Head to head
Cort G280 Select vs Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster
The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets ($500 - $1,000 against $300 - $500), and the pickup layouts differ (HSS against SSS). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 27 rows that actually differ marked out.
G280 Select
Amber
A Stratocaster layout with the upgrades most players end up paying for anyway
Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster
Candy Apple Red
Alnico pickups and a bone nut on a Squier — the reason this line has the reputation it does
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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
- Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster8.7
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 | Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Squier |
| Model | G280 Select | Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster |
| Finish | Amber | Candy Apple Red |
| Instrument | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Fretline score | 8.7 / 10 | 8.7 / 10 |
| Value for money | 9 / 10 | 10 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 5.0 / 5 (3) | 4.5 / 5 (232) |
| Price | $500 - $1,000 | $300 - $500 |
| Type | Solidbody electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Body | G-series double-cutaway | Stratocaster |
| Body wood | Alder | Nyatoh |
| Top | Flamed maple | — |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on, two-way truss rod with spoke nut | Bolt-on, four-bolt Squier neck plate |
| Neck wood | Hard maple | Maple |
| Neck profile | Ergo-V (21 mm at first fret, 23 mm at twelfth) | "C" shape |
| Scale length | 25.5" (648 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Indian laurel |
| Radius | 12"-15.75" compound (R305-R400) | 9.5" (241 mm) |
| Frets | 22 | 21 |
| Fret size | Medium-jumbo, nickel silver | Narrow tall |
| Nut | Bone | Bone |
| Nut width | 1.65" (42 mm) | 1.650" (42 mm) |
| Bridge | Cort CFA-III tremolo | Six-saddle vintage-style synchronized tremolo |
| Tuners | Cort staggered locking | Vintage-style |
| Neck pickup | Cort Voiced Tone VTS63 single-coil | Fender-Designed alnico single-coil |
| Bridge pickup | Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 humbucker | Fender-Designed alnico single-coil |
| Configuration | HSS | SSS |
| Electronics | Passive | Passive, alnico magnets |
| Controls | Volume, tone | Master volume, tone 1 (neck/middle), tone 2 (bridge) |
| Switching | Five-way switch | Five-position blade |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
| Styles | Rock, Blues, Pop, Funk, Country, Indie | Blues, Rock, Pop, Funk, Country, Indie |
| 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.
Best value
Squier Classic Vibe '60s StratocasterHighest editorial value-for-money score of the instruments compared.
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 beginners
Squier Classic Vibe '60s StratocasterStrongest overall score among the instruments we rate as beginner-friendly.
Best for the studio
Squier Classic Vibe '60s StratocasterBuild 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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