Head to head
Cort MR500E vs Cort SFX-MEM
They are closely matched on paper, so the differences are in the detail. Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 12 rows that actually differ marked out.
MR500E
Open Pore Natural
A solid spruce top, a cutaway and a working preamp — the jump worth making
SFX-MEM
Open Pore
A thin-bodied acoustic for people who find full-depth guitars uncomfortable
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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 MR500E8.0
- Cort SFX-MEM7.7
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
| MR500E | SFX-MEM | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Cort |
| Model | MR500E | SFX-MEM |
| Finish | Open Pore Natural | Open Pore |
| Instrument | Acoustic guitar | Acoustic guitar |
| Fretline score | 8.0 / 10 | 7.7 / 10 |
| Value for money | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 4.1 / 5 (8) | 4.3 / 5 (13) |
| Price | $300 - $500 | $300 - $500 |
| Type | Acoustic-electric guitar | Acoustic-electric guitar |
| Body | Dreadnought with Venetian cutaway | SFX slim body with Venetian cutaway, 83 x 83 mm depth |
| Body wood | Mahogany back and sides | Mahogany back and sides |
| Top | Solid spruce | Mahogany |
| Bracing | — | Advanced X-bracing |
| Neck joint | Dovetail neck joint | Dovetail neck joint |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck profile | C shape | C shape (21.0 mm at 1st fret, 22.5 mm at 7th) |
| Scale length | 25.5" (648 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Ovangkol | Laurel with dot inlays |
| Radius | 15.75" (R400) | 15.75" (R400) |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Nut | PPS | PPS |
| Nut width | 1.6875" (43 mm) | 1.6875" (43 mm) |
| Bridge | Ovangkol | Laurel |
| Tuners | Die-cast | Die-cast |
| Electronics | Cort CE304T three-band EQ preamp with built-in tuner | Cort CE304T three-band EQ preamp with built-in tuner |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Styles | Folk, Country, Blues, Pop, Rock, Indie | Folk, Pop, Blues, Indie, Rock |
| 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
Cort MR500EHighest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Cort SFX-MEMHighest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for beginners
Cort MR500EStrongest overall score among the instruments we rate as beginner-friendly.
Best for the studio
Cort MR500EBuild 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.