Head to head
Cort Core-GA Formosan Koa vs Cort Gold-Passion
The verdict
The Cort Core-GA Formosan Koa and Cort Gold-Passion are closely matched overall — 69 to 69 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
No standout advantage.
Cort Gold-Passion wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Core-GA Formosan Koa | Gold-Passion |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 69 |
| Build | 67 | 67 |
| Playability | 72 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 69 | 69 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Core-GA Formosan Koa | Gold-Passion |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Cort |
| Type | Acoustic-Electric | Acoustic-Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Solid Formosan Koa | “AAA” Grade Solid Flamed Maple |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Walnut Reinforced Hard Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.51" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | Fishman® Presys VT | L.R. Baggs® Anthem |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | — |
| Back Sides Material | Solid Formosan Koa | “AAA” Grade Solid Flamed Maple |
| Back Strip Material | N/A | N/A |
| Bevel Cut | N/A | Cutaway |
| Body Binding Material | Aged White ABS | Black ABS |
| Body Finish | Semi Gloss | Gloss |
| Body Purfling Material | N/A | Abalone, Black & Aged White ABS |
| Body shape | Grand Auditorium | Modern Concert |
| Bracing Material | Spruce | Spruce |
| Bracing Pattern | Hand Scalloped X-Bracing | Hand Scalloped X-Bracing |
| Bridge Material | Rosewood | Ebony |
| Bridge Pin Material | Black with White dot | Ebony with White Dot |
| Bridge String Spacing | 54.1mm | 54.1mm |
| Case | Cort Gigbag | Hardshell Case |
| Colors | Light Burst Top Semi Gloss (LBSG) | Natural Gloss (NAT) |
| Construction | Dovetail Neck Joint at 14Fret | Dovetail Neck Joint at 14Fret |
| Controls | Fishman® Presys VT | L.R. Baggs® Anthem |
| Cutaway Style | Venetian | N/A |
| Endpiece Material | N/A | Black and Aged White ABS |
| Fingerboard Binding Material | N/A | N/A |
| Fingerboard Inlay Material | N/A | Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl |
| Fingerboard Purfling Material | N/A | Maple |
| Fretboard radius | 15.75″ (R400) | 15.75″ (R400) |
| Fret Type | 2.0mm Width | 2.4mm Width with Edge Treatment |
| Head Back Plate Material | N/A | N/A |
| Head Binding Material | N/A | Black ABS |
| Headplate Finish | Semi Gloss | Gloss |
| Headplate Inlay Material | Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl | Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl |
| Headplate Logo Material | Mother-of-Pearl | Mother-of-Pearl |
| Headplate Logo Style | 2025 New Cort Logo | Gold Logo Style |
| Headplate Material | Black ABS | Black ABS |
| Head Purfling Material | N/A | White ABS |
| Headstock Shape | Gold Head Shape | Gold Head Shape |
| Head Volute | N/A | Round Volute |
| Inlay | N/A | Gold Passion Custom Inlay |
| Label | Paper Label | Paper Label |
| Neck Finish | Semi Gloss | Satin |
| Neck Heel Cap | Aged White ABS | Black ABS |
| Neck Heel Shape | Triangle Heel Shape | Triangle Heel Shape |
| Neck profile | C Shape | Comfort C Shape |
| Neck Thickness | 1st Fret: 21.5mm / 8th Fret: 22.0mm | 1st Fret: 21.5mm / 8th Fret: 22.0mm |
| Nut | Genuine Bone | Genuine Bone |
| Nut width | 1 3/4″ (44.5mm) | 1 3/4″ (44.5mm) |
| Pickguard | N/A | N/A |
| Rosette | Black & Aged White ABS | Abalone with ABS Multi Ring |
| Saddle | Genuine Bone | Genuine Bone |
| Scale length | 25.5″ (648mm) | 25.5″ (648mm) |
| Side Position Mark | Dot | Luminous Dot |
| Sound Port Hole | 95mm | 95mm |
| Top Material | Solid Spruce | Torrefied Solid Engelmann Spruce |
| Truss rod | Dual Acting / 4mm Wrench | Dual Acting / 4mm Wrench |
| Tuners | Vintage Open Gear | Deluxe Vintage Gold with Black Knob |
| Special | — | Cutaway Bevelcut |