Head to head
Cort CJ Retro vs Cort Core-PE Mahogany
The verdict
The Cort Core-PE Mahogany comes out ahead overall — 70 to 64 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Cort CJ Retro wins on
No standout advantage.
Cort Core-PE Mahogany wins on
- Better build (67 vs 58)
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
- Better value (70 vs 64)
Scorecard
| Metric | CJ Retro | Core-PE Mahogany |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 64 | 70 |
| Build | 58 | 67 |
| Playability | 72 | 75 |
| Sound | 63 | 68 |
| Value | 64 | 70 |
Full specifications
| Spec | CJ Retro | Core-PE Mahogany |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Cort |
| Type | Acoustic-Electric | Acoustic-Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Solid Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Ovangkol |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.51" | 24.72" |
| Pickups | Fishman® Neo-D Humbucker | Fishman® Presys VT |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | — |
| Back Sides Material | Mahogany | Solid Mahogany |
| Binding | White | — |
| Body shape | Jumbo | Parlor |
| Bracing Pattern | Advanced X-Bracing | Hand Scalloped X-Bracing |
| Bridge Material | Laurel | Ovangkol |
| Bridge Pin Material | Aged White with Black Dot | Black with White dot |
| Case | N/A | Cort Premium Gigbag |
| Colors | Vintage Sunburst Matte (VSM) | Open Pore Black Burst (OPBB) |
| Construction | Dovetail Neck Joint | Dovetail Neck Joint at 14Fret |
| Controls | Fishman® VTB EQ | Fishman® Presys VT |
| Fretboard radius | 15.75” (R400) | 12″ (R305) |
| Head Shape | Cort Basic | — |
| Inlay | Dual Rectangular | Dot |
| Label | N/A | Paper Label |
| Neck Heel Shape | Triangle Heel Shape | Triangle Heel Shape |
| Neck profile | C Shape | C Shape |
| Neck Thickness | 1st Fret: 21.0mm / 7th Fret: 22.5mm | 1st Fret: 21.5mm / 8th Fret: 22.0mm |
| Nut Saddle | Graphtech Nubone | — |
| Nut width | 1 11/16″ (43mm) | 1 3/4″ (44.5mm) |
| Pickguard | White | N/A |
| Rosette | ABS | Black ABS |
| Scale length | 25.5″ (648mm) | 24.75″ (628mm) |
| Sound Hole | 100mm | — |
| Top Material | Spruce | Solid Mahogany |
| Truss rod | Dual Acting / 4mm Wrench | Dual Acting / 4mm Wrench |
| Tuners | Open Gear Nickel | Die-Cast with Black Metal Knob |
| Back Strip Material | — | N/A |
| Bevel Cut | — | N/A |
| Body Binding Material | — | Black ABS |
| Body Finish | — | Open Pore |
| Body Purfling Material | — | Black & White ABS |
| Bracing Material | — | Spruce |
| Bridge String Spacing | — | 54.1mm |
| Cutaway Style | — | N/A |
| Endpiece Material | — | N/A |
| Fingerboard Binding Material | — | N/A |
| Fingerboard Inlay Material | — | Acrylic |
| Fingerboard Purfling Material | — | N/A |
| Fret Type | — | 2.0mm Width |
| Head Back Plate Material | — | N/A |
| Head Binding Material | — | N/A |
| Headplate Finish | — | Matte |
| Headplate Inlay Material | — | Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl |
| Headplate Logo Material | — | Mother-of-Pearl |
| Headplate Logo Style | — | Gold Logo Style |
| Headplate Material | — | Wood Veneer |
| Head Purfling Material | — | N/A |
| Headstock Shape | — | Gold Head Shape |
| Head Volute | — | N/A |
| Neck Finish | — | Open Pore |
| Neck Heel Cap | — | Black ABS |
| Nut | — | Genuine Bone |
| Saddle | — | Genuine Bone |
| Side Position Mark | — | Dot |
| Sound Port Hole | — | 95mm |