Agile Les Paul DC

[bob-ingram]

I took a ride up to Rondo Music today. Our friend Axeslinger is right about the quality of these inexpensive instruments. I played no fewer than 10 of these LP copies, including single cutaway, double cutaway, the LP Jr. type with on PU and the double cutaway, a Black Beauty with Gold hardware. Everyone was perfect in fit and finish and as good a quality fret work as I've seen in any new guitar, up to the new Les Paul's. Everyone of them had a $239.99 price tag.

I settled on the Double Cutaway because I really liked the feel of the double cutaway, and the neck is more stable than an SG. I've had lots of Single cutaway Les Paul's and I've tried the double cutaway Les Paul's. I dislike the 24 fret necks because it changes the charactor of the neck PU, it sounds more like a middle PU to my ears, which I don't like. This is a 22 fret neck and the charactor ois the neck PU is great, warm and mellow.

I played it through a Peavey Classic 50 with 2x12 because I know the sound of the amp well. The Agile sounds very good. PU's are not the best but they're servicable and I won't be changing them. The sustain is excellent, every bit as good as any Lester I've owned. Controls are smooth and respond well, there was little loss of top end when I rolled the volume all the way down.

I dialed in anything from warm jazz to gritty Led Zep type, to singing sweet sustain ala Dickie Betts/Warren Hayes with no trouble. The guitar is balanced from top to bottom, in any sound.

I just got it home and I won't have time to fiddle around with it until later this week, but I'll put a better report and pictures up when I have a better chance to evaluate this guitar.

Here's the catalogue picture, I'll post pictures of mine later.

http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/ElectricGuitars/dcstdamb1.jpg

Bottom line, I wouldn't have spent $1000+ for a guitar, but at $239.99 for any one of the Agile's.........

Oh, and I took my Tenor Sax to them for service. Same guy was servicing Saxes as when I last had work done, in the early 80's, plus the electronics guy was the same one that's been there since 1975 when they opened the service department.

[dr. barlo]

Great!

Seriously, that review coming from somebody I trust means much. I was checking their websites quite often recently, but you know! That neck joint information for example is very difficult to come by as many people are not aware of it in the first place. Thanks! http://acapella.harmony-central.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

Just a quick question. It says solid mahogany, and I am sure it is. Is it veneered (I mean on the back), and if not can you see haw many pieces it is. If you remember the LP types as well, that would be great! (I do not think it's a veneer back, as without a binding on the back it won't look good at all)

Happy 03!

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by kuntikin
Great!

Seriously, that review coming from somebody I trust means much. I was checking their websites quite often recently, but you know! That neck joint information for example is very difficult to come by as many people are not aware of it in the first place. Thanks! http://acapella.harmony-central.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

Just a quick question. It says solid mahogany, and I am sure it is. Is it veneered (I mean on the back), and if not can you see haw many pieces it is. If you remember the LP types as well, that would be great! (I do not think it's a veneer back, as without a binding on the back it won't look good at all)

Happy 03!

Good questions, I looked over several examples of this guitar. The neck appears to be standard dovetail like most set in necks, better than an SG, not quite as solid as a single cutaway. I'm satisfied that this guitar will be as stable as a real Les Paul and more stable than an SG.

The mahogany body is 3 pieces. There's a joint directly below to the neck joint running to the end, and another on the upper cutaway that's really just about 1". So the 2 pieces are about 6" wide and the length of the body, and the last is about 1" wide.

The neck seems to be one piece, but I haven't examined it under a magnifier yet. The headstock is 3 pieces, and the heel has an additional piece on it too.

The cap is typical carved Maple. It's nice, but not "PRS bookmatched" nice. It appears at first glance to be 2 pieces, but again, I need that magnifier LOL.

Overall, very standard construction practices, and NO PLYWOOD or laminated at all.

[dr. barlo]

Originally posted by bob-ingram

The cap is typical carved Maple. It's nice, but not "PRS bookmatched" nice. It appears at first glance to be 2 pieces, but again, I need that magnifier LOL.

Overall, very standard construction practices, and NO PLYWOOD or laminated at all.

Cool! TY

The maple cap is a not a 3/4 inch thick maple, no? I remember asking that in Axeslinger's thread, and everybody went, like :rolleyes: "how could you expect that?" Guys don't get me wrong, I just do not know, and that's why I am asking!

If so, I am ordering one now! If not maybe in a week or so! :)

[dr. barlo]

BTW 3 pieces is excellent!

Of course it's not like a single piece honduran mahogany, but nonetheless, it's great!

[babybatter]

Sweet! Sounds awesome!

2 Q's for you Bob:

1) Do they make 335 style hollowbodies?

2) How was the weight of their lesters?

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by kuntikin


Cool! TY

The maple cap is a not a 3/4 inch thick maple, no? I remember asking that in Axeslinger's thread, and everybody went, like :rolleyes: "how could you expect that?" Guys don't get me wrong, I just do not know, and that's why I am asking!

If so, I am ordering one now! If not maybe in a week or so! :)

No guitar has a 3/4" thick maple cap. A Gibson is about 1/2" at the thickest part. I'd need to take this apart to measure it at the PU holes and I'm not not doing that right now, maybe later.

Also, it's been many years since a Mahogany piece could be farmed at over 13" wide, so even the Gibby's are at least 2 pieces.

No, this construction is exactly what I'd expect from the highest priced instruments.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by babybatter
Sweet! Sounds awesome!

2 Q's for you Bob:

1) Do they make 335 style hollowbodies?

2) How was the weight of their lesters?

I'll weigh mine later, but I believe that you'll find them at about 8-10 lbs. No, I didn't see any 335 style bodies, only solid LP and Fender types, one Rick 330 type and some acoustics. The acoustics were tinny and thin sounding, my Takimine at only about 2x the price is a much better value.

[dr. barlo]

Originally posted by bob-ingram


No guitar has a 3/4" thick maple cap. A Gibson is about 1/2" at the thickest part. I'd need to take this apart to measure it at the PU holes and I'm not not doing that right now, maybe later.

Also, it's been many years since a Mahogany piece could be farmed at over 13" wide, so even the Gibby's are at least 2 pieces.

No, this construction is exactly what I'd expect from the highest priced instruments.

Bob, it's cool. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting it down or asking you to check it by looking into the pickup cavity. Just thought you might know that's all.

On warmoth's site, it says 3/4 that's why. Here (their LP)

The Low Down:

Long 25-1/2" Scale Length (Strat® scale)
3/4" Thick Bookmatched Tops
4-bolt Strat® compatible neck pocket
Solid or Hollow Construction
Contoured Heel
Pickup and Bridge Routing Options

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by kuntikin


Bob, it's cool. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting it down or asking you to check it by looking into the pickup cavity. Just thought you might know that's all.

On warmoth's site, it says 3/4 that's why. Here (their LP)

The Low Down:

Long 25-1/2" Scale Length (Strat® scale)
3/4" Thick Bookmatched Tops
4-bolt Strat® compatible neck pocket
Solid or Hollow Construction
Contoured Heel
Pickup and Bridge Routing Options

Yea, and the check is in her mouth.

What they are saying is that they started carving a 3/4" piece of maple. If you measure the finished piece, it'll be less than 1/2".

Ever measure a 2x4? It's about 1 5/8" x 3 5/8". A lot of wood is lost in the finishing.

[dr. barlo]

Originally posted by bob-ingram


Yea, and the check is in her mouth.

What they are saying is that they started carving a 3/4" piece of maple. If you measure the finished piece, it'll be less than 1/2".

