Head to head
Cort CJ Retro vs Taylor 217e-BLK Plus
The verdict
The Cort CJ Retro comes out ahead overall — 64 to 61 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Cort CJ Retro wins on
- Better playability (72 vs 64)
- Better value (64 vs 59)
Taylor 217e-BLK Plus wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | CJ Retro | 217e-BLK Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 64 | 61 |
| Build | 58 | 61 |
| Playability | 72 | 64 |
| Sound | 63 | 60 |
| Value | 64 | 59 |
Full specifications
| Spec | CJ Retro | 217e-BLK Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Taylor |
| Type | Acoustic-Electric | Acoustic-Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Big Leaf Maple |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Hard Rock Maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel | West African Crelicam Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | — |
| Scale | 25.51" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Fishman® Neo-D Humbucker | Expression System® 2 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | $1,499 |
| Back Sides Material | Mahogany | — |
| Binding | White | — |
| Body shape | Jumbo | Grand Pacific |
| Bracing Pattern | Advanced X-Bracing | — |
| Bridge Material | Laurel | — |
| Bridge Pin Material | Aged White with Black Dot | — |
| Case | N/A | — |
| Colors | Vintage Sunburst Matte (VSM) | — |
| Construction | Dovetail Neck Joint | — |
| Controls | Fishman® VTB EQ | Expression System® 2 |
| Fretboard radius | 15.75” (R400) | — |
| Head Shape | Cort Basic | — |
| Inlay | Dual Rectangular | — |
| Label | N/A | — |
| Neck Heel Shape | Triangle Heel Shape | — |
| Neck profile | C Shape | Standard Carve |
| Neck Thickness | 1st Fret: 21.0mm / 7th Fret: 22.5mm | — |
| Nut Saddle | Graphtech Nubone | White NuBone Nut, White Micarta Saddle |
| Nut width | 1 11/16″ (43mm) | 1-11/16" |
| Pickguard | White | Black |
| Rosette | ABS | Faux Pearl Single Ring |
| Scale length | 25.5″ (648mm) | 25-1/2" |
| Sound Hole | 100mm | — |
| Top Material | Spruce | — |
| Truss rod | Dual Acting / 4mm Wrench | — |
| Tuners | Open Gear Nickel | Taylor Satin Black with Satin Black Buttons |
| Armrest | — | None |
| Back And Sides | — | Big Leaf Maple |
| Back Configuration | — | Layered, 2-Piece |
| Back Side Finish | — | Gloss |
| Body Binding | — | White |
| Bracing System | — | C-Class Bracing |
| Bridge | — | West African Crelicam Ebony |
| Bridge Pins | — | Black ABS Plastic |
| End Pin | — | Black |
| Finish | — | Black |
| Fretboard Binding | — | None |
| Fretboard inlay | — | Faux Pearl 4mm Dots |
| Neck Finish | — | Gloss |
| Orientation | — | Right Handed |
| Peghead Binding | — | None |
| Peghead Finish | — | Gloss |
| Peghead Inlay | — | None |
| Peghead Type | — | Paddle |
| Peghead Veneer Wood | — | West African Crelicam Ebony |
| Strap Pin | — | Black |
| Top Finish | — | Gloss |
| Top wood | — | Torrefied Spruce |