It is like looking underwater at the frets. Scary for finger alignment, if imaginary still psychological. The multiscale is still weird enough to absorb. Now this. Frets were straight across for how many centuries? Isn't this advent a product of modern competition? Ancient alien theorists say... sorry wrong channel!😆
go back long enough and the tuning systems varied based on key and even that wasn't agreed upon. its why string instruments like violins don't have frets. our modern agreed upon A=440 and 12 tone equal temperament system isn't even perfectly in tune. if you're interested in more on this, look into "just intonation" vids by adam neely or others
@@Axel287 I can think of another reason why violins don't have frets, though it's a guess. The viola da gamba and some other bowed instruments had frets, presumably to make it easier for chording and for amateur players, but they also tend to project less and were usually reserved for intimate settings. Not being a violinist or a viol player I can't confirm this, but my guess is that the frets would buzz if your bowing got too heavy.
Multiscale never bothers me - it will take you all of a few minutes to get used to it. The only problem is when the angle is really extreme (like on an Ormsby) - then it starts to feel weird. I haven't tried a TT guitar - it looks like it would take more time to get accustomed to than fanned frets. This is a really cool guitar - what a feature set. All of that for $2500 is not bad overall - and Cort (Kor-Tek) makes more guitars than any other single guitar manufacturer. In their existence as a company, they have made 25 million+ guitars. They know what they are doing.
I have an 8 string multiscale true temperament Strandberg, and to be honest it's really not a problem to play it. I don't notice the squiggliness, I don't really notice the fan either. Took me maybe a couple of days to get used to it. Not all my other guitars feel weird!
I've watched several of your guitar reviews Andre. I especially like your extended play tests. You may have the most comprehensive, detail-oriented and contextualized guitar reviews on YT. I've seen enough of your videos to ascertain that you are honest and unbiased. That's a rarity on this platform with the constant link-hawking. Your academic background adds rare perspective to your guitar reviews, and your opinion is now my go-to for future guitar purchases. Thank you man, I appreciate your work.
They have several guitar and bass models in the $1200 range now, so it's not out of the ordinary. This is ofc a very limited run with only 50 guitars worldwide, so it will ofc be even more expensive. The regular KX700 Evertune costs $1200, so the $1300 extra this guitar costs is all because of the True Temperament fret system. TT sure does know how to charge for their product!
I'm even more surprised that cort is shipped further than I expected. I thought only us in the asia region get it, and it's mostly entry level acoustics and electrics.
I bought a used $100 Cort (I forget the model) that I customized and modded during Covid as a sanity project. It’s one of my favorite guitars. I’m drooling over this one
When I was a beginning guitarist, I was so frustrated by this! I thought something was wrong with my guitar and kept trying to figure out how to get all the chords in tune. 😅
I love the true temperament idea. Phil McKnight did a review of them and said he loves them. He said the problem with them is that they will make the rest of the band sound bad. 😂 I can’t imagine trying to level and polish them. 👀
I have Music Man Majesty with compensated nut, tuned with Peterson sweetened tuning mode- so far it’s my benchmark for perfect tuning. I’m very intrigued to try this guitar, or any with TT frets- sounds very promising in this video!
The problem with a guitar like this is playing with other guitarists, we have learned to subconsciously accept the “Chorus” effect of two guitars but with AB testing and both at the same time the difference is Night and Day. Would love to know how double tracking riffs on True Temperament would sound like.
Nice to see you're trying true temperament! Random fun fact: Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater fame started to pick up guitar a few years ago and sharing on instagram. Now besides some of the crazy ambidexterity he's already accomplished the other thing to note is that he is A) A Piano/Keyboard player primarily B) Very quickly got himself a true temperament guitar This is because he also famously has perfect pitch and more over, is *very used* to a life time of playing in perfect pitch on a keyboard so as a non-guitar player it sounded horribly out of tune to him and that's because he isn't a guitar player. Point is that true temperament is probably not for most guitar players precisely a huge part of guitar and it's style is guitar players mostly learning to play around the limitations and tuning (Or in this case, lack thereof) eccentricities as a key part of the instrument and why so many players end up gravitating towards very similar styles: it might not *just* be influential guitar musicians and an instrument with a relatively short history (Less than 200 years vs many centuries for many other instruments) but the tuning, the chords and harmony guitar players favor might all be due to not having true temperament and most people not being highly trained classical guitar players with super specific technique to play really obnoxious chord voicings and such. It's also why so many guitar players immediately experiment with other tunings if you think about it, it's interesting to think how far down this rabbit hole goes.
@@vorpalblades It has to do with the last part of the post: Petrucci himself has been a guitarist for over 30 years like you mention: He doesn't needs help playing perfectly in tune and knowing exactly what chords to use, when, exactly how to bend in tune, etc. This is a very different process than *learning* how to play guitar when you already know another pitch perfect instrument: Like most people new at guitar Rudess would be just exploring the fretboard. Unlike most people new at guitar, it would bother him when he hears something that's not in tune even though it *should* be the correct semitune he's fretting and this is MORE SO when he knows exactly how the same chord voicing is supposed to sound because he memorized that sound on piano but on a regular guitar, doesn't works quite the same.
Guy in my band picked up one of these- passive pickups, regular steel frets, and an evertune, but other than that, pretty much the same axe. The necks on these are phenomenal.
I didn't really think the true temperament sounded better, I feel part of the character of the guitar are those imperfections and in-between notes. There is a warm/comforting quality to the one that isn't true temperament.
You're right about the F chord. Also the D-chord. That note on the G string at the 2nd fret is always a tad bit sharp even if the guitar is intonated. I always keep G-string a very slightly flat to counter this. I'm guessing that's the reason the fret on the G-string is shifted the most. Increasing the length...let's see {f = nv/2L; f remains same, L increases, hence wave velocity increases. v = sqrt(T/mu). Hence string tension increases to reach the same note. Which means while pressing the G-string, a higher push down can be compensated.} Yeah...makes sense.
Oh man... I guess I'm so used to my guitar sounding "wrong" that it almost felt like listening to a different instrument with those chord comparisons. Super obvious which one is the true temperament. If I ever get a new guitar it's gonna have that!
