NGD: Talk to me about Cort

Artie

Artie

Peaveyologist
So, I'm at the flea-market, and I see this "nice" guitar. Metal-flake wineberry finish, in a Levy's soft-shell bag. It's a Cort M200. The guys asking $250. As a joke, I offer $20. He puts his hand to his chin, and says "let me think about that". Me and my friend go have a beer, and come back a little later. As soon as I walk up, he says, "would you give me $30?" I almost got whiplash pulling out my wallet.

This thing is a solid mahogany body and neck. Beautiful non-scratched finish. And a case. She sounds good. Nice action, nice ergonomics.

So whats the deal with Cort? Did I "scroe"? (The pic of the back is perfect. You're seeing the reflection of my curtains.)

P.S. The bag appears to cost more than $30.

Cort-01.jpg
Cort-02.jpg
Cort-03.jpg
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

The M-200 is the cheapest version of the M series. The basic design owes much to PRS. I always found the controls to be bunched together too tightly. (Not terminal.) The pickups are probably Powersound. (Easily upgradable.) The electronics are dogbreath CorTek cheapies. Machineheads will be Jin-Ho.

In spite of all of this, given the choice between a Cort M-200 and the GF clearance items described in another thread earlier today, I would take the Cort every time.

I just hope that the guitar does not turn out to be stolen.
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

Funkfingers said:
The M-200 is the cheapest version of the M series. The basic design owes much to PRS. I always found the controls to be bunched together too tightly. (Not terminal.) The pickups are probably Powersound. (Easily upgradable.) The electronics are dogbreath CorTek cheapies. Machineheads will be Jin-Ho.

In spite of all of this, given the choice between a Cort M-200 and the GF clearance items described in another thread earlier today, I would take the Cort every time.
Click to expand...

Yes, I believe the pickups are Powersound. The number on the back, (for the bridge), is LP-(P)G-R. That's fixable. (Along with the electronics.) ;)

Funkfingers said:
I just hope that the guitar does not turn out to be stolen.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. This is a guy that I know that buys out storage sheds that have been abandoned. Thats where all the "good" stuff comes from at the FM. ;)
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

ArtieToo said:
This is a guy that I know that buys out storage sheds that have been abandoned. Thats where all the "good" stuff comes from at the FM. ;)
Click to expand...

Okay. Now, with all of the money that you saved on the purchase price of the guitar, you could afford to feed it some Zephyr Silver pickups - with or without open mic night blood stains.:D
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

ArtieToo said:
This is a guy that I know that buys out storage sheds that have been abandoned. Thats where all the "good" stuff comes from at the FM. ;)
Click to expand...

AFAIR, the M-200 body is all mahogany, no maple cap or veneer. I'd try P-Rails.
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

I've got a Cort dealer nearby.
I tried about 4 guitars the other day. An M520 that I was crazy about, not so much anymore. Felt a bit dead and the rosewood looked terrible.
Then a CR (Les Paul), the most expensive one. Sounded ****ing huge and played great, great sustain. Les Paul all the way for a ridiculous price.
Then I tried their top take on the Ibanez S series, absolutely killer guitar, not very pretty but it's a budget shredder's dream. Hot Rails and a JB stock, too.

And I finally I tried this...

http://www.cortguitars.com/en/product/g260

A modern-ish take on a Strat:
Flatter radius, a Wilkinson, tall thin frets, non staggered single coils, and coil split for the humbucker.
FANTASTIC guitar for the price which is 30% less than a new MIM Fender.
Stayed in tune perfectly and I didn't even stretch the strings for ****'s sake. Nut felt very well cut from factory and the Wilkinson is so smooth.
Never played a Wilkinson trem before, I hate FRs and Vintage trems, but I loved this one.

I yearn to have it! Cort means business man.
 
Last edited:
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

I've got 4 different corts and I'm happy with all of them! :) the construction is pretty much flawless on each of them...
Obviously the electronics and pickups will be the weak points but that can be rectified (I kept mine stock even)
The tuners vary. Each of mine stay damn near perfectly in tune. Even my X-1 -which is the bottom of the range beginners guitar- stays well in tune when I muck about with some serious whammying.

Obviously it's not gonna be as good as a top of the line hand crafted guitar strung with mermaid hair but as far as quality, it's just as good as any other CNC cut, factory assembled guitar out there... And with some minor upgrades with the other $220 you saved along with a touch of TLC that Cort will be holdin it's own against plenty of guitars one or 2 price brackets above it. (Just don't get cocky and take on a custom shop strat!)
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

I've got two Cort basses, an A5 and a gb-94. I really can't knock them at all, as both are very well put together.
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

I have one guitar with the name Cort on the headstock. I have several others made by Cort for other brands. If yo' Ibanez, Schecter or Squier has a Crafted In Indonesia decal on the rear of its headstock, Cort made it. I am not sure whether their facilities in Korea are still manufacturing guitars for the European and North American markets.
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

Funkfingers said:
If yo' Ibanez, Schecter or Squier has a Crafted In Indonesia decal on the rear of its headstock, Cort made it.
Click to expand...

Interesting . . . I believe I have one of each. (Actually, my friend has the Schecter, but its a sweet guitar with DD's in it.)
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

Btw, as I look at pics online, I notice there's two different headstocks available. Mine has the "donkey-head" version. Not sure if there's any significance to those differences. It says "Designed by Cort research" around the cut out.

CORT_M200_BRM.jpg
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

Cool deal.

Score that at the Fleamarket on Ramona off I-10? Been a while since I was there but I used to walk through that one and see a few guitars.
 
Re: NGD: Talk to me about Cort

ArtieToo said:
Mine has the "donkey-head" version. ... It says "Designed by Cort research" around the cut out.
Click to expand...

That makes it a later example.

Meanwhile, if SD P-Rails seem like an extravagance on a thirty Dollar bargain, consider GFS or Tonerider humbucker-sized P90s. Keep thinking SG Special. :)

You could even add some car stripes around the carve to resemble a PRS Metal. Remember those?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ascension
Second chance on a real Holy Grail for me, it's now MINE!!
Replies
7
Views
775
Mincer
Mincer
cliffenstein
NGD: Fender American Original '50s Stratocaster (Sunburst)
Replies
12
Views
294
marcello252
marcello252
trevorus
Happy NGD (x2) to me
Replies
12
Views
434
Mincer
Mincer
Artie
Talk to me about an A3 in a Jazz.
Replies
15
Views
619
Artie
Artie
FuseG4
NGD: blue offset goodness
Replies
12
Views
551
Mincer
Mincer
Back
Top