Head to head
Cort G290 FAT II vs Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium
The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets ($500 - $1,000 against Over $2,000), and the pickup layouts differ (HH against HSH). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 23 rows that actually differ marked out.
G290 FAT II
Bright Blue Burst
Two humbuckers and a five-way switch — far more sounds than the layout suggests
JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium
White
The Vai signature, minus the Japanese price and almost none of the specification
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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 JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium8.8
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
| G290 FAT II | JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Ibanez |
| Model | G290 FAT II | JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium |
| Finish | Bright Blue Burst | White |
| Instrument | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Fretline score | 8.8 / 10 | 8.8 / 10 |
| Value for money | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 5.0 / 5 (1) | 4.5 / 5 (18) |
| Price | $500 - $1,000 | Over $2,000 |
| Type | Solidbody electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Body | G-series double-cutaway | JEM solidbody with Monkey Grip handle |
| Body wood | Alder | Alder |
| Top | Flamed maple veneer | — |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on | Bolt-on |
| Neck wood | Roasted maple | Wizard five-piece maple and walnut with KTS titanium reinforcement rods |
| Neck profile | Ergo-V | Wizard, 18 mm at the 1st fret and 20 mm at the 12th |
| Scale length | 25.5" (648 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Roasted maple | Ebony |
| Radius | 12"-15.75" compound (R305-R400) | 15.75" (400 mm) |
| Frets | 22 | 24 |
| Fret size | Medium-jumbo, nickel silver | Jumbo, premium fret edge treatment |
| Nut | Graph Tech Black TUSQ | — |
| Nut width | 1.65" (42 mm) | 43 mm |
| Bridge | Cort CFA-III tremolo | Edge tremolo with Lion's Claw cavity |
| Tuners | Cort staggered locking | Gotoh machine heads |
| Neck pickup | Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 humbucker | DiMarzio Evolution humbucker |
| Bridge pickup | Cort Voiced Tone VTH77 humbucker | DiMarzio Evolution humbucker |
| Configuration | HH | HSH |
| Electronics | Passive | Passive |
| Controls | Volume, tone | Volume, tone |
| Switching | Five-way super switch | Five-position blade |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced, Professional | Advanced, Professional |
| Styles | Rock, Blues, Metal, Funk, Pop, Indie | Metal, Rock, Prog, Funk, Jazz |
| In the box | — | Gig bag included |
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 G290 FAT IIHighest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature PremiumHighest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for the studio
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature PremiumBuild 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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