He's making his own now, (Look up 'Freak Guitar Lab' as a brand) both 6 and 8 string with TT, and Caparison still puts models out with TT, just not Applehorns.
One of the best product reviews I've seen. One question - are alternate tunings possible with true-temperament frets or do you lose the advantage? Great review, great playing! Go Andre!
Andre,I just ordered a Temperered Tuning neck from Sweden.Not 12 hours ago.But it's going on a guitar body I've used for the last 18 years,with everything I want on it.Fishmans & a Graphtech Ghost system with MIDI option.Had a TT neck guitar before ,but sold it.Been subbed since the beginning.Great reveiw.Cort makes some fine guitars.Strandburgs are made in their factory.The 1 you reveiwed sounded great on my studio monitors.A-B test was Obvious B was the TT. Personally I prefer Straight frets over multiscale..Liked your song at the end.Your video production keeps getting better. 👍👍
Top shelf review. Excellent information. The guitar is rad, but when you hit the f major, I was intrigued. It was so rounded out and nice. There's just chords that bug me in the way they sound wonkey. I gotta try those frets. Thanks!
How do the true temperament frets deal with non standard tunings and custom string gauges? Would they require a different shape of frets for each pair of tuning and string gauges?
Super cool guitar bro, looks to be a bit of a slept on beast even though everyone has probably played something from the Cort factory! Killer video as always man 🤘
@@andrefludd Ah man, you've had a boat load of stunning instruments and, besides, I'm no beacon of taste. To each their own! (Apart from the 'bergs, your Emi is my favourite 😉) Hope you're keeping well my dude!
From what I understand Cort is known for producing instruments under OEM contracts for several notable brands. They’ve built guitars for companies like Ibanez, Schecter, PRS, and Jackson. Their manufacturing experience producing high-quality guitars allows them to produce instruments at a competitive prices. If a feature is missing from a Cort, it's likely because you didn't pay for it ( You're never going to buy an overpriced Cort). probably the best "bang for your buck" guitars on the market.
Tru tempa!!!! Now I wanna do a parody of Otep’s special pets , special frets I need new voices in my head to saturate my evil riffs I need new levels in my neck to be my freinds and special frets Its so contagious
Cort make quality instruments and are generally inexpensive. Their Jeff Berlin signature bass is gorgeous, despite what people think of Mr Berlin. It’s not the cheapest but it’s also not way too expensive. It is gorgeous though.
Even my ear was able to pick up the difference and that B was better. I wonder if as a player we need to make an adjustment with our fingers to accommodate the frets.
9 volt rechargeable batteries are actually 8.4v and typically have lower current ratings. It probably doesn't matter but in theory, depending on the design of the circuit, you might lose headroom/capacitance, (the bass frequencies might have less oomph).
I bet Hendrix would have played around with this! Anyway, this looks interesting, and you can hear the difference. I have a guitar with the Schaller bridge, you just filled me in on it's secrects as far as string height adjustment!!
This is a perfect hardtail guitar. Cort should do a Floyd Rose version for those that want a tremolo and perhaps an Evertune version for even better tuning stability
What a fantastic sounding guitar!!! Wow. Can you recommend any resources for intermediate players looking to learn about jazz or music theory? If you offered lessons I'd absolutely pay for them.
I'm happy to see Cort on your channel, Andre! These guys are responsible for producing the PRS SE, they truly know about making good quality gear. I have a G300 Pro and it is mindblowing for the price charged. I'm from Brazil, and any guitar with those specs from other brands would cost A LOT more. The KX700 is already a beast of its own, this true tempered version is probably the pinnacle of Cort's tradition of making awesome guitars.
Yeah, the company is actually called Cortek. It started its production in South Korea back in the 90s if I'm not wrong. Nowadays they moved their production lines to Indonesia. Cortek has already produced guitars for basically all major guitar brands, including PRS, ESP, Ibanez... They are actually the largest guitar company in the world, as you said. Their guitars are absolutely incredible, it doesn't matter the price range.
Definitely my favourite manufacturer, they have the best price/quality ratio. I have quite a few of their instruments (the M600 being my go-to guitar, the A4 bass being my best instrument -Mohini Dey used to play the A5 before she got a deal with Mayones), and a few others made for other companies (Washburn, Ibanez, and I believe an older Fender Stratocaster). There are at least 3 big guitar factories in Indonesia originally from Korea: Cortek, Samick and another one I forgot its name (but I know the guy who programmed their CNC). All of them making good stuff these days. Anyone who started playing in the 1990s can probably remember how much Korean guitars used to suck, the same like Japanese guitars in the 1970s, but they got it right.
@@riangarianga I'm about to get a secondhand M600, an amazing guitar! The G300 is unbelievable. I've never had a guitar as comfortable as this. The "ergo-V" neck and stainless steel frets play like nothing I've tried before. Here in Brazil, some people consider them the authentic "poor's man Suhr."
This may sound like a weird or dumb question, but how does this affect alternate tunings? Is the spacing/temperament set up to only accommodate E-Standard? A guitar like this, hardtail with fishmans and 25.5 I can see being popular with the D standard or Drop C crowd.
True temperament looks like me trying to draw frets after one too many cups of coffee. Jokes aside, this thing is sick. I would love to try it someday. Does the temperament still work with different tunings?
Cort today makes good guitars with great options and details for different styles of music, i have kx508 i like it and i doubt that i can buy another one with such features for equal amount of money
I discuss it a bit in the video, but I think it has a lot to do with the fret system. I'm sure it would sustain great even with regular frets, but the overtones really ring into each other in a different way which creates more vibrations and thus more sustain. Almost like feedback on an amp.
So true. The problem is the TT system itself is marketed at a really expensive price point. I guess when the patent expires (I just checked it: April 2027) loads of copies will flood the market.
