Cort Sunset Nylectric review

A forward-thinking design from Cort

  • £459
  • €498

MusicRadar Verdict

Trying to entice steel-string players over to nylon is a growing market and Cort has made a very playable stab at it.

Pros

  • +

    Modern looks.

  • +

    Great range.

Cons

  • -

    Not the biggest, fullest electro nylon-string we’ve heard.

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As one of the largest manufacturers of electric and acoustic guitars on the planet, Cort offers a massive range, at
very affordable prices, with some pretty forward-thinking designs, too. 

This Indonesian-made Nylectric is a case in point: a nylon-string electro - designed specifically for stage use - that owes little to the heritage of the classic guitar. 

Based on the single-cutaway outline of the Gretsch-y Sunset electrics, the Nylectric has a 53mm deep thinline, hollow chambered mahogany body, topped with a thin (laminated) spruce fan-braced top. 

There are no soundholes, which gives the Nylectric a modern look, enhanced by the trio of electric guitar-like controls - volume and centre-notched bass and treble cut/ boost EQs - for the adjustment of the B-Band A11 under-saddle/preamp system. 

In typical ‘hybrid’ style, the Nylectric centres on a quoted 650mm (25.6-inch) scale length but features a reduced-width 45mm nut, a 305mm (12-inch) cambered rosewood fingerboard, and classical-width 60mm string spacing at the compensated saddle of the tie-block bridge. 

The neck ‘bolts’ to the body via four inset screws on a heavily-contoured heel, emerging at the 16th fret like a Les Paul rather than a Ramirez. There’s a very unclassical feel to the mahogany neck - a nicely relaxed C profile - which, combined with the reduced width, shouldn’t be a problem for any steel-string players, not least in its fast satin finish. The rest of the guitar is glossed, not too heavily, and there’s a choice of this natural or a black colour. 

Sounds

As its looks suggest, the Nylectric feels more like an electric than a standard nylon-string classical. Played seated, the guitar is comfortable, although the neck extends a lot further to your left than the standard instrument. 

Strapped on, things feel even more electric-like, but the guitar is light in weight (2.24kg) and nicely balanced. Despite the lack of any soundhole, there’s a good unplugged, low-volume sound, ideal for noodling in front of the TV or for practice. 

There’s a classical-ish character that makes Latin and jazz style feel very comfortable, too, thanks to the neck. And the range is bonkers - you can easily reach the top 22nd fret. 

Plugged in, it’s not the biggest, fullest electro nylon-string we’ve ever heard, but the string output is balanced with a good level and clean signal with no intrusive hiss. The EQs are broad, and adding some bass and a little treble reduction give us a little more body. Used with a pick for a little fiery Latin lead line action, the Nylectric sounds really good: less so for solo performance, but not too shabby, either. 

Trying to entice steel-string players over to nylon is a growing market and Cort has made a very playable stab, focusing more on stage use, especially with a band. The Nylectric is nicely made, lightweight and pretty feedback-resistant (it’s still a hollowbody, don’t forget); it feels more like an electric and plays effortlessly, especially for pick-fuelled Rodrigo-like styles. 

Dave Burrluck

Dave Burrluck is one of the world’s most experienced guitar journalists, who started writing back in the '80s for International Musician and Recording World, co-founded The Guitar Magazine and has been the Gear Reviews Editor of Guitarist magazine for the past two decades. Along the way, Dave has been the sole author of The PRS Guitar Book and The Player's Guide to Guitar Maintenance as well as contributing to numerous other books on the electric guitar. Dave is an active gigging and recording musician and still finds time to make, repair and mod guitars, not least for Guitarist’s The Mod Squad.