Ever measure a 2x4? It's about 1 5/8" x 3 5/8". A lot of wood is lost in the finishing.

That, I did not know! http://acapella.harmony-central.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

[StratKat]

ya know? I thought about a DC when they came out but never opted for one. Nice looking axe in the pic. Glad another HC'er got a good one!

[Six Stringer]

Bob, what did you mean by the pickups are servicable?
meanning lowering or raising them, changing the pots?

glad for your purchase

Peace, bob

[PrimeMover]

Originally posted by bob-ingram
I took a ride up to Rondo Music today. Our friend Axeslinger is right about the quality of these inexpensive instruments. I played no fewer than 10 of these LP copies, including single cutaway, double cutaway, the LP Jr. type with on PU and the double cutaway, a Black Beauty with Gold hardware. Everyone was perfect in fit and finish and as good a quality fret work as I've seen in any new guitar, up to the new Les Paul's. Everyone of them had a $239.99 price tag.

I settled on the Double Cutaway because I really liked the feel of the double cutaway, and the neck is more stable than an SG. I've had lots of Single cutaway Les Paul's and I've tried the double cutaway Les Paul's. I dislike the 24 fret necks because it changes the charactor of the neck PU, it sounds more like a middle PU to my ears, which I don't like. This is a 22 fret neck and the charactor ois the neck PU is great, warm and mellow.

I played it through a Peavey Classic 50 with 2x12 because I know the sound of the amp well. The Agile sounds very good. PU's are not the best but they're servicable and I won't be changing them. The sustain is excellent, every bit as good as any Lester I've owned. Controls are smooth and respond well, there was little loss of top end when I rolled the volume all the way down.

I dialed in anything from warm jazz to gritty Led Zep type, to singing sweet sustain ala Dickie Betts/Warren Hayes with no trouble. The guitar is balanced from top to bottom, in any sound.

I just got it home and I won't have time to fiddle around with it until later this week, but I'll put a better report and pictures up when I have a better chance to evaluate this guitar.

Bottom line, I wouldn't have spent $1000+ for a guitar, but at $239.99 for any one of the Agile's.........


Sweet ...nice description of your buying process.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Six Stringer
Bob, what did you mean by the pickups are servicable?
Peace, bob

I mean that they sound good enough to use. I only change out PU's when they don't produce the sound I can use. These are not the bewst I've ever had, but I won't change them out.

Oh... and Peace, bob

[aliensporebomb]

Nice looking guitar. Are these things order-able via the web at all? Any website or catalog?

Nice looking guitar for sure.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by bob-ingram
The mahogany body is 3 pieces. There's a joint directly below to the neck joint running to the end, and another on the upper cutaway that's really just about 1". So the 2 pieces are about 6" wide and the length of the body, and the last is about 1" wide.

On closer examination, the body is 3 pieces, one approx. 4" one approx. 6" and one approx 3".

The neck seems to be one piece, but I haven't examined it under a magnifier yet. The headstock is 3 pieces, and the heel has an additional piece on it too.

Wrong again, the neck is one piece or carefully matched pieces because I can't see a joint, and the headstock is another single piece of mahogany. There is a piece on the heel .

Overall, very standard construction practices, and NO PLYWOOD or laminated at all.

Yep.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by aliensporebomb
Nice looking guitar. Are these things order-able via the web at all? Any website or catalog?

Nice looking guitar for sure.

Oh yea, sorry. Rondo does most of it's business on the web. They have a long standing history, I bought my first electric from them in 1963, a Danelectro for $35.

I asked the salesmen who made them, he wouldn't commit, he just said they send their specs out and have them built to their specs. Agile is Rondo's own brand name.

http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com

Check out some of the old pics on the homepage. There's a picture of a slaesman and a customer sitting in front of 2 Ampeg Gemini II amps, a Magnatone amp behind the salesman and several echo units on the top shelf.

The picture with the Conn organs and the Leslie's are on a stage that I played Battle of the bands on. At times there were 30-40 bands that competed. My band "The Dark Syde" (named that because we were half white and half black) won second place one year. The prize, a gig at a Discoteque (60's lingo for teenage nightclub) where we were the house band, for $125 when we were paid $150.

[Axeslinger]

Congrats on the new aquisition Bob!! That looks like a nice DC!! I hope you enjoy your Agile as much as I enjoy mine;)
I appreciate it more and more everyday. Gotta give Prime Mover some credit on these tho,, He was ringing the Agile bell before I was:D

I don't plan to swap out pickups either, and I'm always the first to rip out stock pups and replace em. as far as the cap thickness goes,I haven't pulled a pickup eith to look but I'd be shocked if it exceeded 3/16".. 1/8" is probably more like it.
The bottom line is I feel like I found a diamond in the rough with this guitar.. It's certainly a keeper.

[myles loud]

hey bob!!!
what a beautiful guitar! congrats, and happy new year. myles loud :D

[rosskoss]

Originally posted by Axeslinger
Congrats on the new aquisition Bob!! That looks like a nice DC!! I hope you enjoy your Agile as much as I enjoy mine;)
I appreciate it more and more everyday. Gotta give Prime Mover some credit on these tho,, He was ringing the Agile bell before I was:D


Hey man, StratKat has been singing these guitar's praises for a looooong time now. He was responsible for a lot of the essex and agile guitar sales in the guitar forum.

Kurt from Rondo guitars routinely sends him guitar for his advice on how to improve them.

So, as long as we're giving people 'credit', lets go right to the source :D

[Axeslinger]

Good grief!! I realize Strakat has been promoting Rondo in general for some time and give him all the credit in the world for it. I was referring to the Quilt tops in particular and had NO intention of snubbing anyone.. Please forgive me for not making that distinction crystal clear..:rolleyes:

Once again,, Congrats Bob!! Lookin forward to pictures;)

[PrimeMover]

Originally posted by rosskoss
Hey man, StratKat has been singing these guitar's praises for a looooong time now. He was responsible for a lot of the essex and agile guitar sales in the guitar forum.

Kurt from Rondo guitars routinely sends him guitar for his advice on how to improve them.

So, as long as we're giving people 'credit', lets go right to the source :D

You speak the absolute truth... StratKat is who I went to when I was looking for info on the Agile LP. It was his opinion that moved me to buy what I did.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by rosskoss


Kurt from Rondo guitars routinely sends him guitar for his advice on how to improve them.


Kurt is a good businessman. He's known for many years that providing a decent low cost instrument would keep his business going and that salespeople that know their stuff are important.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by babybatter
Sweet! Sounds awesome!

How was the weight of their lesters?

Ok, I weighed it. Stood on the bathroom scale, 231, picked up the guitar 239.5. So it weighs 8.5lbs more or less. This scale only does down to .5 so it's about 8.5 lbs.

To me that's a good weight. It's not so heavy as to hurt you but not so light as to have no sustain acoustically.

[aliensporebomb]

Just looked at their site:
http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=850849%7C940498&PRID=1040941

I want one of these. In the red flame finish. Swoon. Wow.

Thanks for the link.

I remember "battle of the bands" but they've seemed to vanish into the past sadly. Cool memories.

[PrimeMover]

Originally posted by aliensporebomb
Just looked at their site:
http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=850849%7C940498&PRID=1040941

I want one of these. In the red flame finish. Swoon. Wow.


Yea, I like that one as well...probably would have gotten it if the amber quilt hadn't stolen my soul.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by aliensporebomb
Just looked at their site:
http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=850849%7C940498&PRID=1040941

I want one of these. In the red flame finish. Swoon. Wow.



