Cort
Since 1960
Cort (Cor-Tek Corporation) was founded in 1960 by Jung-gyu Park in South Korea as a piano importer called Soo Doh Piano. The company transitioned to guitar manufacturing in 1973 and became one of the world's largest guitar producers, building over one million instruments annually across facilities in South Korea, Indonesia, and China. While Cort is the OEM powerhouse behind brands like Ibanez, PRS SE, Squier, and G&L Tribute, its own-brand guitars consistently deliver exceptional quality at prices that embarrass the competition. The Gold acoustic series and KX electric series showcase what happens when the world's most experienced guitar factory builds instruments under its own name.
66
Years in Business
20M+
Guitars Sold
$200M+
Annual Revenue
Complete Cort Guitar Guide
Comprehensive buying guide, price analysis, model comparisons, and expert insights to help you understand everything about Cort guitars.
Cort Price Overview
Cort covers a wide range of instruments from entry-level to professional models. Typical used prices vary by condition, series and year. Higher-end USA models and limited editions retain value better than mass-market lines, while rare or vintage pieces often command significant premiums.
When evaluating value, consider originality (pickups, hardware), structural condition (neck, frets, finish) and documentation (serials, receipts, setup reports). Price dispersion across platforms is common; local stores offer service and inspection, whereas online marketplaces provide broader selection and price transparency.
For detailed buying advice, model comparisons and condition-based pricing, read the full guide linked above.
Market Overview
Average Price
$380
+3% vs last year
eBay Listings
2,400
Active listings
Sold This Month
520
+4% vs last month
Price Range
$80-$2,000
Current market range
Data sourced from eBay, Reverb, and Guitar Center used listings
Cort Timeline
Soo Doh Piano Founded
Jung-gyu Park founded Soo Doh Piano as a piano importer in South Korea, beginning the Cor-Tek story.
Guitar Manufacturing Begins
Transitioned to guitar manufacturing, initially as an OEM supplier building guitars for other brands.
Cort Brand Launched
Released the first Cort-branded guitars, establishing a direct identity beyond OEM manufacturing.
Headless Guitar Era
Began producing headless guitars with Ned Steinberger-licensed designs, establishing Cort in the electric market.
Indonesian Factory Opens
Expanded manufacturing to Indonesia, dramatically increasing production capacity and global reach.
Curbow Bass Series
Launched the ergonomic Curbow bass series designed by Greg Curbow, showcasing Cort's design collaboration capability.
Gold Acoustic Series
Introduced the Gold acoustic series with premium tonewoods and construction, setting a new quality benchmark for Cort acoustics.
One Million Guitars Per Year
Production reached over one million guitars annually across all facilities, making Cort one of the world's largest manufacturers.
KX Series Expansion
Expanded the KX electric series with modern features including multi-scale designs and premium pickups.
KX600 Infinite Launch
Unveiled the KX600 Infinite with neck-through construction, Fishman Fluence pickups, and stainless steel frets at ~$979.
Complete Cort Product Lineup
Cort: The world's best-kept secret in guitars—over 1 million instruments per year since 1973
KX Electric Series
Modern electric guitars for rock and metal
Neck-through flagship at ~$979
8-string multi-scale at ~$799
7-string fanned fret at ~$599
Etched finish at ~$499
G & X Electric Series
Versatile electrics from classic to modern
Double-cut classic at ~$449
Affordable double-cut at ~$299
Multi-scale 7-string at ~$699
Modern metal at ~$499
Gold Acoustic Series
Premium acoustics with torrefied tops
Flagship acoustic at ~$999
All-solid premium at ~$849
Mid-premium at ~$699
Solid-top entry at ~$549
Earth Acoustic Series
Vintage-inspired solid-top acoustics
Solid spruce dreadnought at ~$349
Grand auditorium at ~$349
Entry solid-top at ~$249
Bass Guitars
Professional basses at accessible prices
5-string premium at ~$899
Modern active bass at ~$599
Versatile bass at ~$299
New fusion bass series
"Cort: The world's best-kept secret in guitars—over 1 million instruments per year since 1973"
Model-Specific Buying Guide
Each model has unique characteristics that affect both tone and value. Here's what to look for when buying specific models.
KX Series Buying Guide
Factory-Direct Quality
Cort builds guitars for Ibanez, PRS SE, and Squier—the same factories produce KX series guitars. You're getting OEM-giant quality at Cort-brand prices, which are typically 20-30% lower
KX600 Infinite Flagship
At ~$979 the KX600 Infinite delivers neck-through construction, Fishman Fluence pickups, and stainless steel frets—specs that competitors charge $1,500+ for
Multi-Scale Options
Cort offers some of the most affordable multi-scale/fanned-fret guitars available. The KX307 and KX508 provide extended range with proper intonation at remarkable prices
Gold & Earth Acoustic Guide
Gold Series Excellence
The Gold series with torrefied spruce tops delivers vintage-resonant tone from day one. These compete with acoustics at twice the price—Cort's manufacturing efficiency is the reason
Earth Series Value
Earth acoustics with solid spruce tops start at ~$249. For a beginner's first quality acoustic or a reliable gigging backup, the Earth series is hard to beat at the price
OEM Advantage
The same precision CNC machines and quality tonewoods that Cort uses for PRS SE and Ibanez acoustics are used for their own-brand instruments—identical manufacturing quality
Used Cort Buying Guide
Exceptional Used Values
Used Cort guitars are dramatically undervalued because the brand lacks name recognition. A used Gold acoustic at $400-$500 outperforms many $800+ competitors—the market hasn't caught up
Identify the Factory
Cort manufactures in Korea, Indonesia, and China. Korean-made models are generally highest quality, followed by Indonesia. Check the serial number prefix for origin
Check Hardware Quality
Mid-range Cort guitars use quality hardware but entry-level models may benefit from tuner or bridge upgrades. Budget $30-50 for tuners if needed on sub-$300 models