Cort MR-AS

I looked at Taylors, Martins etc etc. I was looking for a high end acoustic for live gigging. I would never have believed that I would buy a "Chinese made" guitar. The MR AS4 NAT I played was just beautiful. I own quite a few top end guitars. I have aways believed that a guitar "speaks " to you. The action and tone on this instrument blew me away. I urge anyone who is thinking of buying an acoustic with a view to gigging. You MUST check these out. This cost me A$ 800 and as far as I can see was a bargain. The shop owner told me the guitar retails for A$1400, that dosen't matter it's the absolute dogs bits!! It has inspired me to play as much as possible. I can't put the Fu****g thing down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A dreadnought shape, with venetian cutaway, this Cort MR-AS is a very professional instrument for a low price tag. The looks lack the wow-factor. That's mainly down the bland spruce top, that isn't enlivened by the Abalone soundhole rosette or the black & white soundboard binding. The back, neck and head look great but the big white soundboard is anaemic.

I was looking for a guitar that was a good acoustic and had the electronics to keep the sound natural, through an amp. The MR-AS was the answer. No doubt about that.

In comparison, I bought the MR-AS a couple of months after I had got a Crafter Keywest dreadnought. Visually the Crafter blows this away. Acoustically they are both great, I slightly prefer the Crafter. Amped up, it's the Cort's turn to kick butt. The Crafter's piezo, although very good, can't compete against the piezo/mic mix of the MR-AS.

Specs: Solid spruce top. Solid mahogany back. Laminated mahogany sides.

Mahogany neck. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Grover

machineheads, with ebony buttons. Fishman Prefix Stereo

Blender pre-amp, controlling piezo and condenser mic.