Head to head
Cort Core-GA Formosan Koa vs Taylor BTe Koa
The verdict
The Cort Core-GA Formosan Koa comes out ahead overall — 69 to 63 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 build (67 vs 61)
- Better playability (72 vs 64)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
Taylor BTe Koa wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Core-GA Formosan Koa | BTe Koa |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 63 |
| Build | 67 | 61 |
| Playability | 72 | 64 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 69 | 66 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Core-GA Formosan Koa | BTe Koa |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | Taylor |
| Type | Acoustic-Electric | Acoustic-Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Solid Formosan Koa | Layered Koa |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | West African Crelicam Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | — |
| Scale | 25.51" | 22.75" |
| Pickups | Fishman® Presys VT | ES-B |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | $699 |
| 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 | — |
| 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) | — |
| Construction | Dovetail Neck Joint at 14Fret | — |
| Controls | Fishman® Presys VT | ES-B |
| 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) | — |
| Fret Type | 2.0mm Width | — |
| 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 | — |
| Label | Paper Label | — |
| Neck Finish | Semi Gloss | Varnish |
| Neck Heel Cap | Aged White ABS | — |
| Neck Heel Shape | Triangle Heel Shape | — |
| Neck profile | C Shape | — |
| Neck Thickness | 1st Fret: 21.5mm / 8th Fret: 22.0mm | — |
| Nut | Genuine Bone | — |
| Nut width | 1 3/4″ (44.5mm) | — |
| Pickguard | N/A | None |
| Rosette | Black & Aged White ABS | — |
| Saddle | Genuine Bone | — |
| Scale length | 25.5″ (648mm) | 22-3/4" |
| Side Position Mark | Dot | — |
| Sound Port Hole | 95mm | — |
| Top Material | Solid Spruce | — |
| Truss rod | Dual Acting / 4mm Wrench | — |
| Tuners | Vintage Open Gear | Die-Cast Chrome |
| Armrest | — | No |
| Back And Sides | — | Layered Koa |
| Back Configuration | — | Layered |
| Back Side Finish | — | Varnish |
| Body Binding | — | None |
| Bracing System | — | X Bracing |
| Bridge | — | West African Crelicam Ebony |
| Bridge Pins | — | Black |
| Cutaway | — | Non-cutaway |
| Fretboard Binding | — | None |
| Fretboard inlay | — | 4mm Dot Italian Acrylic |
| Nut Saddle | — | Nubone Nut, Micarta Saddle |
| Orientation | — | Right Handed |
| Peghead Binding | — | None |
| Peghead Finish | — | Varnish |
| Peghead Inlay | — | None |
| Peghead Type | — | Standard |
| Top Finish | — | Varnish |
| Top wood | — | Hawaiian Koa |