Cort SFX-CED NS — Super-Slim Cedar Electro-Acoustic Guitar

The SFX-CED NS unites Cort’s ultra-thin SFX chassis with the quick bloom of a solid Western red-cedar soundboard and the stealth of a Natural Satin film. Weighing scarcely more than a Strat, yet projecting warm, overtone-rich chords, this 24-fret cutaway targets loop-station buskers, fingerstyle vloggers and electric converts alike. The essay that follows (~3 000 words including headings) traces its design DNA, tone-wood chemistry, bracing physics, ergonomic subtleties, electronics architecture, sustainability stance and maintenance routine, and then contracts the essentials into a white–gray specification table.

1 | SFX Bloodline — Slim Folk Meets Stage Practicality

The SFX concept arrived in 2007 after Cort engineers interviewed electric players who loved acoustic resonance but loathed deep bodies and microphonic squeal. The solution: trim depth to 83 mm, bow the back like a violoncello, carve a generous Venetian cutaway and bolt in a fast, flat-radius neck. The CED badge introduces cedar’s fast-attack warmth; NS (Natural Satin) ensures minimal finish mass and zero light glare.

2 | Body Geometry — 83 mm Depth, Arched Back, 15 ¾″ Bout

Dimensions: 15 ¾″ lower bout • 11″ waist • consistent 3 ¼″ (83 mm) depth. The back arches 12 mm at its apex, recouping lost air volume and deflecting internal reflections forward. Weight lands at 3.6 lb (≈ 1.63 kg) — lighter than many semis. An aggressive 2.8″-radius cutaway removes the heel wall, granting a true 24-fret reach on bronze strings.

3 | Tone-Wood Palette — Cedar Top × Mahogany Body

Top. Solid Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) harvested in British Columbia under CSA chain-of-custody. Graded for 12 rings per inch and sanded to 2.7 mm centre / 2.5 mm edge. Cedar’s low density and internal damping yield instant bloom ideal for fingerstyle.
Back & Sides. Laminated Khaya mahogany, outer plies quarter-sawn for ribbon figure, inner ply rotated 90° for crack immunity.
Neck. Single-piece mahogany, dual-action rod, slim-C carve, satin feel from nut to heel.
Fingerboard & Bridge. Ovangkol (≈ rosewood hardness) treated with penetrating oil only.

4 | Bracing Science — Hybrid X-Fan Optimised for Cedar

Standard dread X-braces would over-stiffen an 83 mm box. Cort employs a hybrid: upper-bout X crossing 5 mm below the sound-hole, then fanning three spruce struts beneath the bridge to spread down-pressure across the arched back. Crest heights 2.3 mm; feather tips 1.5 mm. Tap-tone plots show an A♭ fundamental with evenly spaced partials — a sweet spot for percussive body taps and lo-fi YouTube mics.

5 | Finish Engineering — 68 µm Natural Satin

Two coats only: water-borne pore-filler and UV-cured matte poly. At ≈ 68 µm total film, weight savings hit 110 g relative to thick gloss. Benefits: +3 dB perceived loudness, no ring-light flare, neck that feels broken-in from day one.

Specifications