Cort KX508MS II-MBB (Mariana Blue Burst) Electric Guitar

The Cort KX508MS II-MBB embodies next-generation extended-range design: an eight-string, 26.5″–28″ multi-scale powerhouse that fuses boutique tonewoods, Fishman Fluence Modern electronics, and Cort’s uncompromising hardware inside a hypnotic Mariana Blue Burst satin finish. Equal parts musical instrument, design statement, and technological platform, it empowers guitarists to traverse register-spanning riffs, orchestral soundtrack layers, and intricate fusion lines with unparalleled clarity and ergonomic comfort.

1. Heritage & Design Philosophy

Since debuting its first multi-scale eight-string in 2019, Cort has engaged directly with touring artists, studio engineers, and technical luthiers to iterate on features that matter in real-world scenarios—stable intonation under sub-30 Hz fundamentals, fatigue-free fretting across bar-chord stretches, and electronics that record as cleanly as they roar on stage. The “II” badge signals a full second-generation rethink: refined resonance pathways, weight distribution that minimizes neck-dive, and electronics wiring upgraded for whisper-low noise across high-gain stacks.

2. Multi-Scale Architecture

The 26.5″ → 28″ fan-fret platform lies at the heart of the KX508MS II. The extra 1.5″ on the bass side preserves taut string tension (critical when tuning to low F♯, E, or drop D♭ on an eight-string), eliminating the flabby response that plagues single-scale counterparts. Meanwhile, retaining 26.5″ on the treble side keeps bends snappy and encourages a natural wrist angle—reducing forearm pronation and wrist extension during extended sessions. Most players acclimate within minutes, discovering that chords feel “straighter” beneath the fingers than the visual fan suggests.

3. Tonewood DNA

The body core is lightweight swamp ash: acoustically transparent and mid-scooped, leaving sonic headroom for deep piano-like lows and glassy highs. A 5 mm poplar-burl cap crowns the ash with swirling grain and upper-mid complexity, while the Mariana Blue Burst finish transitions from midnight indigo at the rim to vibrant aqua at the center, mirroring oceanic trenches illuminated by bioluminescent life. The satin, open-pore texture lets the wood breathe and shaves grams off the instrument, translating into quicker transient response and reduced shoulder fatigue.

4. Neck Construction & Playing Surface

A five-piece roasted maple / purpleheart neck bolts on using Cort’s sculpted All-Access Heel. Roasting at ~200 °C caramelizes lignin and expels residual moisture, hardening the maple while delivering a subtle honey hue. Purpleheart stringers function like internal carbon-fiber spars, countering torsional forces and enhancing upper harmonic transmission. The Macassar ebony fingerboard hosts 24 jumbo stainless-steel frets (.048″ crown) atop a 15.75″ radius—flat enough for sweep arpeggios yet curved enough for first-position triads. Glow-in-the-dark Luminlay side markers guide fret shifts under stroboscopic lights.

5. Fishman Fluence Modern Electronics

The Fluence system equips a ceramic bridge pickup for hyper-articulate lows and razor attack, paired with an alnico neck unit that pours out syrupy sustain and vocal mids. Each houses two discrete voices, selectable via the push-pull volume knob:

• Voice 1 — active, flat-response, clinical precision ideal for modern prog-metal and high-gain orchestration.
• Voice 2 — passive-style feel with a gentle mid bump, recalling hot-wound PAFs for bluesy interludes or classic rock crunch.

The pickups are dead-quiet thanks to multi-layer shielding, star-ground wiring, and Fishman’s low-impedance preamp. A single 9 V battery supplies ~200 hours of playtime; upgrade to Fishman’s USB-rechargeable pack for roughly 280 hours and cable-free stage swaps.

Specifications