Solid Opportunity

They may look almost identical, but it’s the body woods that make all the difference for this trio – and they’re outstandingly affordable, too

- David Mead

CORT CORE-OC MAHOGANY, CORE-OC SPRUCE & CORE-OC BLACKWOOD £499, £499 & £525

CONTACT 440 Distribution PHONE [phone] WEB www.cortguitars.com

What You Need To Know

1.Does choice of body wood really make that much of a difference?

Yes indeed. As a random example, spruce is known for a bright, powerful response that mellows with age and can take years for it to be at its tonal peak. Cedar, on the other hand, is warm and particularly good for a softer fingerstyle technique right out of the box. The choice is yours.

2.Are these built in Indonesia like Cort’s solid electric range?

No, these guitars are built in Cort’s China-based facility. We’re told this is because the relative humidity at the China workshop is more suitable for building acoustic guitars.

3.What is it about the OM size that makes it so popular?

It’s been around since the 1920s, starting out as the 000 (the OM and 000 share the same body dimensions but their scale lengths are different). The OM is only 104mm (four inches) deep and 381mm (15 inches) wide, and this all adds up to a guitar that sits in the hands comfortably but still has a powerful, full voice.