Cort Guitar G290 FAT

The Cort G290 FAT is a high-performance 6-string electric guitar from Cort’s G Series, designed for players seeking a versatile, session-style instrument with boutique aesthetics and modern features at an affordable price. Known for its award-winning design, the G290 FAT (and its updated version, the G290 FAT II) combines premium materials, ergonomic playability, and a wide tonal range, making it ideal for genres like rock, blues, jazz, and even modern metal. Available in finishes like Antique Violin Burst (AVB), Bright Blue Burst (BBB), and Trans Black Burst (TBB, G290 FAT II only), it’s a favorite among Australian guitarists for its quality and value.

High-Quality Performance

The G290 FAT is engineered for tonal versatility and exceptional playability:

• Body:
  • Original G290 FAT: Swamp ash body with a flamed maple top, delivering a lightweight, punchy tone with accented high-mids, ideal for cutting through mixes [,].
  • G290 FAT II: Alder body with a flamed maple veneer top, offering a warm, full-bodied tone with bright, transparent highs and strong low-midrange projection [,].
• Pickups: Voiced Tone VTH-77 humbuckers (neck and bridge), direct-mounted with foam and spring height adjustment. These high-output pickups provide articulate, full-bodied tones for modern high-energy music, cleaning up well for classic rock and bluesy sounds. The custom-wired 5-way switch offers:
  • Position 1: Bridge humbucker (powerful, bright, chimey)
  • Position 2: Outer coils of both humbuckers (glassy, single-coil-like)
  • Position 3: Both humbuckers (full-bodied, balanced)
  • Position 4: Inner coils of both humbuckers (sparkling, single-coil-like)
  • Position 5: Neck humbucker (glassy, punchy) [,,].
• Neck:
  • Original G290 FAT: Hand-selected birdseye maple neck and fingerboard, providing a luxurious look and a strong high-midrange for clarity [].
  • G290 FAT II: Roasted maple neck and fingerboard, adding a modern, stable tone with enhanced sustain and a smoother feel [,].
  • Ergo-V neck profile (between a thin shredder and a fatter vintage neck) and a compound radius fingerboard (12”–15.75”) for easy chording in lower registers and high-speed soloing/string bending in upper registers [,].
• Bridge: Cort CFA-III two-point tremolo with stainless steel saddles, a solid machined steel block, and a steel baseplate, offering improved sustain, punchy attack, and balanced tone. Supports dive-bombs and subtle vibrato with decent tuning stability [,].
• Controls: 1 volume, 1 tone, 5-way switch for versatile tonal options.
• Tuners:
  • Original G290 FAT: Cort chrome locking machine heads.
  • G290 FAT II: Cort staggered locking tuners with a string tree for increased sustain [,].

Reviews highlight its versatility and value. MusicRadar calls it a “go-to affordable brand” with a “strong range of features” for covers bands and session players []. Guitar World notes the G290 FAT II’s “excellent build and versatile voices” []. Some users mention tremolo stability issues, recommending professional setup for optimal performance [].

Durable and Stylish Design

• Finishes:
  • Original G290 FAT: Antique Violin Burst, Bright Blue Burst [,].
  • G290 FAT II: Antique Violin Burst (AVB), Bright Blue Burst (BBB), Trans Black Burst (TBB) [,].
  • Gloss finish with a flamed maple top/veneer for a boutique aesthetic.
• Weight: Approximately 7.5–8.0 lbs, slightly heavier than some competitors due to the alder/swamp ash body but comfortable for extended play [].
• Hardware: Chrome (original) or black nickel (G290 FAT II), with a Graph Tech Black TUSQ nut and Luminlay side dots for improved visibility in low-light settings (G290 FAT II) [,].
• Build Quality: Features a spoke nut hotrod truss rod at the neck base for precise neck bow adjustments, enhancing playability for various techniques. The recessed CFA-III tremolo allows both dive and pull-back whammy action [,].

Backed by a typical 2-year warranty (verify with retailer), the G290 FAT is built for durability. Prices range from $549–$1,149 USD (AUD 800–1,700) for new units, with used units available from $366–$599 USD on Reverb [,].

