Hutton Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I'm looking for opinions on Cort Artisan series basses. Are they any good? Build quality? Playability? Sounds? etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 They're usually really well put together and very good value for money. Watch these videos: http://youtu.be/8zTUxqfJEYs http://youtu.be/jOt9iB7xaeY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted August 30, 2016 Author Share Posted August 30, 2016 Many thanks Howie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 (edited) look very similar and sound similar to ibanez SRs of comparable prices, nice touches with the Hipshot parts though. pickups and pre amp seem very similar (well the pickups are the same in being the Bartolini MK1's) string spacing however is wider on the 5 being 18mm, ibanez SR are 16.5mm (mostly) so if the SRs are anything to go by the cort's will be great note ive never seen one before those videos though so huge speculation Edited August 30, 2016 by lowhand_mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6feet7 Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I've had both an A4 and a B4 and thought they were both fantastic basses, and in my opinion are up there with basses worth double. I did change the Bartolinis for Nordstrand pickups (the A4 had already had them fitted and I saw some going cheap on ebay so fitted them to the B4) but they were already pretty brilliant basses. Buy with confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Different model but I had a GB75. Excellent build quality but had far too complex electronics for my liking (active tone, blend & selector switch, mid boost switch, push pull coil tap - I only wanted to play the blues ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I have the B5 OPM and the C5P, very well put together basses and the B series has very nice woods. Can't fault them really, I also had a Cort factory Ibanez EDB 5 (again nice build and woods) and the low B on the Corts was much better. If I hadn't bought a Sire V7 I would be keeping the B5, still holding on to the C5P as a backup bass. The Hipshot Licensed are as good as the real deal, I'm going to be fitting some to the Sire at some point as I miss them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I had an A6 and it was genuinely lovely to play - probably the easiest bass I've owned to get a really low action from - and the build quality was excellent. The Hipshot bridge was solid but to be honest I actually thought the design was a bit unnecessarily complicated. Ultimately though I didn't fall in love with the pre-amp as much as the rest of the bass and started having GAS for something more traditional so moved it on and bought a Jazz and a Precision. If you like the Bartolini sound though, I genuinely don't think you can buy a better bass for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share Posted August 31, 2016 Many thanks for all these replies they have been most helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I have a lovely Cort A5 custom SP for sale on here :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnozzalee Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I loved my A4 and A6, but I was enticed away after playing a Precision Bass (The Sound in My Head) and later upgrading to a Marleaux Consat. You'll be hard pushed to find something (double soapbar) that will beat them for less than £800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Really well put together. I was super sceptical when we first ordered some but they've really grown on me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Cort build Lakland Skyline and G&L Tribute series basses at their Indonesian plant; they also build Squier basses which is why there's quite a lot of love for Squiers these days - says a lot for the company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Beautifully built, great components, silky smooth to play - for me the only weakness is the bart mk1 clone preamp... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 My B4 is a well built bass. It is the same as an Ibanez SR600 but with a chunkier neck (made in the same factory I understand). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1472720336' post='3123565'] Beautifully built, great components, silky smooth to play - for me the only weakness is the bart mk1 clone preamp... [/quote] The new Cort Artisan A Plus, B Plus and C Plus basses now employ a Markbass MB-1 EQ in place of the old Bartolini design preamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 I was going to put a John East preamp (the Uni pre 5) in mine before I succumbed to another Dingwall.... [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1472760631' post='3124070'] The new Cort Artisan A Plus, B Plus and C Plus basses now employ a Markbass MB-1 EQ in place of the old Bartolini design preamp. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonteee Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 (edited) I still have one! A4 Custom-SP. I like mine a lot, and it's purrrdy. Yes, that's a T-Bird in my avatar. Ahem.... I don't particularly like playing the 'as good as a bass worth X times more' game as so often it's horses for courses. I think it gives a great sound, has a great feel and comfortable. Can be very P-like if needed, but also can give more 'active' tones with a small adjustment. Not a super slim neck, but nicely navigable. Personally, I like the Bart preamp - although it's interesting Cort have gone a to a Mark Bass preamp now, as has been mentioned. I find it a versatile preamp, with enough there to both shape and boost as required - but the blend pot is often as much as is needed, I find. I must say I appreciated the preamp more when I went to my current (Berg/MB) rig. I could 'hear' what the bass was sounding like in a way I hadn't before. Hope that helps. If the OP wasn't at the other end of the country, I'd offer a lend.... Edited September 1, 2016 by Tonteee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@23 Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 Yeah they're great. Probably the best value for money basses out there. The five I had produced a really solid low B too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted September 3, 2016 Author Share Posted September 3, 2016 (edited) Thanks once again for all the very helpful comments. I find myself drawn to these basses for some reason but as I live in a city where the music shops have no imagination it is unlikely that I will get to try one out before buying so all comments here are much appreciated. Also, particular thanks to Tonteee for the offer of a lend. In how many forums would you find that kind of camaraderie? Edited September 3, 2016 by Hutton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 Ok my friends I have pulled the trigger on a Cort A4 SP Custom. When she arrives I'll put up pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilp Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 I have a B4FL that deps for the Wal when I'm nervous. I love it, can't beat it for the money. If it had a decent preamp it'd be even better! What do people recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 It's literally identical to the SR 600 series. Great bass. I love mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 (edited) As they say round these parts - no pics, no bass. So here she is in all her glory. She also sounds as good as she looks. Edited September 7, 2016 by Hutton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Great looking bass - I didn't realise they echoed the top wood on the back as well! Happy New Bass Day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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