Head to head
Cort KX100 vs Ibanez AZES40
The short answer is that the pickup layouts differ (HH against HSS), and the scale lengths are not the same (25.5" against 25"). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 24 rows that actually differ marked out.
KX100
Iron Oxide
The cheapest sensible route into a 24-fret, flat-radius metal guitar
AZES40
Purist Blue
Nine pickup sounds from three pickups, and a short scale that suits smaller hands
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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 KX1007.2
- 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
| KX100 | AZES40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Ibanez |
| Model | KX100 | AZES40 |
| Finish | Iron Oxide | Purist Blue |
| Instrument | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Fretline score | 7.2 / 10 | 8.5 / 10 |
| Value for money | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 4.7 / 5 (3) | 4.5 / 5 (95) |
| Price | $300 - $500 | $300 - $500 |
| Type | Solidbody electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Body | KX double-cutaway | AZ double cutaway |
| Body wood | Nyatoh | Poplar |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on | Bolt-on |
| Neck wood | Hard maple | Maple (AZES profile) |
| Scale length | 25.5" (648 mm) | 25" (635 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Jatoba | Jatoba with white dot inlays |
| Radius | 15.75" (R400) | 9.84" (250 mm) |
| Frets | 24 | 22 |
| Fret size | — | Medium |
| Nut width | — | 42 mm |
| Bridge | Hardtail | T106 tremolo with comfort round steel saddles |
| Tuners | Die-cast | Ibanez machine heads with split shafts |
| Neck pickup | Cort Powersound humbucker | Essentials single-coil (passive, ceramic) |
| Bridge pickup | Cort Powersound 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 | Three-way switch | Five-way selector plus alter switch, giving nine pickup combinations |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
| Styles | Metal, Rock, Punk | 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.
Most versatile
Ibanez AZES40Highest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Ibanez AZES40Highest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for beginners
Ibanez AZES40Strongest overall score among the instruments we rate as beginner-friendly.
Best for the studio
Ibanez AZES40Build 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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