Yea, I played one of them. Excellent finish, played great, I just decided I wanted a double cutaway.

[Sinner]

Originally posted by aliensporebomb
Just looked at their site:
http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=850849%7C940498&PRID=1040941

I want one of these. In the red flame finish. Swoon. Wow. I want one of the red flames too!

[Russ T Nail]

Hope they have enough of those red flame beauties to go around.

[Homer drooling]MMmmmmm....Red flame.......Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr [/Homer drooling]

:D

Russ T

[Russ T Nail]

BTW, what are your thought on this beauty:

http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=850849%7C940498&PRID=1325880

solid swamp ash bound body, grovers, wilkinson trem. Good, practical take on the Peavey wolfie to me. My only reservation from the photo is the position of the volume knob.

Any thoughts ??

Russ T

[Johan]

Originally posted by Russ T Nail
BTW, what are your thought on this beauty:

http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=850849%7C940498&PRID=1325880

solid swamp ash bound body, grovers, wilkinson trem. Good, practical take on the Peavey wolfie to me. My only reservation from the photo is the position of the volume knob.

Any thoughts ??

Russ T

wow that looks great!!

$259 :eek:

/Johan

[Johan]

Thanks for giving me GAS, Russ :rolleyes: ...

/Johan

[bob-ingram]

Ok, finally I've taken a few pictures.

Front view.

http://users.rcn.com/bob-ingram/Agile.jpg

Back view.

http://users.rcn.com/bob-ingram/Agile_back.jpg

Head Stock up close.

http://users.rcn.com/bob-ingram/Head_detail.jpg

Another closeup. You can see the details of the nut, fretwork, inlays and the Rosewood fretboard.

http://users.rcn.com/bob-ingram/Rosewood_detail.jpg

[Sinner]

Damn, I've got crippling G.A.S. now.

[Kool_Aid]

This Agile line of Guitars looks like a lawsuit waitng to happen.

Why buy any other clone?

These are the best.

[rosskoss]

WOW! :eek:

What a beauty Bob!!

Man, now I really want one of these guitars.

[Sinner]

I don't know if this has been asked but, what kind of profile does the neck have on these things? I don't know much about Les Pauls but I always see "60's slim taper" in the MF catalog, is it like a baseball bat or what?

EDIT: I visited the site. 11/16 of an inch at the first fret. That seems pretty thin (I'm glad).

[Axeslinger]

Bob,, That is a gorgeous guitar!!:eek:

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Sinner
I don't know if this has been asked but, what kind of profile does the neck have on these things? I don't know much about Les Pauls but I always see "60's slim taper" in the MF catalog, is it like a baseball bat or what?

EDIT: I visited the site. 11/16 of an inch at the first fret. That seems pretty thin (I'm glad).

I've had 9 Les Paul's over he years. Most are the 60's slim taper neck which is the non "baseball bat", but still a bit on the thick side. This neck is thinner than that, but not a thin neck by any means. It's about halfway between the PRS 24 fret thin neck, and 22 fret reguar neck.

It feels very Lester like and the action, without making any adjustments, is about average. I won't be making action adjustments as it feels comfortable, low enough to play without strain but not so low that you can't get a good feel of the strings or bending and vibrating.

[Smokey]

Damn you guys. :mad: Thanks for the GAS ! :mad:

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Smokey
Damn you guys. :mad: Thanks for the GAS ! :mad:



BURP

[Shakkal]

Originally posted by Smokey
Damn you guys. :mad: Thanks for the GAS ! :mad:

Ditto :mad:

[snorlax]

How will I ever decide now.

Cherry Sunburst Flame
Red Flame
Amber Flame (the pickups are different than the others)

and the Quilt Tops are awesome as well. Need more pictures of the Red Flame and the Amber Flame.

[Russ T Nail]

Originally posted by Johan

Thanks for giving me GAS, Russ ...:rolleyes:

No problemo amigo :D

BTW, Rondo actually have a dealer in Holland, the address is shown in their web site

Russ T

[Johan]

Originally posted by Russ T Nail


No problemo amigo :D

BTW, Rondo actually have a dealer in Holland, the address is shown in their web site

Russ T

Cool :D may have to give them a call tomorrow :p

/Johan

[Boba]

Geez... now I have GAS..... why couldn't I stumble across this thread BEFORE Christmas when I spent all my $$$ on those undeserving mouth-breathers I call "family"????

Time to sell something.... :D

Thanks Bob for the excellent review and descriptions!

Boba

[Sinner]

Hey Bob - Did you find any problem with the action on any of those 10 you played, I know you said they were all good but I read the HC reviews and a couple said they couldn't get the action low enough, I'm assuming they meant they couldn't get the bridge to go down far enough. I'm just wondering what you thought about that. Some other review said the bridge radius didn't match the fretboard radius.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Sinner
Hey Bob - Did you find any problem with the action on any of those 10 you played, I know you said they were all good but I read the HC reviews and a couple said they couldn't get the action low enough, I'm assuming they meant they couldn't get the bridge to go down far enough. I'm just wondering what you thought about that. Some other review said the bridge radius didn't match the fretboard radius.

Well, let's qualify that, I don't feel that extremly low action is good. It robs tone and makes "feel" a bad word. I like my action at about 4/64" or so, which is commonly thought of as "normal" action.

All the guitars I tried had a well balanced action at about this height. I did not see any problems with radius not matching. It's such a common problem in inexpensive guitars that I know I would've noticed.

I'm also sure that if I wanted lower action, I would have no trouble in lowering the action. The bridge has plenty of adjustment and the frets are aligned and posished well. In fact, I can't remember a new guitar that had frets as well crowned and polished.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by BobaN00bie
Geez... now I have GAS..... why couldn't I stumble across this thread BEFORE Christmas when I spent all my $$$ on those undeserving mouth-breathers I call "family"????

Just remember....

You can pick you friends, you can pick you nose, but you can't pick your friends nose.

Is that right??

Time to sell something.... :D


Boba


Or get a gig, that's what I did.

[snorlax]

Hey Bob,

Thanks for all the great info. I was wondering the difference between the zebra pickups versus the chrome. Are there really any differences? Also I noticed on Rondo's website that the LP-2000 amber flame top has the zebra pickups with no pickguard and the others (red and sunburst) have chrome pickups with pickguards. Do you recall this being the case when you visited them? Thanks.

[Sinner]

Originally posted by bob-ingram


Well, let's qualify that, I don't feel that extremly low action is good. It robs tone and makes "feel" a bad word. I like my action at about 4/64" or so, which is commonly thought of as "normal" action.

All the guitars I tried had a well balanced action at about this height. I did not see any problems with radius not matching. It's such a common problem in inexpensive guitars that I know I would've noticed.

I'm also sure that if I wanted lower action, I would have no trouble in lowering the action. The bridge has plenty of adjustment and the frets are aligned and posished well. In fact, I can't remember a new guitar that had frets as well crowned and polished. Thanks!:)

[StratKat]

Thanks to all the nice things said about me earlier in this thread! :)

I believe the Agiles are all made in a factory in Korea. This factory was making the pu's for the peavey van halen guitar as well. And i think i was told that the E-1 (copy of a washburn double cutaway model) had them in it. And mine screamed!

I havent been in touch with Kurt for awhile with my dads illness and being offline so much. Later on when things get to some kind of normal with my mom and affairs i will email him and see whats new. I like the guy, he cares!

