Artisan B5 Element is the completely revamped group of basses that combine 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 M5 bridges with a dual string loading system that greatly enhances resonance and tone transfer, and a rounder ergonomic mahogany body with a beautifully figured ash top that comes in 3 different color options. The combination of the right elements, together with Cort's dedication to quality, makes the Artisan B5 Element an outstanding choice for pro musicians and enthusiasts alike.

Features 

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.

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 a 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. 

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 allowing string vibrations to correctly transfer to the body. MetalCraft M4 and M5 now come with a 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 a 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. 

Hipshot® Ultralite 

The Artisan B5 Element features Hipshot Ultralite tuners as standard equipment for tuning accuracy and stability. 

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. 

Specifications 

• Construction: Bolt-On
• Body Material: Mahogany
• Top Material: White Ash 9T
• Scale Length: 34? (864mm)
• Neck Material: Maple & Panga Panga, 5-ply Laminated
• Neck Shape: C Shape
• Neck Thickness: 1st Fret: 20.5mm. 12th Fret: 22mm
• Fingerboard Material: Baked Maple
• Fingerboard Radius: 16? (R400)
• Number of Frets: 24
• Fret Type: Medium-Jumbo (2.7×1.1), Nickel Silver
• Position Inlays: Abalone Dots with White Side Dots
• Nut Material: Black PPS
• Nut Width: 1.496? (38mm)
• Truss Rod: Two-way Adjustable
• Tuners: Hipshot® Ultralite
• Bridge: MetalCraft M5 (String spacing: 18mm)
• Pickups: Bartolini® MK-1 Pickup Set
• Preamp: Bartolini® MK-1 Preamp
• Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Blend, 3-Band EQ, 1 Mini Toggle
• Hardware Color: Black
• Strings (Gauge): D'Addario® EXL170-5 (.045, .065, .080, .100, .130)
• Neck Finish: Polyurethane Matte
• Body Finish: Polyurethane Matte (Open Pore)
• Color: OPBR (Open Pore Burgundy Red)

"Why is it a b-stock?"

• We offer these out of an ever-changing open inventory of b-stock pieces at our distributor's. They don't provide specifics of the issue that caused the b-stock classification.
• B-Stock items have minor cosmetic blemishes that were discovered during the set-up and inspection process. These are strictly cosmetic and do not affect the playability of the instrument. Many times, the blemish is so small you will have a hard time finding it w/ the naked eye.
• In other cases, the b-stock status comes from the model being discontinued, and it is in brand new condition.
• B-Stock items carry a Full Mechanical Warranty, but since they are being sold as a B-Stock, they do not carry a cosmetic warranty. 
• Only instruments w/ minor cosmetic blemishes and/or discontinued are B-Stock. We will not sell instruments w/ greater issues.