Cort Guitars introduces the Artisan A5 Beyond bass guitar as the realization of a bold vision for innovative, modern bass concepts. The advancement of an already modern instrument like the electric bass is not just about the electronics—it’s also about materials and design execution. The Artisan A5 Beyond is designed with the modern specs from Cort’s best-selling A5 Plus SCMS model, including the single-cutaway body and multi-scale, ranging from 35.5 inches on the bass strings to a shorter 34 inches on the treble strings. Cort has taken the tonewood selection a step beyond with the newly added Bubinga top, providing excellent articulation and deep sustain. At all angles, and with each detail, the Artisan A5 Beyond is a state-of-the-art bass for the most discriminating musician.
When it comes to the punch and sustain of a bass guitar, nothing beats neck-thru-body construction, especially when paired with the comfort and unfettered high-fret access of the single-cutaway body shape. The strings vibrate across the A5 Beyond’s body and neck in a coherent, linear manner, maximizing the tightness of the low-end with rich mids and singing highs. These tones are defined by the classic, solid-sounding ash body and the bubinga top, which boasts a lush, reddish color and deep sustain with warm even notes and bright midrange tone. The tonewood combination strikes the ideal balance between traditional and modern, both in looks and in sound.
Strength balanced by beauty is another key theme of the A5 Beyond that carries over to the five piece maple and panga panga neck. The brightness of the maple is ideally balanced with the warm midrange of panga panga for excellent tonal definition. Panga panga offers the characteristics of wenge and produces a tight, coherent sound that mates extremely well with the instrument’s multi-laminate neck. Players will enjoy grooving along the 24-fret multi-scale, which produces more tension for the low strings and subsequently tighter, more focused lower register sounds.
Each string on the A5 Beyond has space to shine thanks to Cort’s use of innovative hardware. The dedicated hardtail bridge unit greatly improves string separation and reduces crosstalk for enhanced articulation and definition. Meanwhile, the Hipshot® Ultralite machine heads (classic 20:1 tuning ratio) are made of cast zinc with aluminum string posts and mounting nuts, resulting in 30 percent weight reduction over other regular tuners and improving balance and tuning accuracy.
The Bartolini® MK-1 pickup and preamp have long been the go-to electronics duo for Cort’s Artisan Series, and Cort carries on the tradition with the Artisan A5 Beyond. The MK-1 delivers plenty of punchy and warm mids along with transparent and brilliant highs for a superbly balanced sound. The MK-1 preamp provides a powerful yet transparent boost along with a trademark crisp high-end. The natural liveliness of the bass transfers through a flexible 3-band equalizer. The preamp also provides a switchable active/passive mode for a robust, modern active sound or an organic, traditional passive sound.
Whether they’re recording in a studio or playing a large concert hall, modern bass players enjoy having the freedom and flexibility to achieve their preferred sound. They’ll have plenty of options with the Artisan A5 Beyond’s upscale appointments and well-articulated tones that can take bass guitar playing to new heights.
Learn more and get a closer look at www.cortguitars.com. MSRP $1,699.99
