Head to head
Cort G280 Select vs Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J
The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets ($500 - $1,000 against Under $300). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 25 rows that actually differ marked out.
G280 Select
Amber
A Stratocaster layout with the upgrades most players end up paying for anyway
Pacifica PAC112J
Black
The beginner guitar teachers actually recommend, and an alder body at Squier money
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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
- Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J8.5
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 | Pacifica PAC112J | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Yamaha |
| Model | G280 Select | Pacifica PAC112J |
| Finish | Amber | Black |
| Instrument | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Fretline score | 8.7 / 10 | 8.5 / 10 |
| Value for money | 9 / 10 | 10 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 5.0 / 5 (3) | 5.0 / 5 (1) |
| Price | $500 - $1,000 | Under $300 |
| Type | Solidbody electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Body | G-series double-cutaway | Pacifica double cutaway |
| Body wood | Alder | Alder |
| Top | Flamed maple | — |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on, two-way truss rod with spoke nut | Bolt-on |
| Neck wood | Hard maple | Maple |
| Neck profile | Ergo-V (21 mm at first fret, 23 mm at twelfth) | 20.9 mm at 1st fret, 22.9 mm at 12th |
| Scale length | 25.5" (648 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Rosewood or walnut, depending on production run |
| Radius | 12"-15.75" compound (R305-R400) | 13.75" (350 mm) |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Fret size | Medium-jumbo, nickel silver | Medium |
| Nut | Bone | Urea |
| Nut width | 1.65" (42 mm) | 41 mm at the zero fret |
| Bridge | Cort CFA-III tremolo | Vintage-style tremolo with block saddles |
| Tuners | Cort staggered locking | Die-cast |
| Neck pickup | Cort Voiced Tone VTS63 single-coil | Single-coil, alnico V |
| Bridge pickup | Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 humbucker | Humbucker, ceramic |
| Configuration | HSS | HSS |
| Electronics | Passive | Passive |
| Controls | Volume, tone | Master volume, master tone |
| Switching | Five-way switch | Five-position lever |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Styles | Rock, Blues, Pop, Funk, Country, Indie | Rock, Blues, Pop, Funk, Indie, Metal |
| 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
Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JHighest 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
Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JStrongest overall score among the instruments we rate as beginner-friendly.
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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