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Cort MBM-2
Yamaha RSS02T
VS
Playability
72
Sound
66
Build
62
Value
72
Score
67
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Playability
80
Sound
74
Build
65
Value
78
Score
73
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Cort MBM-2 vs Yamaha RSS02T

Reasons to Get
Cort MBM-2 over Yamaha RSS02T

Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
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 Revstar C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickup Mods
Killswitch vs Boost
Cuts out the pickups instantly
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Pickups
HP90 vs P90P90
High-output rhythm with vintage soloing tones
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.656'' (42.1mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Yamaha RSS02T over Cort MBM-2

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
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
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Revstar C vs Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Yamaha vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Boost vs Killswitch
Increases the output of the pickup
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
P90P90 vs HP90
Vintage tone with decent versatility
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.656'' (42.1mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
78 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Cort MBM-2 vs Yamaha RSS02T

Bridge Pickup
Manson Humbucker vs VP5b
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Manson P-90 vs VP5n
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Cort MBM-2 vs Yamaha RSS02T

Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
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
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Frets

Common Weaknesses

  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • 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

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Yamaha RSS02T is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Cort MBM-2's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Yamaha RSS02T 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 Yamaha RSS02T 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

Yamaha RSS02T
  • 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-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 >

Yamaha RSS02T Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2022 REVSTAR series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Top: Maple / Back: Chambered Mahogany body
  • 3-Piece Mahogany, Carbon Reinforcement neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: VP5b (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Revstar C Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Die-Cast 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 the Cort MBM-2

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

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.

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 Yamaha RSS02T

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Yamaha RSS02T.

Pickup Configuration

The Cort MBM-2 has an HP90 configuration while the Yamaha RSS02T has P90P90 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, P90P90 gives you two P90s for a crunchy vintage tone. The tone sits somewhere in the middle between typical single-coils and humbuckers. They also produce less hum than single-coils, but they don't cancel it completely like humbuckers.

Pickups Quality

The Yamaha RSS02T 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 Blues 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: Yamaha RSS02T.

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 Yamaha RSS02T gives you 5 switch options while the Cort MBM-2 gives you 3. This means that the Yamaha RSS02T gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

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 Yamaha RSS02T comes with the following: Boost.

A Boost will give your pickups more output, similar to an active pickup. It's great if you like to use a lot of output for heavy genres, but also like to use a cleaner tone often.

Cort MBM-2 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Cort MBM-2's switch options
Yamaha RSS02T pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Yamaha RSS02T'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: Yamaha RSS02T.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Cort MBM-2
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 66
Yamaha RSS02T
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

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 Yamaha RSS02T.

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 Yamaha RSS02T 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: Yamaha RSS02T.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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.

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-2 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-2.

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 Yamaha RSS02T 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
Yamaha RSS02T
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • 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
Yamaha RSS02T
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 65

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
Yamaha RSS02T Nut Width
Yamaha RSS02T 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 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.2mm (0.006'') 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's Scale Length
Cort MBM-2's Scale Length
Yamaha RSS02T's Scale Length
Yamaha RSS02T's 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.

The Cort MBM-2 has the longest scale: 25.5". The Yamaha RSS02T is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

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
Yamaha RSS02T Neck Profile
Yamaha RSS02T'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 Yamaha RSS02T, 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-2 Fretboard Compound Radius
Cort MBM-2's Compound Fretboard Radius
Yamaha RSS02T Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha RSS02T'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
Yamaha RSS02T:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Cort MBM-2 Frets Size
Cort MBM-2's Frets Size
Yamaha RSS02T Frets Size
Yamaha RSS02T's Frets Size

The Yamaha RSS02T has 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
Yamaha RSS02T
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Cort MBM-2 vs Yamaha RSS02T
General Cort MBM-2 Yamaha RSS02T
Brand: Cort Yamaha
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: HP90 P90P90
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: META REVSTAR
Colors: Gray, Black Satin Black, Blue, Red, Yellow Burst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Top: Maple / Back: Chambered Mahogany
Bridge: Fully Adjustable & Tailpiece Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Cort Staggered Locking Die-Cast
Fretboard: Laurel Rosewood
Neck Material: Hard Maple 3-Piece Mahogany, Carbon Reinforcement
Decoration: Lines
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Soft V Revstar C
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 15.75" 12"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 42.1mm (1.656'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Manson Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) VP5b (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Manson P-90 (Single Coil / Passive) VP5n (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Killswitch Boost
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1