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Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label
Cort KX700 EverTune
VS
Playability
73
Sound
82
Build
68
Value
74
Score
74
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Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
68
Value
72
Score
72
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label vs Cort KX700 EverTune

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label over Cort KX700 EverTune

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
Nitro Wizard vs D
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
74 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Cort KX700 EverTune over Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
D vs Nitro Wizard
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) 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 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label vs Cort KX700 EverTune

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic vs Seymour Duncan Nazgul
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic vs Seymour Duncan Sentient
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Nyatoh vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Panga Panga vs Walnut
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label vs Cort KX700 EverTune

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
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
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Evertune
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Decorative Top
Maple vs Ash
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 RGD61ALET Axion Label is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Cort KX700 EverTune's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Cort KX700 EverTune 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?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Cort KX700 EverTune
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • 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.

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2020 RGD series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Nyatoh body
  • Panga Panga/Walnut neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune bridge
  • Nitro Wizard Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Cort KX700 EverTune Overview

  • From Cort's 2022 KX series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash top
  • Mahogany body
  • 5pcs Maple & Walnut neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Nazgul (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • EverTune ET001F 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 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 RGD61ALET Axion Label

Panga Panga wood pattern used for guitar building
Panga Panga
Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

Panga Panga is an African wood very similar to Wenge. It comes in a very dark color with tight grain. Its tonality favors the low-to-mid frequencies.

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Woods Used in the Cort KX700 EverTune

Walnut wood pattern used for guitar building
Walnut
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

It's a hard wood with a chocolate color that is often used to give an elegant finish. Since it's quite expensive and rare, it's mostly used for guitar tops. Find out more about Walnut.

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 KX700 EverTune.

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 RGD61ALET Axion Label's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Cort KX700 EverTune's online:

The Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label's pickups are Active while the Cort KX700 EverTune'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: 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.

Only the Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label's switch options
Cort KX700 EverTune pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Cort KX700 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: Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 82
Cort KX700 EverTune
Pickups 85
Sustain 65
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 77

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 RGD61ALET Axion Label compares to the Cort KX700 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 Cort KX700 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: Cort KX700 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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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: 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 RGD61ALET Axion Label
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Cort KX700 EverTune
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label
Quality of materials 55
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 68
Cort KX700 EverTune
Quality of materials 65
Features 65
Quality Control 75
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

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label Nut Width
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label Nut Width
Cort KX700 EverTune Nut Width
Cort KX700 EverTune Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label, 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 RGD61ALET Axion Label's Scale Length
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label's Scale Length
Cort KX700 EverTune's Scale Length
Cort KX700 EverTune'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 RGD61ALET Axion Label has the longest scale: 26.5". The Cort KX700 EverTune 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 RGD61ALET Axion Label Neck Profile
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label's neck profile
Cort KX700 EverTune Neck Profile
Cort KX700 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 Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label 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 KX700 EverTune, 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 RGD61ALET Axion Label Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label's Fingerboard radius
Cort KX700 EverTune Fingerboard Radius
Cort KX700 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 KX700 EverTune's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label'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 RGD61ALET Axion Label.

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.

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 .

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Cort KX700 EverTune:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label Frets Size
Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label's Frets Size
Cort KX700 EverTune Frets Size
Cort KX700 EverTune's Frets Size

The Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Cort KX700 EverTune'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 RGD61ALET Axion Label
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73
Cort KX700 EverTune
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label vs Cort KX700 EverTune
General Ibanez RGD61ALET Axion Label Cort KX700 EverTune
Brand: Ibanez Cort
Year: 2020 2022
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: RGD KX
Colors: Gray Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Nyatoh Mahogany
Bridge: Evertune EverTune ET001F
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Cort Staggered Locking
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Panga Panga/Walnut 5pcs Maple & Walnut
Decoration: White Step off-set dot
Scale Size: 26.5" 25.5"
Shape: Nitro Wizard D
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Medium Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 16" 15.75"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active) Seymour Duncan Nazgul (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active) Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1