*NEW* Cort A5 Beyond (fan-fretted)

[Les BeeBee]

This new bass guitar has quietly made an appearance this week.

The Cort Artisan A5 Beyond.
It came to my attention when this YouTube video popped up a few days ago (runs 3:27):


My first thought is that this is a poor person's Fodera bass. Maybe it is. I don't know about you, but I can't afford a Fodera right now, so the Cort might be the next best thing for the rest of us.

I'm not exactly sure of what the differences are between this new A5 Beyond and the previous A5 Multi-scale SCMS. But comparing photos, it looks like the A5 Beyond has a deeper cutaway than the SCMS (maybe the cutaway extends 'beyond' the fingerboard.)

For me, a deeper cutaway is a good thing, to reach those higher notes. It also has a different finish to the previous model. The specs say it has a bubinga top on ash body, with an African panga panga neck and fingerboard.

I love playing high melodies on the bass, so this instrument interests me a lot. But I also still like playing rock, so I don't know if an instrument like this could do both.

 

[Yahboy]

Beside the horn cut little deeper, those knobs are no longer with Hipshot O-ring knobs.

 

[kesslari]

I can see no reason it can't rock hard and play beautiful melodies up high. All in the player. Rock it!

 

[Les BeeBee]

Beside the horn cut little deeper, those knobs are no longer with Hipshot O-ring knobs.

Well spotted, Yahboy. The knobs don't have those rubber ring grips around them that the previous A5 SCMS model did.

Image of Hipshot O-ring knobs:

All-metal knobs would be fine by me. When I first saw the rubber grips on the previous model's knobs, my first thought was that rubber is a material that tends to degrade and brake down with age.

I'm hoping Cort can knock an extra $100 or $200 off this model. Standard knobs. Maybe they'll ship it without a case (the A5 SCMS came with a case.)

 

[Les BeeBee]

I can see no reason it can't rock hard and play beautiful melodies up high. All in the player. Rock it!

Thanks for the advice, kesslari. I would love to rock hard with this bass.

Then again, I've never once seen a single rock band using a single-cut bass. But that wouldn't bother me. I'd be happy to be seen playing any style of music with a single-cut.

 

[AMp'D.2play]

Looks like another difference is the Beyond has a Bubinga top, whereas the SCMS has a spalted maple top.

Overall, I liked the SCMS that I played about a week ago, but one drawback - for me - was that the 16mm string spacing at the bridge would take some getting used to. Haven't totally ruled it out; just might need to spend some more time with it before I pull the trigger. And while I'm strictly finger-style, there are at least 2 videos on YT where players are slapping on it with no problem. The specs on the Beyond don't list string spacing, but I'd presume it's the same.

 

[Les BeeBee]

Overall, I liked the SCMS that I played about a week ago, but one drawback - for me - was that the 16mm string spacing at the bridge would take some getting used to. Haven't totally ruled it out; just might need to spend some more time with it before I pull the trigger.

Yes, it's interesting Cort went with a relatively narrow string spacing.

Could it be to make it easier to play chords? Or maybe the fan frets mean your finger is on an angle, so your stretch across the fingerboard is a bit longer, so the narrower string spacing compensates.

Cort seems very eager to demonstrate that you can play this bass with a slap style. The video linked above is almost 100% slap.

The Cort A5 Beyond isn't in the stores yet for you to try. In fact, apart from the manufacturer's website, there are no websites or publications that even mention the Beyond - we are the first here.

 

[Need Gigs]

Thanks for the advice, kesslari. I would love to rock hard with this bass.

Then again, I've never once seen a single rock band using a single-cut bass. But that wouldn't bother me. I'd be happy to be seen playing any style of music with a single-cut.

I bet you've seen plenty of rock bands using single-cut guitars though

 

[kesslari]

Thanks for the advice, kesslari. I would love to rock hard with this bass.

Then again, I've never once seen a single rock band using a single-cut bass. But that wouldn't bother me. I'd be happy to be seen playing any style of music with a single-cut.

I played fretless in funk bands for years. If you rock it, it will rock.

 

[JRA]

All in the player.

If you rock it, it will rock.

per the OP: i thought i was looking at a good ol' NBD, OP! it would surely be a beautiful one. but if you can afford that ax = use it whenever and wherever you've got the chops to play it! i'll be looking forward to your NBD!

 

[lucas303]

Then again, I've never once seen a single rock band using a single-cut bass.

The dude from Bell Witch uses a single-cut BTB.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I played fretless in funk bands for years. If you rock it, it will rock.

Is there a fretless version?

 

[kesslari]

Is there a fretless version?

Morticia... darling. I have no idea if there's a fretless version. My point is that "what a bass looks like" or "is supposed to be used for" (definitely in quotes there) is not the main determinate for how you can actually use it.

 

[Aidil]

Yes, it's interesting Cort went with a relatively narrow string spacing.

Could it be to make it easier to play chords? Or maybe the fan frets mean your finger is on an angle, so your stretch across the fingerboard is a bit longer, so the narrower string spacing compensates.

Cort seems very eager to demonstrate that you can play this bass with a slap style. The video linked above is almost 100% slap.

The Cort A5 Beyond isn't in the stores yet for you to try. In fact, apart from the manufacturer's website, there are no websites or publications that even mention the Beyond - we are the first here.

Multi-scale bass and chord style playing don't exactly go along well. I've been playing a 6 string multi-scale basses in the last 4 years or so, and just last year I added another multi-scale bass, a 5 string one. Yes, playIng chords on a multi-scale bass is doable, but some chord fingering positions are best / more comfort performed on just an ordinary parallel fretted bass.

 

[monsterthompson]

Reminds me more of a Thumb SC.

 

[Les BeeBee]

I bet you've seen plenty of rock bands using single-cut guitars though

Funny, there was an old TalkBass thread from 2012, asking about non-jazz musicians using single-cut basses. I think they only came up with 2 single-cut musicians.

 

[A9X]

Not my cup of tea because it's SC, but I do like it otherwise and have been gassing hard for an A5 Ultra, but need to sell a couple of others to justify it. Corts are very underrated and should be looked at by a lot more people as options. The last couple of year's models have been particularly interesting.

If you get it report back with what you think of it. I'd be interested in more feedback on the current models.

 

[Les BeeBee]

Not my cup of tea because it's SC, but I do like it otherwise and have been gassing hard for an A5 Ultra, but need to sell a couple of others to justify it. Corts are very underrated and should be looked at by a lot more people as options. The last couple of year's models have been particularly interesting.

If you get it report back with what you think of it. I'd be interested in more feedback on the current models.

Hi A9X. Do you not like single cut basses because of the appearance?

I like the look of the Cort A5 Ultra bass that you mentioned. Will you play rock with it? I see it has the Bartolini MK5 pickups and the Black Tusq XL nut. Two good inclusions. The Ultra looks more expensive, but still excellent value for what it is.

I'll post back if I eventually buy the Cort Beyond fan-fretted bass. It's not on the market yet. Some stores are saying it'll be available in March.

 

[Les BeeBee]

Just adding a new video review and a demo of this bass:

BassTheWorld review (6:55):


Nate Navarro demo (5:49):

 

[John01]

Not my cup of tea because it's SC, but I do like it otherwise and have been gassing hard for an A5 Ultra, but need to sell a couple of others to justify it. Corts are very underrated and should be looked at by a lot more people as options. The last couple of year's models have been particularly interesting.

If you get it report back with what you think of it. I'd be interested in more feedback on the current models.

I got an A4 Ultra Ash several months ago, and it's a magnificent instrument. The neck is as stable as my German Warwicks or US Fenders, while being significantly thinner in profile than either of those other brands. It's actually a better bass, in my opinion, than the top-end Ibanez SR models: I have an SR2600 and I prefer my Cort, on account of better sustain, better harmonics and tonal richness up and down the neck, and the frankly amazing Fishman Fluence PUs (which are truly noiseless and have a much better - and more nuanced - dynamic range than every other wound PU I've ever used; I suspect that many other PU manufacturers will be augmenting/replacing their current wound range with these sorts of solid-state models within a few years).

I strongly advise you to get one as soon as you can afford it, even if it means you have to sell a couple of your current roster of basses. I think you'll be blown away by it, and it's better (IMO) than basses costing over twice as much. In fact, the only real negative I can think of is the (current) lack of brand-name recognition - even among many musicians. It's amazing how many bandmates and audience members alike have assumed that Cort must be a downmarket, cheap brand, and have asked me quite why I'm playing something like a US Fender one minute and a Cort the next minute! I figure that within a decade or so, the company will get the recognition it deserves. Oh, and one other minor gripe is the "apple bite" out of the corner of the headstock: seems like a bit of a differentiation gimmick to me.

I hope you end up getting one, and seeing what all the great reviews are about!