Artisan B4 Element are the completely revamped group of basses that combines only the best elements from the highly popular Artisan B-class basses, including roasted maple fretboard on 5pc panga-panga / walnut neck, Bartolini® MK-1 pickups and Bartolini® MK-1 preamp set, and Hipshot® Ultralite tuners. Newly added are the new high-mass MetalCraft M4 bridges with dual string loading system that greatly enhances resonance and tone transfer, and a rounder ergonomic mahogany body with beautifully figured ash top that come in 3 different color options. The combination of right elements, together with Cort’s dedication to quality, makes the Artisan B4 Element an outstanding choice for pro musicians and enthusiasts alike.
Ash Top on Mahogany Body
Ash top on a mahogany body ensures a great balance of warm yet full and punchy sounding lows and bright, clear and transparent highs, not to mention ash’s beautiful wood grain for more a natural aesthetic.
MetalCraft M Bridge
The solid, high-mass MetalCraft M bridge was developed with more focus on ease-of-use and greater tone transfer. Depending on the thickness of the strings, the dual string loading system allows the strings to be loaded either through the body or from the top to find the best optimal string tension, resulting in enhanced sustain, greater playability and focused sound. Another big improvement for the tone transfer is the deep individual slots that hold the saddles rock-tight, preventing any unwanted movement and allows string vibrations to correctly transfer to the body. MetalCraft M4 and M5 now come with string spacing of 19mm for the 4-string M4, and 18mm (0.750” ) for the 5-string M5.
5pcs Panga Panga & Walnut Neck
The emphasis of the Panga Panga and Walnut combination is on tight and defined midrange that complements the bright and expansive tonal nature of the Mahogany body for an ideally balanced sound to round out the bass spectrum.
Roasted Maple Fingerboard
By treating the Maple in an oxygen-free oven at a high temperature, the wood stabilizes and develops a golden-brownish look for enhanced stability as well as a more vintage type of look and a big bolder tone.
Bartolini® MK-1 Pickups
The trademark Bartolini® sound is preserved in the MK-1 while providing superb sound quality and value. The MK-1 delivers plenty of punchy and warm mids along with transparent and brilliant highs for a superbly balanced sound.
Bartolini® MK-1 Preamp
Bartolini’s renowned MK-1 preamp provides powerful yet transparent boost along with its trademark crisp high-end. The MK-1 transfers the natural liveliness of the bass through a flexible 3-band equalizer for a variety of applications ranging from studio recording to large concert halls. It also provides a switchable active/passive mode for a powerful modern active sound or an organic traditional passive sound.
Hipshot® UltraLite Tuners
The Artisan basses are equipped with Hipshot Ultralite Tuners (classic 20:1 tuning ratio) that is made of cast zinc with aluminum strings posts and mounting nuts, resulting in 30% weight reduction over other regular tuners and which results in improved balance and tuning accuracy.
