Expanding on the innovations of Cort’s original 8-string multiscale, the KX508 Multi-Scale II features an updated okoume body and a specially designed Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker.
The KX508 Multi-Scale II is the second iteration of the eight-string KX508, Cort’s first multi-scale 8-string guitar introduced in 2020. Like its predecessor, the KX508 Multi-Scale II has a visually stunning poplar burl top in a Mariana Blue Burst finish. Beyond its visual appeal, the poplar burl is an ideal tonal complement to Cort’s newly introduced okoume body. Okoume is known for its light weight and ability to improve tonal clarity. It has a tight low-end and highly articulate high-end, which matches the overall sonic characteristics of the KX508 Multi-Scale II. The multi-scale, measuring 26.5 to 28 inches, offers a punchy low end while maintaining a familiar feel and tension on the treble strings, which allows for speedy runs and string-bending. Players have unhindered access to the high frets thanks to the low-scooped heel.
The 5-piece maple and purple heart neck not only provides strength and stability, aided by a spoke nut hotrod truss rod, but a strong and focused sound. The Macassar ebony fingerboard (15.75-inch radius) offers smooth playability along the 24 frets with teardrop inlays. Macassar is an ideal tonewood for high-gain applications because of its ability to cut through a dense mix. At the top of the neck, the 2 7/32-inch nut width (56.5 mm) is surprisingly comfortable for an 8-string guitar and is even suitable for players with smaller hands. The individual hardtail bridge with string-thru-body design results in greatly improved sustain, superb string separation for enhanced articulation, and precise intonation. Deluxe locking machine heads offer reliable tuning as well as easier and quicker string changes.
The Cort Sessions | KX508 Multi Scale II Electric Guitar
A dual-humbucker 4-string with plenty of switching options defies its price with a tight, light build.
Recorded direct into Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 interface into GarageBand.
Clip 1: Passive mode, neck pickup soloed, flat EQ.
Clip 2: Active mode, bridge pickup soloed, flat EQ.
Clip 3: Active mode, neck pickup soloed, flat EQ.
RatingsPros:Impressive, clean build for a “budget” instrument. Well balanced. Plenty of tone options. Cons: Volume pot sensitivity. Street: $349 Cort Action HH4 cortguitars.com | Tones:  Ease of Use: Build/Design:  Value: |
Cort’s budget line has a new player in town with the Action HH4, but its low price should not spark prejudgment. This well-balanced 4-string has a body cut from meranti (aka Philippine mahogany) and weighs in at a tidy 8 3/4 pounds. Our test bass was finished in a chic-looking blood-red metallic, and when I scanned the bass closely from top to bottom, I didn’t find an errant glue drop, finish bite, or non-tight component to speak of. The fast, lightly finished Canadian hard-maple neck and damn-near-perfect fretwork kind of had me wondering if I was really sent a bass in the company’s budget line.
The Action HH4’s electronics package provides a bucketful of options with its pair of alnico-5 humbuckers, a 2-band EQ, 5-way switch, and passive tone control, but the tone control’s degree of effectiveness seemed to vary depending on the pickup selection. Though the HH4 is a mid-prominent instrument, I was able to pull some old-school warm tones—yet not overly murky—from the neck pickup in both modes. After cycling through the different configurations in active mode, I parked myself in the third position with both humbuckers fully engaged for a good all-around rock tone with warmth and a nice amount of bite. If I had a single gripe about the Action HH4, it would be the sweep/taper ratio of the volume dial, which was not so gradual from closed to open. Other than that, the Action HH4 is simply a well put-together bass that offers a ton of bang for the buck.
Test Gear: Gallien-Krueger 800RB, Orange OBC212, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4
The guitar features a Seymour Duncan TB4 bridge humbucker and a SH2N neck humbucker combined with a special 5-way wiring.
Seoul, South Korea (October 22, 2019) -- With the introduction of the X700 Duality, Cort has designed an electric guitar that can seamlessly transition from shred machine to chic refinement. The new flagship of the venerated X Series brings together boutique-quality materials and hardware components with custom-wired electronics that unleash the beast or quickly reign them in, making this guitar suitable for virtually any musical genre and style.
At first sight, the design of the X700 Duality conveys “speed,” with its flamed maple top on a swamp ash body. These materials complement each other to produce a warm, yet punchy high-midrange sound that cuts through the mix with authority. Imaginations will be sparked by the Light Blue Burst finish and chrome hardware, but there’s so much more to the X700 Duality than its visual pizzazz.
The X700 Duality’s Seymour Duncan TB4 bridge humbucker and SH2N neck humbucker, combined with a special 5-way wiring, present all of the modern and classic humbucker tones as well as two exceptional single-coil sounds for unmatched versatility. The X700 Duality achieves clarity and depth, whether the player is tearing it up on a metal riff or riding the wave with a sparkling, clean tone. This model’s “duality” comes into play through its unique electronics. The 5-way switch is custom-wired to provide glassy and sparkling single-coil sounds in the second and fourth positions, as well as full-bodied and powerful humbucker sounds in the bridge, middle, and neck positions. So as the player is driving with over-the-top metal tone, they can just as easily dial down to a jazzy warmth. A simple, yet versatile control layout, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, allows the player to focus on making music.
The X700 Duality’s hardware also has a significant influence on its sonic character. This guitar features the Cort CFA-III Tremolo System made from a metal injection molding manufacturing technique with stainless steel on the saddle, bridge plate and block for a big, solid, bold and articulate sound as well as enhanced sustain. The recessed tremolo bridge allows for pull-ups to raise the pitch as well as for push-downs to lower it, providing even more sonic versatility. Staggered locking tuners provide excellent tuning stability by eliminating string slippage at the posts while facilitating quick string changes.
Cort’s world-class craftsmanship is evident throughout the X700 Duality, but especially with high-quality materials where they matter. On the neck, the strength and brightness of the 3PC maple is balanced by the warm midrange of panga panga, resulting in super playability, feel and tonal definition. The ebony fingerboard provides jet-black beauty and slick smoothness, while the Luminlay side dot position marks make it easy for players to see the fretboard position markers while performing on dark stages. As another road-friendly feature, the 24 stainless steel frets (25.5’’ scale) boast excellent resistance to corrosion. The wide and tall fret-type offers a quick response with good articulation when playing chords as well as a clear tone when playing single notes.
MSRP $1299.99 USD
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