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Cort MBM-1
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
60
Value
76
Score
66
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Playability
73
Sound
68
Build
57
Value
76
Score
66
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Cort MBM-1 vs Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS

Reasons to Get
Cort MBM-1 over Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS

Type of Frets
Medium vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 15.75" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Soft V vs Cutlass
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickup Mods
Killswitch vs None
Cuts out the pickups instantly
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Reasons to Get
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS over Cort MBM-1

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
Narrow Tall vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Cutlass vs Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Compensated vs Plastic
Fixes intonation issues
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Other Key Differences
Cort MBM-1 vs Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS

Bridge Pickup
Manson Humbucker vs Sterling Single Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Manson Humbucker vs Sterling Single Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 4-2
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Compensated
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Cort MBM-1 vs Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
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
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that both instruments scored 66 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS wins when it comes to sound, playability. On the other hand, the Cort MBM-1 has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Cort MBM-1 is the better choice.

The Cort MBM-1 meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS meets only 5. 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 MBM-1
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 MBM-1 Overview

  • From Cort's 2020 META series
  • Matthew Bellamy Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Manson Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Manson Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Fully Adjustable & Tailpiece bridge
  • Soft V Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Cort Staggered Locking Machineheads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS Overview

  • From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Diecast 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

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.

Woods Used in the Cort MBM-1

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS

Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Cort MBM-1 has an HH configuration while the Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS has SSS pickups.

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.

On the other hand, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

The Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS pickups from a more specialized brand than the Cort MBM-1. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Funk and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS.

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

The Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS gives you 5 switch options while the Cort MBM-1 gives you 3. This means that the Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Cort MBM-1 comes with some kind of pickup modification: Killswitch.

A Killswitch lets you disengage the pickups instantly. It can be useful when playing live, and it allows you to create some cool sound effects by using the switch rapidly.

Cort MBM-1 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Cort MBM-1's switch options
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS'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: Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Cort MBM-1
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 67
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
Pickups 70
Sustain 65
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 68

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 MBM-1 compares to the Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS.

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 MBM-1 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 Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS comes with a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

Winner: Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS.

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.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

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 MBM-1'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 Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

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: Tie.

Tuners

The Cort MBM-1 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 MBM-1.

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.

Both have 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Cort MBM-1
  • Locking Tuners
  • Killswitch Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Cort MBM-1
Quality of materials 41
Features 75
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 60
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 57

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 MBM-1 Nut Width
Cort MBM-1 Nut Width
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS Nut Width
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Cort MBM-1 has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.1mm (0.004'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Cort MBM-1, 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 MBM-1 and Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS'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 MBM-1 Neck Profile
Cort MBM-1's neck profile
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS Neck Profile
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS'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 MBM-1 has a V type of neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

The Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS, 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 MBM-1 Fretboard Compound Radius
Cort MBM-1's Compound Fretboard Radius
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS Fingerboard Radius
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS'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 Cort MBM-1 is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Cort MBM-1:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Cort MBM-1 Frets Size
Cort MBM-1's Frets Size
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS Frets Size
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS's Frets Size

The Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Cort MBM-1'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 MBM-1
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Cort MBM-1 vs Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
General Cort MBM-1 Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
Brand: Cort Sterling
Year: 2020 2021
Configuration: HH SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: META Cutlass
Colors: Gray, Black Satin Black, Blue, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Poplar
Bridge: Fully Adjustable & Tailpiece Fulcrum Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Cort Staggered Locking Machineheads Diecast
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Maple
Neck Material: Hard Maple Hard Maple
Decoration: Dot Markers
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Soft V Cutlass
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 15.75" 12"
Nut: Plastic Compensated
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Manson Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Manson Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Killswitch None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1