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Cort Guitars adds a brand-new dimension to its Artisan Series of electric bass guitars with the introduction of the A4 Ultra Ash. This high-end version of the A4 Plus features an ash top with black accents to create a layered, 3D-look. The carefully selected materials on this bass are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also tonally captivating. The A4 Ultra Ash comes to life with the newly developed Fishman® Fluence Bass Soapbar pickups and 2-band EQ, which will satisfy any hard-rocking modern bassist with its multi-voiced capabilities for a wide range of genres.
Designed with serious bassists in mind, the A4 Ultra Ash begins with the ultimate tonal wood complements. The ash top on the mahogany body ensures a great balance of warm, yet full and punchy-sounding lows, and bright, clear, and transparent highs. The neck-thru-body construction provides unbeatable punch and sustain, allowing the strings to vibrate across the body and neck in a coherent, linear manner and maximizing the tightness of the low-end with rich mids and singing highs.
Beauty and intelligence work in harmony for the A4 Ultra Ash, as evident with the 5pcs maple and panga panga neck (34’’ scale). The strength and brightness of maple is ideally balanced with the warm midrange of panga panga, which is also used on the 24-fret fingerboard (15.74’’ radius). As an African hardwood, panga panga has characteristics of wenge and produces a tight, coherent sound that mates extremely well with the multi-laminate neck-thru-body design. The combination of these features gives the A4 Ultra Ash its superb playability, feel, and tonal definition.
To electronically convey the natural tones of the A4 Ultra Ash, Cort relies on Fishman’s convention-disrupting Fluence Core technology. The original and totally reimagined Fishman Fluence Bass Soapbar pickups bring the revolutionary multi-voice performance, dynamic range, and articulation of Fluence technology to this instrument. Through magnetic technology, a single bass pickup can now produce multiple timbres and sounds, each untethered from the other and free from the hum, noise, and frustrating inductance issues that plague even the most coveted wire-wound pickups. The result is a revelation of pure, uncorrupted bass tone.
The versatility of the A4 Ultra Ash is maximized by the dedicated 3-way mini switch for multi-voice control. Voice 1 (passive) is ideal for classic, fat, and round tones; Voice 2 (active) is suited for full frequency and full dynamics; and Voice 3 (active with mid contour) is ideal for funk and modern, hi-fi, scooped sounds. Players can enjoy even more flexibility with a master volume knob that offers a push-pull pot for the coil split, along with a blend knob and 2-band EQ for treble and bass.
Hipshot® innovations on the A4 Ultra Ash are not to be overlooked. The Hipshot TransTone Bridge offers both a string-thru-body design, which improves tonal range while adding punch and enhancing sustain, as well as top-load construction to facilitate a quick string change. The design of this bridge also perfectly complements the longer 34’’ scale’s tighter string tension and focused sound. On the headstock, Hipshot Ultralite Machineheads offer a classic 20:1 tuning ratio. Made of cast zinc with aluminum string posts and mounting nuts, these tuners offer a 30 percent weight reduction over other regular tuners and facilitate improved balance and tuning accuracy. Black hardware adds a bold final touch to the A4 Ultra Ash’s natural style.
Where to buy:
Thoughtfully designed and gig-ready, Cort’s A4 Ultra Ash electric bass is the perfect companion for the working player at MSRP $1999.99 with hard case. Get a closer look and watch a demo video with a professional bassist at www.cortguitars.com.
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