The Cort AD880 Natural Satin Acoustic Guitar is a high-quality, entry-level acoustic guitar designed for musicians seeking an affordable instrument with excellent craftsmanship and sound quality. This model is part of Cort’s "AD" series, which focuses on providing value for money without compromising on tone or playability. The AD880 is well-suited for beginners, intermediate players, and even seasoned musicians who are looking for a budget-friendly, reliable acoustic guitar for practice or performance.
The Cort AD880 Natural Satin Acoustic Guitar features a solid spruce top, which contributes to a warm, rich, and clear tone that only improves with age. Its back and sides are made from mahogany, which offers a balanced, resonant sound, making it perfect for a variety of musical styles, from folk and blues to pop and light rock. The guitar's natural satin finish gives it a sleek, understated appearance, while also offering a comfortable playing experience due to its smooth texture. This model is highly regarded for its overall build quality, rich sound, and affordability, making it one of the best acoustic guitars in its price range. Whether you're strumming chords or fingerpicking, the Cort AD880 provides the versatility needed for a wide range of musical expressions.
Below is a detailed specification table for the Cort AD880 Natural Satin Acoustic Guitar:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Body Shape | Dreadnought |
| Top Wood | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Back & Sides Wood | Mahogany |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fretboard Wood | Rosewood |
| Bridge Wood | Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 25.3 inches (643 mm) |
| Nut Width | 1.69 inches (43 mm) |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
| Electronics | None (Acoustic-only model) |
| Finish | Natural Satin Finish |
| Binding | Black |
| Tuning Machines | Die-cast tuners |
| Position Markers | White Dots |
| Top Bracing | X-Bracing |
| Neck Joint | Dovetail joint |
| String Gauge | .012 - .053 (Light Gauge) |
| Included Accessories | Gig Bag |
| Overall Length | 40.75 inches (1035 mm) |
| Body Length | 19.5 inches (495 mm) |
| Body Width | 15.75 inches (400 mm) |
| Body Depth | 4.9 inches (125 mm) |
| Recommended Strings | Cort CE304 Light Gauge Strings |
| Country of Manufacture | Indonesia |
The Cort AD880 Natural Satin Acoustic Guitar features a traditional dreadnought body shape, which is one of the most popular designs for acoustic guitars. This shape is known for its full-bodied, resonant sound with a strong bass response, making it perfect for a variety of playing styles.
The top of the Cort AD880 is made from solid Sitka spruce, a top-quality tonewood widely used in acoustic guitar construction. Solid spruce offers a broad tonal range, bright treble, and a strong projection, making it ideal for both strumming and fingerpicking. Over time, solid wood tops develop a richer, more nuanced tone as they age, which contributes to the guitar’s overall sound depth.
The back and sides of the Cort AD880 are made from mahogany, a wood known for its warm, balanced sound. Mahogany produces a more focused midrange, with slightly reduced treble frequencies, offering a smooth, mellow tone that complements the bright nature of the spruce top. The combination of spruce and mahogany creates a harmonious sound with both depth and clarity.
The neck of the Cort AD880 is made from mahogany, which is a common choice for acoustic guitar necks due to its strength and stability. The rosewood fingerboard adds a touch of elegance and is known for its smooth, fast-playing surface, making it easy to perform quick chord changes or intricate fingerstyle patterns. Rosewood also contributes to the guitar’s tonal warmth.
The guitar features a rosewood bridge, which provides excellent tonal transfer and stability for the strings. The die-cast tuners ensure that the guitar stays in tune, even with extensive use, and they provide smooth tuning adjustments. The black binding around the body and the neck joint adds a visual touch of refinement to the guitar's overall aesthetic.
One of the standout features of the Cort AD880 is its exceptional sound quality, especially considering its price point. The combination of solid Sitka spruce and mahogany back and sides delivers a well-balanced tone with clear highs, strong mids, and a warm, resonant low end. The dreadnought shape of the body allows the guitar to project well, making it suitable for both practice and live performances.
The Cort AD880 offers great playability for players of all skill levels. Its dreadnought body shape, though large, is well-balanced and comfortable to hold. The neck has a comfortable profile, making it easy for beginners and experienced players to navigate the fretboard. The 25.3-inch scale length ensures a smooth, natural playing experience, with sufficient string tension to make fretting and bending notes effortless. The guitar’s nut width of 1.69 inches is slightly wider than many entry-level guitars, providing a bit more space between the strings. This feature is particularly beneficial for players who are transitioning to fingerstyle or those with larger hands who appreciate extra room for comfortable playing.
Cort has a reputation for producing durable, well-made guitars at affordable prices, and the AD880 is no exception. The solid Sitka spruce top is known for its resilience, while the mahogany body and neck provide long-lasting structural integrity. The dovetail neck joint ensures a secure connection between the neck and body, enhancing both the guitar’s overall strength and its tonal resonance. The natural satin finish, while not as glossy as other finishes, allows the wood to breathe and age naturally. This finish is also more resistant to wear and tear, making the AD880 a practical choice for musicians who plan to take their guitar on the road or use it for regular practice.
When compared to other entry-level guitars, the Cort AD880 Natural Satin stands out due to its solid wood construction and exceptional tone. Many guitars at this price point use laminated woods, which don’t offer the same tonal richness and depth that solid woods do. The AD880’s solid Sitka spruce top is a significant advantage in this regard. In terms of sound, the AD880 rivals other guitars in the same price range, such as the Yamaha F310, Fender CD-60S, and the Epiphone DR-100. While each of these guitars has its own strengths, the AD880’s combination of warmth, clarity, and tonal balance makes it an excellent choice for players who are looking for a versatile instrument.
The Cort AD880 Natural Satin Acoustic Guitar is an exceptional instrument for its price, offering solid construction, excellent tonal quality, and great playability. With a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and rosewood fingerboard, it delivers a balanced sound that is suitable for a wide range of musical styles. Whether you’re a beginner just starting to learn or an intermediate player looking for an affordable, reliable acoustic guitar, the AD880 is a fantastic choice.
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