@@riangarianga I didn't know that TT was a patented concept, that is lame. I presumed it's just an 'acquired' taste/not the norm, and therefore more expensive to produce... I play in D standard too, I don't think that there's a single TT fretboard that isn't not in E standard other than extended range guitars, I think that puts a lot of people off too, your permanently locked to a tuning mechanism. It's like an even worse Floyd lol. But yeah man, that sucks to hear
@@jackflynn-oakley1937 Like every innovation, it's subject to be marketed, therefore you secure your innovation for a definite period of time with a patent. It's not wrong at all, it would actually be weird otherwise, you'd have to take some steps to properly send it to the public domain as well (if not, other people would come and patent your innovation instead). There are a few patents across territories protecting TT, which shows there are wise entrepreneurs behind. Even the Buzz Feiten system was patented, but it could only be patented in some territories. For example, not in the EU, because the system is just a tuning method (methods can't be patented in the EU) and otherwise it just requires a displaced nut (common practice by luthiers before Buzz Feiten came up with it). So in the EU they couldn't charge you any fee for the patent, and the method could be freely used by anyone. It seems True Temperament also has a method, but they were clever to patent the whole build instead, which is the actual innovation. That way they don't need to reveal the formula. The patent starts: «A device for string instruments comprising a fretboard with a plurality of frets, arranged at a distance from each other along the lengthwise direction of the fretboard and running transversely across the fretboard [...]». It's not limited to standard E tuning, though. I guess many people are led to believe that. The TT website states it works fine. Mathias IA Eklundh uses it on a 8-string guitar with an even lower tuning for the lower 2 strings (the 7th is like having drop tuning relative to the 6th, and the 8th is similarly tuned to the 7th).
I totally didn't expect to guess right in AB test, I thought my ears are used to hear regular frets and it would condition my ears. Apparently, it's not that simple
Oh wow! I've been looking for a new guitar and I'm trying to Branch out from just getting Ormsby. I love them very much but I need to have some other guitars as well for a bit more variety and I've wanted a true temperament guitar but there's so much I think this will be my next guitar. Also Dr. Flood, I'm very sorry you were going to sell me the the rusty Cooley 6 originally but I had a lot of stuff come up family wise
They got listed on Guitar center, musicians, friends but in America they want $2,500 instead of the $1,000 to $1,300 in every other country. So I think it's out of the reach of most Americans right now, which sucks because I really wanted to get a true temperament guitar
So what key is this in? Still don't get the squiggly fret thing. It's in tune in C, ish, sounds like to me, and every other key would have to be, erm, different, surely. Sounds sweet though. Just trying to understand.
It sounded very good. What happens if you put a Capo on, then play with typical Cowboy chord forms in what "looks" like the Keys of E, C, F, and G? Does everything stay equally in tune due to the True Temperament Frets? How about Drop D, Alternate Tunings, Low Tunings, etc.? Are there Tunings that everything goes off the rails, or is it consistently "in tune" across all keys? Thanks
This guitar looks really good but shame it's not set neck IMO... Or if it's a bolt on at least sculpt that bump so that it's smoother and gets out of your way. See Strandberg. Also, if we're talking about keeping the guitar in tune, this guitar would have been even better with Evertune, rather than Schaller Hannes bridge...
Biggest problem I see here is, 1) once you play this guitar, all your other guitars are obsolete, 2) a refret would be expensive, I don’t know the spec, but it sounds so warm, SS frets seem unlikely, although the PU’s might influence that
Apples and oranges with piano strings. Sure they are tuned separately but they are hammered without changing string lengths, unlike a guitar being able to change the string length about 22 times on each guitar string.
Were I not still pissed about Cort running out on their Korean employees, I would be interested in seeing a Cort G290 FAT II with true-temperament frets.
When Anders Thidell proposed the idea of true temperament, he made a prototype guitar to demonstrate the efforts it would take to make a guitar where all notes were justly tuned. His demo guitar had 54 frets and some of those frets only existe to make one note of one string justly tuned. And yes, fretless is the solution. The sustain and timbre differences have been mitigated by Vigier with their Surfretter, which has a metal alloy fingerboard instead of wood or some composite material. You can play complex chords on fretless as well. Just watch Bumblefoot or Guthrie Govan. Fretless also allows you to change the tuning of the notes depending on intention or to match vocals or other instruments as well. True Temperament is in many cases an expensive solution for a problem which cannot be solved, as the Well Tempered system we use for notes has notes not in tune as well as an acceptable compromise in order to reduce instrument making complexity. Also consider the nightmare that is to dress and refret that neck. No luthier will want to touch it. You're gonna have to send the neck to True Temperament for them to do it for you and that's gonna be very expensive.
True Temperament went with stainless steel quite a while ago. They don't use those butter-made frets any more. A couple of years ago I saw they also sold specific tools to carry out a refretting job.
@@riangarianga Just because Stainless Steel frets take longer to wear out, doesn't mean you'll never have to fret dress or replace them. Also, good luck finding people that have the tools to work on TT frets when you already have issues if you ask any luthier to work on normal stainless frets. TT frets are a niche of a niche.
@@BrunodeSouzaLino You can buy the fret template from TT, and the proper router bit in case you need to drill fret slots. You also buy the frets from them, and press them the same way you always did. You dress the bare fretboard the same way you dress a regular fretboard. There isn't anything complex about replacing a fret, it's the design that looks complex.
@@riangarianga But you see, that's the problem. Since almost nobody has those frets on their guitars, almost no luthier will have the tools necessary to do those jobs. And that means you still have to send your neck or your guitar to Sweden to have TT themselves do those jobs for you, which will be very expensive. So in the end, it doesn't matter if TT sells the tools and the templates because nobody has them.
@@BrunodeSouzaLino Luthiers constantly buy tools, they aren't limited by the tools they already have. It's not widely known unless you're interested in the field, but they constantly build specialised jigs, sometimes to carry out just one specific repair on one specific instrument. If they need to buy a TT jig, they'll charge the customer for it, until there's a market for TT repairs. It was the same debate not so many years ago about stainless steel frets, because they wear out tools faster, they require a different technique to bend and install them, and so on. In the end they became commonplace and those luthiers who refused to work on them before just started going with the flow, charging a proportional extra for the extra wear of tools.
