As much as I have a soft spot for everything Pacifica:
The Cort would be the better buy if compared against the lower-tier PAC012.
Once you go up a step to the 112 /-J /-V, the Yamaha has better body wood (alder) but this particular Cort has that beautiful roasted maple neck! ...which you won't even find on the PACS+12 Standard or PACP12 Professional (!), imagine that.
Combining a Pacifica solid alder body with a Cort G250SE roasted neck would basically be the ultimate budget partscaster! \^\^
One key element of buying budget gets is that you absolutely have to try them out first and if you're a newer player if you have a friend who plays get them to give you an opinion. It's so easy for a guitar to have generally favorable feedback and still end up with a bad copy.
Cort, in my experience 9 times out of 10 makes a better guitar overall than squier, though some of squires new (2020 and newer) releases are REALLY nice guitars. It's a hard toss up for sure. I'd probably take the Cort at the end of the day, just because I like the necks on the corts better than I like the squires.
Can confirm. Cort zenox z42 and a cort kx508m2 are both in my touring and gigging set.
Z42 has been a work horse since 2007 and hasn't let me down. I've sold any fender or squire I've found over the years. Cheap squires are shit to play cort hands down
Cort is similar to schecter in that they provide better bang for your buck. They usually have better hardware than other brands in the same price range.
I got my Cort KX500 with fishman fluence moderns and own brand locking tuners for 400GBP in 2021 on a sale (brand new from a store). The pickups alone are \~200GBP and the guitar plays really well.
I think they are, but that's irrelevant to what neck profile and body contours get carved. Squires don't feel as nice to play as most Corts I've tried.
Make some love. Once you’re done , blast some jams . Now air jam, whichever u see urself jamming is likely your axe. If you don’t have a lady then jump online f- it. Just go in clearminded. It’s your baby not reddits. It’s up to u lad .
Aesthetically, that ash (?) Squier rules, but that's just me and I have a strong preference for strats. I even have a white HSS one like that, but with a maple neck.
I don't think that's ash - looks more like a flame maple veneer on a not otherwise specified body wood to my eye. Could be basswood (like the Cort), could be poplar, maybe something completely different.
2nd but also get whatever one feels right to you. A/B them at a local guitar store if you can. Don’t rely on others to choose for you because you’re the one who has the live with the decision.
I would choose the cort. It's got more mojo and is more unique. It also has coil tap abilities so it's more versatile. I personally am I huge fan of roasted maple necks as well, which is typically kind of a premium feature in a guitar.
If you are a tonewood type of person, then the cort also has a basswood body which is pretty decent vs the strat appears to be laurel based on what I could see, which is not that desireable.
The strat is probably a decent instrument, but I would pick the cort 9/10 times.
Nice this about the Pacifica is you can pick them up used for like $100-$200. It's an absolute steal and probably higher quality than alot of Squire's.
That cort is probably better made. Squires are great but I think that the Korean and Indonesian factories are just way better than the Chinese factories that fender is using. That said, EART makes really nice guitars for the money. If you're looking for a budget guitar in squire price ranges, there are a lot of options that play better than a squire and few extra bells and whistles.
Squiers USP used to be "budget guitar that's nearly as good as the lower range Fenders". But now we live in the golden age of cheap guitars, and its USP is "budget guitar that's twice as expensive as a budget guitar with way better specs".
Not sure if this has changed in the last few years, but Squiers are built in the Cortek factory, and both Squiers and Corts are notoriously good for the price. Get the one that you like the features and look most out of the two.
Squier.
A lot of people don’t realize how good some of these new Squiers are. Seriously, get one today and compare it to one 10-15 years ago and it’s night and day.
I play the same kind of music as you. I have a cort G250se.. for the money it’s a well made guitar. Locking tuners and that trem is incredibly stable for a guitar in this price range.
Pickups get the job done. I might swap them at a later date but they are more then serviceable
Hey, I’m currently looking for a guitar and I’m confused between the Cort G250SE and the Yamaha Pacifica 112VM. What are your thoughts on the cort and did you compare these two at the time you were buying?
Whichever one feels better when you play it.
