Head to head
Cort G280 Select vs Jackson X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS
The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets ($500 - $1,000 against $300 - $500), and the bridges work in fundamentally different ways. Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 23 rows that actually differ marked out.
G280 Select
Amber
A Stratocaster layout with the upgrades most players end up paying for anyway
X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS
Neon Green
A double-locking Floyd Rose and a compound radius, in the loudest finish Jackson makes
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Score profile
Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.
- Cort G280 Select8.7
- Jackson X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS8.3
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Specification by specification
| G280 Select | X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Jackson |
| Model | G280 Select | X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS |
| Finish | Amber | Neon Green |
| Instrument | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Fretline score | 8.7 / 10 | 8.3 / 10 |
| Value for money | 9 / 10 | 9 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 5.0 / 5 (3) | 5.0 / 5 (6) |
| Price | $500 - $1,000 | $300 - $500 |
| Type | Solidbody electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Body | G-series double-cutaway | Dinky solidbody with sculpted shredder heel |
| Body wood | Alder | Poplar |
| Top | Flamed maple | — |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on, two-way truss rod with spoke nut | Bolt-on, scarf joint with graphite reinforcement |
| Neck wood | Hard maple | Maple |
| Neck profile | Ergo-V (21 mm at first fret, 23 mm at twelfth) | — |
| Scale length | 25.5" (648 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Laurel |
| Radius | 12"-15.75" compound (R305-R400) | 12"-16" compound (304.8-406.4 mm) |
| Frets | 22 | 24 |
| Fret size | Medium-jumbo, nickel silver | Jumbo |
| Nut | Bone | Floyd Rose Special locking |
| Nut width | 1.65" (42 mm) | 1.6875" (42.86 mm) |
| Bridge | Cort CFA-III tremolo | Floyd Rose licensed Jackson double-locking tremolo |
| Tuners | Cort staggered locking | Jackson sealed die-cast |
| Neck pickup | Cort Voiced Tone VTS63 single-coil | Jackson single-coil |
| Bridge pickup | Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 humbucker | Jackson high-output humbucking |
| Configuration | HSS | HSS |
| Electronics | Passive | Passive |
| Controls | Volume, tone | Volume, tone |
| Switching | Five-way switch | 5-position blade |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Styles | Rock, Blues, Pop, Funk, Country, Indie | Metal, Rock, Prog, Punk |
| In the box | — | — |
A marked row is one where the two differ. A highlighted cell is the stronger figure where one can be judged objectively. Empty cells are specifications the manufacturer does not publish — never estimates.
Which one should you buy?
Computed from the specifications and our editorial scores for these two instruments only. It is not a general ranking.
Most versatile
Cort G280 SelectHighest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Cort G280 SelectHighest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for metal
Jackson X Series Dinky DK3XR HSSStrongest overall score among the instruments suited to metal.
Best for the studio
Cort G280 SelectBuild and tone scores combined, with credit for tuning-stability hardware that matters when tracking.
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Want a third opinion?
The comparator takes as many instruments as you like, not just two, and recomputes the whole table and every conclusion as you add them.
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