Cort Guitars has officially unveiled the KX500 Baritone, an extended-scale addition to the brand’s high-performance KX Series. Engineered specifically to solve string tension loss and mud in dropped registers, the instrument combines a long-scale architecture with high-output Seymour Duncan electronics and modern hardware for progressive metal and heavy rock players.
Built around a lightweight okoume body topped with an English Walnut veneer in a Matte Natural Black Burst (NBB) open-pore finish, the guitar provides a warm, resonant fundamental tone with a tight low-end response designed to handle modern high-gain amplification.
Extended Scale Architecture & Hardware
- 28.03-Inch (712mm) Scale Length: Formatted to deliver optimal string tension for drop tunings (factory tuned with D’Addario EXL157 .014–.068 gauge strings) while preserving articulate note definition.
- 5-Piece Roasted Maple & Walnut Neck: Bolt-on construction featuring a slim “D” profile, Macassar Ebony fretboard (15.75″ radius), 24 jumbo stainless-steel frets, and luminous side dots for dark stage environments.
- Seymour Duncan® Nazgûl & Sentient Pickups: Voiced for high-gain articulation—pairing a searing Nazgûl bridge humbucker (heavy chugs and tight palm mutes) with a clear Sentient neck pickup for dynamic cleans and fluid lead lines.
- Coil-Split Capability: Controlled via a master volume, 3-way toggle switch, and a push/pull tone pot for coil-splitting flexibility.
- Hardtail String-Thru Bridge & Locking Tuners: Equipped with a new Cort string-thru-body hardtail bridge, Graph Tech Black TUSQ nut, and Cort staggered locking tuners for rock-solid tuning stability and fast re-strings.
Cort KX500 Baritone Technical Specifications
| Specification | Cort KX500 Baritone |
| Body Wood | Okoume Body w/ English Walnut Veneer Top |
| Finish | Open-Pore Matte Natural Black Burst (NBB) |
| Scale Length | 28.03″ (712 mm) |
| Neck Construction | 5-Piece Roasted Maple & Walnut (“D” Shape) |
| Fingerboard | Macassar Ebony (15.75″ Radius) w/ Teardrop Inlays |
| Frets | 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel Frets |
| Pickups | Seymour Duncan® Sentient (Neck) & Nazgûl (Bridge) |
| Bridge / Hardware | Cort String-Thru Hardtail Bridge / All-Black Hardware |
| Tuners / Nut | Cort Locking Tuners / Graph Tech Black TUSQ |
| Factory Tuning / Strings | B Tuning (D’Addario EXL157 .014–.068) |
| Street Price | $929.99 USD |
“Engineered specifically for players who use low tunings, the instrument addresses the familiar challenges of string tension and note definition associated with dropped registers… The KX500 Baritone is a commitment to purposeful design for the modern metal and progressive guitarist.”
The MikesGig Takeaway
- Conquers Drop-Tuning Mud: The extra-long 28.03-inch scale length provides the exact physical tension required to keep low A and drop F# tunings tight, snappy, and intonated without needing overly thick, dead-sounding string gauges.
- Proven Pickup Combo: Pairing the ceramic-powered Seymour Duncan Nazgûl with the Alnico 5 Sentient ensures fast picking attack and high-gain clarity for complex chord voicings and fast riffing.
- Road-Ready Durability: Stainless steel frets combined with a roasted maple/walnut 5-piece neck make this baritone virtually immune to stage heat, humidity shifts, and neck-warp during heavy touring.
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