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Cort X700 Duality II
Cort G290 FAT II
VS
Playability
70
Sound
73
Build
68
Value
75
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
70
Sound
68
Build
68
Value
74
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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Cort X700 Duality II vs G290 FAT II

Reasons to Get
Cort X700 Duality II over G290 FAT II

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Neck Profile
D vs Ergo-V
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.656'' (42.1mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
75 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Cort G290 FAT II over X700 Duality II

Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Compound Radius
12" to 15.75" vs 15.75"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Ergo-V vs D
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Plastic
Good tuning stability with rich tone
Nut Width
1.656'' (42.1mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Cort X700 Duality II vs G290 FAT II

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic vs Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic vs Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Cort X700 Duality II vs G290 FAT II

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Decorative Top
Flamed Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • Luminescent Sidedots

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Cort X700 Duality II Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Cort X700 Duality II is probably the better product overall with its final score of 70 compared to the Cort G290 FAT II's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Cort X700 Duality II wins when it comes to sound, value for the money. On the other hand, the Cort G290 FAT II has the upper hand when it comes to.

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 G290 FAT II is the better choice.

The Cort G290 FAT II meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Cort X700 Duality II 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 X700 Duality II
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Cort G290 FAT II
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

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 X700 Duality II Overview

  • From Cort's 2022 X series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pcs Maple & Panga Panga neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Cort CFA-III Tremolo bridge
  • D Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Stainless Steel frets
  • Cort Staggered Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Cort G290 FAT II Overview

  • From Cort's 2022 G series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Roasted Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Cort CFA-III Tremolo bridge
  • Ergo-V Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Cort Staggered 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 the Cort X700 Duality II

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

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.

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 G290 FAT II

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Cort X700 Duality II.

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

The Cort X700 Duality II has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Cort G290 FAT II. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Cort X700 Duality II's and use them on any guitar:

The Cort X700 Duality II's pickups are Active while the Cort G290 FAT II's are Passive.

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: Cort X700 Duality II.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Cort X700 Duality II pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Cort X700 Duality II's switch options
Cort G290 FAT II pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Cort G290 FAT II'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 X700 Duality II
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 73
Cort G290 FAT II
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 75
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 X700 Duality II compares to the Cort G290 FAT II.

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 X700 Duality II 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 Cort G290 FAT II comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Winner: Cort G290 FAT II.

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 Cort X700 Duality II 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: Cort X700 Duality II.

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: 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

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.

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 X700 Duality II
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Cort G290 FAT II
  • Locking Tuners
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • 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 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Cort X700 Duality II
Quality of materials 65
Features 70
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 68
Cort G290 FAT II
Quality of materials 55
Features 80
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 68

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 X700 Duality II Nut Width
Cort X700 Duality II Nut Width
Cort G290 FAT II Nut Width
Cort G290 FAT II Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Cort X700 Duality II has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42.1mm (1.656''). This is a 0.8mm (0.032'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Cort X700 Duality II, 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 X700 Duality II and Cort G290 FAT II'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 X700 Duality II Neck Profile
Cort X700 Duality II's neck profile
Cort G290 FAT II Neck Profile
Cort G290 FAT II'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 X700 Duality II 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 Cort G290 FAT II, on the other hand, has a V 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.

Fretboard Radius

Cort X700 Duality II Fingerboard Radius
Cort X700 Duality II's Fingerboard radius
Cort G290 FAT II Fretboard Compound Radius
Cort G290 FAT II's Compound Fretboard 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 G290 FAT II 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 X700 Duality II:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Cort G290 FAT II:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Cort X700 Duality II and Cort G290 FAT II Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Cort X700 Duality II
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70
Cort G290 FAT II
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Cort X700 Duality II vs G290 FAT II
General Cort X700 Duality II G290 FAT II
Brand: Cort Cort
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: X G
Colors: Blue Burst, Red Burst Black Burst, Blue Burst, Orange Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Alder
Bridge: Cort CFA-III Tremolo Cort CFA-III Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Cort Staggered Locking Cort Staggered Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Roasted Maple
Neck Material: 3pcs Maple & Panga Panga Roasted Maple
Decoration: Abalone Dots with Black Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: D Ergo-V
Frets: 24 Medium Stainless Steel 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 12" to 15.75"
Nut: Plastic Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.1mm (1.656'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic (Humbucker / Active) Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic (Humbucker / Active) Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1