Which famous players use Cort guitars and basses?

The most famous Cort artist at the moment is probably Matt Bellamy, lead guitarist and vocalist for Muse. Frank Gambale and Jeff Berlin are other notable artists who endorse Cort guitars.

The Cort basses for sale at guitarguitar have 'active' EQ controls. What are these and what is the benefit?

Active EQ circuits are able to both boost and cut certain frequencies. Most tone controls just cut the treble frequencies of the signal but these do both and are often designated as separate controls for treble, middle and bass. This means you can have a lot more control over your sound: you can sculpt frequencies more specifically in order to get the exact sound you want. These circuits are called 'active' because they require extra power to make them work. The power comes from a 9V PP3 battery, located in a compartment on the back of the instrument.