Cort Curbow 6 string bass -- $375
The bass has a body made of luthite, a lightweight composite
material that really sings when playing slap. The neck is hard rock maple,
and it is very strong and stable. Fretboard is Ebonol, a phenolic composite
that looks and sounds like ebony, except it does not scratch and groove
as easily from strings, and it is very glossy. It has 25 frets on the
treble side, sweeping to 27 on the bass side. The bolt-on neck joint is
very long, going all the way to the pickup and very well supported on
the sides by the body to eliminate shifting. The are 5 widely-spaced bolts
that hold the neck super tight, and the heel resembles an Ibanez All-Access
Neck Joint and does not get in the way.
It has a graphite nut, active Bartolini MK-1 pickup and preamp, 1 volume, 3 band active EQ, slap switch with 2 micro pots, and satin chrome hardware. The slap switch basically allows you to set your EQ to your favorite rhythm tone, then flip the switch to bypass your EQ settings to go straight to a great slap tone--like a solo switch. The micro pots are to fine tune your tone, and are located inside the control cavity on the preamp.
The bass has been improved with a Gemini Shredder Neck treatment. This consisted of stripping the factory finish off the back of the neck, reprofiling the shape to a flattened-D, and multiple coats of tung oil, giving the neck a very fast, buttery-smooth, and cool to the touch feel.
I could not be happier with the sound and feel of this bass, and I think it is brilliantly conceived and executed. The wide variety of tones you can get out of this single pickup negate the need for two, and I have yet to find a bass that sounds and plays as well (especially when playing slap) for less that 2 or 3 grand. It is very light for its sound, and is comfortable to play standing, although a little challenging while sitting.
I bought the Curbow used several years ago, and the previous owner was not as careful with it as I am, so there are some chips in the finish--tip of the lower horn and above the bridge on the edge. The downside of luthite is that it tends to give a little when dropped, causing the finish to crack rather than dent like wood. These two chips are the only things that prevent this from being a perfect instrument, both in condition and design.
Includes gig bag.
