Here at Guitar World, we’ve been big fans of Cort’s G290 FAT electric guitar since it first debuted in 2019. And we know we’re not the only ones. Apparently, Cort has heard the praise from players loud and clear, and has responded with the brand-new FAT II.
“Always listening to their user base, Cort came away from their award-winning G290 Fat guitar thinking ‘We could do better,’ ” guitar star Ryan “Fluff” Bruce says at the top of this demo video. “And you know what? They have.”
That’s right: say hello to the G290 FAT II, an updated take on the original with some fresh-for-2022 specs. “The original G290 Fat was a very, very awesome guitar,” Bruce says. “But they still had some improvements to make. They wanted to fine tune that guitar just a little bit. Enter the G290 Fat II.”
As for the differences? First off, you get an alder body in place of the earlier model’s swamp ash, and the bird’s eye maple neck and fingerboard has been swapped out for a premium roasted maple alternative. There’s still a flame maple top in place, although this time it’s offered in an all-new Trans Burst Black colorway alongside the original’s Antique Violin Burst and Bright Blue Burst finishes.
“Cort felt the alder body was going to be a little more balanced with the maple top,” Bruce says. “I would have to agree. This is a very good combination of woods. Snappy, strong, lots of bite and attack but not overly bright.”
What else do you get with the FAT II? “The third thing is the addition of the Graph Tech Black TUSQ nut, which is an amazing nut,” Bruce says. “It should be standard on all guitars. And the fourth thing is the addition of Luminlay side markers. I love these markers and I also think these should be stock on every guitar. If you’re playing on a dark stage, Luminlay has got you covered.
In the electronics department, the FAT II features the original’s Voiced Tone VTH-77 humbuckers with a five-way switch, which grants access to a variety of sounds. “There are some pretty cool switching options with the five-way selector switch,” Bruce says. “In positions two and four you get the inner and outer coils of the humbuckers for single-coil tone – but there is no hum.”
To hear how well the G290 FAT II handles all those single-coil and humbucker tones, check out Bruce’s demo above. Or, just head over to Cort and pick one up.
“This is a killer, killer axe,” Bruce says. “It’s really just meant to do it all, and it does indeed do it all. I found this guitar to be very stable and comfortable and it just sounds great. Kudos to Cort for continuing to improve their product line, not just resting on what they have. Much respect.”
