dirty shirt. "Thank yeh, nice lady."
Peace,
~Scott

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May 23, 2008

So much happening, so much to talk about. Tuesday we're shipping four - count 'em, four - new basses off to eagerly awaiting happy hands. This is huge for a tiny little shop like ours. We just want you to know how grateful we are to be here in this tricky, complicated age, in a chaotic world, doing what we love - building simple musical tools full of beauty and good vibrations - for you. That can sound as corny as it may, but I mean every word. And thank you to all who have sacrificed so we can be as we are, here, where we are free to dissent and have such opportunity to create.

Peace,
~S

May 16, 2008

Years... and we're still having a blast building these basses!
Beautiful days.
Summer is sneaking in to the central Texas weather, and I just love to be sweating out in the workshop covered in sawdust. I like that even more than being elbow-deep in an old Plymouth... probably because there's a certain level of competence with the woodworking tools I don't really have with a wrench. But both are done by choice, and if there's anything that makes me feel warm 'n fuzzier than cruising in an old Mopar, it's the thought of all these instruments being played by all of you, all that we share together in this process, and all the smiles & ripples that happen with those sound vibrations as they spread into ears & minds & hearts & souls. I know how silly that sounds in 2008 Inc., but maybe... just maybe... it's 2008 that's silly and we all are right on.

Peace,
~S

Listening to:
Neil Young Comes A Time
Mars Volta Bedlam in Goliath
John Coltrane Expression
Singles Soundtrack
Bjork Ves.. Vester...Vespererer..
(uh, the one with that weird writing on it.)

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May 7, 2008

Updated the Luthier's Specials page with some of the one-off and very limited run projects coming together at the Birdsong nest. The latest pics of the XL Guitar project, the Tulip bass, and the "Texas Natural" lap steel are there, along with all the info so far.

Fun, we're having FUN I tell you!

Peace,
~Scott

Listening to:
The Mars Volta The Bedlam in Goliath
The Electric Prunes Mass In F Minor

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May 5, 2008

Hey check out this Hy5 - solid Zebrawood! Yeah, like chunks, all the way through, the real deal. I'm so honored to be a part of these instruments manifesting into the world!

People send us stuff all the time - little pieces of their life & art. We love it, can't thank you enough, just hope to be worthy with our humble craft... but the past week brought the 2 strangest gifts yet. A completely anonymous $100 gift card for Lowe's (I mean not a clue on the envelope or anything), and Wig's gifting to us of a large propane tank.

Wig's a local, very cool dude, and he saw the small containers we use at the homestead (one was here to take to exchange), and so when the setup on his guitar was done he showed up with this. All we can say is "Tanks a lot!"

(You may think I'm strange, and I may be, but YOU just clicked a picture of an old purple propane tank to see it full-size... )

And this seems like an amazing coincidence, and it just may be, but another of Uncle Johnny's creations has come in for repairs... the Parrot! This was an experiment in bonding fabric to the body and finishing over it. Being the connoisseur of tasteful shirts he was, he found this fabric and used it for a nice, subtle effect...

I see that goofy looking Parrot giving me the side-eye from the headstock and I swear I can hear Johnny laugh. It's completely absurd. By the way, that headstock photo - you photographers, how's THIS for visual clutter, eh? Huh? It almost made my head spin when I looked at it so I didn't crop it at all. The only thing that could make that picture any more jarring would be ten circus midgets piling out of a tie-dye Volkswagen at a carnival in the background. On the fourth of July. With the Dillinger Escape Plan on.

Ok enough of this - I have work to do.

Peace & love,
~Scott

Listening to:
The Mars Volta The Bedlam in Goliath
The Mars Volta De-Loused In The Comatorium
John McLaughlin Shakti

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April 28, 2008

Note to Uncle Johnny ~
Got to work on one of your guitars today, and she brought cookies like she always did for you... hazelnut white chocolate chip! Man, you should've stuck around for this... I'm eating your cookies Johnny... see? Lookit! Mmmmmm and they're good cookies too, could be the best ever. Yep, I'm eatin' 'em... yum, yum...
Aw hell...

