Re: Cort 254 or Cort X5
+1 for a fixed bridge.
The budget Wilkinson VS vibrato is nice enough but it really needs locking machineheads to give of its best.
The stock Mighty Mite-branded pickups and Cor-Tek electronics in the G254 are pretty cheap and nasty even when they are brand new. I doubt that those in the X5 are very much better.
The KX5 mentioned above is a better looking guitar - almost a Schecter. :fingersx: The old Hiram Bullock signature model is worth seeking.