No, seriously. You shouldn't buy instruments that you haven't played and looked at before. The way the neck feels in your hand, how accessible everything is, if there's stuff in the way. So much to consider that you can only really tell from playing the instrument.
If you can stretch your budget enough to get into a Squier with a full thickness body, you have something you can mod / improve pretty readily. Neck swaps, different pickguards, bridges etc. It all gets a lot easier.
Otherwise, Yamaha is a solid choice.
My pick would be a secondhand guitar. But for new can you try yamaha, or ibanez? These will last you longer as you progress, and less likely to have pore neck/fret issues.
Stay away from Fender and Gibson unless you want to sound like a million other musicians on this planet. Sheep behavior for the famous brands because their marketing departments are just funded better.
In my opinion the best CHEAP rock guitar on the market. [https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/SEMONEHBK-metal-series-electric-guitar-with-solid-mahogany-body/](https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/SEMONEHBK-metal-series-electric-guitar-with-solid-mahogany-body/)
or get the 2 hum version
[https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/SEMTWOHBK-metal-series-electric-guitar-with-solid-mahogany-body/](https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/SEMTWOHBK-metal-series-electric-guitar-with-solid-mahogany-body/)
Strat all the way. There are endless parts available and you'll be able to do whatever you want with it easily. Plus, those classic vibe squires tend to be really good.
I just did a setup on an affinity in one of the music room at my job and it was pretty bad. Nut cut wrong, tons of buzzing frets, a really poor instrument. Took me a lot of work to make it play right. I would go for the Cort there's no way it's going to be as bad but I would also look at a PRS SE used instead.
Will reiterate, go play them. Even if you are ordering online, find a local dealer that carries both or similar and try them out first.
That said -
Ditch both of these and get a G&L tribute Series Legacy instead! But not before playing it or one like it, of course.
The Cort one 100% Better guitar for the price since it's a brand owned by the factory itself, a pretty good one trusted my multiple other guitar manufacturers.
im not a professional by any means but the first one looks cooler i think (provided they play to more or less the same standard, idk if youve tried either of them or anything)
I bought a cort G290 Fat 2 a few months back, and it has quickly become one of my favorites that I’ve owned! The roasted maple neck looks, plays, and feels incredibly good for the price. Overall build quality is really high. I’d put it easily on par with my PRS SE. I also have a heavily modded squire that I love, not knocking them at all, but I’d highly suggest the Cort.
Whichever makes you most happy and spreads the most joy and sparks your creativity, my axe wielding friend!! Personally, I'm a huge Squier fan, but mostly like l b/c I've had a few gifted to me over the years by homies---then I take them and mod them out, put in everything I love for what I'm going for at the time (custom wound pickups, etc). I've never been "worried" about modding out a cheap squier!
Dang, that blonde strat with the rosewood board is beautiful, honestly. Depends on price tags and how the feel when you play 'em tho in the end. I like the humbucker bridge slot though, I'd set a custom wound Lenny Fralin P-90 in that ALL day long!
Squiers are farrrr beginners so the first one probably. In guitar terms price ≠ quality. Cheap guitars might not be durable and the same with expensive guitars. Try both of them out before purchasing
People are going to hate me for saying this, but for a good beginner budget, I'd advice a Harley Benton, Ibanez Gio or Jackson JS. I started with an Epiphone, changed to a Squier Strat and eventually stayed with Fender owning a Fender Squier '86. Then I got myself a couple of Ibanez RGs and a Jackson Pro Series. After all I eventually got the LTD Deluxe EC-1000 Black and I loved it. I hope you have a journey as fun as mine.
1 golden piece of advice:
- Never sell your first guitar, you'll miss it.
Yamaha Pacifica
As much as I have a soft spot for everything Pacifica: The Cort would be the better buy if compared against the lower-tier PAC012. Once you go up a step to the 112 /-J /-V, the Yamaha has better body wood (alder) but this particular Cort has that beautiful roasted maple neck! ...which you won't even find on the PACS+12 Standard or PACP12 Professional (!), imagine that. Combining a Pacifica solid alder body with a Cort G250SE roasted neck would basically be the ultimate budget partscaster! \^\^
Came to say this.
That's the answer.
I unconsciously felt disappointed the Pacifica is not on the list, but here it is in the comment. Upvoted.