To get all Garrison Keillor-like on the rest of you, "Well it's been a busy week at the Birdsong nest, my home base, out in the woods... Joe The Truck is back on steelies, his chrome-wheel phase over. He now rides on the steel wheels from the old Dodge van Joe the actual old Tennessee hillbilly used to drive. Funny how, given time, it all ties itself into little circles. And wheels are circles. And most things of power move in circles. And I'm hungry for another cookie."

Joe the Truck: A Thing Of Power.

In bass building news, we're busy little gnomes! I just updated the client page, and if your number hasn't come up yet just sit tight, 'cause all of a sudden one day it hits sanding, and then it's a short run into finishing & assembly. Most of the wait for an order is for it to have its turn... then things get rollin'! Like this...

C116 - a body on a finishing stick & a neck this morning...

Speakin' of which, it's time I roll on out of here like so much rain off a tin roof (We're fine, by the way. Just another Texas rain.)... I think some chips and chipotle salsa are in order, or at least a darn good start. See ya!

Peace,
~Scott

Listening to:
The Mars Volta De-Loused In The Comatorium
Radiohead The Bends

April 21, 2008

If this isn't updated for a few weeks, it's usually because we're powershifting in here making basses. :) Thus, the gap. Coming up for air (for the moment), I will fill you all in. Spring has sprung, the garden at the homestead is full of plants, and it seems little Birdsongs are almost ready to fly the nest. Here's a shot from assembly this morning. Yes, one is white. Don't ask and I won't tell. That's a one-time-only thing and it's already "thunged." :)

The batch in assembly right now as of late afternoon are C111, 112, 113, 114, 115, Sadhana 26, and Hy5 #11. Next batch in will be Hy5 #8 and more Cortobasses! Fun, fun, fun.

There's a Bbox in inventory, and the client page got some new pics...

Caught the Mars Volta show at the Austin Music Hall, man that was something. You know, I'd really like to chat, but we're mailing a bass today. That means a trip into the city of San Marcos. And THAT my friends means dinner at Thai Thai. So needless to say, I'm going to make like a shepherd and get the flock out of here! We LOVE you!

Peace,
~Scott

Listening to:
Frank Zappa Apostrophe
and too much else to list... great googly-moogly!
Thai iced tea and veggie fried rice...

April 3, 2008

Check out the second workshop that went up this past weekend. Can any of you find some of Uncle Johnny's old workshop in here? MOST of the walls and hidden floor structure are the pieces of his shop that I cut apart last year...

Special thanks to Dianna, Henry, Mark K., Michael, Wyatt, Travis, Mark R., Dax, and of course Uncle Johnny... he built a lot of the floor structure and those walls back in the '90s...

And here's a goofy shot of Wyatt in the wiring area today I thought I'd share...

We do have a lot of fun around here... I think Zappa's "Yellow Snow" suite was playing about this time.

Ok, I'm spent for today. Love you all.

Listening to:
Fu Manchu King Of The Road
Frank Zappa Apostrophe
Foo Fighters Foo Fighters

March 28, 2008

Check out the new Luthier's Specials page - this is where you'll find stuff we really want to manifest & bring to life but are only planning on very limited runs - handful of this one, three of those, etc. Exciting and fun stuff-to-happen!

Also a new link off the Detritus page called "Shot Straight" where I address (in this episode) helping a cool guy that was told he couldn't get a good bass tone unless it was neck-through. Shot Straight; thank me later, help the next guy.

Peace,
~S

Listening to:
Dungen Tio Bitar (Booooy is this awesome...)

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March 21, 2008

Steven from Texarkana, Texas had a dream about us. Now, we do get mail like this more than one would think and we're very honored to be there in your dream movies... but this? This is the best. The cake has been taken.

