funkyhoney
08-19-2006, 12:22 AM
Cort Curbow 6 - Made in Korea, 2003
I've had it for a while now, I felt a review was in order.
I have been playing nearly 15 months and this is my 3rd bass.
CONSTRUCTION/SCALE: Bolt-on / 34"
BODY: Luthite
NECK/FINGERBOARD: Maple / Ebonol
NECK WIDTH: 1F : 45mm / 24F : 68mm
NECK THICKNESS: 1F:20.5mm, 12F:22mm
NUT: Graphite Black
FRETS: 25 Full Jumbo Frets, 26/27 split
INLAYS: None
PICKUPS: Bartolini active MK-1 (in "sweet spot")
CONTROLS: 1 volume, 3 band active EQ, slap swith with 2 adjustable micro pots
ELECTRONICS: Bartolini mk-2 EQ
BRIDGE: EB10 (6)
TUNERS: Diecast
HARDWARE: Platinum
COLOR: Grey Metalic Satin
WEIGHT: 4.1kg approx.
Suggested Retail
$1250 AUS
Price Paid
$699 used
FEATURES: (4/5)
For a bass this price it is loaded with goodies that make it stand up to higer level basses.
As it only has one pickup, there's not much to say about the volume control, however the three band active EQ is nothing short of excellent, the ammount of tonal versatillity from that alone is quite good. As I've come to expect from active basses, the EQ pots lock into a mid position.
The slap switch is quite usefull and easy to flick mid-song, when pointed down it runs through the EQ, when flicked up it bypasses the EQ and boosts/shapes the lows and highs depending on the adjustments made to the micro pots on the electronics panel
The string spacing is slightly smaller than a standard six string but not to cramped, the wide neck is compensated for by the small width and is strong thanks to dual truss rods.
CONSTRUCTION/PLAYABILITY: (4.5/5)
The curbow is solidly constructed and nothing on it budges at all when played. The tuners are wonderfull and rarely need tuning at all; maybe once every week or so.
Despite the 34" scale the B string isn't floppy at all, and evern with the low action rarely buzzes unless slapped or played agressively. Even with light gauge strings it plays very well with relatively high tension.
The neck plays very well and is quite thin making the E and B very easy to reach even to those with smaller hands. The lack of inlays complement the black fretboard and dark body colour very well.
Access to the higher register is a thing of the past, the extra deep low cut-away makes reaching virtually any fret doable with ease. While playing on the very extreme registers, (20+ on G and C) it can be difficult to produce a clean tone if resting on the pickup, however, the thumb can also be rested on the extension of the neck on the bottom end (B string side). this allows more string vibration and makes it easier to produce warm, clean sounds.
The EB10 bridge is very chunky, however it creates a lot of sustain and is a breeze to intonate, re-string and adjust the action.
The Luthite body removes some of the weight of the bass but still produces a lovely tone. At just over 4kg (approx. 10 lbs) it is quite light for a larger bass, and weighs less than some 4 strings. The extended upper horn makes adjusting to a high strap quite easy, and eliminates neck dive.
The bass is lovely to look at, and while it may seem a bit bland, its dark look is what made me fall in love with it. The only complaint about the build is the relatively small lower horn, this can make playing while sitting a problem for most, however a good strap soon fixes that.
TONE: (4/5)
The sounds that this thing can produce are very diverse. Any thing from a low metal-ish rumbling, to a warm acoustic sound, to a crisp slap tone, this baby can do it all.
However at times it can be difficult to get an ideal EG accross the pickup. i.e. it may sound warm on the high end and growl on the low.
The MK-1 pup does a great job picking up all kinds of playing, fingerstyle, slap, chording, tapping. It is sensitive enough to pick up light tapping quite clearly.
The harmonics on this thing can ring to no end as well, especially on the high register.
VALUE: (5/5)
For the price, this is an incredible bass! Cort surely know how to make a fantastic product at an affordable price. For the price of a cort it is deifficult to find a bass that can outperform it, with the curbow, this is
no exception
OVERALL: (4.5/5)
I've played this bass through a range of amps and effects, and for the price I feel it's one of the best out
there. At my soundclick (http://www.soundclick.com/ryanhoney) you can find a short sound clip. It's a little
bit short and i made it only shortly after purchase. If you would like me to make another, or record something
in particular, jsut ask.
Any questions, ask away.
And now, piccies!
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/FunkyHoney/bass%20stuff/IMG_0894.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/FunkyHoney/bass%20stuff/IMG_0880.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/FunkyHoney/bass%20stuff/IMG_0895.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/FunkyHoney/bass%20stuff/IMG_0898.jpg
I've had it for a while now, I felt a review was in order.
