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Fretline

Cort

SFX-MEM

Open Pore

A thin-bodied acoustic for people who find full-depth guitars uncomfortable

7.7
Fretline score

Amazon rating

4.3 (13)

Price band

$300 - $500

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Cort SFX-MEM slim-body acoustic-electric in Open Pore finish, full front view

The short version

The SFX body is only 83 mm deep, roughly half a normal acoustic, and that single decision defines the instrument. A thin body is far easier to hold — particularly for smaller players, and for electric guitarists who find a full dreadnought awkward against the ribs — and it feeds back much less on a loud stage. What it cannot do is move as much air, so unplugged this is quieter and thinner than a full-depth guitar and always will be. Cort's answer is to treat it as an amplified instrument first: the CE304T preamp with three-band EQ and a built-in tuner does the heavy lifting, and the all-mahogany body keeps what acoustic volume there is warm rather than boxy.

Score profile

Six axes, scored 1-10. These are editorial judgements about what this instrument delivers for the money — not measurements, and not anyone else’s ratings.

Build
7.0
Tone
7.0
Versatility
8.0
Comfort
9.0
Hardware
7.0
Value
8.0
7.7overall / 10

Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.

Full specifications

Full specifications for the Cort SFX-MEM
BrandCort
ModelSFX-MEMOpen Pore
Body
BodySFX slim body with Venetian cutaway, 83 x 83 mm depth
Body woodMahogany back and sides
TopMahogany
BracingAdvanced X-bracing
Neck & fingerboard
Neck jointDovetail neck joint
Neck woodMahogany
Neck profileC shape (21.0 mm at 1st fret, 22.5 mm at 7th)
Scale length25.5" (648 mm)
FingerboardLaurel with dot inlays
Radius15.75" (R400)
Frets20
NutPPS
Nut width1.6875" (43 mm)
Hardware
BridgeLaurel
TunersDie-cast
Electronics
ElectronicsCort CE304T three-band EQ preamp with built-in tuner
General
TypeAcoustic-electric guitar
StringsCoated strings
FinishOpen Pore
OrientationRight-handed

22 verified fields. Specifications come from the manufacturer first, then the Amazon listing, then authorised dealers — sources are listed at the foot of this page. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.

The good and the bad

What we like

  • 83 mm slim body is far more comfortable than a full-depth acoustic
  • Much less prone to feedback on a loud stage
  • CE304T preamp with three-band EQ and built-in tuner
  • All-mahogany body keeps the amplified tone warm rather than brittle

What we do not

  • Noticeably quieter unplugged than a full-depth acoustic
  • PPS nut and saddle rather than bone
  • Amazon lists a merbau fingerboard; Cort publishes laurel

Who it is for

Skill level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvancedProfessional

Styles it suits

FolkPopBluesIndieRock

What owners and reviewers report

Patterns we found across published reviews and owner feedback. These are summaries of recurring themes — we do not reproduce or invent individual testimonials.

What comes up most

  • Owners consistently praise the comfort of the slim body
  • The preamp and built-in tuner are described as practical

Frequent complaints

  • Low unplugged volume is the most common criticism, and is inherent to the design
  • Some owners report needing a setup on arrival

Recognised strengths

  • Widely reported as an easy guitar to hold and play for long periods

Recognised weaknesses

  • Acoustic projection is the clear limit of the thin-body format

The verdict

Judge this as an electro-acoustic, not an acoustic, and it makes complete sense. Plugged in it is comfortable, controlled and resistant to feedback, and the preamp is genuinely usable. Unplugged it is quiet, and no amount of enthusiasm changes that — if you mostly play on the sofa, a full-depth guitar will reward you more for the same money. The PPS nut and saddle are the usual first upgrade. One thing worth flagging: Amazon's specification table lists a merbau fingerboard while Cort publishes laurel, and Cort is the source we follow.

Sources

Amazon rating captured 2026-08-26. ASIN B07K6KCSFD.

Strings for this guitar

All strings

The manufacturer does not publish the gauge this instrument ships with, so these are ordered by our editorial score rather than by fit. Measure the set on the guitar before changing to something noticeably lighter or heavier.

What else you need

All accessories

The highest-scoring option in each category that suits this instrument. If you have never owned a guitar before, the starter guide explains what each of these is for and what you can safely skip.

  • Fender · Tuners

    FCT-2 Professional Clip-On Tuner

    The tuner to buy first, before strings, before a strap, before anything

    7.8/10
  • Dunlop · Picks

    Tortex Standard

    The Delrin pick that replaced tortoiseshell, in the gauge most people settle on

    8.2/10
  • GLEAM · Stands

    Adjustable Guitar Stand

    The accessory that decides whether the guitar gets played at all

    7.4/10
  • CAHAYA · Bags and cases

    6 Pocket Acoustic Gig Bag

    Six pockets, which is five more than most bags and the reason to pick this one

    7.8/10

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