And im tickled to death that others are getting nice guitars like the ones i tested. A few bad ones always get out of any factory. But most of the Agiles have been very playable from what ive seen and heard. Its one of the guitars that i think is truly worth more than whats paid.

Of all the models i tried i love the E-1 Flametop quilt which was erroneously called a wolfgang clone originally (but its actually a clone of a washburn model) and the CSB LP which was the last one i had. Mine have all now found new homes with friends in my apt complex or nearby. People who had their axes stolen or just couldnt afford one. But eventually i may buy a couple more of the E-1's if they make them.

The thang i loved about that model is the tail is set far back in the body so the overall length of the guitar is somewhat shorter. Makes playing alot easier on the couch or for a youngster or a lady. But for me it made soloing up high easy! And thats an area i never go to on most guitars. Funny, i wouod havbe thought that a longer neck would havew done that, but ya know, i play LP's higher up on the neck than fenders..... So i guess the shorter guitars let me go higher.

Look on my site for my E-1 in the photo area. Or click here....

http://community.webshots.com/album/16048886TKzgIBNBnU

[gearnut]

Hey Bob, thanks for the info. I've been eyeing the junior tv yellow double cut model for a bit, what did you think of those?

[Kool_Aid]

How would you describe the neck size/style?

Fat 50's

or

Slim 60's

[t2mikeman]

i was wondering, which of these guitars balances more like a strat? the les paul or the DC? Which one is less neck heavy?
~mike~

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Kool_Aid
How would you describe the neck size/style?

Fat 50's

or

Slim 60's

About halfway between. It's quite nice actually, not the baseball bat of the 50's but also not the paper thin flat neck of the 60's.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by t2mikeman
i was wondering, which of these guitars balances more like a strat? the les paul or the DC? Which one is less neck heavy?
~mike~

They balance like a LP, not a Strat. The Strat copies are great too. They were not at all neck heavy, but the feel/balance was LP all the way.

The Washburn copy had a feel of it's own, very nice, StratKat has a good description above.

[kurtzentmaier]

Strat Kat – It’s good to see you back again. I hope things are going well for you. We have tried to correct many of problems and make improvements as per your suggestions to your early 2001 and 2002 Agile models. Thanks to you and the comments from others on this forum I know what direction I should be taking these guitars. Let me know when you have more time for me. I can always use your comments.

Kurt
Rondo Music

[Zeppelinfool420]

Yeah i have a question, I went there(drove 4 hours from MA). How did you try 10 of them?. When i was there, i wanted to look at a few so i had a choice because they only had one hanging up and i didn't like the way the flametop was. So I asked if i could look at other ones. And the guy brought out one and then i said yeah i liked it but i wanted to look at other ones so i had a choice and the guy gave me a load of crap about how nobody wanted an open guitar, when they wouldnt be able to tell anyway. Oh well i still got one but i still would have liked to look at a few more so i had a better choice. Oh well i guess its because im 14 or something, being a kid sucks.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Zeppelinfool420
Yeah i have a question, I went there(drove 4 hours from MA). How did you try 10 of them?. When i was there, i wanted to look at a few so i had a choice because they only had one hanging up and i didn't like the way the flametop was. So I asked if i could look at other ones. And the guy brought out one and then i said yeah i liked it but i wanted to look at other ones so i had a choice and the guy gave me a load of crap about how nobody wanted an open guitar, when they wouldnt be able to tell anyway. Oh well i still got one but i still would have liked to look at a few more so i had a better choice. Oh well i guess its because im 14 or something, being a kid sucks.

They had about 7-8 hanging up and I asked the salesman to being me out some others. Cash in hand gets lots of sales attention.

I just said, "I can't decide between the single cut and the double cut, can I see some more?". He said. "Are you buying today?" I said "yes". Vahilia, there were 2 more for me to try.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Zeppelinfool420
Oh well i guess its because im 14 or something, being a kid sucks.

Bring your Dad or Uncle or someone to show the cash!. :rolleyes:

[Burgess]

Bob,

Are the LP and DC necks maple or mahogany? The Rondo website says maple but the pic you posted I would've thought was mahogany.

I've got a real weakness for mahogany. :)

Thanks.
Burgess

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Burgess
Bob,

Are the LP and DC necks maple or mahogany? The Rondo website says maple but the pic you posted I would've thought was mahogany.

I've got a real weakness for mahogany. :)

Thanks.
Burgess

I didn't read the web site, it's gotta be mahogany, the grain doesn't look at all like Maple. Only the cap is maple.

Yea, I really like mahogany guitars too. SG's and Les Pauls are my favorites, PRS and Strats next.

[mensa_reject]

i totally think i'm gonna bite.

i've been looking for an electric (my first!), and these are totally right in my price range and from what everyone has said here seem to be phenomenal.

how're the other copies? not just the LP but the Strat and SG?

[Burgess]

Thanks Bob!

That makes them even more appealing in my book.

GAS, just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!

[StratKat]

Originally posted by kurtzentmaier
Strat Kat – It’s good to see you back again. I hope things are going well for you. We have tried to correct many of problems and make improvements as per your suggestions to your early 2001 and 2002 Agile models. Thanks to you and the comments from others on this forum I know what direction I should be taking these guitars. Let me know when you have more time for me. I can always use your comments.

Kurt
Rondo Music

Hi Kurt,

well, right now my life is in a turmoil. I moved into the folks house while my dad was in the hospital so i packed up all the gear and stored it. Then when he was comming home i had to move back into an apartment again because there wasnt enough room with all the equipment for his needs and mom wanted him in the bedroom i was occupying. So im back in my apt with no gear for awhile. I think i will have to move back into the house in a week or so when things get bad. Dad is home now but its just a matter of time....

Once things get back to normal i'll be in touch and we can see what is new for testing or old models in new runs. Hope you and your new baby had a great christmas! Say hi to the Mrs!...

[PrimeMover]

Originally posted by mensa_reject
i totally think i'm gonna bite.

i've been looking for an electric (my first!), and these are totally right in my price range and from what everyone has said here seem to be phenomenal.

how're the other copies? not just the LP but the Strat and SG?

Well, I'll be... look at that, it's a set-neck Essex SG...made of mahogany... not like it's the quality of an Agile, but it does look nice for $170.

http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/ElectricGuitars/ssgstdbk1.jpg

[myles loud]

here's one for the lefty's at 199.00 plus shipping from rondo, on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=933959347 here's a righty. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=934741029 in calf. $165.00 buys it now. these are double cutaways, with only one volume one tone knob, but 2 humbuckers. rosewood fret board, maple back of the neck. myles loud

[myles loud]

oh btw,
i have an essex lefty tele in butterscotch and i love that guitar. it feels fantastic, alder body, maple neck, about $110.00 from rondo on ebay auction brand new. myles loud

[myles loud]

here's one in black pearl, it's a lespaul, $259.00. from rondo on ebay, take a look, and then click on view sellers other auctions to see what else they have up for bid. myles loud http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=933954684

[Axeslinger]

Originally posted by Burgess
Thanks Bob!

That makes them even more appealing in my book.

GAS, just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!

Burgess,

Not to make it any harder on ya but you know I had a Raven RP300 and the LP2000 I have now is clearly a few notches above the Raven and I thought the Raven was a decent LP knockoff;)
I never really bonded with the Raven if ya know what I mean, no such problem with my Agile:D

[Burgess]

Originally posted by Axeslinger


Burgess,

Not to make it any harder on ya but you know I had a Raven RP300 and the LP2000 I have now is clearly a few notches above the Raven and I thought the Raven was a decent LP knockoff;)
I never really bonded with the Raven if ya know what I mean, no such problem with my Agile:D
You guys are cruel!

