NBD: Yet another Cort Space Bass...

[HeadlessBassist]

My third foray into the Cort Space Bass world was guaranteed to happen. These compact basses punch well above their diminutive weight and I never sold one because I didn't like it - more because pupils always seem to want to buy them from me! So to get this nearly new model for a bargain price was too good to turn down. Back to the 5-string this time, I've added my usual Elixir 40-125 set and it plays really slickly. Perfect for teaching duties, or as that spare bass that you keep in the car boot, it can always hold it's own with it's clean, hifi sound. What's not to like..?

 

 

Edited October 6 by HeadlessBassist

[LeftyJ]

1 hour ago, HeadlessBassist said:

What's not to like..?

 

That Cort hasn't released a lefty version yet 

Would love one, they look great and if they're anywhere near the quality of the Corts I've owned (older Korean ones, admittedly) I'm pretty sure I'd love it. 

[Cornwall Steve]

On 06/10/2025 at 08:11, HeadlessBassist said:

My third foray into the Cort Space Bass world was guaranteed to happen. These compact basses punch well above their diminutive weight and I never sold one because I didn't like it - more because pupils always seem to want to buy them from me! So to get this nearly new model for a bargain price was too good to turn down. Back to the 5-string this time, I've added my usual Elixir 40-125 set and it plays really slickly. Perfect for teaching duties, or as that spare bass that you keep in the car boot, it can always hold it's own with it's clean, hifi sound. What's not to like..?

 

 

I keep wondering to myself how they stack up against the Sire M6. I still can't decide which (5 string) one to get ? 🤔

[HeadlessBassist]

22 minutes ago, Cornwall Steve said:

I keep wondering to myself how they stack up against the Sire M6. I still can't decide which (5 string) one to get ? 🤔

 

Hi Steve,

 

It's a tricky one, and I guess it all depends on what kind of a sound you personally prefer. From what I've heard of the M6, they sound slightly gritty, but better than the Ibanez EHB models. I really liked the sound of the Hils Next Bass BN5 models, but the Cort is still my personal favourite. They have a polite and hifi-sounding quality which is more up my street as a Status, GB & Jazz bass player.

[Cornwall Steve]

55 minutes ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

Hi Steve,

 

It's a tricky one, and I guess it all depends on what kind of a sound you personally prefer. From what I've heard of the M6, they sound slightly gritty, but better than the Ibanez EHB models. I really liked the sound of the Hils Next Bass BN5 models, but the Cort is still my personal favourite. They have a polite and hifi-sounding quality which is more up my street as a Status, GB & Jazz bass player.

Thank you for sharing that. Some interesting views. Personally, I'm not a fan of the EHB. The Hils I'm not keen on for looks but intrigued that you liked the sound, it's a headless I quite fancied trying out. I'd thought about a Hohner the Jack (I already have the headstock version) but want a 5 which for The Jack are very hard to come by. I do enjoy playing Slap which for an old boy of 70 with (only) nine arthritic fingers is a bit odd, I know. I believe the Cort slaps pretty well. And Frank Itt seems to slap the Sire M6 pretty well on the Bass the World review. Just not sure about those Tuners though, as Gregor is quick to point out! Speaking of which, any issues with the Cort you've encountered in the set-up or tuning department ?

Thanks

Steve

[HeadlessBassist]

1 minute ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Thank you for sharing that. Some interesting views. Personally, I'm not a fan of the EHB. The Hils I'm not keen on for looks but intrigued that you liked the sound, it's a headless I quite fancied trying out. I'd thought about a Hohner the Jack (I already have the headstock version) but want a 5 which for The Jack are very hard to come by. I do enjoy playing Slap which for an old boy of 70 with (only) nine arthritic fingers is a bit odd, I know. I believe the Cort slaps pretty well. And Frank Itt seems to slap the Sire M6 pretty well on the Bass the World review. Just not sure about those Tuners though, as Gregor is quick to point out! Speaking of which, any issues with the Cort you've encountered in the set-up or tuning department ?

Thanks

Steve

 

No issues at all, Steve. Some people recommend changing the spring washers on the tuners for a smoother action, but I've been using monorail headless tuners for 35 years and never had any issues. The only thing I've had to change on any of the three Space Basses was the jack socket on the four string one I had, as it was crammed in against the power supply and would short out the bass, but that's a small job on any bass, and a component which can always fail. 

 

My only criticism on the Cort is that the Bartolini preamp needs a lot of bass frequency boosting. It's a seriously flat preamp as goes the bass control, but you only need add a tiny smidge of treble for clear and glassy highs. Apart from needing to boost the bass frequency a lot in order to gain some serious shove, there's nothing not to like. Output wise, they're like a passive Fender Jazz, so if you have a general "Jazz Setting" on your amp that you regularly use, there's no bother.

 

More than anything, having owned three of them, I like the consistency. The quality is great and they always sound good. They're quick and easy to play, too. And the final bonus? They're light to carry around. Mine in the gig bag is often slung over my shoulder while walking around huge secondary schools. It's no effort to carry either, being so light. 

[Cornwall Steve]

1 hour ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

No issues at all, Steve. Some people recommend changing the spring washers on the tuners for a smoother action, but I've been using monorail headless tuners for 35 years and never had any issues. The only thing I've had to change on any of the three Space Basses was the jack socket on the four string one I had, as it was crammed in against the power supply and would short out the bass, but that's a small job on any bass, and a component which can always fail. 

