Cort core-oc Blackwood
Cort of appeal
There was once a time when an electro-acoustic with solid back and sides for £500 would seem the stuff of guitar dreams, an ambition never to be spoken out loud. But here we are. Nevertheless, the price range this China-made Cort finds itself in is hotly contested with strong showings from a number of key brands, and solid woods don’t guarantee a winning formula for an acoustic. Ok, spoiler ahead: Cort has gone and delivered it here.
Our test model is the closest thing to a wildcard in this new three-model series; all solid blackwood isn’t a tonewood we see a lot of. Cort’s selling it as a best of all-world’s scenario; a combination combining the “rich low-end of mahogany, the brightness of maple and the ideal overtone of rosewood”. That’s ambitious.
The Open Pore Light Burst Finish is deep in grain on top and rich in flame on the back, giving this guitar a warm, earthy and traditional look for a cutaway. It’s light too at 4lbs and the OM size is a good option for smaller players without compromising on dreadnought jack-of-alltrades performance much, as we’ll discover.
When Cort say this guitar is designed with simplicity in mind, we can’t argue, but that doesn’t mean cheap. The OC knows what it’s about and the die-cast black tuner buttons add a touch of premium class. This is not a hi-fi-sounding acoustic guitar; it’s woody, percussive and warm with great sustain. We’d say the looks reflect the tonality here and it makes for an inviting proposition. Chords have mid muscle and single notes ring with strong projection. We actually end up preferring fingerstyle with our test OC as it offers an added sensitivity and responds really well to touch. Bass isn’t boomy, and we wouldn’t expect it from an OM, but it sits just right with the folky finesse here. Plugged in, we’re pleased with how it translates, too.
There’s plenty of low end presence (but no bass control provided by the Fishman preamp)
A QUALITY STAGE GUITAR; THE COMFORT OF ITS SATIN NECK WILL PAY DIVIDENDS OVER A SET...
and it feels pleasingly warm and full for a piezo when tested through a Laney A1+ and Positive Grid Spark combo. The performance leaves us confident this would be a quality stage guitar and the comfort of its satin neck will pay dividends over a set.
So it’s another acoustic winner from Cort after last year’s impressive Little CJ. Add in the quality gig bag and we think this is a very... Solid deal.
Rob Laing
1 PREAMP AND PICKUP
Surprise! It’s another Fishmansonitone preampsystemwith Sonic ore under saddle piezo here but it’s goodenoughfor agibsonstudio Hummingbird,and it excels on this platform.
2 BONE NUT AND SADDLE
Nowthisiswhatwe like to see! and water buffalo bone, no less nut.ithastotake somecreditforthe fineresonancewe encounterwith theoc.
3 CUTAWAY
The112mmbody depthandvenetian cutawaymakethis anaccessible electro-acoustic for thestage.