“My only frustrations are with its unstable tuning, which dampens an otherwise fantastic playing experience”: Cort Space G6TR review

What is it?

Having been building guitars for Strandberg since 2017, South Korea’s Cor-Tek is well positioned to bolster the malnourished, more affordable end of the headless guitar market.

The popularity of sans-headstock guitars has changed dramatically since Cort produced its maiden headless model in 1984. Today, headless guitars are more popular than they've been in years, enticing Ibanez to resurrect its Q series and for Schecter to decapitate its electrics for the first time. Strandberg’s $1,000 Boden Essential, has set the bar for in the mid-priced market, now Cort is looking to plant its flag in the turf for less.

Alongside the hardtail G6MS, Cort’s Space series sees the G6TR separating itself from the competition with a Floyd Rose-style tremolo system and a more atypical HSS pickup configuration, while the series-wide Ergo V neck promises uncompromised comfort.

It’s a bold new frontier for the firm, and one that won’t break the bank of its customers. So, does it hold up?

Specs

• Price: $879 | £599 | €696
• Made: Indonesia
• Type: Six-string headless electric guitar
• Body: Okoume, flamed maple top
• Neck: Roasted maple/walnut Ergo V Neck
• Fingerboard material/radius: Roasted maple, 12-15.75-inch compound radius
• Scale length: 25.5″
• Nut/width: 42mm
• Frets: 24 tall medium jumbo stainless steel frets
• Hardware: Cort Headless System bridge with tuner knobs
• String spacing at bridge: 58mm
• Electrics: Cort-voiced Tone VTS63 & VTH77 HSS pickups, Volume and Tone controls, five-way pickup switch
• Left-handed options:  None  
• Finishes: Semi Gloss Lava, Semi Gloss Lagoon (as reviewed)
• Case: Cort gig bag
• Contact: Cort

Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★★☆☆

Broadly speaking, the craftsmanship here is on a high level. But there are some bugbears I need to raise. The biggest issue here is one I also experienced with the G6MS, but it is actually more troublesome in this case.

When turning the tuning knobs, there’s a pitch-wavering that causes chaos with my tuner. Not only does it struggle to hold the pitch as it's being adjusted, but the floating trem is so touch-sensitive that it’s hard not to move it while tuning, which further exacerbates the issue.

The trem performs like a Floyd Rose in that there’s a lot of maneuverability with the whammy bar, but using it quickly displaces the tuning, and changing the guitar's tuning altogether, like with a Floyd Rose, requires a lot of patience and some careful adjustments of the spring claw screws in the back to keep it level with the body.

The open-pore finish on the back and sides is really lovely, and I quite like the semi-gloss lagoon finish, but the carved-in Cort logo less so.

I also appreciate the control knobs being well away from where my hands will swing while playing, and the glow-in-the-dark side dots are a pleasant surprise for the price. Plus, the truss rod wheel is easily accessible, and, unlike Strandbergs, it can stand up on the floor without a stand, and without a funky lean.

Playability

Playability rating: ★★★★½

Like its sibling, the G6MS, it’s hard to criticize the playability of the guitar, because its thin and finely crafted Ergo V neck really punches above its weight. The neck carve is really smooth and feels natural in my hands. There’s no resistance; it wants to be played fast, but its sustain encourages slower, moodier playing too. Some guitars feel like they’re made for a single niche; this doesn’t.

No fret is a chore to access, either. The treble horn carve is very generous. My only frustrations are with the unstable tuning on this test guitar, which dampens an otherwise fantastic playing experience from the G6TR. Otherwise, I’m splitting hairs to find discussion points. I’ve had a lot of fun playing this instrument.

Sounds

Sounds rating: ★★★★☆

The Cort bridge pickup is the same VTH77 humbucker as the G6MS – a guitar I found tonally limited in comparison with its double humbucker configuration, but here the HSS setup maximizes the guitar's versatility, and the middle position of the five-way switch, especially, is wonderful with cleaner tones. There’s a balance to it that stops highs becoming too trebly, and lows getting too muddy.

The humbucker and VTS63 single-coil pickups here are, however, pretty low output, so you really need to boot them up the rear end if you’re chasing cut and thrust. Thankfully, their inherent neutrality means it’s pretty easy to manipulate your amps and pedals to get the most out of the guitar.

With the twin humbucker spec of the G6MS, I struggled more to find the best pickup positions for certain tonal choices, whereas here, each position excels at the things it should, meaning that, lack of output aside, I can play with confidence knowing the guitar won’t let me down.

Sure, the fourth pickup position isn't too dissimilar from the fifth; that’s a minor blot on an otherwise clean rap sheet, but it has sustain for days, and the pickups are cartainly dynamic. They respond to my pick attack surprisingly well.

Verdict

Given that, as of January 2026, Strandberg is still tweaking its tremolo recipe, it’s easy to see why the Floyd Rose-like trem on this test guitar is what lets it down somewhat. The G6TR plays incredibly well, has great versatility with its atypical HSS configuration – at least for modern headless guitars – and the glow-in-the-dark side dots and stainless steel frets which also belie its price.

Those assets conspire to make the bridge issues I found on this review guitar look even more glaring. The quality on the whole is high, but when an issue like we found with this test guitar impedes day-to-day playing, it’s going to be an ongoing frustration unless a tech with experience can give it attention.

Guitar World verdict: With smooth playing, plenty of tonal scope, and a pleasingly small real estate, the G6TR gets a lot right. Tuning and tuning stability issues with the bridge blemish proceedings, though, and, as a result, it falls short of blowing me away.

Also try

HILS NEXT HN3 - $649 | £499 | €589

At a relatively bargain price, Hils roll out a Floyd Rose-like trem, active pickups, and quality tonewoods. It's the biggest like-for-like rival to the G6TR.

Steinberger Spirit GT-PRO Deluxe - $499 | £399 |€499

If you're in the market for a headless guitar, why not consider the original makers? Complete with whammy bar trem, HSH pickups, and a nearly pocket-sized body, it might not look as pretty, but that's not all that matters.

Strandberg Boden Essential - $999 | £1,149 | €1,399

No trem here, but Strandberg's high reputation exists for good reasons – and that extends to its most affordable model here.

Read more: Strandberg Boden Essential review

Hands-on videos

Guitar Guitar

Cort Space G6 Tremolo & Multi Scale | NAMM 2026 - YouTube

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