Head to head
Cort A5 Plus SC vs ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic
The verdict
The Cort A5 Plus SC and ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic are closely matched overall — 65 to 66 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Cort A5 Plus SC wins on
No standout advantage.
ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
Scorecard
| Metric | A5 Plus SC | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 65 | 66 |
| Build | 61 | 61 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 60 | 68 |
| Value | 65 | 64 |
Full specifications
| Spec | A5 Plus SC | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | White Ash | Alder |
| Neck wood | Maple & Panga Panga 5-ply Laminated | Maple |
| Fretboard | Panga Panga with Black Binding | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | 22 |
| Scale | 34.02" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Bartolini® MK-1 | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) / Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | $1,699 |
| Body Finish | Matte (Open Pore) | — |
| Bridge | Hipshot® TransTone | Floyd Rose 1000SE |
| Colors | Amber Open Pore (AOP) | — |
| Construction | Neck-Thru | Bolt-On |
| Controls | Bartolini® MK-1 | Passive |
| Fretboard radius | 15.75″ (R400) | 305mm |
| Fret Type | Medium-Jumbo (2.7×1.1), Nickel Silver | — |
| Hardware | Black | Black |
| Inlay | Abalone Dots with White Side Dots | — |
| Neck Finish | Matte | — |
| Neck profile | C Shape | GL Original U |
| Neck Thickness | 1F : 20.5mm, 12F : 22mm | — |
| Nut | Black PPS | Locking |
| Nut width | 1 49/64″ (45mm) | 43mm nut / 45mm neck width |
| Scale length | 34″ (864mm) | 25.5" |
| Top Material | Poplar Burl 9T | — |
| Truss rod | Two-way Adjustable | — |
| Tuners | Hipshot® Ultralite | LTD |
| Bridge pickup | — | Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Case | — | ST-TE Guitar Form Fit Case |
| Case Included | — | Y |
| Finish | — | Black w/ Desert Eagle Graphic |
| Neck pickup | — | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |