Cort Guitars: Affordable Excellence in Musical Instruments

by Brett Quattrucci on March 07, 2023

Many modern guitarists are discovering Cort Guitars and asking themselves, “Are Cort guitars good?”. It's a fair question considering the fact that although Cort manufactures high-end instruments for famous brands like Ibanez, not many people know about their own line of guitars and their impressive quality.

When it comes to choosing a guitar, players are faced with an array of options. From different styles and brands to various levels of quality and pricing, the decision-making process can be overwhelming. However, one brand that has been making waves in the guitar industry is Cort.

Cort Guitars is a South Korean-based company that has been manufacturing guitars since 1960. Over the years, they have built a reputation for carefully constructing instruments with high-quality materials. Currently, Cort makes instruments for other well-known brands such as Ibanez, PRS, and G&L, who are all recognized for their high-quality guitars.

The difference between Cort Guitars and these larger brands is their ability to offer instruments with the specs of a premium instrument at a much more affordable price. This has made them a popular choice for musicians looking for a quality instrument without breaking the bank.

If you'd prefer to watch a video on the subject, here's a great explanation and review from Youtuber, Riffs, Beards, & Gear.

Materials and Construction

When it comes to crafting exceptional guitars, Cort Guitars takes no shortcuts in ensuring the highest quality and craftsmanship. One aspect that sets them apart is their meticulous selection of premium woods. Cort utilizes a variety of high-quality woods in their guitar construction, including Panga Panga, Roasted Maple, Ash, Mahogany, and Okoume. Each wood type brings its own unique tonal characteristics, providing guitarists with a wide range of sonic possibilities.

In addition to their choice of woods, Cort Guitars pays attention to the finest details to enhance playability and durability. Stainless steel frets are a testament to their commitment to quality, offering players a smooth and long-lasting playing experience. These frets not only resist wear and tear but also contribute to improved intonation and tonal clarity.

Locking tuners are another feature that Cort incorporates into many of their guitar models. These specialized tuners provide enhanced stability and tuning accuracy, allowing musicians to perform confidently without worrying about constant retuning. With locking tuners, players can dive into intense bends and aggressive playing styles, knowing that their guitar will stay in tune.

Cort Guitars understands that exceptional sound requires not only superior craftsmanship but also premium electronics and hardware. That's why they partner with renowned brands like Fishman Fluence pickups and Evertune bridges. Fishman Fluence pickups deliver versatile and dynamic tones, allowing players to explore a wide array of musical genres. Evertune bridges offer unmatched tuning stability, ensuring that your guitar stays perfectly in tune regardless of environmental changes or heavy playing.

In summary, Cort Guitars' commitment to excellence is evident in their choice of high-quality woods, stainless steel frets, locking tuners, and premium electronics and hardware. Whether you're a professional musician or an enthusiastic hobbyist, Cort Guitars' dedication to superior construction and materials will undoubtedly elevate your playing experience to new heights.

Cort KX508MS

Ibanez Connection

As mentioned earlier, Cort has been manufacturing guitars for other brands such as Ibanez for many years. This has allowed them to gain valuable experience and knowledge in the industry. By working with other brands, Cort has been able to hone their craft and perfect their manufacturing processes.

However, Cort's work with Ibanez has also led to them producing guitars with similar specs as premium Ibanez instruments but at a much more affordable price. This has made Cort a popular choice for musicians who want the quality of an Ibanez but cannot afford the premium price tag.

 

Affordable Excellence

Being both the manufacturer and wholesaler of their own instruments, Cort Guitars stands out by offering instruments with comparable specifications to other brands but at a significantly more affordable price point. Their affordability has made them a favored option for both pro and amateur musicians looking for an instrument with a premium sound and feel.

For example, the Cort X700 Duality comes with Seymour Duncan pickups, stainless steel frets, a 3-piece Maple and Panga Panga neck, Swamp Ash body, and locking tuners for under $1000. There are very few, if any other companies offer that type of value at that price. 

And if you're into extended range instruments, Cort's 7-string multi-scale model with Fishman Fluence humbuckers is also under $1000! 

 

Designed for Modern Guitarists

Cort guitars have become increasingly popular among modern guitarists due to their advanced features and rock-solid craftsmanship. One of the reasons why Cort guitars are so appealing to modern guitarists is their use of innovative pickups like the Fishman Fluence pickups. These pickups are some of popular options among modern musicians due to the versatile range of classic and progressive guitar tones they provide.

Other features that make Cort guitars a favorite among modern guitarists include their use of multi-scale and extended range designs. Extended range guitars like the 7-string KX507 and 8-string KX508 are used by many progressive guitars and are an amazing way to expand the realm of possibilities in one's musical toolbox. Multi-scale, or fanned frets, are the superior option on extended range instruments because of their ability to increase string tension across the lower strings without making the higher strings harder to bend or increasing their scale length.

The increased tension on the bass side reduces string floppiness to create a cleaner, crisper tone. That's the reason you don't see bass guitars with 25.5" scales and is also why multi-scale instruments are ideal for low tuning and genres like progressive metal.

The added tension also allows for improved intonation when picking the lower strings since they are not able to move excessively in the saddle and nut slots. On top of that, multiscale designs also provide a more ergonomic playing experience, by allowing you to keep a more neutral wrist position as you move up the fretboard, helping to reduce tension and discomfort during long sessions.

Cort KX507MS Multi-scale electric guitar

Conclusion

Cort Guitars is a brand that has been making waves in the guitar industry for their commitment to quality and affordability. Their careful use of materials and advanced construction techniques have resulted in instruments that not only sound great but also look stunning. Their work with other brands such as Ibanez has allowed them to gain valuable experience and produce instruments with similar specs at a much more affordable price. Cort Guitars is a popular choice for musicians of all skill levels and budgets who want an instrument that will last a lifetime.

If you've found yourself asking the question, "is Cort a good guitar brand?", just know that every year they create thousands of premium instruments for some of the most well-known companies in the industry.

Check out our line of modern electric guitars from Cort in our shop.

1 comment
by Preston Villarin Dinopol on October 06, 2023

Cool.I already have one,a b5 bass,hoping to add another soon,the a5 ultra ash.

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Author Bio

Brett, the owner and founder of Ploutone, is a modern guitarist on a mission to create a sustainable future and build a thriving community through the power of music. Brett founded Ploutone to celebrate independent artists and foster connections among guitarists worldwide. With a vision of spreading positivity and promoting sustainability, Brett hopes to inspire others to push the boundaries of their instruments and contribute to a better world.

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