Also curious to know: are the natural harmonics found closer to the temperament "crooked" frets, are you still playing it where a normal straight fret would be or none of the above and you just have to feel for them differently altogether? Intuitively I would assume if the frets are more closely aligned with the harmonic resonance then the natural harmonics would also align this way but I can't really tell by just looking at your playing alone.
Mattias IA Eklundh has been playing an 8 string TT guitar since 2014 (and 6 string TT even earlier) and I can't think of anyone that uses natural harmonics more than he does. Go to Freak Audio Lab on YT and listen to anything. You'll have your answer. Also his band, Freak Kitchen' (also on YT) for how it sounds in a band setting.
I ask this of guitar RUclipsrs often: Why review guitars with "sweetened" amplifiers (eg "a little reverb") or cabinet presets? This is especially bothersome when discussing the qualities of pickups or the tonal qualities of electronics. Why does no one just plug and play raw, and put all of the details clearly on display? Clean. Overdrive. (Insert Khabe hands) Thank you for your time🎸🎵
Aside from being out of my price range..... but then, I don't know that I could replace the cheap guitar I have now either, There are some things I am not thrilled with. Active pickups may sound nice but are probably wasted on stage while being one more point of failure (actually a number more failure points) This despite my bass with Piezo PUs. ;) Even my acoustic guitars get magnetic PU which sound quite good, well, like an acoustic anyway. If in the studio... use a mic. Likewise, with an electric guitar, in the studio, an external preamp can do mostly what an active PU can. SO someone with the cash to buy one of these, probably doesn't care about "versatility" because they bring (have someone bring for them) a stable of guitars from which they choose one for each tune. Those who use one guitar on stage most often have one "sound' that is their signature anyway. People do not go to live concerts for perfect tuning and tone, recognizable yes but not perfect. The SPL is generally much louder than at home already and really they come to _see_ the artist and to interact with them. This is really what makes live concerts worth attending, the interaction between the crowd and the players. In most cases the interaction between the players is different even because the recording has probably been quantized,used extra effects, used lots of extra musicians and substitute musicians and a producer and the list goes on. The live show has life (provided the band does not use backing tracks.... rip off). Anyway, this guitar is something I would be delighted with should I come to have possession of such an instrument but not something I would look to buy on my own resources :) Thank you for the review.
To me guitar A sounded better but I guess the pickups have a lot to do with it… I would say a warmer sound and the fishmands have more of that high end tones that I particularly do not seek for
Wow. The B guitar sounds so much more in tune. The 5ths don't shimmer, and the thirds sound like they are tuned. However, what about bends, vibrato, slides, hammers, and pulls; all those techniques that guitar players use. I am a jazz, fusion and 20th century blues rock player, not metal. Anyway, back to the video.
I personally have a metric ton of respect for cort and kx series in particular. By no means are these guiatrs beautiful, I have seen them in person and they have a lot of visual defects sometimes, they look sloppy, but they are work machines, becutifully build and spec'd. Im also sure this guitar is going to be prised favourably, as all of the kx's are. I also hope for a different finish, then i'll buy it emediately.
![Diggy Graves - Red Vineyard [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Ro085T0mnQ/mqdefault.jpg)
It is like looking underwater at the frets. Scary for finger alignment, if imaginary still psychological.
The multiscale is still weird enough to absorb. Now this. Frets were straight across for how many centuries? Isn't this advent a product of modern competition? Ancient alien theorists say... sorry wrong channel!😆
You don’t really notice the frets. I find multiscales far more weird feeling. But maybe that’s just me!
go back long enough and the tuning systems varied based on key and even that wasn't agreed upon. its why string instruments like violins don't have frets. our modern agreed upon A=440 and 12 tone equal temperament system isn't even perfectly in tune. if you're interested in more on this, look into "just intonation" vids by adam neely or others
@@Axel287 I can think of another reason why violins don't have frets, though it's a guess. The viola da gamba and some other bowed instruments had frets, presumably to make it easier for chording and for amateur players, but they also tend to project less and were usually reserved for intimate settings. Not being a violinist or a viol player I can't confirm this, but my guess is that the frets would buzz if your bowing got too heavy.
Multiscale never bothers me - it will take you all of a few minutes to get used to it. The only problem is when the angle is really extreme (like on an Ormsby) - then it starts to feel weird. I haven't tried a TT guitar - it looks like it would take more time to get accustomed to than fanned frets.
This is a really cool guitar - what a feature set. All of that for $2500 is not bad overall - and Cort (Kor-Tek) makes more guitars than any other single guitar manufacturer. In their existence as a company, they have made 25 million+ guitars. They know what they are doing.
I have an 8 string multiscale true temperament Strandberg, and to be honest it's really not a problem to play it. I don't notice the squiggliness, I don't really notice the fan either. Took me maybe a couple of days to get used to it. Not all my other guitars feel weird!
wow that AB test is night and day. The true temperament stuff sounds WAY better, theres a lot less beating on the frequencies.
especially that F Major, it pretty much hurt my ears on the normal guitar and fealt alot cleaner on the tt.
I saw it first being used by Matthias Eklund from Freak Kitchen.
Thought it was a gimmick also...but after some research...this makes a lot of sense.
Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza for the wiiiiiin
Fantastic review. Sadly now I wish there were reviewers like Andre that focused on guitar companies that make left handed models.
I've watched several of your guitar reviews Andre. I especially like your extended play tests. You may have the most comprehensive, detail-oriented and contextualized guitar reviews on YT. I've seen enough of your videos to ascertain that you are honest and unbiased. That's a rarity on this platform with the constant link-hawking. Your academic background adds rare perspective to your guitar reviews, and your opinion is now my go-to for future guitar purchases. Thank you man, I appreciate your work.
Cort made this guitar under their own brand name?! That’s the most surprising part! People often think of Cort as cheap starter guitars. Wow!
They have several guitar and bass models in the $1200 range now, so it's not out of the ordinary. This is ofc a very limited run with only 50 guitars worldwide, so it will ofc be even more expensive. The regular KX700 Evertune costs $1200, so the $1300 extra this guitar costs is all because of the True Temperament fret system. TT sure does know how to charge for their product!