Hey Scott

About a week ago I had this crazy dream where I accidentally ordered a bass from you guys without knowing it (somehow) and you and Jamie hand delivered it to me. But I am completely totally broke (even in my dreams, sad) so I couldn't pay you for it and it was extremely sad.. because like that meant you guys couldn't even afford to drive back or eat anymore or whatever.. it was sad, but I also remember that in the dream we all went to some crazy hybrid Hindu-temple/restaurant/airport? and I think it was kind of implied that we were on mushrooms or something...

so, yeah, pretty wild. oh, and for the moment that I got to play the bass in my dream, it sounded great!
peace

Is that a great email or what? You know, you start building basses and set up shop and the years roll by and the basses fly out and it never occurs to you that this sort of stuff will start happening. How much fun is this? Thanks, Stevemeister!

Speaking of fun, had the camera in the shop the other day and thought "I wonder what cool stuff I can share with all our friends out there?" so to the left there's a little pictorial of the nooks 'n crannies and some of the projects going on in the little workshop in the woods where we eat, breathe and sleep Birdsong. It really is a way of life for us. Thanks for being a part of it!

Listening to:
Tapes of an undiscovered old south Texas bluesman
Amplified Heat
David Harbour Ideology
John Entwistle's Rigor Mortis Sets In

Peace,
~S

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March 14, 2008

BIG client page update with lots of pictures. Just got in a box of Ebony and some white pearloid pickguard material. Fun! And I'm getting on some Bboxes (haven't forgotten about you patient Bboxers-to-be). For those of you keeping up on the whereabouts of those cool people who have worked with us, Wes is playing with the band Jets Under Fire.

Check out this cool Hy5 in assembly...

Ok, back on my head!

Peace,
~S

Listening to:
David Harbour Ideology
Ravi Shankar Chants of India

March 9, 2008

All you Jazz fans, this is fantastic - had to share it. Thank me later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TebUMhJAKSM

~Scott

March 7, 2008

Hi everyone! With a little sadness and great relief, I am informing you
that there will be no Birdsong gathering this year. Not many people
responded with a yeah, and we've got a lot going on here that will be all
settled out by the gathering next year. So the universe is telling us it should
be a biennial event, and that's cool with us! You are all welcome to come
anytime, though, so if you're up for a trip to the Texas Hill Country, don't
hesitate... it's beautiful here and we'd make sure to show you a good time.
Thanks once again to all of you for your support, friendship, and
your music!

March 3, 2008
Read an absolutely fantastic book I highly suggest to anyone with a fascination about stringed instruments & the odd sorts that make them. It's called "Clapton's Guitar - Watching Wayne Henderson Build The Perfect Instrument" written by Allen St. John. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Want to say more but the rain is coming down Texas-style (thank goodness - we need it) and I'm turning the computer off. Have a great day everybody! ~Scott

Listening to:
Scott Cook Long Way To Wander
Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers
Baroque Concertos for Mandolin, Lute & Guitar

(Rain on a tin roof. What can I say, it's music to me.)

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Feb. 26, 2008

There's a wild "CortoCustom" on Ebay - this is
a really early Birdsong, in the "teens"... definitely
one of a kind! Sad to see it being sold, but this stuff
happens after you've been around long enough to
have 150 instruments out there...

*

Feb. 20, 2008

Here's Mark picking up his Hy5 at the shop... a jam was had with Jamie on djembe drum! We think he likes his Mesquite, Pecan & Turquoise bass...

Lots of woodchips flying, check the client page.
Also 2 new bodies-to-be in inventory!

And to the left, some shots from the new shop!
More to come as we go...

Listening to:
Japanese Temple chanting
John Coltrane One Down, One Up
Devo Freedom Of Choice

That, my friends, defines "eclectic."

