Luthite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luthite is a light-weight synthetic material developed by Cort Guitars for the construction of bass guitar bodies.
Luthite was developed as a substitute for wood, for as a synthetic composite material there is much greater control over the consistency of production. Additionally it is able to be formed to almost any shape, i.e. 3D shapes out of plane, where the wood equivalent would require a very large body blank or laminates. It should be noted that, in spite of these advantages, it possesses considerably less resistance to impact than its wooden counterparts.This renders finished instruments more susceptible to being chipped during use or cracking if dropped.
The tone of luthite is different than many tonewoods, this may be seen as an advantage or disadvantage according to personal preference. It is best suited for slapping and popping on the bass, yet possesses a clean and even tone. Whilst primarily used in Cort’s Curbow series basses, Ibanez EDB series basses and EDR/EXR series guitars are also made of luthite.