 

My only criticism on the Cort is that the Bartolini preamp needs a lot of bass frequency boosting. It's a seriously flat preamp as goes the bass control, but you only need add a tiny smidge of treble for clear and glassy highs. Apart from needing to boost the bass frequency a lot in order to gain some serious shove, there's nothing not to like. Output wise, they're like a passive Fender Jazz, so if you have a general "Jazz Setting" on your amp that you regularly use, there's no bother.

 

More than anything, having owned three of them, I like the consistency. The quality is great and they always sound good. They're quick and easy to play, too. And the final bonus? They're light to carry around. Mine in the gig bag is often slung over my shoulder while walking around huge secondary schools. It's no effort to carry either, being so light. 

Wow, lots of jolly useful information for me to take on board there. In particular the ole Bartolini thing is a bit Marmite it seems. My only experience with them is the Cort B4 AS+ fretless I have (my one and only Cort). I bought it new and I guess it's 'So-So'. Another reason for stalling on buying another Cort 🤔😕!

I do have a permanent 'Jazz' setting I retain on one of my amp combo's, thinking about it, it's the setting I use the most so could work well for me.

Just wish I could plug an M6 and a Space into it and see which works best for me 🤗

Many thanks again for all your help

[KevG]

Yep, I have a 5 and 4 string. Love them both. Bought due to neck and shoulder issues. Just home from gigging the 4 string, will play the 5er in the morning. Highly recommended. I usually play them full bass and treble and adjust mids as necessary through my Markbass CMD 12 set fairly flat. Seems to work with my current 5 piece. 

[crazycloud]

19 hours ago, Cornwall Steve said:

I keep wondering to myself how they stack up against the Sire M6.

Well the Cort's not MS, but here's a BTW video of the new M6. No comparison with the Cort, but it will give you an idea of the M6 anyway.

 

 

I wanted one of these but have snaffled a headed MS bass so this one will have to wait for a while. Sounds good though.

[Cornwall Steve]

Many thanks for that. I've already seen this Video - commented on it yesterday replying to Headless Bassist's post....

''And Frank Itt seems to slap the Sire M6 pretty well on the Bass the World review. Just not sure about those Tuners though, as Gregor is quick to point out!''

Just out of interest which headed MS did you go for. Was it an Ibby BTB by any chance ?

[Cornwall Steve]

10 hours ago, KevG said:

Yep, I have a 5 and 4 string. Love them both. Bought due to neck and shoulder issues. Just home from gigging the 4 string, will play the 5er in the morning. Highly recommended. I usually play them full bass and treble and adjust mids as necessary through my Markbass CMD 12 set fairly flat. Seems to work with my current 5 piece. 

Is that a 5 and 4 Sire M6 you're referring to Kev, as opposed to the Cort Space or EHB that have come into the discussion ?

[HeadlessBassist]

I think he's talking about owning 4 & 5-string Space Basses, Steve  

[crazycloud]

18 minutes ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Just not sure about those Tuners though, as Gregor is quick to point out!''

The version I linked has been edited where Sire sends Grigor replacement parts that fix the issue.

 

18 minutes ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Just out of interest which headed MS did you go for. Was it an Ibby BTB by any chance ?

SRMS806. Got it at a corker of a price. Should get it in a week or so.

I wanted the BTB, but the SR in mint condition was about 1/2 the best price I could get the BTB for, which is about what my fave bass store reckons the M6 will be when they arrive. I couldn't try the BTB before buying though and returns for change of mind are far fewer in the colonies.

Edited 11 hours ago by crazycloud

[KevG]

Yep it's 2 Cort Spaces. Not tried the Sire. 

 

[Cornwall Steve]

7 hours ago, crazycloud said:

The version I linked has been edited where Sire sends Grigor replacement parts that fix the issue.

 

SRMS806. Got it at a corker of a price. Should get it in a week or so.

I wanted the BTB, but the SR in mint condition was about 1/2 the best price I could get the BTB for, which is about what my fave bass store reckons the M6 will be when they arrive. I couldn't try the BTB before buying though and returns for change of mind are far fewer in the colonies.

Good choice 👍 A 6 string too 🤗

I like these basses. I was very near tempted with a 805 a few months back but got nervous contemplating the string spacing !

I bet you're counting the days until it arrives !

Enjoy

[crazycloud]

1 hour ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Good choice 👍 A 6 string too 🤗

Thanks. I mainly play 6s these days, but if the 5 or an EHB had turned up at the right price I'd have jumped on that too. Especially the 1006MS - I have one other bass on order and that should be it for a long time, but the 1006 would be an exception that would get me to crack my wallet open again.

 

1 hour ago, Cornwall Steve said:

but got nervous contemplating the string spacing !

I love tighter spacings and all my 5s and 6s bar one are 16.5mm or tighter (the one in my avatar is 10.8mm), and I have a few SRs already.

 

1 hour ago, Cornwall Steve said:

I bet you're counting the days until it arrives !

I am. I hope I don't hate the MS, but I'm adaptable. And it's so pretty.

I wonder if I'll get any comments at the local Christmas gig, it being a 6 and with them weird frets...

Edited 3 hours ago by crazycloud