Cort Artisan B4 Fretless?

LowEndMan2112 · #1 09-30-2010, 03:42 PM

I've been looking for a fretless for a couple months

but dont have the money for anything over 500... I've got an Ibanez SR500 fretted and the Artisan has the Bart Mk-1 pups just like the SR500... is this bass good, worth buying? And hows the neck compare to the ibby soundgear?

MosGuy · #2 09-30-2010, 03:54 PM

This thread may help: Cort Artisan fretless?

LowEndMan2112 · #3 09-30-2010, 05:09 PM

Thanks a lot, this models really looking promising

IngerAlb · #4 09-30-2010, 05:27 PM

The B is Cort's version of a SR500 - so they're pretty similar basses. The Cort keeps its own brand tone though (sounds a bit nasal) and the neck is comparable to a SR, just a notch chunkier (not in the bad sense, it just feels fuller).

LowEndMan2112 · #5 09-30-2010, 07:39 PM

You know how much they cost? Found a store in town that can ship them in..

SnakeKappele · #6 09-30-2010, 08:03 PM

I have the older mahogany model with a wenge neck and fingerboard and the swamp ash model with a five piece wenge/maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. They are really well made basses. I replaced the pickups with Bartolini MK4s and the electronics with Bartolini NTMBs. The necks are very similar to my Ibanez SR305 neck (just not as wide - SR305 is a 5 string). I love mine.

I paid over $500 about a year ago.

$439 here:
http://www.9mileguitar.com/product.sc?productId=591

MosGuy · #7 09-30-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowEndMan2112

You know how much they cost? Found a store in town that can ship them in..

I don't recall exactly, if memory serves mine was in the range of $430-$450 USD + shipping. Through a music store based in Florida, I got mine two years ago. They typically run about 50% over what the suggested retail price is.

LowEndMan2112 · #8 10-01-2010, 02:47 PM

thanks everybody, will most likely be ordering one soon

father of fires · #9 10-01-2010, 02:48 PM

I had one many moons ago. I wanted a fretless Warwick but, the Cort was all I could afford. It was a great bass. You'll love it.

LowEndMan2112 · #10 10-02-2010, 08:03 PM

okay, so the b4FL is at the point of GAS that it has to be bought... but i just read that it has a rosewood fingerboard, is this true and is it a problem i should really be concerned with?

MosGuy · #11 10-02-2010, 08:15 PM

Yes it has a rosewood board. What are you referring to by problem/concern ?, using round wound strings ?.

LowEndMan2112 · #12 10-03-2010, 01:33 PM

yeah, will they mash up the board?

MosGuy · #13 10-03-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowEndMan2112

yeah, will they mash up the board?

I wouldn't worry about it, unless your playing constantly daily and really dig in overly hard. It typically would take years before seeing any signs of wear beginning. I never had any trouble with the rounds that came on it. Although I recently switched to TI jazz flats. As I wanted an upright tone & more old school flats sound. It wasn't over concern for the board. I wouldn't let the fact it's a rosewood board put you off. You should get many years of playing before a luthier would need to re-finish it from round use.

LowEndMan2112 · #14 10-03-2010, 04:16 PM

thanks a lot for your help, you think ill like it ?

JohnnyB53 · #15 10-03-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowEndMan2112

thanks a lot for your help, you think ill like it ?

I too have an older mahogany-bodied Cort B4FL with 2-band EQ (newer ones have 3-band). I use it interchangeably with a USA-made G&L ASAT semihollow fretless with ebony board. I use roundwounds on the Cort and don't have a problem with "munching."

You can always keep the roundwound sound and protect the board by going with coated strings such as Elixirs or the plastic-coated kinds that come from DR, Black Diamond, Aurora, and others. Another alternative is GHS Pressurewounds, which pretty much sound like roundwounds but the winding is flattened.

Even with the roundwounds, my Cort's rosewood board holds up just fine. At $439 at 9Mile these basses are stupid good. And I just loooove the neck profile.

LowEndMan2112 · #16 10-04-2010, 02:59 PM

did you change the pickups on yours? those dont look like mk1s. yeah everybodys telling me its a steal now its just a matter of money.. got a hundred bucks left

JohnnyB53 · #17 10-04-2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowEndMan2112

did you change the pickups on yours? those dont look like mk1s. yeah everybodys telling me its a steal now its just a matter of money.. got a hundred bucks left

You've got a sharp eye. Mine's an older model that came with rather lackluster active Mighty Mites, not anywhere as good as the MIK Bartolini MkI's in the current model. I replaced the Mites with USA Bartolini's plus the matching Bart preamp/harness/pots as well. Not a sound investment for resale value, but made plenty of sense for me--getting killer electronics matched to a nicely turned out, comfortable, slick-playing bass.

LowEndMan2112 · #18 10-04-2010, 07:47 PM

yeah i was considering, after buying, maybe replacing the pups with some higher end bartolinis but the mk1s are nice for sure. then again i might want to replace the pups on my ibby before the new fretless but time will tell thanks for your help!