Hear The Cort X700 Duality II Electric Guitar
MSRP $1,999.99. Street $1,399.99. Learn more about the X700 Duality II electric and get a closer look at www.cortguitars.com.
A reasonably priced mix of timeless features and modern appointments.
Recorded using the Cort going into a Jackson Broken Arrow and a Line 6 HX Effects, and then a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV miked with a Royer R-121 feeding an Apogee Duet going into GarageBand with no EQ-ing, compression, or effects.
Clip 1 – Jackson Arrow on “Marshall” setting with a simple delay from the HX Effects.
Clip 2 – All delay and reverb is coming from the HX Effects.
RatingsPros:Great balanced feel. Cons: Pickups are a bit uneven with a rather shrill high end. Street: $849 Cort G290 FAT cortguitars.com |
Tones:  Playability:  Build/Design:  Value: |
Finding the perfect “super strat” can seem like an eternal quest. It’s not that dissimilar to the hunt for a “transparent” overdrive, but I digress. Cort’s G290 FAT is a beautifully designed double-cutaway model that takes inspiration from not only the ’80s, but more modern examples of hot-rodded, humbucker-loaded rock machines. At $849, it’s natural not to expect some of the high-end features you might find on a Suhr or Ibanez, but I hand it to Cort for not totally skimping on what makes a workhorse guitar, you know, work.
The neck is smooth and fast and looks great thanks to the roasted maple treatment that’s usually found on guitars that are twice this price. I tested the G290 with a few different dirt pedals going into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV. The VTH-77 pickups had plenty of output but needed some extra EQ treatment to deal with some unpleasant high-end frequencies. However, the lows and mids were clear and punchy without getting woofy. Although the G290 is wrapped up in modern features, the bones of a timeless design are there and definitely worth a look.
Test gear: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV, Jackson Broken Arrow, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food
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The bass offers a unique wiring configuration and an active/passive switching option.
Seoul, South Korea (September 6, 2019) -- Cort expands the versatility of its Action Series of bass guitars with the new Action HH4, which provides players a two-humbucker configuration capable of producing a variety of sounds. In a series known for its affordability as well as its high craftsmanship, the Action HH4 stands out for its unique wiring configuration and its active/passive switching option that expands the tonal palette. A choice of three pearloid colors—Blood Red Metallic, Tasman Light Blue, and Black—allows players to get the look they desire at a price point they can afford. Additionally, the 5-string Action HH5 is available to players who desire greater range.
The Action HH4 features a pair of new VTB-H humbucker pickups with Alnico V magnets for a smooth, musical sound, with a powerful yet articulate punch in the low-midrange and bass registers. This is where the specially wired 5-way switch offers a distinct advantage, giving players the ability to choose each pickup on its own or both, as well as two parallel modes with the two inside coils or two outside coils. The tone control has also been wired to be usable in the passive setting for even more tonal variety. Volume, bass and treble knobs complete the Action HH4’s electronic specs.
Excellent material choice and construction also factor into the Action HH4’s adaptability. The meranti body offers similar tonal characteristics to mahogany, with a strong low-midrange that can cut through the mix for rhythm and also provide sweet highs for singing leads. The Canadian hard maple neck provides power and stability as well as a warm, beefy and punchy tone with a strong upper midrange. This maple is dense and rigid, but has the right amount of tactile flexibility with the ability to respond sensitively to picking attack and slapping techniques with plenty of articulation and power. Assisting in the response is the jatoba fingerboard, which is dense and stiff, but can produce strong fundamentals and volume project with emphasis on the high-mids. Overall, the Action HH4’s bolt-on neck offers 24 frets at a 34-inch (864 mm) scale.
In designing the body of the Action HH4, Cort has taken both appearance and ergonomics into account. The elegantly contoured arm cut on the top of this guitar and others in the Action series has been carefully executed for maximum comfort without removing unnecessary amounts of wood. Rounding out the features are die-cast tuners, chrome hardware and an EB6 (4) bridge on the Action HH4 and EB6 (5) bridge on the Action HH5.
The Action HH4 bass guitar from Cort is available at MSRP U.S. $499.99, while the Action HH5 is available at MSRP U.S. $549.99.
For more information:
Cort Guitars
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