Far from it. Cort has been making their own branded guitars for some time now. The main company is Kor-Tek - they make Strandberg, PRS, etc.
I'm even more surprised that cort is shipped further than I expected. I thought only us in the asia region get it, and it's mostly entry level acoustics and electrics.
You get better every video! Always a must see regardless of the topic. Thanks!!
I just LOVE listening to your clean playing. And you really make this guitar sing!
I bought a used $100 Cort (I forget the model) that I customized and modded during Covid as a sanity project. It’s one of my favorite guitars. I’m drooling over this one
When I was a beginning guitarist, I was so frustrated by this! I thought something was wrong with my guitar and kept trying to figure out how to get all the chords in tune. 😅
I love the true temperament idea. Phil McKnight did a review of them and said he loves them. He said the problem with them is that they will make the rest of the band sound bad. 😂
I can’t imagine trying to level and polish them. 👀
I have Music Man Majesty with compensated nut, tuned with Peterson sweetened tuning mode- so far it’s my benchmark for perfect tuning. I’m very intrigued to try this guitar, or any with TT frets- sounds very promising in this video!
Compensated nuts make a world of difference. I've been making a few out of brass for my guitars
knew it was gonna be a good one as soon as I saw you holding a guitar with those frets
The problem with a guitar like this is playing with other guitarists, we have learned to subconsciously accept the “Chorus” effect of two guitars but with AB testing and both at the same time the difference is Night and Day. Would love to know how double tracking riffs on True Temperament would sound like.
The true temperament frets are really in tune, very nice
Nice to see you're trying true temperament!
Random fun fact: Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater fame started to pick up guitar a few years ago and sharing on instagram. Now besides some of the crazy ambidexterity he's already accomplished the other thing to note is that he is
A) A Piano/Keyboard player primarily
B) Very quickly got himself a true temperament guitar
This is because he also famously has perfect pitch and more over, is *very used* to a life time of playing in perfect pitch on a keyboard so as a non-guitar player it sounded horribly out of tune to him and that's because he isn't a guitar player.
Point is that true temperament is probably not for most guitar players precisely a huge part of guitar and it's style is guitar players mostly learning to play around the limitations and tuning (Or in this case, lack thereof) eccentricities as a key part of the instrument and why so many players end up gravitating towards very similar styles: it might not *just* be influential guitar musicians and an instrument with a relatively short history (Less than 200 years vs many centuries for many other instruments) but the tuning, the chords and harmony guitar players favor might all be due to not having true temperament and most people not being highly trained classical guitar players with super specific technique to play really obnoxious chord voicings and such.
It's also why so many guitar players immediately experiment with other tunings if you think about it, it's interesting to think how far down this rabbit hole goes.
he once tried a TT Strandberg.
@@fabioragone22 Forgot about that but still nice to revisit.
He's been playing with a guitarist for 30 years, why would it bother him when he plays?
@@vorpalblades Some people with perfect pitch are bothered by frequencies not being in tune.
@@vorpalblades It has to do with the last part of the post: Petrucci himself has been a guitarist for over 30 years like you mention: He doesn't needs help playing perfectly in tune and knowing exactly what chords to use, when, exactly how to bend in tune, etc.
This is a very different process than *learning* how to play guitar when you already know another pitch perfect instrument: Like most people new at guitar Rudess would be just exploring the fretboard. Unlike most people new at guitar, it would bother him when he hears something that's not in tune even though it *should* be the correct semitune he's fretting and this is MORE SO when he knows exactly how the same chord voicing is supposed to sound because he memorized that sound on piano but on a regular guitar, doesn't works quite the same.
The sustain. Holy crap, the sustain. That thing sounds unbelievable. The price is steep, but reasonable given the features.
Beautiful playing to close out the video Andre - thank you!
Guy in my band picked up one of these- passive pickups, regular steel frets, and an evertune, but other than that, pretty much the same axe. The necks on these are phenomenal.
I didn't really think the true temperament sounded better, I feel part of the character of the guitar are those imperfections and in-between notes. There is a warm/comforting quality to the one that isn't true temperament.
The difference is huge in clarity between A &B
You're right about the F chord. Also the D-chord. That note on the G string at the 2nd fret is always a tad bit sharp even if the guitar is intonated. I always keep G-string a very slightly flat to counter this. I'm guessing that's the reason the fret on the G-string is shifted the most. Increasing the length...let's see {f = nv/2L; f remains same, L increases, hence wave velocity increases. v = sqrt(T/mu). Hence string tension increases to reach the same note. Which means while pressing the G-string, a higher push down can be compensated.} Yeah...makes sense.
If the g in the g chord is too sharp then in most cases the nut is cut too high.
Something about the frets makes my brain expect micro tonal music to come out, but it's so clean and straight. Really trippy
WHEN I FALL IN LOVE - yeah man!
Still can’t believe you are commenting on a video of mine 😂
@@andrefludd What are you kidding? Your stuff is great, I am stalking you bro! LOL
Oh man... I guess I'm so used to my guitar sounding "wrong" that it almost felt like listening to a different instrument with those chord comparisons. Super obvious which one is the true temperament. If I ever get a new guitar it's gonna have that!
Damn Cort and Truetemp... two of my favorite things! Wonder how hard those fretboards would be to make
Hot Space - the casual Queen fan's favorite punching bag (imagine Bronx cheer)
reminds of Eklundh's Applehorn. crazy stuff
He's making his own now, (Look up 'Freak Guitar Lab' as a brand) both 6 and 8 string with TT, and Caparison still puts models out with TT, just not Applehorns.
@@robp775 Just checked them out. Dont really dig the shapes but maybe they look better in person. I'm sure they're amazing to play, too.
B, apart from the last chord, the G major
Yeah why did the g chord sound worse on the TT?
My god, that sustain. 😍
The G Major is off on the TT. The open D sounds out.
One of the best product reviews I've seen. One question - are alternate tunings possible with true-temperament frets or do you lose the advantage? Great review, great playing! Go Andre!