I might have just gotten lucky with my RP300 but I knew it was gonna be good right out of the box. Then again, I've got a Samick PRS knockoff, same thing so go figure?

I'll probably bite. I had a plan/budget for two LP Studios some time this year. A Coppertop, and a Wine Red with gold hardware. Now I'm thinking I'll just go with the Coppertop and a few Agiles.

Bob's DC Agile looks like it might be a nice blues machine. That Red Flame LP2K would kill with gold hardware, wonder if Kurt would make me a deal... The Amber Flame LP2K just belongs on my wall.

The Washburn knockoff looks interesting but it's curious that MF's selling the unquilted Washburns $140. Funny thing is, the Agile actually looks like a better axe. Agile, mahogany. Washburn, alder. I like alder but the AVT150 loves mahogany.

Wonder if Kurt will give me a package deal... Wonder where I'm gonna find four more wall hangers... Wonder what kind of jewelry it's gonna take to keep my wife quiet for this one...

Looks like I better get to work. There are some guitars with my name on 'em!

Have a great day guys! Later!

[Xprmntl Gtr]

Originally posted by Burgess

You guys are cruel!

I might have just gotten lucky with my RP300 but I knew it was gonna be good right out of the box. Then again, I've got a Samick PRS knockoff, same thing so go figure?

I'll probably bite. I had a plan/budget for two LP Studios some time this year. A Coppertop, and a Wine Red with gold hardware. Now I'm thinking I'll just go with the Coppertop and a few Agiles.



so you own a samick knockoff but will go for the agile ?
What about the Greg Bennett line of LP vs the agile?
Heres the thread that got me wondering about that.
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=178384

[t2mikeman]

Hey this is a message for kurt. Will agile be making anything in a a 25.5 inch scale? I like the guitars but they are all 24.7inch, even the wolfgang copy. It relaly makes ahuge difference in the way the guitars feels plays and sounds (everyone thinks the mahogany is why les pauls sound so thick, its not! its the scale! I have an all maple godin with a 24.7 in scale that sounds as thick as any les paul). Even tho i have small hands, somehow the bigger scale is actually EASIER to play.
You have some in that scale, but only essex's, will agile be making any in 25.5? Can you ask them too? IF the wolfgang/washburn copy had a 25.5 inch scale that would be awesome..
~mike~

[dinamo72]

How do you owners compare the Agile LP to:

1) Epiphone Standard LP
2) Gibson LP Faded/Special
3) Gibson LP Studio

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by dinamo72
How do you owners compare the Agile LP to:

1) Epiphone Standard LP
2) Gibson LP Faded/Special
3) Gibson LP Studio

I can't say that I've played all of these. I have played the Epi's, and a few Studio's, I've played a Faded SG.

IMO. the Agile's are more consistant. I found pretty dramatic inconsistancies in the Epi's. Come were great some were only fair. The Gibby's were more consistant, but I didn't really see a better quality between the Agile's and the Gibby's.

The Agile is still pretty new, it'll take a few months before I have a true feel for it, but so far it's great.

[Xprmntl Gtr]

so really everyone is excited about a Samick product when it all boils down to it right?
Agile - Epi - Greg Bennett = Samick, does samick then have different quality control people that work differant shifts depending what is being machine made at the time and for who?

[PrimeMover]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr
so really everyone is excited about a Samick product when it all boils down to it right?
Agile - Epi - Greg Bennett = Samick, does samick then have different quality control people that work differant shifts depending what is being machine made at the time and for who?

Well... if, in fact, this came out of a Samick factory, then yes... I am exited about a Samick product.

With regard to quality control and how the factory handles it's personel, I haven't the slightest idea....but...if it's a manufacturing facility that's anything like the one's over here, the entire job of guitars is likely split into a number of batches...and the batches are usually of a set size, irregardless of whether it's an EPI or an Agile.

The question may boil down to run size. I wouldn't be surprised if an entire run of EPI instruments is way bigger and takes much longer than a run of Agile instuments...I think it likely though, that keeping tabs on the overall quality on a run of 100 instruments is much easier than with a run of 1000.

It's also possible that due to the sheer number of instruments that need to be produced for EPI calls for larger batch sizes...which can effect quality.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by PrimeMover
The question may boil down to run size. I wouldn't be surprised if an entire run of EPI instruments is way bigger and takes much longer than a run of Agile instuments...I think it likely though, that keeping tabs on the overall quality on a run of 100 instruments is much easier than with a run of 1000.

It's also possible that due to the sheer number of instruments that need to be produced for EPI calls for larger batch sizes...which can effect quality.

This is true, but it also boils down to the scrutiny of the customer, in this case Rondo music. Since they are small, they can examine more of a percentage of the stock than a bigger company. If they're unhappy with the quality of the instruments, they'll simply return them and buy from another vendor.

[JimmyLong]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr
so really everyone is excited about a Samick product when it all boils down to it right?
Agile - Epi - Greg Bennett = Samick, does samick then have different quality control people that work differant shifts depending what is being machine made at the time and for who?

Actually it seems pretty unlikely that those 3 brands all originate from the same factory. JimEpi made a post the other day that laid out the Korean guitar situation more clearly than the "90% of Korean guitars are made by Samick" factoid we've all heard a thousand times. Apparently it was never true to begin with, and these days, the legendary Samick factory probably doesn't make 10% of the guitars coming out of Korea.

It's in this thread (http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=196956) if you're interested.

[Burgess]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr


1) so you own a samick knockoff but will go for the agile ?
2) What about the Greg Bennett line of LP vs the agile?
Heres the thread that got me wondering about that.
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=178384
1) I own a few Samick knockoffs. My decision is based strictly on what you get for the price. I'm more concerned with how the guitar is built and plays as opposed to how it sounds. I would prefer to build the guitar myself and I've done so with bolt-ons. I prefer set-necks and I'm not skilled enough to build a set neck and I'm certain I couldn't do it for $250.

I usually gut these guitars and install custom wiring and premium p'ups. It's my idea of fun. Kinda like some people like to do crossword puzzles or build birdhouses. Same thing.

Make no mistake however, the Samick I mentioned is an exceptional playing guitar. I'd just as easily grab it as my SL-1 anyday. The EMG 89s I installed on it don't hurt.

2) I have a Greg Bennett Samick. Beautiful guitar, real nice sound. The guitar does have some issues, but that's a whole 'nother thread.

I didn't post in that thread because I think Samick has addressed some issues in that line. I'm not sure my guitar is representative of the new models.

[Xprmntl Gtr]

Originally posted by Burgess

1) I own a few Samick knockoffs. My decision is based strictly on what you get for the price. I'm more concerned with how the guitar is built and plays as opposed to how it sounds. I would prefer to build the guitar myself and I've done so with bolt-ons. I prefer set-necks and I'm not skilled enough to build a set neck and I'm certain I couldn't do it for $250.

I usually gut these guitars and install custom wiring and premium p'ups. It's my idea of fun. Kinda like some people like to do crossword puzzles or build birdhouses. Same thing.

Make no mistake however, the Samick I mentioned is an exceptional playing guitar. I'd just as easily grab it as my SL-1 anyday. The EMG 89s I installed on it don't hurt.

2) I have a Greg Bennett Samick. Beautiful guitar, real nice sound. The guitar does have some issues, but that's a whole 'nother thread.

I didn't post in that thread because I think Samick has addressed some issues in that line. I'm not sure my guitar is representative of the new models.

