Cort Guitars introduces the Sunset Nylectric, a nylon string guitar with the playability and shape of an electric guitar.
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As the name implies, Cort wanted this hybrid instrument to bridge the gap between classical and electric guitars, and it does so by fitting nylon strings and classical guitar features into a traditional single-cutaway electric guitar body.
Cort Guitars continue to enjoy worldwide popularity, thanks to the many big name guitar manufacturers that have outsourced their production to the company. With all the different designs that they produce, the company’s experience and expertise continue to ramp up, and as expected they put this skill build up to good use with their own brand of instruments – of which the Cort Sunset Nylectric is included.
Because of its hybrid features, I found it hard to categorize the Sunset Nylectric – is it an acoustic guitar or electric guitar? The single-cutaway body makes it appear very much like your typical LP style guitar, while the slotted headstock and nylon string setup gives you the appearance of a classical guitar. Since there is no hybrid category here at Guitarsite, I decided to go with acoustic, because it will sound like an acoustic nylon string guitar, thanks to its piezo electronics.
It would not be surprising to find that classical guitarists will not be too fond of this instrument, but the Nylectric is marketed towards electric guitarists who are looking to employ the sound of nylon strings into their music with minor adjustments to playing feel and comfort.
To start off, the Nylectric’s single-cutaway body follows after a very familiar electric guitar shape, but the components stay true to acoustic guitar building, with the top crafted from spruce, and supported by the chambered mahogany body.
The guitar’s 25.6″ scale length mahogany neck looks the part of a classical guitar, complete with the clean looking no-fret marker rosewood fingerboard. However, the shape and feel of the neck follows after electric guitar designs, with a narrower 1.75″ nut width for easier chords and position changes, and it has a beveled neck heel for easier access to the upper frets.
Giving this guitar its voice is the Fishman Sonicore VTB EQ system, which is specifically designed to handle the vibrational characteristics of nylon strings. Interestingly, the control knobs for the built-in preamp are positioned just below the bridge, following traditional electric guitar designs. Other features include traditional slotted headstock and machine heads that follows after traditional classical guitars, and body binding.
The new Cort Sunset Nylectric has an MSRP of $649.99, and it is available in either natural, black or translucent red finish. For more information and to check out Cort’s extensive guitar line, visit Cort.
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