“An attractive and highly usable on-stage companion for anyone looking to get out there and play”: Cort GA-DAO electro-acoustic guitar review

What is it?

The grand auditorium acoustic guitar shape, which was first pioneered by Taylor in the ‘90s, has become an exceedingly popular one.

Smaller than a dreadnought and larger than a grand concert, it’s designed to straddle two worlds, appealing to strummers and fingerpickers alike.

Over the years, Cort has produced many iterations of this shape. Their latest is the GA-DAO electro-acoustic, with a layered wood construction featuring the striking veneer of an exotic mahogany alternative, dao.

It comes with a Cort CE304T piezo-type pickup and preamp system, featuring a three-band EQ and built-in LED guitar tuner – everything a budding intermediate player might need to go from sofa to stage.

Cort reckons it’s perfect for “the versatile acoustic player” who wants one guitar to cover many styles. But at well under £300, does the GA-DAO deliver?

Specs

• Price: £269/€349
• Made: Indonesia
• Body shape: Grand auditorium
• Body top: Dao laminate
• Top bracing: X-bracing
• Back & sides: Dao laminate
• Neck/shape: C-shape, Mahogany
• Scale/length: 25.5” (648mm)
• Nut/width: PPS / 1 ¾” (45mm)
• Fingerboard: Laurel
• Body depth: 4 ¼” (107mm) at deepest point
• Finish: Natural Dao (gloss)
• Bridge/pins: Plastic
• Tuning machines: Cort die-cast
• Electronics: Cort CE304T - includes 3-band EQ and built-in LED tuner
• Weight: 5.25 lbs / 2.3kg
• Case: Not included
• Left-handed options: N/A
• Contact: Cort

Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★★★☆

While Cort may not have the cachet of leading American or European brands, it’s known for producing well-built guitars at affordable prices.

Based in South Korea, but with factories in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia – where the GA-DAO is made – Cort's parent brand Cor-Tek manufactures own-brand models alongside contract builds for heavy hitters like Ibanez, Schecter, G&L, Squier, PRS and now Fender.

Given the expertise and equipment at Cort’s disposal, it feels reasonable to expect above-average quality from the GA-DAO.

Upon initial inspection, the test example looks and feels robustly made, with a flawless gloss finish and no obvious imperfections. The overall aesthetic is simple yet refined, with off-white binding, white dot inlays, and an abalone-esque rosette.

Without even a small pickguard to obscure it, the star of the show is the dao wood itself, which has a warm, amber hue and a subtle tiger-like stripe in the grain. It’s a finish that will no doubt stand out against the crowds of spruce-topped acoustics that congregate at open mic nights the world over.

Hardware-wise, the Cort tuning machines work smoothly, and having a jack input that’s separate from the strap button is a nice touch because this can be more durable for gigging musicians.

Playability

Playability rating: ★★★★☆

The GA-DAO has all the right curves to make for a comfortable body fit, which is great for long practice sessions - whether you’re working on proper posture or curled up on the sofa. The cutaway gives easy access to the 15th fret and beyond, and the satin neck finish will help you glide right on up there.

The factory-set action feels spot on - low enough that there’s no difficulty fretting shapes above open chord territory, but not so low as to cause fret buzz anywhere on the neck.

The guitar also behaves well with a capo on and generous string spacing makes fingerpicking a breeze. As I drop into favourite fingerpicker tunings like DADGAD, open D and even open C, it performs well, with no excessive string slackness or intonation issues.

For those who spend lots of time playing standing up, be prepared to tie your guitar strap to the headstock Bob Dylan style because the GA-DAO - slightly annoyingly - doesn’t feature a strap button on the neck heel. This would have to be fitted by the player or a repair shop.

On the plus side, for low-light gig situations, the LED tuner is very bright and easy to read. It also automatically cuts outgoing signal when engaged – a feature that will no doubt be appreciated by players and audiences alike!

Sounds

Sounds rating: ★★★½

Because the Grand Auditorium shape has a pronounced shoulder, large lower bout and a nipped-in waist, you’d expect a guitar like this to offer ample bass frequencies, a slight dip in the mid range and some nice sparkly highs. On all fronts, the laminate build GA-DAO conforms, especially when played acoustically.

For open singer-songwriter chords, it offers robust volume and balanced projection. For fingerpicking, distinct treble and bass nuances shine through, making it versatile enough for both.

Amplifying the guitar, however, brings some harsher tonal qualities to the fore. Cort describes its CT304T acoustic guitar pickup and preamp system as delivering “a rich midrange with clear transparent highs”.

With the EQ flat, I trialled it first through an amplifier and then through a PA speaker – via a cheap DI box and a small digital mixer – and found said highs to be so clear and transparent that they were actually a little startling, verging on angry.

In fairness, this is not particularly unusual for electro-acoustics like this that have a piezo pickup under the saddle, as these can have a tendency toward overly bright sounds.

Consequently, the three-band EQ is an essential and much appreciated inclusion. User-friendly and highly responsive, it makes it easy to sculpt warmer, more balanced and ultimately lovely live sounds that are more than acceptable for any open mic night, acoustic band performance or singer-songwriter set.

Verdict

Cort has pitched this as something of an everyman guitar, and while it doesn’t excel in any one area, it’s a solid performer across various styles and settings. In this sense, it delivers on its mission.

Considering its budget-friendly laminate construction, the GA-DAO delivers respectably in areas where competitors in the same space can fall short, boasting a sturdy overall feel with decent resonance and projection. Tonally, particularly when amplified, it is a tad brighter than it is warm – something to keep in mind, especially for strummers.

Where the GA-DAO really wins is in the looks department. If you want to stand out from the crowd, this is a great choice.

MusicRadar verdict: It’s refreshing to find an electro-acoustic option that is distinct – both in looks and sound – from the mahogany and spruce-topped models that dominate the market. For well under £300, the Cort GA-DAO makes for an attractive, highly usable on-stage companion for anyone looking to get out there and play.

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