Andre,I just ordered a Temperered Tuning neck from Sweden.Not 12 hours ago.But it's going on a guitar body I've used for the last 18 years,with everything I want on it.Fishmans & a Graphtech Ghost system with MIDI option.Had a TT neck guitar before ,but sold it.Been subbed since the beginning.Great reveiw.Cort makes some fine guitars.Strandburgs are made in their factory.The 1 you reveiwed sounded great on my studio monitors.A-B test was Obvious B was the TT. Personally I prefer Straight frets over multiscale..Liked your song at the end.Your video production keeps getting better. 👍👍
I have the non TT version and absolutely love it
Could you please leave a link to where we could actually buy this instrument?
i think ive found my dream guitar ❤
Top shelf review. Excellent information. The guitar is rad, but when you hit the f major, I was intrigued. It was so rounded out and nice. There's just chords that bug me in the way they sound wonkey. I gotta try those frets. Thanks!
16:30 Caparison has been using TT frets on some of their guitars for at least a decade. Strandberg does as well.
How do the true temperament frets deal with non standard tunings and custom string gauges? Would they require a different shape of frets for each pair of tuning and string gauges?
The reason Browne switched off the Hannes bridge is due the fact the stepped producing the 7/8 string version sadly.
Best guitar review channel, by far
Super cool guitar bro, looks to be a bit of a slept on beast even though everyone has probably played something from the Cort factory! Killer video as always man 🤘
I finally got one that can pass your eye test 😂
@@andrefludd Ah man, you've had a boat load of stunning instruments and, besides, I'm no beacon of taste. To each their own!
(Apart from the 'bergs, your Emi is my favourite 😉)
Hope you're keeping well my dude!
Larry Corryell used to play Cort.
From what I understand Cort is known for producing instruments under OEM contracts for several notable brands. They’ve built guitars for companies like Ibanez, Schecter, PRS, and Jackson. Their manufacturing experience producing high-quality guitars allows them to produce instruments at a competitive prices. If a feature is missing from a Cort, it's likely because you didn't pay for it ( You're never going to buy an overpriced Cort). probably the best "bang for your buck" guitars on the market.
They've literally been making guitars for over 50 years. Probably one of the most advanced factories on the planet.
When coming to the number of strings, how could you forget about Kieff´s 5String Guitar in Open-G tuning ;-)
Tru tempa!!!! Now I wanna do a parody of Otep’s special pets , special frets
I need new voices in my head to saturate my evil riffs
I need new levels in my neck to be my freinds and special frets
Its so contagious
Sweet axe yo!
Finally notes which doesn't hurt my ears
Cort make quality instruments and are generally inexpensive. Their Jeff Berlin signature bass is gorgeous, despite what people think of Mr Berlin. It’s not the cheapest but it’s also not way too expensive. It is gorgeous though.
Even my ear was able to pick up the difference and that B was better. I wonder if as a player we need to make an adjustment with our fingers to accommodate the frets.
I would love to try one. Remember back in the day with Fretwave? Frank Gamble had a signature model with it.
9 volt rechargeable batteries are actually 8.4v and typically have lower current ratings.
It probably doesn't matter but in theory, depending on the design of the circuit, you might lose headroom/capacitance, (the bass frequencies might have less oomph).
I loved everything about this video! Thanks!!
I bet Hendrix would have played around with this! Anyway, this looks interesting, and you can hear the difference. I have a guitar with the Schaller bridge, you just filled me in on it's secrects as far as string height adjustment!!
This is a perfect hardtail guitar. Cort should do a Floyd Rose version for those that want a tremolo and perhaps an Evertune version for even better tuning stability
What a fantastic sounding guitar!!! Wow.
Can you recommend any resources for intermediate players looking to learn about jazz or music theory? If you offered lessons I'd absolutely pay for them.
Nice review. I’m impressed all around, but that bridge is nice.
I'm happy to see Cort on your channel, Andre!
These guys are responsible for producing the PRS SE, they truly know about making good quality gear.
I have a G300 Pro and it is mindblowing for the price charged. I'm from Brazil, and any guitar with those specs from other brands would cost A LOT more. The KX700 is already a beast of its own, this true tempered version is probably the pinnacle of Cort's tradition of making awesome guitars.
I think they do spectors too
Cort is the largest guitar manufacturer in the world. They have been for over 30 years.
Yeah, the company is actually called Cortek. It started its production in South Korea back in the 90s if I'm not wrong. Nowadays they moved their production lines to Indonesia. Cortek has already produced guitars for basically all major guitar brands, including PRS, ESP, Ibanez... They are actually the largest guitar company in the world, as you said. Their guitars are absolutely incredible, it doesn't matter the price range.
Definitely my favourite manufacturer, they have the best price/quality ratio.
I have quite a few of their instruments (the M600 being my go-to guitar, the A4 bass being my best instrument -Mohini Dey used to play the A5 before she got a deal with Mayones), and a few others made for other companies (Washburn, Ibanez, and I believe an older Fender Stratocaster).
There are at least 3 big guitar factories in Indonesia originally from Korea: Cortek, Samick and another one I forgot its name (but I know the guy who programmed their CNC). All of them making good stuff these days. Anyone who started playing in the 1990s can probably remember how much Korean guitars used to suck, the same like Japanese guitars in the 1970s, but they got it right.
@@riangarianga I'm about to get a secondhand M600, an amazing guitar! The G300 is unbelievable. I've never had a guitar as comfortable as this. The "ergo-V" neck and stainless steel frets play like nothing I've tried before. Here in Brazil, some people consider them the authentic "poor's man Suhr."
This may sound like a weird or dumb question, but how does this affect alternate tunings? Is the spacing/temperament set up to only accommodate E-Standard? A guitar like this, hardtail with fishmans and 25.5 I can see being popular with the D standard or Drop C crowd.
Absolutely fantastic deep dive into a very cool guitar!
True temperament looks like me trying to draw frets after one too many cups of coffee. Jokes aside, this thing is sick. I would love to try it someday. Does the temperament still work with different tunings?
