Cort KX508 Multi Scale II Mariana Blue Burst

I thought long and hard before buying the Cort KX508 Multi Scale II, because I had read many critical reviews - from frets sticking out to customers who reported that, contrary to the updated information on the Cort website, the low F# string was not a .080 but still a .065 string, and for a .080 string both the nut had to be filed further and the hole in the tuning peg had to be drilled further.
I even asked Kirstein if I could order this guitar with a setup for an extra charge - but this was not possible, as the guitars are shipped directly from the central warehouse. In the end, I just took the plunge.

And in my case, it was definitely the right decision! I haven't measured, but the low F# string on my KX508 is so thick that it must definitely be the updated version with a string gauge of .009 - .080. I have another 8-string guitar with a .062 string for the low F#, so I have the comparison. (.009 - .065 was the old version, many reviews from about 5 years ago refer to it, you can often see with the naked eye in the demo videos that the F# string must have been even thinner back then). I didn't have any protruding frets or similar - although this could always depend on differences in humidity. My Cort KX508 even came out of the box almost perfectly tuned! I tightened the truss rod a little - it's easy to do with the wheel between the neck and body - and corrected the intonation on 2-3 strings, but that was the finishing touch - it was already playable as it arrived.

I was just a little surprised at the comparatively dark sound, as I remember the sound of the Fishman Fluence Modern pickups from my other guitars (7-strings) as being much more trebly. This may have something to do with the now thicker string set (the decision for the original string gauge 09-62 was probably made by Cort at the time for a reason), and/or with the distance of the bridge pickup from the bridge, which is often slightly higher on multiscale guitars than on straight-scale guitars.

In direct comparison to another 8-string guitar of mine with a straight 28" scale and EMG pickups, the Cort sounds darker, but still just as tight. In that regard, the 28" scale + .080 F# string combination is reliable in my experience. The 26.5" on the highest string makes bending a little easier than with 28", but of course not as easy as with 25.5" (unless you tune the whole guitar down at least a semitone).
I already had a (passive) 8-string Multiscale with a wider fret fan from 28.4 to 25.5", but this is unfavorable for large sweepings, for example, because the frets on the lower strings are so slanted in the upper registers. I therefore bought the Cort not only because of the active pickups in combination with the Multiscale, but also because of the slightly more normal fret width (1.5 inch difference between the lowest and highest string).

It looks like I picked up the last KX508 available from Kirstein for the time being, but given its general popularity, I assume it will be available again soon. And any new one delivered from the factory should now be safe to assume that it comes with a .080 F# string.
I could only imagine that some people who, despite the updated manufacturer's specifications (.080 F# string), still received a model with a .065 F# string and a too narrow nut notch / too narrow tuning peg hole might have caught a slow seller that was already manufactured around 2020.
But there don't seem to be any left here at Kirstein. So anyone who wants a .080 F# string on their Cort KX508 should be able to buy one here without hesitation!

I use the cort kx500 on the axe i/o audio interface. It also supports active humbuckers, and the humbuckers also recognize the difference on their own. Compared to my previous electric guitar (hss model with tremolo) I have a much better learning curve thanks to optimal playability and an improved sound image, thanks to really already very high stability of the strings. The electric guitar hums when played, which feels really boomy compared to the older device. The modern pickups don't irritate me very much, as long as they don't start to crackle at some point. The number and variety of the individual tones remains at a realistic level, but more so than when you use an integrated limiter when playing. Just very straight out and stable. Got very clear clean tones in the split channel and the signal can handle decent dist, muff, fuzz, overdrive etc.... Can only recommend the device as a solid studio electric guitar.