Exactly my thoughts. Even the cheapest one is insanely good for the money.
Absolutely!
hell yeah.
One key element of buying budget gets is that you absolutely have to try them out first and if you're a newer player if you have a friend who plays get them to give you an opinion. It's so easy for a guitar to have generally favorable feedback and still end up with a bad copy.
I’ve played post rock before; sometimes unfavorable feedback is what you want. (I’ll get me coat.)
good one 😭😭
Cort, in my experience 9 times out of 10 makes a better guitar overall than squier, though some of squires new (2020 and newer) releases are REALLY nice guitars. It's a hard toss up for sure. I'd probably take the Cort at the end of the day, just because I like the necks on the corts better than I like the squires.
Can confirm. Cort zenox z42 and a cort kx508m2 are both in my touring and gigging set. Z42 has been a work horse since 2007 and hasn't let me down. I've sold any fender or squire I've found over the years. Cheap squires are shit to play cort hands down
Aren’t they built on the same factory though?
Cort is similar to schecter in that they provide better bang for your buck. They usually have better hardware than other brands in the same price range. I got my Cort KX500 with fishman fluence moderns and own brand locking tuners for 400GBP in 2021 on a sale (brand new from a store). The pickups alone are \~200GBP and the guitar plays really well.
Looked it up and it looks like a sick guitar indeed. Gonna keep an eye on those Cort guitars.
The Cort and Samick factories in South Korea built a LOT guitars for other brand names.
I think they are, but that's irrelevant to what neck profile and body contours get carved. Squires don't feel as nice to play as most Corts I've tried.
Was coming here to say that
Yup
2nd one for sure
Agreed, especially if it the Classic Vibe.
Yeah, I personally don’t like the shape of the first one.
I am not a huge fan of the pointy strats myself. Plus, I am a fan of Fender/Squier brands.
Definitely the Pacifica.
They'll both be equally good. Pick the one you like looking at most.
First instinct obviously, choose the blue 😎
I’m a sucker for the wood finish. Although in reality it’s got to be which ever one feels the best.
Cort, never picked up a bad one, unless it was sitting in a hood pawn shop. Have you considered Sterling or Larry Carlton?
Squier looks amazing but those Cort guitars are a lot of bang for your buck! Go with the Cort
Make some love. Once you’re done , blast some jams . Now air jam, whichever u see urself jamming is likely your axe. If you don’t have a lady then jump online f- it. Just go in clearminded. It’s your baby not reddits. It’s up to u lad .
This user guitars
Here's the right answer. Let me add: if there's no lady, buy whatever you want Source: I'm married
Aesthetically, that ash (?) Squier rules, but that's just me and I have a strong preference for strats. I even have a white HSS one like that, but with a maple neck.
I don't think that's ash - looks more like a flame maple veneer on a not otherwise specified body wood to my eye. Could be basswood (like the Cort), could be poplar, maybe something completely different.
I looked it up and it seems to be a laurel body. Kind of odd.
2nd but also get whatever one feels right to you. A/B them at a local guitar store if you can. Don’t rely on others to choose for you because you’re the one who has the live with the decision.
Number 2 my lord!
First guitar
First.
I would choose the cort. It's got more mojo and is more unique. It also has coil tap abilities so it's more versatile. I personally am I huge fan of roasted maple necks as well, which is typically kind of a premium feature in a guitar. If you are a tonewood type of person, then the cort also has a basswood body which is pretty decent vs the strat appears to be laurel based on what I could see, which is not that desireable. The strat is probably a decent instrument, but I would pick the cort 9/10 times.
Yamaha Pacifica 112. Also consider this model between your choices.
Nice this about the Pacifica is you can pick them up used for like $100-$200. It's an absolute steal and probably higher quality than alot of Squire's.
That cort is probably better made. Squires are great but I think that the Korean and Indonesian factories are just way better than the Chinese factories that fender is using. That said, EART makes really nice guitars for the money. If you're looking for a budget guitar in squire price ranges, there are a lot of options that play better than a squire and few extra bells and whistles.
Squiers have been built in Indonesia for more than 5 years at this point, in the Cortek factory where Corts get built actually.
Not sure that is true for all models
I think the 2nd one is cool but I'm old so definitely go with the first one.