You should make a second channel that is all just non-talking sound demos. That way it doesn't mess with your analytics
Wonderful guitar. Wonderful features. Definitely not cheap. Maybe someday. 🤔
Cort today makes good guitars with great options and details for different styles of music, i have kx508 i like it and i doubt that i can buy another one with such features for equal amount of money
Imagine arriving at the luhtier and ask him for a change for stainless steel frets
Beautiful arrangement, I'm curious to what do you owe the ridiculous sustain on this instrument?
I discuss it a bit in the video, but I think it has a lot to do with the fret system. I'm sure it would sustain great even with regular frets, but the overtones really ring into each other in a different way which creates more vibrations and thus more sustain. Almost like feedback on an amp.
Out of the handful of guitars and basses I own my favorite ones were built in SK.
I really wanna get into true temperament, have for ages, shame no ‘cheaper’ guitars have them. Strandbergs are insane money too
So true.
The problem is the TT system itself is marketed at a really expensive price point. I guess when the patent expires (I just checked it: April 2027) loads of copies will flood the market.
@@riangarianga I didn't know that TT was a patented concept, that is lame. I presumed it's just an 'acquired' taste/not the norm, and therefore more expensive to produce... I play in D standard too, I don't think that there's a single TT fretboard that isn't not in E standard other than extended range guitars, I think that puts a lot of people off too, your permanently locked to a tuning mechanism. It's like an even worse Floyd lol. But yeah man, that sucks to hear
@@jackflynn-oakley1937 Like every innovation, it's subject to be marketed, therefore you secure your innovation for a definite period of time with a patent. It's not wrong at all, it would actually be weird otherwise, you'd have to take some steps to properly send it to the public domain as well (if not, other people would come and patent your innovation instead). There are a few patents across territories protecting TT, which shows there are wise entrepreneurs behind.
Even the Buzz Feiten system was patented, but it could only be patented in some territories. For example, not in the EU, because the system is just a tuning method (methods can't be patented in the EU) and otherwise it just requires a displaced nut (common practice by luthiers before Buzz Feiten came up with it). So in the EU they couldn't charge you any fee for the patent, and the method could be freely used by anyone.
It seems True Temperament also has a method, but they were clever to patent the whole build instead, which is the actual innovation. That way they don't need to reveal the formula. The patent starts: «A device for string instruments comprising a fretboard with a plurality of frets, arranged at a distance from each other along the lengthwise direction of the fretboard and running transversely across the fretboard [...]».
It's not limited to standard E tuning, though. I guess many people are led to believe that. The TT website states it works fine. Mathias IA Eklundh uses it on a 8-string guitar with an even lower tuning for the lower 2 strings (the 7th is like having drop tuning relative to the 6th, and the 8th is similarly tuned to the 7th).
Hey Doc...that was a beautiful arrangement. Too bad they don't make lefties.
I totally didn't expect to guess right in AB test, I thought my ears are used to hear regular frets and it would condition my ears. Apparently, it's not that simple
An Evertune bridge would have been interesting on this guitar.
So I'm not limited to triads? Sign me up! Yeah, my newer SEs are Corts, no worries.
the low G on the G chord sounds a bit sharp. idk why, maybe i'm just used to hearing it slightly out of tune.
B sounds way more harmonious!
Oh wow! I've been looking for a new guitar and I'm trying to Branch out from just getting Ormsby. I love them very much but I need to have some other guitars as well for a bit more variety and I've wanted a true temperament guitar but there's so much I think this will be my next guitar. Also Dr. Flood, I'm very sorry you were going to sell me the the rusty Cooley 6 originally but I had a lot of stuff come up family wise
They got listed on Guitar center, musicians, friends but in America they want $2,500 instead of the $1,000 to $1,300 in every other country. So I think it's out of the reach of most Americans right now, which sucks because I really wanted to get a true temperament guitar
So what key is this in? Still don't get the squiggly fret thing. It's in tune in C, ish, sounds like to me, and every other key would have to be, erm, different, surely. Sounds sweet though. Just trying to understand.
It sounded very good. What happens if you put a Capo on, then play with typical Cowboy chord forms in what "looks" like the Keys of E, C, F, and G? Does everything stay equally in tune due to the True Temperament Frets? How about Drop D, Alternate Tunings, Low Tunings, etc.? Are there Tunings that everything goes off the rails, or is it consistently "in tune" across all keys? Thanks
All this info on the TT website 😊
@@gabrielfrison Couldn't find anything useful on the Cort Site. What is the TT URL?
This guitar looks really good but shame it's not set neck IMO... Or if it's a bolt on at least sculpt that bump so that it's smoother and gets out of your way. See Strandberg.
Also, if we're talking about keeping the guitar in tune, this guitar would have been even better with Evertune, rather than Schaller Hannes bridge...
Biggest problem I see here is, 1) once you play this guitar, all your other guitars are obsolete, 2) a refret would be expensive, I don’t know the spec, but it sounds so warm, SS frets seem unlikely, although the PU’s might influence that
They’re made out of stainless steel via C&C
@@gabrielfrison well then, that’s the best sounding SS fret guitar I’ve heard….no refret needed😊
@@jonathanstrand2474 are you saying you can tell the difference hearing stainless steel frets through a video?
Every time you play the G chord open position, something sound just a little out.
will it change when u use diffrent tunings? or are the true tempermant frets set and forget?
Apples and oranges with piano strings. Sure they are tuned separately but they are hammered without changing string lengths, unlike a guitar being able to change the string length about 22 times on each guitar string.
Yes...that's the whole point. This is why you don't need a "True temperament" piano but might like a TT guitar.
I ain’t gonna lie. I preferred A. 🤷 Maybe I just like the tone better but I tried to pay attention to the tuning.
Were I not still pissed about Cort running out on their Korean employees, I would be interested in seeing a Cort G290 FAT II with true-temperament frets.
