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Cort MBM-2
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune
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Playability
72
Sound
66
Build
62
Value
72
Score
67
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Playability
77
Sound
81
Build
69
Value
76
Score
76
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Cort MBM-2 vs LTD TE-1000 Evertune

Reasons to Get
Cort MBM-2 over LTD TE-1000 Evertune

Release Year
2022 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 15.75" vs 13.78"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Soft V vs Thin U
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickup Mods
Killswitch vs Coil Split
Cuts out the pickups instantly
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Pickups
HP90 vs HH
High-output rhythm with vintage soloing tones
Nut Width
1.656'' (42.1mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Evertune
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune over Cort MBM-2

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Soft V
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
EMG vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Killswitch
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
HH vs HP90
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.656'' (42.1mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Evertune vs Fixed
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
76 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Cort MBM-2 vs LTD TE-1000 Evertune

Bridge Pickup
Manson Humbucker vs EMG 81
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Manson P-90 vs EMG 60TW-R
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Cort MBM-2 vs LTD TE-1000 Evertune

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • High-Quality Nut
  • 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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ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Cort MBM-2's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Cort MBM-2 in every aspect.

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-2 is the better choice.

The Cort MBM-2 meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune 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-2
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • 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 MBM-2 Overview

  • From Cort's 2022 META series
  • Matthew Bellamy Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge 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 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2021 TE series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60TW-R (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune (F model) bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • LTD Locking 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-2

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 ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune

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.

Winner: ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune.

Pickup Configuration

The Cort MBM-2 has an HP90 configuration while the ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune has HH pickups.

HP90 means it rocks a Humbucker at the bridge and a P90 at the neck. This is not a usual combination, which makes guitars like this really special. You'll get high-output rhythm pickups and a classy slightly cleaner tone excellent for blues and similar genres.

On the other hand, 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

The ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune pickups from a more specialized brand than the Cort MBM-2. 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 Heavy Metal and similar genres.

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune's online:

The Cort MBM-2's pickups are Passive while the ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune.

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 MBM-2 offers 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.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune comes with the following: Coil Split.

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.

Cort MBM-2 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Cort MBM-2's switch options
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Cort MBM-2
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 66
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 81

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-2 compares to the ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune.

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.

In this case, both have Plastic nuts. 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.

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 ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune 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: ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune.

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-2'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 ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune'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: ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune.

Tuners

They both have 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: Tie.

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 MBM-2 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 ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune 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 MBM-2.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Cort MBM-2
  • 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
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Cort MBM-2
Quality of materials 41
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune
Quality of materials 66
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 69

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-2 Nut Width
Cort MBM-2 Nut Width
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune Nut Width
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Cort MBM-2 has the wider nut with 42.1mm (1.656'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.1mm (0.002'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Cort MBM-2, 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-2 and ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune'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-2 Neck Profile
Cort MBM-2's neck profile
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune Neck Profile
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune'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-2 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 ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune, on the other hand, has a U neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

Cort MBM-2 Fretboard Compound Radius
Cort MBM-2's Compound Fretboard Radius
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune'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-2 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-2:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Cort MBM-2 Frets Size
Cort MBM-2's Frets Size
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune Frets Size
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune's Frets Size

The ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Cort MBM-2'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-2
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Cort MBM-2 vs LTD TE-1000 Evertune
General Cort MBM-2 LTD TE-1000 Evertune
Brand: Cort ESP LTD
Year: 2022 2021
Configuration: HP90 HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: META TE
Colors: Gray, Black Satin Black, Natural Burst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Mahogany w/ Maple Cap
Bridge: Fully Adjustable & Tailpiece Evertune (F model)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Cort Staggered Locking LTD Locking
Fretboard: Laurel Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Hard Maple 3pc Maple
Decoration: Offset Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Soft V Thin U
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 15.75" 13.78"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 42.1mm (1.656'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Manson Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Manson P-90 (Single Coil / Passive) EMG 60TW-R (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Killswitch Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1