Cort Acoustic Guitar article
Cort Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Cort instruments are well-suited to beginners — consistent setup, reliable tuning and better build quality than most comparably priced alternatives. Here is how to get started.
Starting out on a cort acoustic guitar puts you ahead of where most beginners start. The brand's quality control at entry level is consistently better than comparably priced alternatives, the setup quality is reliable and the instruments stay in tune without constant adjustment. This guide covers what to expect, what to set up on arrival and how to start playing efficiently.
What You Get from the Box
A cort acoustic guitar ships from the factory with a functional setup that beats most comparably priced alternatives. The action — the gap between the strings and the fretboard — is generally reasonable, the intonation is close and the tuning machines hold their positions. This is not universal across cheap acoustic guitars; many entry-level instruments from other brands require immediate setup work before they are playable. A Cort instrument, particularly from the Earth and AD series, tends to be ready for immediate use.
That said, any new acoustic guitar benefits from a professional setup. A guitar technician can optimise the action to your playing pressure, verify the intonation and adjust the neck relief. If you can spend £30–£50 on a setup appointment within the first month, it is worth doing — it transforms the instrument's playability and teaches you what a well-set-up guitar actually feels like.
Understanding Your Instrument
A cort acoustic guitar in the Earth or AD series has a spruce or mahogany top, mahogany back and sides, a rosewood or walnut fingerboard and a plastic or bone nut. The solid-top models have a carved spruce top that vibrates in more complex ways than a laminate alternative. These details matter because they affect how you maintain the instrument: acoustic guitars need humidity control, careful storage and regular string changes to perform consistently.
First String Change
Acoustic guitars typically come strung with light gauge strings (0.012–0.053 inch diameter). These are appropriate for most beginners — they are easier to press than medium gauge strings and produce a manageable tone. Change your strings every two to three months of regular playing, or sooner if they start to sound dull or feel rough under your fingers. Martin SP Lifespan or Elixir Nanoweb strings last longer than uncoated alternatives and are a sensible investment for a first instrument.
Tuning and Ear Training
On a cort acoustic guitar, use a clip-on chromatic tuner before every practice session. Practising on an out-of-tune instrument trains your ear incorrectly and makes chord transitions harder. Standard tuning (E A D G B e from the thickest string) is where you should start. Once you are comfortable with standard tuning, you can explore alternate tunings (open D, DADGAD) when specific songs require them.
Step-by-Step First Setup
- Inspect the neck relief: look down the neck from the headstock toward the body. It should have a very slight forward bow — not straight, not dramatically curved. If the neck is back-bowed or has too much relief, a truss rod adjustment is needed (best done by a technician for a first instrument).
- Check the action at the 12th fret: using a ruler, measure the gap between the bottom of the 6th string and the top of the 12th fret. For acoustic guitar, 2.0–2.5mm is comfortable for most players. Higher than 3mm will make the instrument harder to play and is worth adjusting.
- Tune to pitch using a clip-on tuner: tune all six strings to standard tuning (E A D G B e). Acoustic guitar strings stretch after fitting, so tune again after the first ten minutes of playing.
- Check intonation at the 12th fret: compare the open string note to the fretted note at the 12th fret — they should be the same pitch. If the fretted note is sharp, the saddle needs to move back; if flat, it needs to move forward. On most Cort instruments this is set acceptably from the factory.
- Clean the fretboard with a dry cloth: remove any oil or residue from the frets and fingerboard before the first session. Lemon oil can be applied sparingly to uncoated rosewood or walnut fingerboards to condition the wood — avoid the frets themselves.
For guidance on which model suits your budget and playing style, the buyer's guide covers the decisions. For an overview of what makes the brand's instruments consistent, the overview guide covers the details. And for specific value recommendations at each price point, the value guide has the full breakdown.
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