Cort NA4

Cort A4 is so Good one made in Korea.
it has 24 fret,maple body,Through neck system, 2 bartolini soaqbar pickup and active/passive select sw.
it's design is very modern and sharp, so sleek.
eletronics is 3band EQ and balancer, volume, and passive is possible as well.

I was so impressed by the bass sound.
I can't believe that it's price is below 1000$.
The sound exceed the bass more than 1300$.
it's sound is So Great and Wonderful,
and possible in all music, Rock, metal, funky, jazz, ballade and CCM.

Low sound is so bright and deep.
high sound is so clear and valid.

I can't find fault with this bass.

So good,
and now this bass is my NO.1 bass.

so so

I can't believe that it's price is below 1000$.
The sound exceed Fender deluxe bass.
You'll don't regret by this bass.

The new Cort NA4 Bass features a thru neck maple wenge lamination, which should lend for stability. Electronics are Bartolini MK 1 pickups and Bartolini designed electronics. It has a Cort-designed Fortress bridge and a brass nut. The finish on this bass is a translucent dark emerald with some flame maple in the wings of the instrument. MSRP is $950 U.S. No case, although the dealer was very cool and included an average quality case.
You can go to Cort @ http://www.cort.com/details/NA4.html

I have been a Fender Jazz player mostly, and have owned a Precision or two as well. I have to give hats off to Bartolini for the variety of sounds you can dial up with the active electronics. I hear both familiar territories of the Jazz and Precision and sounds in-between. My thing is blues and contemp blues rock. The bass was bought to be used in a home studio with maybe an occassional trip out. Using the bass through a Carvin Pro 100 single 15" combo, mostly for practice and in-house monitoring. Does the job for that. In recording mode, the bass runs through a Pod 2.0, tube preamp setting with a little outboard EQ. Hey, its a home studio, in a home with monthy payments!

The sweep control between the two pickups allows for alot of sounds. The tone controls allow bass, mid, and treble boost or cut from a flat detent point on the controls. Noise is noticable when the treble is at full boost, but I doubt anyone would run it there as a part of the overall tone. Fully active, so if battery craps, you're done. Have batteries always as it is the new century... Overall, I was impressed with the tonal variety.

I tried the bass out in a music store on a busy Saturday. It was hard to hear as critically as I'd have liked, but I will say that the balance of the bass and the playablity and neck shape grabbed my attention. The bass balanced perfectly when sitting with no neck-down syndrome like some instruments. Damn comfortable playing sitting. The neck is like the Warwick Thumb bass neck, Jazz-like but slimmer. This is a great feeling neck for the small-handed player. Really, it is slimmer than even the good old '60's Jazz basses I've played. Additonally, the bass had a nice acoustic vibration, a low and vibrant feel. The finish was very good, as good as any of the Modulus basses in the rack above it. Cort does a nice finish set. I was also having to deal with the made in Korea stigma but had to say, it was a real nice finish. Since I've always believed in the playing character and acoustic aliveness of an instrument, I bit the bullet and pulled out the Visa and took it home.

At home, I discovered the following problems. The frets had several areas where string rattle required raising the action. By doing so, the playabiliy began to suffer. I called the music store back and described my problem. I took the bass back and we had a repairman do a fret file, crown and polish, and truss rod adjustment. The music store was again very cool, splitting the cost of the work. So, for $40, I got a bass back that played very well, with no string rattle. I'd have to say I'm not impressed with the setup from Cort at all. And its a pity because once the bass was set up by a pro repair guy, it just kills.

The other thing I found is that the Fortress bridge has a weird bridge saddle set up. The saddle is rounded piece that has a threaded bolt that threads into the bottom of the bridge plate. You adjust string height by loosening the saddle and rotating it. It works, but I've found that the saddle tends to rotate in play so the string is not lined up in the saddle groove. You must re-secure it, or your string vibrate against the side of the groove in the saddle. Probably, once you've found your action, you could use LocTite Blue to keep it in place.

Gotta say the Bartolini stuff sounds fine to me and was installed well with no problems.

A "7" rating here is a mixed bag. Understand the finish is superb on this bass. But the fret work and setup were poor to unacceptable for me. I guess I'll go with the "7" because a heavier handed player probably wouldn't have a problem with a raised action.

I'd have to say this bass would be a good gigging bass. The laminate neck should stay put. Mine was quite adjustable. I live in a low humidity climate and the neck stayed put at 20% relative humidity levels this winter. Finish is great, should wear normally. Have to say I don't especially like the tuners. They are Cort and have a silver aluminum finish. They work ok, but have some slack in turning. I'd prefer a better tuner from Schaller or someone. Overall, the hardware will do you though. I go with an "8" because of tuners and bridge concerns.

I emailed Cort about getting a owner's manual and registration card for the bass as the music store couldn't find it (?) but received no response. Not reassuring. But not a large deal as I didn't persue it because the music store had been pretty cool about things.

I love the phrase I saw off another review here where the guy said, "I've been playing too long to still be this bad!" Guess I've had the addiction since 1970, a sophmore in high school, trying to figure out bass lines from Grand Funk Railroad. Have owned 2 Precisions, a fretless Precision, 3 Jazz, a Modulus J, a Gibson Grabber (!) and few others that I apparently wasn't that impressed with if I can't remember them...

I think the lesson to be learned or re-learned here is that you just have to get the instrument into an isolated area or be able to take it home and live with it for a few days to find its potential downfalls. But, you know, I think I still would have bought the bass because what I have now sure is satisfying after the work was done. So, it worked out.

I'd feel badly about losing this bass. After all, I've now nursed back to health to be a strong and playing kinda guy. Replacing it? Maybe. I'd go into the replacement process with the knowledge I'd have to do some setup work and its associated cost. I might think about the Warwick Thumb as I liked it too. Maybe Spector. Primarily, it would be dictated by bank account balance right now, so most likely, I'd be getting another Cort as I think the basic elements of the bass give you great bang-for-the-buck value. Just realize you'll have to pay to get it set up by a pro. You will be a happy camper...

this bass is made for me. i like the fairly wide and flat neck a lot. it's very different than those ibanez basses for example. some people prefer smaller, curved necks so this bass isn't for everyone. the design is pretty common but i like it. i havce the natural finish. the bass balances perfectly. the factory strings could use improvement though.

the sound is awesome. i play this bass on a peavy firebass 700 and it cuts concrete. the low end growls and the top end is very clear and defined. the first time i slapped i was blown out of my shoes. it's an ideal bass to play rock, funk, metal and what have you. i wouldn't use it to play country or something though. somethimes the notes on the lower end sound a bit blurry. you can adjust the sound easily but that can cause a huge volume loss. overall, i think the sound is far far far more better then my fender jazz. i immideatly sold that bugger after i had picked up this little darling. awesome sound

i have only one gripe. sometimes the strings ring against one of the frets. so i would prefer them to be a little higher.

this bass is solid. everything on this bass screams quality. from the pick ups(huge bartolini mk1's), to the bridge and tuners. i wouldn't use the guitar on a gig without a back up though. you can't switch from active to passive so if you're battey runs out...

didn't have to use it yet

this bass is perfect for me. but i understand not everyone likes the very flat neck. i also don't think you will get a lot of money for this bass if you sold it(but why would you anyway?)for cort isn't such a famous company. but if you search a relatively cheap, growling bass that blows the rooftop away this is the one. great work cort!