My goal is to get the most bang for the buck also and was wondering if the samicks were being left out of the equation.
I also do not have anywhere to play these at all so thanks very much for the response , its settling a few questions that I had :)
I am now leaning more to the Agile myself, just didnt want this to be a scenerio where it it was getting positive responses that might have been just because it was a new name on a headstock that didnt have the stigma of saying "Epi" or "Samick" .
I myself have to admit that Im not keen on seeing "Epi" or "Samick" on my headstock but sorta like the idea of a new name thats not already tainted by public bias and has no preconcieved notion of its quality yet. I hate to fall for that but apart of me does .

Thanks again.

[Axeslinger]

I guess I've just gotten too old to care anymore because I truly don't give a Rats Ass WHAT it says on my headstock. I've been around guitars for a long time and know a good one when I play it and POS when I see it;)
The only thing that matters to me is that the platform(neck and body) is good, the rest can be easily changed..
Like Burgess mentioned above,I have no problem gutting and rewiring a guitar. I always have a project guitar going around here at all times..

Now, having said that I'll also say that as we sit right now that two of my favs are my Agile LP2000 and my Metallic Black KRAMER 424!! Both dertainly are NOT revered by the guitar snobs we see on this forum regularly;) But I could care less. I know for a fact what each of these guitars are and won't part with either.

Bottom line is, I don't care what the Headstock says..Just how it feels in my hands and how it sounds acoustically.

[StratKat]

Im with ya there bud! Give me what looks and plays great and i can MAKE it have decent tone with off the shelf items and amps. Name doesnt matter anymore to me. Shoot, some of the best axes ive ever had i let go because it wasnt a fender or gibby and was shamed out of them by other players i was working with.

not anymore....

As to the string length thang i too feel the factory should be doing these at the standard fender and gibby lengths. This was an area i did talk with Kurt about several times last year. But the factory wasnt too hepped up on making THAT big of a change overall since they already had big lots made ,and on order, and in production i guess....

Its ONE thing i think that could become a detriment to some. But all i can do is what i did. Say it, explain it, let Kurt try to convince them to change it (which im convinced he did try to do) and then its up to economics at the factory.

Out of the hundred or so things ive mentioned to Kurt (and the factory through Kurt) this was the single only issue they didnt take advantage on and decided to let it stay the same as is.

Eventually though, i forsee them HAVING to change to standard scales due to public demand or risk losing sales. Why? Because Rondo is the first company to display and sell these in america. And upto this past year they were totally unknown in the USA market. Now, we americans will tolerate small problems or differences in the way things are made but when this company overseas gets more attention and sales increase the demand for an ACCURATE scale guitar will be a deciding factor in the minds of the semi pro and pro players... The pro and semi do not accept the idea that "its close enough" when the price increases (and i expect them to raise their prices as demand increases.) As long as they are this cheap in cost it wont have much effect....

And as a jab as my buddy Kurt!

Remember when i was tellin ya that "if someone out there made a cheap knockoff of a lap steel for under a hundred bucks it would sell like hotcakes!" ???

I have seen 4 in the last three months from musicians friend that friends of mine bought!

:p :p :p :p :p :p

And remember what i mentioned about the big ol stick upright bass like the ampeg? Bet ya see THEM soon too....

The market is ripe i tell ya!

Hheheheeee!

:D

[Xprmntl Gtr]

I should clarify that I made that comment about name brand stated "a part of me falls for that" but not always.
I own korean Ibanezes , Fernandaz , De Armond , Washburn and
then I have the OLP . I also own Parker , Fender and Gibson.

I also own Japanese Fenders and Squires.

I guess I just have a problem with Epiphones for some reason :D

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr
I guess I just have a problem with Epiphones for some reason :D

Just leaves more for the rest of us. :D

[Smokey]

*raises right hand*

I hereby swear never to view this thread again, cuz' it will only make my buy something I can't really afford to buy and I'll get it big trouble

There....I said it. Whew. :cool:

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by Smokey
*raises right hand*

I hereby swear never to view this thread again, cuz' it will only make my buy something I can't really afford to buy and I'll get it big trouble

There....I said it. Whew. :cool:

Don't forget to follow it up with :

"...and this time, I really mean it!" :D

[Xprmntl Gtr]

Originally posted by SomeGuyNamedRob


Just leaves more for the rest of us. :D
Theres plenty out there go for it .. all the stores around me are overstocked may I give them your phone number and credit card info ? :D

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr

Theres plenty out there go for it .. all the stores around me are overstocked may I give them your phone number and credit card info ? :D

Thankfully I don't have a credit card. That would be dangerous.

But I've always seemed to get good deals on Epis because in whatever area I live in, no one seems to want them. I once bought a brand new 90's Coronet with a gig bag for about 65 bucks US because I told the store manager I'd take it off his hands. I was going to mod that one really nicely until it got stolen at a gig.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Axeslinger
I guess I've just gotten too old to care anymore because I truly don't give a Rats Ass WHAT it says on my headstock.

I've gone beyond that, http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/rant.gif

I want the name on the headstock to NOT be a big name. I don't wanta pay Jimmy Page and Jimmy Vaughan and any other has been star that already makes too much money, just so Gibson or Fender can sell more crappy guitars.

So that said, I do own a few Fenders and PRS's, but I've avoided top of the line and endorsed guitars (Les Paul's included, that IS an endorsement deal too), also re-issues and vintage and any other marketing scam designed increase the company's profit margins.

Ok, enough for now. (man this thread was started to show off my new guitar, but it has really taken a life of it's own)

Getting down now. http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/soapbox.gif

[Xprmntl Gtr]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bob-ingram
[B]

Ok, enough for now. (man this thread was started to show off my new guitar, but it has really taken a life of it's own)

QUOTE]
glad you showed it, and your review of it is making me consider getting one I just needed to weight it against the other options.

And not 1 reply occured when I posted this question
in its own thread.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr

glad you showed it, and your review of it is making me consider getting one I just needed to weight it against the other options.

And not 1 reply occured when I posted this question
in its own thread. [/B]

8.5lbs. Didn't I post that earlier?

LOL. I meant enough ranting about endorsement deals and marketing schemes.

[Xprmntl Gtr]

Originally posted by bob-ingram


8.5lbs. Didn't I post that earlier?

LOL. I meant enough ranting about endorsement deals and marketing schemes.

lol not the actual weight .. I meant like vs the epi / samick / greg benett as options .. but anyhow this is the one I want

agile with quilt
http://65.108.199.151/pictures.bmp/lp2000amb5.jpg

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr


lol not the actual weight .. I meant like vs the epi / samick / greg benett as options .. but anyhow this is the one I want

[/IMG]

Yea, I knew that, yea, I did..... no really.

The only thing I can say is that they are aout the same as the Epi's LP copies, except the price is much better and the quality more consistant. I've played too many Epi's that were in need of something, setup, adjustments, new pots, an AX to chop then into firewood. Every single Agile I picked up was good.

[PrimeMover]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr
[B]

lol not the actual weight .. I meant like vs the epi / samick / greg benett as options .. but anyhow this is the one I want

agile with quilt
[QUOTE]

Here's how it looks in real life...

http://members.aol.com/primemover1965/images/agileup.jpg

http://members.aol.com/primemover1965/images/agiledown.jpg

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by SomeGuyNamedRob


Thankfully I don't have a credit card. That would be dangerous.



Funny. I bought my Agile with this funny stuff called "CASH". I always thought that CASH was an acronym for "Corporate America Service and Handling", but apparently it's this stuff that's made out of cotton, is printed green and has dead people on it. you can exchange it for stuff.

