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Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige
Cort KX500 Etched
VS
Playability
75
Sound
80
Build
75
Value
67
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
75
Sound
76
Build
60
Value
75
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige vs Cort KX500 Etched

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige over Cort KX500 Etched

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2023 vs 2020
From a more recent year
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
Wizard HP vs D
Thin neck for playing fast
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Plastic
Good tuning stability with rich tone
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs Multiple
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
17'' (431.8mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Cort KX500 Etched over Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige

Decorative Top
Ash Burl(Sand Blasted) vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
D vs Wizard HP
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs Multi-Voicing
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 17'' (431.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
75 vs 67
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige vs Cort KX500 Etched

Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Purpleheart
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige vs Cort KX500 Etched

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern
Same Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
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
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • 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 Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Cort KX500 Etched's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Cort KX500 Etched has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Cort KX500 Etched is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Cort KX500 Etched is the better choice.

The Cort KX500 Etched meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige 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

Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Cort KX500 Etched
  • 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 RGD3121 Prestige Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2023 RGD series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 17" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple/Wenge neck
  • Macassar Ebony 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
  • Mono-rail bridge
  • Wizard HP Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Cort KX500 Etched Overview

  • From Cort's 2020 KX series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash Burl(Sand Blasted) top
  • Mahogany body
  • 5pcs Maple & Purpleheart neck
  • Macassar Ebony 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
  • Single Hardtailwith String Thru Body bridge
  • D Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium frets
  • Cort Staggered Locking Machineheads 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

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
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.

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 KX500 Etched

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Purpleheart (also known as Amaranth) is a hard, dense wood with a brilliant tone. As its name suggests, the purple color makes this wood look exotic.

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: Cort KX500 Etched.

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

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Cort KX500 Etched's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Tie.

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 Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige offers Multi-Voicing.

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.

On the other hand, the Cort KX500 Etched comes with the following: 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 RGD3121 Prestige pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige's switch options
Cort KX500 Etched pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Cort KX500 Etched'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 KX500 Etched.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 80
Cort KX500 Etched
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 RGD3121 Prestige compares to the Cort KX500 Etched.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige is built in Japan while the Cort KX500 Etched is made in Indonesia.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

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: Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige

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 Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige has 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).

On the other hand, the Cort KX500 Etched comes with 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.

Winner: Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige.

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.

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

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
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Cort KX500 Etched
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • 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

Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige
Quality of materials 61
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
Cort KX500 Etched
Quality of materials 45
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60

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 RGD3121 Prestige Nut Width
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige Nut Width
Cort KX500 Etched Nut Width
Cort KX500 Etched Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige 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 RGD3121 Prestige, 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 RGD3121 Prestige's Scale Length
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige's Scale Length
Cort KX500 Etched's Scale Length
Cort KX500 Etched'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 Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige has the longest scale: 26.5". The Cort KX500 Etched is only 25.5" long. This is a 1'' (25.4mm) 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

Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige's neck profile
Cort KX500 Etched Neck Profile
Cort KX500 Etched'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 RGD3121 Prestige has a Wizard type of neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

The Cort KX500 Etched, 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 RGD3121 Prestige Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige's Fingerboard radius
Cort KX500 Etched Fingerboard Radius
Cort KX500 Etched'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 KX500 Etched's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige'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 Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige.

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 RGD3121 Prestige favors large hands more than the Cort KX500 Etched. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Cort KX500 Etched:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige Frets Size
Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige's Frets Size
Cort KX500 Etched Frets Size
Cort KX500 Etched's Frets Size

The Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Cort KX500 Etched'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

Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75
Cort KX500 Etched
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige vs Cort KX500 Etched
General Ibanez RGD3121 Prestige Cort KX500 Etched
Brand: Ibanez Cort
Year: 2023 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Indonesia
Series: RGD KX
Colors: Purple Black, Purple
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Mahogany
Bridge: Mono-rail Single Hardtailwith String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Cort Staggered Locking Machineheads
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Maple/Wenge 5pcs Maple & Purpleheart
Decoration: White Dot Tear Drop
Scale Size: 26.5" 25.5"
Shape: Wizard HP D
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.709'' (18mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 17" 15.75"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Plastic
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Coil Split, Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1