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Cort KX500 Etched
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
VS
Playability
75
Sound
76
Build
60
Value
75
Score
70
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Playability
73
Sound
83
Build
73
Value
71
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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Cort KX500 Etched vs Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence

Reasons to Get
Cort KX500 Etched over Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence

Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
D vs Slim C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs Multi-Voicing
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Evertune
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
75 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence over Cort KX500 Etched

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Slim C vs D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Hard and self-lubricating nut to keep it in tune
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs Multiple
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Evertune vs Fixed
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Cort KX500 Etched vs Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence

Neck Wood
Purpleheart vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Cort KX500 Etched vs Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Decorative Top
Ash Burl(Sand Blasted) vs Flame Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Cort KX500 Etched's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Cort KX500 Etched has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Cort KX500 Etched is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Cort KX500 Etched is the better choice.

The Cort KX500 Etched meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Cort KX500 Etched
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Cort KX500 Etched Overview

  • From Cort's 2020 KX series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash Burl(Sand Blasted) top
  • Mahogany body
  • 5pcs Maple & Purpleheart neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Single Hardtailwith String Thru Body bridge
  • D Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium frets
  • Cort Staggered Locking Machineheads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence Overview

  • From Dean's 2021 Select series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune bridge
  • Slim C Set neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Mini Grover 18:1 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Cort KX500 Etched

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart

Purpleheart (also known as Amaranth) is a hard, dense wood with a brilliant tone. As its name suggests, the purple color makes this wood look exotic.

Woods Used in the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Cort KX500 Etched's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Cort KX500 Etched offers Coil Split, Multi-Voicing.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

On the other hand, the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence comes with the following: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Cort KX500 Etched pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Cort KX500 Etched's switch options
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Cort KX500 Etched.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Cort KX500 Etched
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 76
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 83

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Cort KX500 Etched compares to the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Cort KX500 Etched has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence comes with a NuBone nut. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for tuning stability.

Winner: Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Cort KX500 Etched's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence's is a Evertune. It will keep your guitar in tune and intonated until the next string swap. If you really like extremely subtle vibratos, this might not be the bridge for you because you won't be able to perform them as well. However, the fact that you won't need to tune your guitar is a huge advantage that many people will gladly pay the extra price for.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence.

Tuners

The Cort KX500 Etched has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Cort KX500 Etched.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The Cort KX500 Etched has a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

On the other hand, the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Cort KX500 Etched.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Cort KX500 Etched
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Cort KX500 Etched
Quality of materials 45
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
Quality of materials 85
Features 55
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 73

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Cort KX500 Etched Nut Width
Cort KX500 Etched Nut Width
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence Nut Width
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Cort KX500 Etched and Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Cort KX500 Etched Neck Profile
Cort KX500 Etched's neck profile
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence Neck Profile
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Cort KX500 Etched has a D type of neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

The Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Cort KX500 Etched Fingerboard Radius
Cort KX500 Etched's Fingerboard radius
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence Fingerboard Radius
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Cort KX500 Etched's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Cort KX500 Etched.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence favors large hands more than the Cort KX500 Etched. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Cort KX500 Etched:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Cort KX500 Etched Frets Size
Cort KX500 Etched's Frets Size
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence Frets Size
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence's Frets Size

The Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Cort KX500 Etched's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Cort KX500 Etched
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Cort KX500 Etched vs Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
General Cort KX500 Etched Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
Brand: Cort Dean
Year: 2020 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: KX Select
Colors: Black, Purple Red Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Eastern Mahogany
Bridge: Single Hardtailwith String Thru Body Evertune
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Cort Staggered Locking Machineheads Mini Grover 18:1
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 5pcs Maple & Purpleheart 3 Piece Maple
Decoration: Tear Drop Pearloid Ultra Diamond
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: D Slim C
Frets: 24 Medium Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 12"
Nut: Plastic NuBone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1