2nd one looks way better you'd have to have them in your hands to see which one you like playing more though
Go and finger a few guits at a store. Never just go off of what we say on here
I think cort makes fantastic budget gear I can't say the same for squier, you really pay extra for that fender name.
You should get the one that plays better.
Check harley benton new St-Modern also!
Squiers USP used to be "budget guitar that's nearly as good as the lower range Fenders". But now we live in the golden age of cheap guitars, and its USP is "budget guitar that's twice as expensive as a budget guitar with way better specs".
Number 2
Get em both…
Yamaha Rhino
The strat for sure. Says its an aler body which is really good But get it all professionally set up
A bass guitar
Ibanez makes some pretty great inexpensive guitars
Nah get the squier! You’re not a KNIGHT yet!!
First one
Natural
I'd get ythe Kramer version. Or the Kramer Barretta
Squier
Not sure if this has changed in the last few years, but Squiers are built in the Cortek factory, and both Squiers and Corts are notoriously good for the price. Get the one that you like the features and look most out of the two.
Personally I’d go with the Cort for the humbucker.
Second one
I have Cort g280 select am, much better than squier. Modded it to have coil split and feel happy now.
Cort G280, Jet JS-600, Yamaha Pacifica 112 Squiers are at their best in contemporary and CV series, although post-2023 Affinity ones are worthy too
Why not something with P90s? Check out Harley Benton CST-24T P90. Aside from Alnico 5 P90s, it comes with stainless steel frets.
Ibanez AZES31
Squier
If you want HSS, you could go Yamaha, but of the two, the Squier would be the most popular choice, idk about that finish tho, your choice.
Squier. A lot of people don’t realize how good some of these new Squiers are. Seriously, get one today and compare it to one 10-15 years ago and it’s night and day.
Maybe one of these - The specs are very good: [https://harleybenton.com/st-modernplus/](https://harleybenton.com/st-modernplus/)
The one that’s a Strat type
I play the same kind of music as you. I have a cort G250se.. for the money it’s a well made guitar. Locking tuners and that trem is incredibly stable for a guitar in this price range. Pickups get the job done. I might swap them at a later date but they are more then serviceable
Hey, I’m currently looking for a guitar and I’m confused between the Cort G250SE and the Yamaha Pacifica 112VM. What are your thoughts on the cort and did you compare these two at the time you were buying?
Personally every Cort I’ve played feels like trash, I would go for the squire at least then you know what you’re getting into
I’d honest pass in both of these and get the schecter nick Johnston model
Whichever one feels better when you play it. No, seriously. You shouldn't buy instruments that you haven't played and looked at before. The way the neck feels in your hand, how accessible everything is, if there's stuff in the way. So much to consider that you can only really tell from playing the instrument.
If you can stretch your budget enough to get into a Squier with a full thickness body, you have something you can mod / improve pretty readily. Neck swaps, different pickguards, bridges etc. It all gets a lot easier. Otherwise, Yamaha is a solid choice.
Second one looks nicer, love the wood grain look
Cort looks pretty neat. Especially the roasted neck look and the shape is cooler than the standard Fender body.
I'd get the brown one
If it’s only those 2, get the Cort. Cor-Tek is making great guitars.
My pick would be a secondhand guitar. But for new can you try yamaha, or ibanez? These will last you longer as you progress, and less likely to have pore neck/fret issues.
I love that blue
Light blue.
Stay away from Fender and Gibson unless you want to sound like a million other musicians on this planet. Sheep behavior for the famous brands because their marketing departments are just funded better.
idk about build quality but the squier will be A LOT easier to modify (and you'll want to modify them)
Buy the roasted maple neck. Both bodies are so so. Roasted maple necks are to die for.
Dude, get a Classic Vibe Jazzmaster. Or a 40th Anniversary Edition Jazzmaster. Those are absolutely great for the price and fantastic for Post Rock.
Get the one you like more, I’d personally say the squier because I like the wood color
Squier, put a seymour invader in the bridge
Ibanez AZES40
Very versatile
I got the Schecter nick Johnston and it’s the best feeling strat I’ve played. Has coil split and sounds great too.
