Head to head
Cort KX500 Etched vs ESP EC-1000 Pearl White
The verdict
The ESP EC-1000 Pearl White comes out ahead overall — 85 to 68 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Cort KX500 Etched wins on
No standout advantage.
ESP EC-1000 Pearl White wins on
- Better build (93 vs 67)
- Better playability (84 vs 75)
- Better sound (77 vs 63)
- Better value (82 vs 68)
Scorecard
| Metric | KX500 Etched | EC-1000 Pearl White |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 68 | 85 |
| Build | 67 | 93 |
| Playability | 75 | 84 |
| Sound | 63 | 77 |
| Value | 68 | 82 |
Full specifications
| Spec | KX500 Etched | EC-1000 Pearl White |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Cort | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | JP |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Maple & Purpleheart 5-ply Laminated | 3Pc Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Macassar Ebony | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | 24 |
| Scale | 25.51" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | Fishman® Fluence Modern Humbucker Pickup Set | Fishman Fluence Modern 3-Voice Humbucker Alnico Brushed Stainless Direct-Mount *(Pull Neck Volume for Voice 3 / Pull Tone for Voice 2) / Fishman Fluence Modern 3-Voice Humbucker Ceramic Brushed Stainless Direct-Mount *(Pull Neck Volume for Voice 3 / Pull Tone for Voice 2) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | $1,499 |
| Body Finish | Matte (Open Pore) | — |
| Bridge | Hardtail Bridge with String-Thru Body | TonePros Locking TOM & Tailpiece |
| Colors | Etched Black (EBK) Etched Deep Violet (EDV) | — |
| Configuration | HH | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | Set-Thru |
| Controls | 1-Volume, 1-Tone, 3-Way Switch | Volume/Volume(Push/Pull)/Tone(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch |
| Fretboard radius | 15.75″ (R400) | 350mm |
| Fret Type | Medium-Jumbo (2.7×1.1), Nickel Silver | — |
| Hardware | Black Nickel | Chrome |
| Inlay | Tear Drop with White Side Dots | — |
| Neck Finish | Matte | — |
| Neck profile | D Shape | Thin U |
| Neck Thickness | 1F : 19.5mm, 12F : 21.5mm | — |
| Nut | Black PPS | Molded |
| Nut width | 1 11/16″ (43mm) | 42mm |
| Scale length | 25.5″ (648mm) | 24.75" |
| Special | Volume Push-pull : Voice 1 (Push), Voice 2 (Pull) Tone Push-pull : Humbucker (Push), Coil-split (Pull) | — |
| Top Material | Ash Burl | — |
| Truss rod | Two-way Adjustable with Spoke-nut | — |
| Tuners | Cort® Locking Tuners | LTD Locking |
| Bridge pickup | — | Fishman Fluence Modern 3-Voice Humbucker Ceramic Brushed Stainless Direct-Mount *(Pull Neck Volume for Voice 3 / Pull Tone for Voice 2) |
| Case | — | EC GUITAR FORM FIT CASE |
| Case Included | — | N |
| Finish | — | Pearl White |
| Neck pickup | — | Fishman Fluence Modern 3-Voice Humbucker Alnico Brushed Stainless Direct-Mount *(Pull Neck Volume for Voice 3 / Pull Tone for Voice 2) |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |