Picked up a Cort Curbow bass.. Question..

I have one of the Cort Curbow Pearlescent 5 stringers. I really liked it while it was my primary bass. Feels like it's almost not even there. I moved up to a Conklin GTBD7 (also built by Cort for Conklin, BTW), so I don't play the Cort Curbow much these days. But it really is a decent little bass.

I did upgrade the electronics on my CC5 because the original electronics were buzzing a bit (I bought it second hand). Put in a Aguilar pre and real Bart pickup (MK1's are licensed, not true Barts)

As for cases, I think your only option, because the body is so unique, is to get a decent gig bag. Mine came with a custom built ATA case, but I usually carry it around in a gig bag for those rare times when I use it simply to cut down on weight/space.

I only have two semi-complaints about the Cort Curbow and they are both related to Luthite. My experience is that the intonation does seem to fluctuate a bit more than wood because of the Luthite body when moving between significant temperature changes. Also, the finish will probably start to wear off at spots and, for whatever reason, underneath the exterior coloring is a rather ugly yellow base coat of some sort. Do be careful with Luthite as it is very much like a type of modeling plaster. It can crack if your guitar gets knocked over for example (I have a hairline fracture at the neck pocket on mine from an unfortunate fall), and it can be carved with a knife (as I found out when I needed to ream my input jack area when updating the electronics).

 

You might try emailing/calling Westheimer Corp. (http://www.westheimercorp.com/) to find out what they recommend or where you can pick up a case for the Cort Curbow.

Again, it's a sweet bass and I'm have no doubt that you'll have a lot of fun with it.

 

What is the string spacing at the bridge?

 

Um, wide enough for a chunky fingered old dog like me to slap and pop on the 5'er. I have read some user reviews stating the strings are too tight for slapping and popping, but I have no problem. Maybe that's just because, like many of us old players who have been playing since before things like spacing and ounces became an issue, I'll make whatever I play work for me when I like it enough. I suppose I would consider it to be "medium" spacing.

Here's the link to the Cort Guitars web site. You may be able to get the info you need there if no one else here can provide it. http://www.cortguitars.com/english/products/common/view.asp?product_id=92

 

Thanks! I have picked up a few nice looking basses in the past whose strings were too close to one another for me to be comfortable playing them, so I thought I'd ask; there's no place around here that carries the Cort Curbow, so I don't have an opportunity to try before buying.

 

I have a 6 string Cort Curbow that I am loving...been playin it for 2 weeks since I got it and am very impressed with it...I had a "smallish" Washburn case laying around that it fits in perfectly.

 

I didn't see a sixer on the Cort website. Is yours custom or modified? Know who carries 'em?

 

Out of production on the 6er's

 

do you guys notice the necks shifting much on yours? around 1999 or 2000 i had a fretted 5 string curbow and i could not keep it setup well. it would be ok if it was kept in the same environment but if i took it anywhere that had different temperature/humidity the strings would be either laying on the neck or so high that it was unplayable once it got used to the new environment. i always assumed that it was the neck but maybe it was the body too.