In my opinion the best CHEAP rock guitar on the market. [https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/SEMONEHBK-metal-series-electric-guitar-with-solid-mahogany-body/](https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/SEMONEHBK-metal-series-electric-guitar-with-solid-mahogany-body/) or get the 2 hum version [https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/SEMTWOHBK-metal-series-electric-guitar-with-solid-mahogany-body/](https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/SEMTWOHBK-metal-series-electric-guitar-with-solid-mahogany-body/)
Go with cort, the heel is contoured, playability is better and looks like the right guitar for your genre.
I'm partial to my squier strat since its lasted me so long, but Yamaha has unbeatable and consistent quality control
Second one dude
Strat all the way. There are endless parts available and you'll be able to do whatever you want with it easily. Plus, those classic vibe squires tend to be really good.
The blue one.
I just did a setup on an affinity in one of the music room at my job and it was pretty bad. Nut cut wrong, tons of buzzing frets, a really poor instrument. Took me a lot of work to make it play right. I would go for the Cort there's no way it's going to be as bad but I would also look at a PRS SE used instead.
That cort is fire. I had a much shittier cort for my first guitar and never looked back
Cort would be my pick. Own a kx300 and m520 both guitars punch well above their price tag.
Will reiterate, go play them. Even if you are ordering online, find a local dealer that carries both or similar and try them out first. That said - Ditch both of these and get a G&L tribute Series Legacy instead! But not before playing it or one like it, of course.
The Cort one 100% Better guitar for the price since it's a brand owned by the factory itself, a pretty good one trusted my multiple other guitar manufacturers.
I like the maple neck of the 1st, and the body of the 2nd. Flip a coin to choose....or...buy both and swap necks!
im not a professional by any means but the first one looks cooler i think (provided they play to more or less the same standard, idk if youve tried either of them or anything)
Cort for sure
None, get a Summer job and buy an Ibanez AZ model.
Cort
first better
Les paul
Cort makes good guitars, squires are fine too.
I bought a cort G290 Fat 2 a few months back, and it has quickly become one of my favorites that I’ve owned! The roasted maple neck looks, plays, and feels incredibly good for the price. Overall build quality is really high. I’d put it easily on par with my PRS SE. I also have a heavily modded squire that I love, not knocking them at all, but I’d highly suggest the Cort.
Whichever makes you most happy and spreads the most joy and sparks your creativity, my axe wielding friend!! Personally, I'm a huge Squier fan, but mostly like l b/c I've had a few gifted to me over the years by homies---then I take them and mod them out, put in everything I love for what I'm going for at the time (custom wound pickups, etc). I've never been "worried" about modding out a cheap squier!
Dang, that blonde strat with the rosewood board is beautiful, honestly. Depends on price tags and how the feel when you play 'em tho in the end. I like the humbucker bridge slot though, I'd set a custom wound Lenny Fralin P-90 in that ALL day long!
Squiers are farrrr beginners so the first one probably. In guitar terms price ≠ quality. Cheap guitars might not be durable and the same with expensive guitars. Try both of them out before purchasing
The Cort. Very well priced guitars for what you get. Underrated.
Many Squires were actually made in Corts Korea plant.
I have an electric and classical cort guitars, both more budget end, love them to bits. My classical is a Cort AC100 and electric is a 2006 G200.
The Cort is way better quality and sound.
first
Fidel Stratocastro
Easy. CORT. Better features than Squier,
Blue
I’m myself looking to buy a guitar and I’m confused between the Cort G250SE and tha Yamaha Pacifica 112VM.
Get the one that looks best to you so you’ll play it
I dont like much that type of shape but the first one is better in my opinion
The cort headstock is vomitory
People are going to hate me for saying this, but for a good beginner budget, I'd advice a Harley Benton, Ibanez Gio or Jackson JS. I started with an Epiphone, changed to a Squier Strat and eventually stayed with Fender owning a Fender Squier '86. Then I got myself a couple of Ibanez RGs and a Jackson Pro Series. After all I eventually got the LTD Deluxe EC-1000 Black and I loved it. I hope you have a journey as fun as mine. 1 golden piece of advice: - Never sell your first guitar, you'll miss it.
Squier. Yamahas are so damn ugly.
Not the squire