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Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist
Cort X700 Mutility
VS
Playability
73
Sound
62
Build
57
Value
69
Score
64
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Playability
78
Sound
76
Build
70
Value
75
Score
75
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Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist vs Cort X700 Mutility

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist over Cort X700 Mutility

Release Year
2023 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Scale Length
24.75" vs 25.5" to 24.75"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
AF Expressionist vs D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Solid Body
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Cort X700 Mutility over Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Scale Length
25.5" to 24.75" vs 24.75"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
D vs AF Expressionist
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs None
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Solid Body vs Hollowbody
Feedback free
Number of Frets
24 vs 20
Allows to reach higher notes
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
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
75 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist vs Cort X700 Mutility

Bridge Pickup
Super 58 vs Fishman Fluence Modern
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Super 58 vs Fishman Fluence Modern
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist vs Cort X700 Mutility

Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Frets
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 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 the Cort X700 Mutility is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's 64 score, which is a significant difference.

The Cort X700 Mutility wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Cort X700 Mutility.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Cort X700 Mutility is the better choice.

The Cort X700 Mutility meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist meets only 4. 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

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Cort X700 Mutility
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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.

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2023 AF series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Linden body
  • 3pc Nyatoh/Maple neck
  • Bound Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Walnut bridge
  • AF Expressionist Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Cort X700 Mutility Overview

  • From Cort's 2021 X series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5" to 24.75"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Roasted Maple (Luminous dot inlays) 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
  • Individual w/ String Thru Body bridge
  • D Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Stainless Steel 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 Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist

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

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.

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 Cort X700 Mutility

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

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.

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: 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

The Cort X700 Mutility pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist. 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 Cort X700 Mutility's online:

The Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's pickups are Passive while the Cort X700 Mutility'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: Cort X700 Mutility.

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.

Only the Cort X700 Mutility comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's switch options
Cort X700 Mutility pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Cort X700 Mutility'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 X700 Mutility.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 62
Cort X700 Mutility
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 76

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 Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist compares to the Cort X700 Mutility.

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 Cort X700 Mutility 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 Mutility.

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 X700 Mutility 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 X700 Mutility.

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 Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist has a 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.

On the other hand, the Cort X700 Mutility comes with 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: Cort X700 Mutility.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist
  • Expensive Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Cort X700 Mutility
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist
Quality of materials 46
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 57
Cort X700 Mutility
Quality of materials 61
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 70

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

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist Nut Width
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist Nut Width
Cort X700 Mutility Nut Width
Cort X700 Mutility Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist 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 Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's Scale Length
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's Scale Length
Cort X700 Mutility's Scale Length
Cort X700 Mutility'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.

In this case, the Cort X700 Mutility features a multi-scale of 25.5" to 24.75" while the Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist has a regular scale of 24.75".

A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

On the other hand, the Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's 24.75" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

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

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist Neck Profile
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's neck profile
Cort X700 Mutility Neck Profile
Cort X700 Mutility'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 Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist has a C type of 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.

The Cort X700 Mutility, on the other hand, has a D 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.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's Fingerboard radius
Cort X700 Mutility Fingerboard Radius
Cort X700 Mutility'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 Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Cort X700 Mutility'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 X700 Mutility.

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 Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist favors large hands more than the Cort X700 Mutility.

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Cort X700 Mutility:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist and Cort X700 Mutility 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

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Cort X700 Mutility
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist vs Cort X700 Mutility
General Ibanez AF95 Artcore Expressionist Cort X700 Mutility
Brand: Ibanez Cort
Year: 2023 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: AF X
Colors: Sunburst Black Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Solid Body
Body Material: Linden Mahogany
Bridge: Walnut Individual w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Ibanez Cort Staggered Locking
Fretboard: Bound Macassar Ebony Roasted Maple (Luminous dot inlays)
Neck Material: 3pc Nyatoh/Maple Roasted Maple
Decoration: Acrylic block Offset Dots
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5" to 24.75"
Shape: AF Expressionist D
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.945'' (24mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 24 Medium Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" 15.75"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split, Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 1