[Backyard_Bullet]

Bob I. gave me good advice a long time ago (although i cant remember on exactly what) but to this day i'm glad i listened to him.

So i just ordered the DC Agile via the web (i dont like buying unplayed but the price tag seemed so tantalizing!)

I am hoping the consistency is better than the ^%$$$ Epi standards i owned in the past.

Will post pics when i get it and post a review.

Thanks Bob!

Dana

[Backyard_Bullet]

Hey Bob,

were these guitars set up (as in your standard consistent setup)when you played them? I find that most stores didnt have the majority of their guitars set up. I cant help but to recall the Epi *&&*^^*&* just coming out of the boxes like blind fingerless monkeys set them up.

Dana

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Backyard_Bullet
Hey Bob,

were these guitars set up (as in your standard consistent setup)when you played them? I find that most stores didnt have the majority of their guitars set up. I cant help but to recall the Epi *&&*^^*&* just coming out of the boxes like blind fingerless monkeys set them up.

Dana

I might re-visit the intonation in a few days, no there were no blind fingerless monkeys there. All guitars were consistantly setup, although it might not be to your liking, they were all the same. Several that I picked up were not even tuned up yet, being shipped with the strings a little loose. They still came setup correctly, or at least to their specs.

[JimmyLong]

Originally posted by StratKat
As to the string length thang i too feel the factory should be doing these at the standard fender and gibby lengths. This was an area i did talk with Kurt about several times last year. But the factory wasnt too hepped up on making THAT big of a change overall since they already had big lots made ,and on order, and in production i guess....


I'm confused about the string length issue. I hadn't seen it referenced until you mentioned it here. The Rondo webpage says the scale length on all the Agile LP copies is 24.7 inches. I assumed that just meant 24 3/4" like a regular Gibson. Is the Agile really 0.05 inches shorter, and does that make that much of a difference in feel/sound?

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by JimmyLong


I'm confused about the string length issue. I hadn't seen it referenced until you mentioned it here. The Rondo webpage says the scale length on all the Agile LP copies is 24.7 inches. I assumed that just meant 24 3/4" like a regular Gibson. Is the Agile really 0.05 inches shorter, and does that make that much of a difference in feel/sound?

Hold on, I'll measure for you.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by JimmyLong


I'm confused about the string length issue. I hadn't seen it referenced until you mentioned it here. The Rondo webpage says the scale length on all the Agile LP copies is 24.7 inches. I assumed that just meant 24 3/4" like a regular Gibson. Is the Agile really 0.05 inches shorter, and does that make that much of a difference in feel/sound?

Typo on the site. It measures exactly 24 3/4" at the middle of the bridge.

[JimmyLong]

Thanks a lot Bob :D

Maybe StratKat is talking about the Essex models. :confused:

[StratKat]

Some of the first ones were off abit, but that was fixed. I thought they had decided to goto the slightly shorter scale though. But i could be wrong. I trust bob enough to not doubt his ruler! :D

[StratKat]

Ummmm,

ive always been taught that scale is measured nut to the 12th fret,

times two,

equals the distance from nut to the saddle of the 1st string.

Then each strings thickness is added to lengthen the next saddle as you go along to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th strings.

So technically the distance from the nut to the saddle of the 6th string should be the same as the nut to the first string saddle plus the size of strings 2-6 added in as well.

Of course, almost every guitar ive ever owned was off somewhere in the mix a smidgen....

[Burgess]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr

...I myself have to admit that Im not keen on seeing "Epi" or "Samick" on my headstock but sorta like the idea of a new name thats not already tainted by public bias and has no preconcieved notion of its quality yet. I hate to fall for that but apart of me does .

Thanks again.
To be perfectly honest with you, I kinda enjoy that it says Samick on the headstock. Popular opinion is that they suck. I would beg to differ.

IMO, the guitar is a small part of the overall equation. I'd say the amp is more important and the player is exponentially more important than guitar and amp put together.

I'll admit that the Agiles are very appealing since they're so unknown anywhere but this forum. I get a real charge out of players asking "What's that you're playing?" And they don't ask if it don't sound good.

[Sinner]

bob-ingram - did you get a chance to play the fretless Les Paul? I'm just kind of curious as to what it felt like and more, how it sounds. I'm guessing it would be kind of dull sounding, not as bright. And less sustain ?

[moody]

I wasn't going to get sucked into this, I barely play guitar anymore, I have two nice levinson blades, I've just gotten a lawsuit ibanez for nothing.

Then some bastard had to post a Brice 6 string bass on the other thread.

..... :mad:

Of course, being in Australia I can't do anything about it.

[kurtzentmaier]

"Will agile be making anything in a a 25.5 inch scale? I"

Hmmm, well that's the first request we have for that I think.
But we can consider if we get more.

Kurt
Rondo Music

[Ven do]

Originally posted by kurtzentmaier
"Will agile be making anything in a a 25.5 inch scale? I"

Hmmm, well that's the first request we have for that I think.
But we can consider if we get more.

I think I remember people requesting a Jazzmaster style guitar. I don't think a JM would be any more of a "niche guitar" than the LP jr TV is.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Sinner
bob-ingram - did you get a chance to play the fretless Les Paul? I'm just kind of curious as to what it felt like and more, how it sounds. I'm guessing it would be kind of dull sounding, not as bright. And less sustain ?

I saw one, but it looks silly to me, guitar is a fretted instrument, taking away the frets just won't work. Chords won't be in tune and my big fat fingers will never be able to play in tune. No, I didn't play it.

Fretless basses work because real basses don't have frets. Leo actually got a lot of flack about the Precission bass having frets in '51. I still can't play a fretless bass, but at least this makes since to me.

JMO.

[casper gomez]

Originally posted by Burgess


IMO, the guitar is a small part of the overall equation. I'd say the amp is more important and the player is exponentially more important than guitar and amp put together.



as much as i bet we would all like to think otherwise, i think you hit the nail on the head there.

case in point: i went by one of the local shops today at lunch time and tried out some of the les pauls. i am used to the 25.5 inch scale, and the gibsons felt so strange i couldn't get comfortable. not only that, but most gibsons i have played feel like the back of the neck was polished with a jelly donut. what's up with that? are they using a different clear coat that causes this? i still would love to be able to get a lp type of vibe on some stuff though.

[Sinner]

Originally posted by bob-ingram


I saw one, but it looks silly to me, guitar is a fretted instrument, taking away the frets just won't work. Chords won't be in tune and my big fat fingers will never be able to play in tune. No, I didn't play it.

Fretless basses work because real basses don't have frets. Leo actually got a lot of flack about the Precission bass having frets in '51. I still can't play a fretless bass, but at least this makes since to me.

JMO. It seems odd to have a fretless Les Paul for sale. How many of these would Kurt sell? Because I've seen him say elsewhere on these Agile threads about having to know he'd sell a bunch before having one made, I think he said this about a Goldtop Agile someone asked about. It's cool he offers it and all.

[Burgess]

Originally posted by casper gomez

...i am used to the 25.5 inch scale, and the gibsons felt so strange i couldn't get comfortable...

...i still would love to be able to get a lp type of vibe on some stuff though.

Hey CG! Long time no see!