Integration with Rode Audio Equipment

Given your interest in Rode products (e.g., RØDECaster Pro II, PodMic), the G290 FAT integrates well into a recording setup:

• RØDECaster Pro II or Duo: Connect via a DI box (e.g., Radial ProDI) to a RØDECaster Pro II or Duo for clean input. Use Aphex® processing (Aural Exciter, Big Bottom) to enhance the VTH-77 pickups’ punchy humbucker tones or glassy single-coil-like sounds. Record multitrack to microSD or USB for DAWs like Reaper or Logic Pro.
• Rode PodMic and PSA1+: The PodMic can mic a guitar cab for raw recordings when mounted on a PSA1+ boom arm. For cleaner tracks, consider a condenser mic like the Rode NT1-A.
• Rode NTH-100 Headphones: Monitor recordings with these headphones, capturing the G290 FAT’s tonal range (5Hz–35kHz) from clean to high-gain sounds.
• Setup Tip: Adjust gain for the VTH-77’s high output; use the 5-way switch’s positions 2 and 4 for clean, chorused sounds via RØDECaster effects.

Comparison to Other Cort Models

Given your queries about the Cort KX507MS and X300:

• Vs. KX507MS:
  • Tone: The G290 FAT’s VTH-77 humbuckers offer versatile humbucker and single-coil-like tones for rock and blues, while the KX507MS’s Fishman Fluence pickups are tailored for modern metal with multi-voiced options and a 7-string configuration.
  • Playability: The G290 FAT’s 25.5” scale and compound radius (12”–15.75”) suit versatile playing, while the KX507MS’s multi-scale (25.5”–27”) neck is optimized for low tunings and technical metal.
  • Design: The G290 FAT’s two-point tremolo supports expressive vibrato, unlike the KX507MS’s hardtail for stability. The G290 FAT is more affordable and lighter .
• Vs. X300:
  • Tone: The G290 FAT’s VTH-77 humbuckers are more versatile than the X300’s EMG RetroActive Hot 70 pickups, which lean toward hard rock/metal. The G290 FAT’s 5-way switch offers single-coil-like tones, unlike the X300’s 3-way switch.
  • Playability: Both feature a 25.5” scale, but the G290 FAT’s compound radius (12”–15.75”) is more versatile than the X300’s 15.75” radius. The G290 FAT’s Ergo-V neck is slightly thicker than the X300’s D-shaped profile.
  • Design: The G290 FAT’s flamed maple top and locking tuners give it a premium edge over the X300’s simpler basswood body and FloydRose tremolo .

Comparison to Fender Stratocaster

Given your interest in Fender Stratocasters:

• Tone: The G290 FAT’s VTH-77 humbuckers deliver fuller, higher-output tones than the Strat’s single-coil or HSS setups, which excel in clean, bluesy, and classic rock tones. Positions 2 and 4 mimic Strat-like single-coil sounds but with less noise [].
• Playability: The G290 FAT’s compound radius (12”–15.75”) and Ergo-V neck favor both chording and shredding, while the Strat’s 9.5”–12” radius is more traditional. The G290 FAT’s locking tuners enhance stability over the Strat’s standard tuners.
• Design: The G290 FAT’s boutique aesthetic and two-point tremolo compete with premium Strats at a lower price, though the Strat’s iconic shape has broader appeal .

Key Performance Features

• Body: Swamp ash (original) or alder (G290 FAT II), flamed maple top/veneer, gloss finish
• Pickups: Voiced Tone VTH-77 humbuckers (neck/bridge)
• Neck: Birdseye maple (original) or roasted maple (G290 FAT II), Ergo-V profile
• Fingerboard: Birdseye maple (original) or roasted maple (G290 FAT II), 12”–15.75” radius, 22 frets
• Bridge: Cort CFA-III two-point tremolo
• Tuners: Cort locking (original) or staggered locking (G290 FAT II)
• Controls: 1 volume, 1 tone, 5-way switch
• Hardware: Chrome (original) or black nickel (G290 FAT II)
• Warranty: 2 years (verify with retailer)

Notes

• Setup Tip: Adjust the CFA-III tremolo for stability; professional setup recommended to address reported tuning issues []. Use medium-gauge strings (e.g., 10–46) for balanced tension.
• Care Instructions: Store in a hardshell case (~$100–$150 USD) to protect the flamed maple top; clean with a soft cloth and condition fingerboard periodically.
• Compatibility: Pairs well with high-gain amps (e.g., Mesa/Boogie) for rock/metal or Fender Tone Master for cleaner tones. Test non-Cort pickups for tonal upgrades [].
• Warranty: Verify with retailers like Musos Corner; register with Cort for support [].
• Community Feedback: Reddit users praise Cort’s quality, comparing the G290 FAT to pricier brands like PRS SE or Yamaha Pacifica [].

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