I have been playing nearly 15 months and this is my 3rd bass.
CONSTRUCTION/SCALE: Bolt-on / 34"
BODY: Luthite
NECK/FINGERBOARD: Maple / Ebonol
NECK WIDTH: 1F : 45mm / 24F : 68mm
NECK THICKNESS: 1F:20.5mm, 12F:22mm
NUT: Graphite Black
FRETS: 25 Full Jumbo Frets, 26/27 split
INLAYS: None
PICKUPS: Bartolini active MK-1 (in "sweet spot")
CONTROLS: 1 volume, 3 band active EQ, slap swith with 2 adjustable micro pots
ELECTRONICS: Bartolini mk-2 EQ
BRIDGE: EB10 (6)
TUNERS: Diecast
HARDWARE: Platinum
COLOR: Grey Metalic Satin
WEIGHT: 4.1kg approx.
Suggested Retail
$1250 AUS
Price Paid
$699 used
FEATURES: (4/5)
For a bass this price it is loaded with goodies that make it stand up to higer level basses.
As it only has one pickup, there's not much to say about the volume control, however the three band active EQ is nothing short of excellent, the ammount of tonal versatillity from that alone is quite good. As I've come to expect from active basses, the EQ pots lock into a mid position.
The slap switch is quite usefull and easy to flick mid-song, when pointed down it runs through the EQ, when flicked up it bypasses the EQ and boosts/shapes the lows and highs depending on the adjustments made to the micro pots on the electronics panel
The string spacing is slightly smaller than a standard six string but not to cramped, the wide neck is compensated for by the small width and is strong thanks to dual truss rods.
CONSTRUCTION/PLAYABILITY: (4.5/5)
The curbow is solidly constructed and nothing on it budges at all when played. The tuners are wonderfull and rarely need tuning at all; maybe once every week or so.
Despite the 34" scale the B string isn't floppy at all, and evern with the low action rarely buzzes unless slapped or played agressively. Even with light gauge strings it plays very well with relatively high tension.
The neck plays very well and is quite thin making the E and B very easy to reach even to those with smaller hands. The lack of inlays complement the black fretboard and dark body colour very well.
Access to the higher register is a thing of the past, the extra deep low cut-away makes reaching virtually any fret doable with ease. While playing on the very extreme registers, (20+ on G and C) it can be difficult to produce a clean tone if resting on the pickup, however, the thumb can also be rested on the extension of the neck on the bottom end (B string side). this allows more string vibration and makes it easier to produce warm, clean sounds.
The EB10 bridge is very chunky, however it creates a lot of sustain and is a breeze to intonate, re-string and adjust the action.
The Luthite body removes some of the weight of the bass but still produces a lovely tone. At just over 4kg (approx. 10 lbs) it is quite light for a larger bass, and weighs less than some 4 strings. The extended upper horn makes adjusting to a high strap quite easy, and eliminates neck dive.
The bass is lovely to look at, and while it may seem a bit bland, its dark look is what made me fall in love with it. The only complaint about the build is the relatively small lower horn, this can make playing while sitting a problem for most, however a good strap soon fixes that.
TONE: (4/5)
The sounds that this thing can produce are very diverse. Any thing from a low metal-ish rumbling, to a warm acoustic sound, to a crisp slap tone, this baby can do it all.
However at times it can be difficult to get an ideal EG accross the pickup. i.e. it may sound warm on the high end and growl on the low.
The MK-1 pup does a great job picking up all kinds of playing, fingerstyle, slap, chording, tapping. It is sensitive enough to pick up light tapping quite clearly.
The harmonics on this thing can ring to no end as well, especially on the high register.
VALUE: (5/5)
For the price, this is an incredible bass! Cort surely know how to make a fantastic product at an affordable price. For the price of a cort it is deifficult to find a bass that can outperform it, with the curbow, this is
no exception
OVERALL: (4.5/5)
I've played this bass through a range of amps and effects, and for the price I feel it's one of the best out
there. At my soundclick (http://www.soundclick.com/ryanhoney) you can find a short sound clip. It's a little
bit short and i made it only shortly after purchase. If you would like me to make another, or record something
in particular, jsut ask.
Any questions, ask away.
And now, piccies!
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/FunkyHoney/bass%20stuff/IMG_0894.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/FunkyHoney/bass%20stuff/IMG_0880.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/FunkyHoney/bass%20stuff/IMG_0895.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/FunkyHoney/bass%20stuff/IMG_0898.jpg