Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Dec 12, 2020 7:39:38 GMT -6
{I'm going to attempt prying all the stray data loose from my post on the Cort Sterling, so keep an eye out for debris. 
}
Looking at the design of my Cort Sterling, it quickly reminded me of a couple of models from Ernie Ball/MusicMan, particularly the headstock. This became very interesting when I realized EBMM is now run by Ernie's son, Sterling (
) Ball, and that many of the EBMM models are built by Cort.
My educated guess: Sterling Ball was learning his production chops at the Korea factory, so Cort let him run with an original design, and it was phased out when EBMM decided to do something similar. To date, I've found nothing to contradict this guess. There is very little info online about any "Cort Sterling" and I've probably either written it or communicated with the guy who did.
In any case, the Sterling (also briefly branded the "Stellar," though the "Starlite" line appears to be different) became Cort's S Series, which name is a real PITA to research.
Known models: S400 S500 S1000 S2000 S2100 S2500 S2500M S2550 S2600 S2800 S2900 S3000. All but the S400/S500 seem to sport 24 frets and no neckplate. The lower-numbered models are decent enough Stratoclone variants, but as the numbers get higher you quickly encounter quality parts & materials. (As info is so sorely lacking, there are bargains to be had when a seller can't tell that his S2500 is NOT an S500.)
For those of you playing along at home --
bluebookofguitarvalues.com/#/SearchCategory/ElectricGuitar/292/CORT_ELECTRIC_S_SERIES
Not unlike Washburn, the build and hardware quality generally increase with bigger numbers, so the S400 was worth $195 in 100% untouched-by-humans condition, while the S2900 was worth double that in 80% shape. (There's always a gotcha, though: the S3000 is worth LESS than the S2800, and the S2550 is worth LESS than the S2500, barely more than the 2100.)
The S series began mid-'90s & was phased out 1998-2001.
In French, here's that other S Series obsessive I mentioned, with a page about the S3000, and a discussion of the Sterling line.
}Looking at the design of my Cort Sterling, it quickly reminded me of a couple of models from Ernie Ball/MusicMan, particularly the headstock. This became very interesting when I realized EBMM is now run by Ernie's son, Sterling (
) Ball, and that many of the EBMM models are built by Cort. My educated guess: Sterling Ball was learning his production chops at the Korea factory, so Cort let him run with an original design, and it was phased out when EBMM decided to do something similar. To date, I've found nothing to contradict this guess. There is very little info online about any "Cort Sterling" and I've probably either written it or communicated with the guy who did.
In any case, the Sterling (also briefly branded the "Stellar," though the "Starlite" line appears to be different) became Cort's S Series, which name is a real PITA to research.
Known models: S400 S500 S1000 S2000 S2100 S2500 S2500M S2550 S2600 S2800 S2900 S3000. All but the S400/S500 seem to sport 24 frets and no neckplate. The lower-numbered models are decent enough Stratoclone variants, but as the numbers get higher you quickly encounter quality parts & materials. (As info is so sorely lacking, there are bargains to be had when a seller can't tell that his S2500 is NOT an S500.)For those of you playing along at home
--bluebookofguitarvalues.com/#/SearchCategory/ElectricGuitar/292/CORT_ELECTRIC_S_SERIES
Not unlike Washburn, the build and hardware quality generally increase with bigger numbers, so the S400 was worth $195 in 100% untouched-by-humans condition, while the S2900 was worth double that in 80% shape. (There's always a gotcha, though: the S3000 is worth LESS than the S2800, and the S2550 is worth LESS than the S2500, barely more than the 2100.)
The S series began mid-'90s & was phased out 1998-2001.
In French, here's that other S Series obsessive I mentioned, with a page about the S3000, and a discussion of the Sterling line.
However, the GuitarList.com stock photos show why you need to stay alert -- the page alternates a red and a blue, the former with downturn head ans short horns (v.2), the blue latter with upturn head and long horns (v.1). As well, the red has two knobs, the blue three and a 12th-fret block inlay. Both have gold hardware and Wilkinson VS-50K trems. They are clearly siblings... 
but now for four models you know what the MSRP was and what colors were actually available.
