Cort A5 Plus SCMS Review: Bartolini Pickups at a Price That Makes Sense

The Cort A5 Plus SCMS is not a bass most people talk about. That’s exactly why I wanted to review it. Cort has been quietly making some of the best value instruments on the market for years, and the A5 Plus is one of their most interesting designs.

SCMS points to the design: a single-cutaway body and a multi-scale neck. The body is swamp ash with a spalted maple top, and that combination tells you a lot about what Cort was going for — the warmth and clarity of swamp ash underneath, with the visual drama and tonal character of spalted maple on top. Let’s talk about how that actually plays out.

Rating: 5/5

Verdict: The Cort A5 Plus SCMS is a single-cut 5-string with Bartolini MK-1 pickups and a 3-band EQ, a smooth, polished, articulate tone, good balance and a spalted maple top that looks expensive. It suits intermediate players who want a serious 5-string with quality electronics without boutique money, and players moving to their first 5-string. It is not for someone who wants a passive vintage sound.

First Impressions

The A5 Plus SCMS looks expensive. That spalted maple top has the kind of wild grain pattern you usually see on basses that cost twice as much. Cort figured out how to put a genuinely beautiful top on an instrument in this price bracket and it shows.

Balance is good. 5-string basses have a reputation for neck-diving — where the headstock drops toward the floor when you let go — but the A5 Plus stays level. That matters a lot for live playing when you need both hands free between songs.

The Electronics: Bartolini MK-1

The A5 Plus comes loaded with Bartolini MK-1 pickups and a Bartolini MK-1 preamp with a 3-band EQ and a switchable active/passive mode. Bartolini is a respected name in bass pickups — they supply components to a number of boutique brands. Getting them in a bass at this price point is genuinely unusual.

The MK-1 pickups have a smooth, polished character. The highs are clear without being harsh, the lows are tight and defined, and the midrange sits in a comfortable place in the mix. The 3-band EQ gives you enough control to shape your tone for different rooms and styles without having so many knobs that you get lost.

Active electronics on this bass feel responsive. Boosting the bass control adds body without getting muddy. Cutting the mids gives you that modern scooped tone that works for slap. It covers a lot of ground.

The Neck

Neck-thru construction with a 5-piece maple and panga panga neck and a panga panga fretboard, 24 frets. The scale is multi-scale — 35.5 inches on the low B, down to 34 inches on the G. The profile is comfortable — not too thick, not a razor-thin modern neck. It’s the kind of neck that works for most playing styles without making strong demands on your technique.

The low B string is always a point of concern on 5-string basses. Less string tension can make the B string feel loose and undefined, and that’s what the multi-scale is there for — the longer scale on the low strings adds tension. On the A5 Plus, the B string is acceptable. Not exceptional, but it doesn’t flop around. For most music it works fine.

For the majority of players, the A5 Plus is perfectly adequate.

Swamp Ash + Spalted Maple: Does It Sound Different?

Tonewood debates get intense online. My honest position: the wood matters, but not as much as the pickups and your hands. That said, swamp ash does have a specific character — it’s lighter than alder, slightly brighter in the upper midrange, with a snappy attack.

Combined with the Bartolini pickups, the A5 Plus has a lively, articulate tone. Notes speak clearly. The attack is present. It’s a good bass for styles where clarity matters — funk, jazz-fusion, R&B, or anything where individual notes need to cut through.

Who Should Buy This

The Cort A5 Plus SCMS is a strong option for intermediate players who want a serious 5-string with quality electronics without spending boutique money. You’re getting Bartolini pickups, a beautiful top, active EQ, and solid build quality at a price that would have been impossible ten years ago.

I’d also recommend it to players who are moving from a 4-string to their first 5-string and want something that won’t embarrass them when they get better. This bass has room to grow with you.

It’s not a bass for someone who wants a passive vintage sound — even with a passive mode on the preamp, the Bartolini electronics and modern design push it in a contemporary direction. If you want warm and passive, look at the Yamaha BB series. If you want modern and versatile, the Cort A5 Plus makes a lot of sense.

FAQ

What does SCMS mean on the Cort A5 Plus?

SCMS refers to the single-cutaway, multi-scale design of this A5 Plus. Cort also makes an A5 Plus SC — the single-cut without the multi-scale. The SCMS body is swamp ash with a spalted maple top.

Are Bartolini MK-1 pickups good?

Yes, Bartolini MK-1 pickups are genuinely good components — smooth, clear, and well-voiced for modern bass tone. Getting them in a mid-priced bass like the Cort A5 Plus represents real value.

Is the Cort A5 Plus good for beginners?

It’s better suited to intermediate players. A beginner would do fine on it technically, but you’d be paying for features and quality you might not fully appreciate yet. Start with something simpler, then upgrade to the A5 Plus when you’re ready for it.

How is the low B string on the Cort A5 Plus?

Acceptable. The multi-scale gives the B string a 35.5-inch scale, longer than a standard 34-inch bass. It’s not the tightest B string you’ll ever play, but it’s usable for most music.

How does the Cort A5 Plus compare to Yamaha TRBX505?

Both are active 5-string basses in a similar price range. The TRBX505 has a slightly more modern, focused electronics package. The Cort A5 Plus has arguably better pickups (Bartolini MK-1) and a more dramatic visual appeal. Both are solid choices — it comes down to which feel and aesthetic suits you more.

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The Cort A5 Plus SCMS is a remarkable instrument for what it costs. The swamp ash and maple construction gives it a clarity and brightness that works particularly well for slap — the notes have definition at the attack without getting brittle. That’s a difficult balance to achieve at this price point.

Cort has quietly become one of the most competent manufacturers in the mid-price range over the last decade. They build instruments for major brands under contract, which means the production standards are not what you’d expect from an entry-level name.