Head to head

Cort G290 FAT II vs Ibanez AZES40

The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets ($500 - $1,000 against $300 - $500), and the pickup layouts differ (HH against HSS). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 25 rows that actually differ marked out.

Cort

G290 FAT II

Bright Blue Burst

Two humbuckers and a five-way switch — far more sounds than the layout suggests

8.8/105.0 (1)

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Ibanez

AZES40

Purist Blue

Nine pickup sounds from three pickups, and a short scale that suits smaller hands

8.5/104.5 (95)

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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 G290 FAT II8.8
Ibanez AZES408.5

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

Cort G290 FAT II compared with Ibanez AZES40
	G290 FAT II	AZES40
Brand	Cort	Ibanez
Model	G290 FAT II	AZES40
Finish	Bright Blue Burst	Purist Blue
Instrument	Electric guitar	Electric guitar
Fretline score	8.8 / 10	8.5 / 10
Value for money	9 / 10	9 / 10
Amazon rating	5.0 / 5 (1)	4.5 / 5 (95)
Price	$500 - $1,000	$300 - $500
Type	Solidbody electric guitar	Electric guitar
Body	G-series double-cutaway	AZ double cutaway
Body wood	Alder	Poplar
Top	Flamed maple veneer	—
Neck joint	Bolt-on	Bolt-on
Neck wood	Roasted maple	Maple (AZES profile)
Neck profile	Ergo-V	—
Scale length	25.5" (648 mm)	25" (635 mm)
Fingerboard	Roasted maple	Jatoba with white dot inlays
Radius	12"-15.75" compound (R305-R400)	9.84" (250 mm)
Frets	22	22
Fret size	Medium-jumbo, nickel silver	Medium
Nut	Graph Tech Black TUSQ	—
Nut width	1.65" (42 mm)	42 mm
Bridge	Cort CFA-III tremolo	T106 tremolo with comfort round steel saddles
Tuners	Cort staggered locking	Ibanez machine heads with split shafts
Neck pickup	Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 humbucker	Essentials single-coil (passive, ceramic)
Bridge pickup	Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 humbucker	Accord humbucker (passive, ceramic)
Configuration	HH	HSS
Electronics	Passive	Passive, dyna-MIX9 switching with Alter switch
Controls	Volume, tone	Volume, tone, alter switch
Switching	Five-way super switch	Five-way selector plus alter switch, giving nine pickup combinations
Orientation	Right-handed	Right-handed
Skill level	Intermediate, Advanced, Professional	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Styles	Rock, Blues, Metal, Funk, Pop, 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.