Head to head
Cort Core-GA Formosan Koa vs Cort GB-Modern 5
The verdict
The Cort Core-GA Formosan Koa comes out ahead overall — 69 to 66 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Cort Core-GA Formosan Koa wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
Cort GB-Modern 5 wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Core-GA Formosan Koa | GB-Modern 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 66 |
| Build | 67 | 65 |
| Playability | 72 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 69 | 66 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Core-GA Formosan Koa | GB-Modern 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Cort |
| Type | Acoustic-Electric | Acoustic-Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Solid Formosan Koa | Maple Center Block with Paulownia + White Ash Wings |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Roasted Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Roasted Maple |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 22 |
| Scale | 25.51" | 35" |
| Pickups | Fishman® Presys VT | Nordstrand® BS5 Pickup Set |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | — |
| Back Sides Material | Solid Formosan Koa | — |
| Back Strip Material | N/A | — |
| Bevel Cut | N/A | — |
| Body Binding Material | Aged White ABS | — |
| Body Finish | Semi Gloss | Matte (Open Pore) |
| Body Purfling Material | N/A | — |
| Body shape | Grand Auditorium | — |
| Bracing Material | Spruce | — |
| Bracing Pattern | Hand Scalloped X-Bracing | — |
| Bridge Material | Rosewood | — |
| Bridge Pin Material | Black with White dot | — |
| Bridge String Spacing | 54.1mm | — |
| Case | Cort Gigbag | — |
| Colors | Light Burst Top Semi Gloss (LBSG) | Open Pore Vintage Natural (OPVN) Open Pore Charcoal Gray (OPCG) |
| Construction | Dovetail Neck Joint at 14Fret | Bolt-On |
| Controls | Fishman® Presys VT | MarkBass® MB Instrument Preamp |
| Cutaway Style | Venetian | — |
| Endpiece Material | N/A | — |
| Fingerboard Binding Material | N/A | — |
| Fingerboard Inlay Material | N/A | — |
| Fingerboard Purfling Material | N/A | — |
| Fretboard radius | 15.75″ (R400) | 15.75″ (R400) |
| Fret Type | 2.0mm Width | Medium-Jumbo(2.7×1.1), Nickel Silver |
| Head Back Plate Material | N/A | — |
| Head Binding Material | N/A | — |
| Headplate Finish | Semi Gloss | — |
| Headplate Inlay Material | Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl | — |
| Headplate Logo Material | Mother-of-Pearl | — |
| Headplate Logo Style | 2025 New Cort Logo | — |
| Headplate Material | Black ABS | — |
| Head Purfling Material | N/A | — |
| Headstock Shape | Gold Head Shape | — |
| Head Volute | N/A | — |
| Inlay | N/A | Black Block with Luminlay Side Dots |
| Label | Paper Label | — |
| Neck Finish | Semi Gloss | Matte |
| Neck Heel Cap | Aged White ABS | — |
| Neck Heel Shape | Triangle Heel Shape | — |
| Neck profile | C Shape | C Shape |
| Neck Thickness | 1st Fret: 21.5mm / 8th Fret: 22.0mm | 1F : 20.3mm, 12F : 22.9mm |
| Nut | Genuine Bone | Bone |
| Nut width | 1 3/4″ (44.5mm) | 1 7/8″ (47.6mm) |
| Pickguard | N/A | — |
| Rosette | Black & Aged White ABS | — |
| Saddle | Genuine Bone | — |
| Scale length | 25.5″ (648mm) | 35″ (889mm) |
| Side Position Mark | Dot | — |
| Sound Port Hole | 95mm | — |
| Top Material | Solid Spruce | Poplar Burl 9T |
| Truss rod | Dual Acting / 4mm Wrench | Two-way Adjustable with Spoke-nut |
| Tuners | Vintage Open Gear | Hipshot® Ultralite |
| Accessories | — | Deluxe Soft-Side Case Included |
| Bridge | — | Babicz® FCH5 (String Spacing :19mm) |
| Hardware | — | Chrome |
| Special | — | Litelift Body Design Weight: about 3.8 kg (8.3 lbs.) |