Peace,
~Scott

Feb. 13, 2008

Had dinner with our friends Dennis & Rhonda the other night. Dennis is none other than the singer of the late 60s band Fever Tree. He is in great form and has put together a band to resurrect the great Fever Tree music. Believe me, Dennis wouldn't put it out there it if he couldn't pull it off.
Fever Tree Rising on MySpace

Davie Allan & the Arrows w/ Fever Tree Rising,
Freddy Steady 5, & 3 Balls of Fire
Saturday, February 23rd
Doors open @ 9:00PM
Continental Club - Houston, TX

And in Austin @ Rutamaya Feb. 29th 11PM

Feb. 9, 2008
Updated the client & inventory pages.

Listening to Jerry Garcia's 1st solo album
and Fleetwood Mac Then Play On.

More soon, but the day is over & I'm spent.
Pics from the new shop coming too!

Don't touch that dial!

Peace,
~Scott

Feb. 5, 2008

Just updated the client page.
Having lots of fun in the new shop! Finally,
there's a work space where I can have as
many things going on simultaneously as
there are in my head! Pics to come...

Peace,
~Scott

On another note... we're starting to think about
the next Birdsong gathering and I'd
like to know who'd be interested in coming.
Here's a link with some info & pictures from
last year's gathering - it was a blast!
It would be in April or May, so those of you who
would like to come, please email me with
GATHERING in the subject line and shoot out
some dates that would or wouldn't work for you.
Promises tons of fun-osity!

Beans and rice,
~Jamie

Listening to:
Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Country
The Mars Volta The Bedlam In Goliath
Ronnie Cuber Live At The Blue Note
Frank Zappa Hot Rats
Pat Metheney Quartet

Jan. 30, 2008

Just updated the client page. Weather has really been with us, 70 all week during the day. Tons of cutting & glue-ups, some interesting prototypes I'm not telling you about yet, some Bboxes... fun days in the shop! Breaking in our new 15" planer... what a Godsend. Literally. Well the sun's out again today and there's plenty to do. I know Greendog & Mel are up way North freezing their cojones off... to all of you where it's cold, I wish you safety & warmth.
Peace, ~Scott

Listening to:
Ben Folds Five Ben Folds Five
Frank Zappa Hot Rats
John Scofield Grace Under Pressure
Pat Metheney Quartet

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Jan. 21, 2008
We're baaaaack!

Hello and Happy New Year to all of you!
We're back on it, saws & routers should be making chipendusten in the next few days. We didn't really go anywhere, just been working on the new shop and around the homestead. Next scheduled big break is the month of August. That's how we do it - bust butt a bunch for you, then take a month off over the Holidays & the month of August for us. What a fun year this is going to be! I'll get some further-along pics of the shop up shortly.

My favorite part is the workbench... a board was found in Uncle Johnny's workshop with a note to me on it from years back, and I built it into the workbench. The inscription will be under glass just to the left of a bandsaw; just the way he'd want it.

Been a little chilly to give a full report on the homemade solar hot water heat exchanger, but early indications are by march we won't be firing up the water heater 'til November or so... stay tuned and we'll let you know how it works.

Here it is prior to mounting on the roof.

We're splitting our time & tasks between the old & new shops, so sometimes it may take a day or two to get back with you in 2008. As always, it'll always be ASAP and we look forward to talking with you!

There have been some changes and there will be more. Keep your eyes open for what's coming to the Specials page... that's where you'll find oddball runs of our "side projects" - the redesigned Electric Jazz guitar for 2008, other guitars, and who knows what else. Also keep an eye on inventory, as some stuff will just go right on there as they're ready to be had.

Standard Cortobass orders we're shooting for 90 day build time... everything else four to six months. Wild custom orders can be up to nine months or more. Well worth the wait we think, but keep in mind how tiny our company is. We're nice and busy. That said, I'm postponing taking any Hy5 orders for the next month or two so I can catch up. (I'm working on this too). Call or keep checking in here for updates.

Greendog, this page should be loading a bit faster for you. :)

Ok, time to put on some tunes, grab the notebook, and list out what's going to happen... major superdy-duper woodcutting going on at the new shop tomorrow.

In the CD player:
Various Alice Coltrane CDs & The Wallflowers' 1st album

Thank you all again for being in our lives.
Peace, love & music to you!
~Scott