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The new A5 Plus SC offers the same single-cutaway body shape that players love, now with a more traditional scale length they’re accustomed to. To celebrate the launch, Cort has unveiled a new color, Amber Open Pore, for the strikingly figured poplar burl top. More balanced than ever with a stunning new look, the A5 Plus SC is built to stand out, while providing the comfortable familiarity that experienced players enjoy.
The A5 Plus SC’s predecessor and series counterpart was a bold foray into innovative modern bass concepts, specifically the single-cutaway body and multi-scale design, which results in tighter, more focused lower register sounds. These innovations were well received, but some players vocalized that they preferred a more traditional scale. Cort has answered the call with a non-multi-scale length on the A5 Plus SC.
Central to the A5 Plus SC’s design is its single-cutaway body shape, which not only improves the instrument’s body-neck balance for added comfort, but also provides unfettered access to the high frets. The strings vibrate across the body and neck in a coherent and linear manner, maximizing the tightness of the low-end with rich mids and singing highs. Cort also added a Hipshot® TransTone Bridge to facilitate greater tonal range while adding punch and enhancing sustain. With its string-thru-body and top-load construction, this bridge perfectly complements the longer 34” scale’s tighter string tension and focused sound.
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The A5 Plus SC’s tonal response is enhanced by Cort’s selection of high-quality materials. The new poplar burl top not only beautifies this bass, but also adds well-balanced sonic characteristics in combination with the swamp ash body. The result is a bright and punchy modern sound that can cut through a mix with authority. The strength and brightness of the maple neck is ideally balanced with the warm midrange of panga panga, which provides reinforcement and results in superb playability, feel and tonal definition. The panga panga fingerboard produces a tight and coherent sound that pairs extremely well with the instrument’s multi-laminate neck-thru-body construction.
To further improve balance, Cort equipped the A5 Plus SC with Hipshot® Ultralite Tuners, which offer a classic 20:1 tuning ratio. Made with cast zinc, aluminum string posts, and aluminum mounting nuts, Hipshot Ultralite Tuners result in a 30% weight reduction over regular tuners and help to improve tuning accuracy.
Like other bass guitars in Cort’s Artisan Series, the A5 Plus SC incorporates Bartolini MK-1 pickups, which deliver plenty of punchy and warm mids along with transparent and brilliant highs for a superbly balanced sound. Bartolini’s renowned MK-1 preamp provides powerful yet transparent boost along with its trademark crisp high-end. The system transfers the natural liveliness of the bass through a flexible 3-band EQ for a variety of applications, from studio recordings to large concert halls. It also provides a switchable active/passive mode for a powerful modern active sound or an organic traditional passive sound. While the A5 Plus SC is built with premium features, its price tag remains reasonable for the working musician at MSRP $1,499.99 (w/ case).
Where to buy: Cort Bass | Amazon
Learn more about the A5 Plus SC and other bass guitars in Cort’s Artisan Series at www.cortguitars.com
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