When Anders Thidell proposed the idea of true temperament, he made a prototype guitar to demonstrate the efforts it would take to make a guitar where all notes were justly tuned. His demo guitar had 54 frets and some of those frets only existe to make one note of one string justly tuned. And yes, fretless is the solution. The sustain and timbre differences have been mitigated by Vigier with their Surfretter, which has a metal alloy fingerboard instead of wood or some composite material. You can play complex chords on fretless as well. Just watch Bumblefoot or Guthrie Govan. Fretless also allows you to change the tuning of the notes depending on intention or to match vocals or other instruments as well. True Temperament is in many cases an expensive solution for a problem which cannot be solved, as the Well Tempered system we use for notes has notes not in tune as well as an acceptable compromise in order to reduce instrument making complexity. Also consider the nightmare that is to dress and refret that neck. No luthier will want to touch it. You're gonna have to send the neck to True Temperament for them to do it for you and that's gonna be very expensive.
True Temperament went with stainless steel quite a while ago. They don't use those butter-made frets any more. A couple of years ago I saw they also sold specific tools to carry out a refretting job.
@@riangarianga Just because Stainless Steel frets take longer to wear out, doesn't mean you'll never have to fret dress or replace them. Also, good luck finding people that have the tools to work on TT frets when you already have issues if you ask any luthier to work on normal stainless frets. TT frets are a niche of a niche.
@@BrunodeSouzaLino You can buy the fret template from TT, and the proper router bit in case you need to drill fret slots.
You also buy the frets from them, and press them the same way you always did.
You dress the bare fretboard the same way you dress a regular fretboard.
There isn't anything complex about replacing a fret, it's the design that looks complex.
@@riangarianga But you see, that's the problem. Since almost nobody has those frets on their guitars, almost no luthier will have the tools necessary to do those jobs. And that means you still have to send your neck or your guitar to Sweden to have TT themselves do those jobs for you, which will be very expensive. So in the end, it doesn't matter if TT sells the tools and the templates because nobody has them.
@@BrunodeSouzaLino Luthiers constantly buy tools, they aren't limited by the tools they already have. It's not widely known unless you're interested in the field, but they constantly build specialised jigs, sometimes to carry out just one specific repair on one specific instrument.
If they need to buy a TT jig, they'll charge the customer for it, until there's a market for TT repairs.
It was the same debate not so many years ago about stainless steel frets, because they wear out tools faster, they require a different technique to bend and install them, and so on.
In the end they became commonplace and those luthiers who refused to work on them before just started going with the flow, charging a proportional extra for the extra wear of tools.
True temperament with Evertune. Are there any guitars that have this?
Also curious to know: are the natural harmonics found closer to the temperament "crooked" frets, are you still playing it where a normal straight fret would be or none of the above and you just have to feel for them differently altogether?
Intuitively I would assume if the frets are more closely aligned with the harmonic resonance then the natural harmonics would also align this way but I can't really tell by just looking at your playing alone.
Mattias IA Eklundh has been playing an 8 string TT guitar since 2014 (and 6 string TT even earlier) and I can't think of anyone that uses natural harmonics more than he does. Go to Freak Audio Lab on YT and listen to anything. You'll have your answer. Also his band, Freak Kitchen' (also on YT) for how it sounds in a band setting.
Bring back TDTE made my day!
what s the price for this guitar?
Lol, feel the same about Hot Space.
It is to guitar what lossless high end audio is to MP3. it pretty much is the audiophile guitar. ^__-
I ask this of guitar RUclipsrs often: Why review guitars with "sweetened" amplifiers (eg "a little reverb") or cabinet presets? This is especially bothersome when discussing the qualities of pickups or the tonal qualities of electronics. Why does no one just plug and play raw, and put all of the details clearly on display? Clean. Overdrive. (Insert Khabe hands) Thank you for your time🎸🎵
Now they only need to make this with rick toone bridge.
Not available in Europe :(((
The chords sound so muddy on one guitar for the AB test and pretty clear for the other
Aside from being out of my price range..... but then, I don't know that I could replace the cheap guitar I have now either, There are some things I am not thrilled with. Active pickups may sound nice but are probably wasted on stage while being one more point of failure (actually a number more failure points) This despite my bass with Piezo PUs. ;) Even my acoustic guitars get magnetic PU which sound quite good, well, like an acoustic anyway. If in the studio... use a mic. Likewise, with an electric guitar, in the studio, an external preamp can do mostly what an active PU can. SO someone with the cash to buy one of these, probably doesn't care about "versatility" because they bring (have someone bring for them) a stable of guitars from which they choose one for each tune. Those who use one guitar on stage most often have one "sound' that is their signature anyway. People do not go to live concerts for perfect tuning and tone, recognizable yes but not perfect. The SPL is generally much louder than at home already and really they come to _see_ the artist and to interact with them. This is really what makes live concerts worth attending, the interaction between the crowd and the players. In most cases the interaction between the players is different even because the recording has probably been quantized,used extra effects, used lots of extra musicians and substitute musicians and a producer and the list goes on. The live show has life (provided the band does not use backing tracks.... rip off). Anyway, this guitar is something I would be delighted with should I come to have possession of such an instrument but not something I would look to buy on my own resources :) Thank you for the review.
To me guitar A sounded better but I guess the pickups have a lot to do with it… I would say a warmer sound and the fishmands have more of that high end tones that I particularly do not seek for
Wow. The B guitar sounds so much more in tune. The 5ths don't shimmer, and the thirds sound like they are tuned. However, what about bends, vibrato, slides, hammers, and pulls; all those techniques that guitar players use. I am a jazz, fusion and 20th century blues rock player, not metal. Anyway, back to the video.
Couldn't find this guitar available and the price .. where can you get one ?
$2500 at Guitar Center
I personally have a metric ton of respect for cort and kx series in particular. By no means are these guiatrs beautiful, I have seen them in person and they have a lot of visual defects sometimes, they look sloppy, but they are work machines, becutifully build and spec'd. Im also sure this guitar is going to be prised favourably, as all of the kx's are. I also hope for a different finish, then i'll buy it emediately.
What kind of defects? Even my Cort X-1 (sub 200€) didn't have any visual defects, only the frets needed some work.
(Edit: I wrongly wrote K-1).
@@riangarianga paint is messy on the bewel and owerall looks kinda cheap, but plays wonderfully
@@synchosis9209 Good to know, thank you for sharing.