I don't know how you feel about Jacksons but if memory serves, you're a Strat guy right? Strat guys usually feel quite comfortable on a Jackson. If I wanted an LP sound, but wanted the feel of a Strat, or better yet, a Super-Strat, I'd seriously consider one of these (http://www.jacksonguitars.com/gear/gear.php?op=3&partno=SLATQH_Soloist). That things got as much mahogany as an LP. You don't see many neck-thru's with mahogany necks

My apologies to everyone for posting that shredder on the Agile thread but I thought it relevant to CGs post. And now that I'm back on the subject, anybody ever play one of the Agile acoustics? (http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=875742%7C1088259&PRID=1238264)

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Burgess


anybody ever play one of the Agile acoustics? (http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=875742%7C1088259&PRID=1238264)

I tried them while I was there. Honestly, this is not their strong line. They all played excellent and the workmanship was the same quality of the electrics, but the overall timbre of the giutar was..... let me be kind because Kurt might read this.... thin and tinny. I found the tone was just not rich and full as I'd expect from a small body acoustic. In fact I've heard richer tone from a thin body electric like 1 335.

JMO.

[Burgess]

Originally posted by bob-ingram

...let me be kind because Kurt might read this....

JMO.
Probably something Kurt would respect though...

I suspected it might be a little bright. That's an awful lot of maple on that guitar.

Wonder if this is like some of the roundback Ovations that sound great plugged in but not much acoustically. Too bad. Sure is a purty guitfiddle.

Thanks Bob!

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Burgess

Probably something Kurt would respect though...

I suspected it might be a little bright. That's an awful lot of maple on that guitar.

I have a completly Maple and Spruce Takimine and trust me, there's a difference between bright and tinny. :rolleyes:

Wonder if this is like some of the roundback Ovations that sound great plugged in but not much acoustically. Too bad. Sure is a purty guitfiddle.

Thanks Bob!

Could be. I didn't plug them in because I wasn't in the market for another acoustic, 3 is enough., although these are really nice looking, even better in person.

[Burgess]

Originally posted by bob-ingram


I have a completly Maple and Spruce Takimine and trust me, there's a difference between bright and tinny. :rolleyes:


Understood.
Thanks again Bob!

[Conhugeco]

Bob,

I ordered an Agile Les Paul Dc on Monday, received it yesterday, and am very,very pleased with it. I'lll be taking it to tomorrow night's jam session. Thanks for the heads up.

Dick

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Conhugeco
Bob,

I ordered an Agile Les Paul Dc on Monday, received it yesterday, and am very,very pleased with it. I'lll be taking it to tomorrow night's jam session. Thanks for the heads up.

Dick

I'm glad you like it, after the jam session, how about posting a full report.

[bob-ingram]

You guys'll love this.

Tuesday night I was staying at a hotel outside Newark Delaware. The next morning I went out to my brand new station wagon (yea, I drive a family truckster) before breakfast to put my suitcase and laptop in it, and the left rear window was smashed. It was fine earlier that morning when I put my new Agile DC and my Electar tube10 in the car.

Missing was....................................




my precious Brother P-Touch. Retail value $28.50.

My guitar, amp, CD's, gas credit card, and everything else was untouched. I asked to speak to hotel security, they said, "what security"?

Marriott got a nasty-gram from me then next morning.

I have a brand new window now.

[Johan]

I emailed and called the Dutch distrubitor and some guitar stores.. Agiles are not being distibuted to europe at all :mad:

:(

/Johan

[Xprmntl Gtr]

Originally posted by bob-ingram
You guys'll love this.

Tuesday night I was staying at a hotel outside Newark Delaware. The next morning I went out to my brand new station wagon (yea, I drive a family truckster) before breakfast to put my suitcase and laptop in it, and the left rear window was smashed. It was fine earlier that morning when I put my new Agile DC and my Electar tube10 in the car.

Missing was....................................




my precious Brother P-Touch. Retail value $28.50.

My guitar, amp, CD's, gas credit card, and everything else was untouched. I asked to speak to hotel security, they said, "what security"?

Marriott got a nasty-gram from me then next morning.

I have a brand new window now.

wow if you gotta get robbed thats the way to get robbed .

[kurtzentmaier]

Fretless...... - Well that was just something fun I did, actually as a result of some requests.

Gold Top - We had previously, but it was a poor seller. I will bring back again, as people have started asking... It will take some time as there is quite a bit of “lag” from when I order to when I receive. Hopefully we will have by mid year. I should have an SX gold top in a week or two.

Thin and Tinny. Actually comments like this are more useful then "love the guitar" . Since now I have something to do. (ie improve the guitar). We plan on offering an upgraded alnico pickup latter this year, both as an upgrade and, as something that we will sell separately (if an existing customer wants to change what they already have). Of course I imagine many people will want to put their own pickups in anyway, so we will keep the current lower priced pickup in the bass model

Kurt

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by kurtzentmaier
Thin and Tinny. Actually comments like this are more useful then "love the guitar" . Since now I have something to do. (ie improve the guitar).
Kurt

Kurt,

I'm talking about the acoustic sound of en acoustic / electric guitar here. For all I know it may be a great acoustic/electric but IMO it should still have a decent acoustic sound.

It's good to hear that you're listening to our comments.

[StratKat]

Hey Bob!

Maybe you and i should buy all the brother Ptouch things we can find! There is gonna be a rush on them if kids are stealing them!
:)

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by StratKat
Hey Bob!

Maybe you and i should buy all the brother Ptouch things we can find! There is gonna be a rush on them if kids are stealing them!
:)

LOL. I just bought another. All the stores are out of them, I found one at the 3rd store I looked at.

[freckmoto]

My want for one of these amazingly nice cheap guitars is immeasureable. I'll have to find a way to swing this when my 17th bday comes in February. I just got my first guitar back in October, now to make my parents/relatives understand why I could possibly want another heh.

Max

[Burgess]

Originally posted by kurtzentmaier
...Thin and Tinny. Actually comments like this are more useful then "love the guitar" . Since now I have something to do. (ie improve the guitar). We plan on offering an upgraded alnico pickup latter this year, both as an upgrade and, as something that we will sell separately (if an existing customer wants to change what they already have). Of course I imagine many people will want to put their own pickups in anyway, so we will keep the current lower priced pickup in the bass model

Kurt
Kurt,

Wasn't that thin and tinny in reference to one of your acoustic/electrics? Aren't those piezo and preamped?

Any chance of you sticking gold hardware on that Red Flamed LP2000?

Are the LP2000s and DC necks mahogany or maple? Your website says maple but the pics I've seen look like no maple I've ever seen before.

Thanks,
Potential... likely customer.
Burgess

[Sinner]

I'm super bummed, because it looks sweet as hell. And I like the feel of it, except for the wood sticking out where it's cracked of course. Kurt seems to have a generous exchange policy, will refund my return shipping if I read the website correctly. The box wasn't beat or anything either. I guess it'll be another couple of weeks :(

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Sinner
I'm super bummed, because it looks sweet as hell. And I like the feel of it, except for the wood sticking out where it's cracked of course. Kurt seems to have a generous exchange policy, will refund my return shipping if I read the website correctly. The box wasn't beat or anything either. I guess it'll be another couple of weeks :(

That stinks. I checked like 10 of these and not a single one had a defect like this. I'm sure that they'll stand behind this instrument. It's just too bad you have to wait.

[4nkam]

Hey Bob,

Did you try out that blue quilt LP? If so, what were your thoughts on it? I have been thinking about getting one of those for a couple weeks now....Also, you didn't happen to see any explorers, did you? :)

[Sinth]

Got my Amber Quilt LP-2000 2 days ago. Wow...I'm more impressed with this guitar than I have been with any other in quite some time. And the website is right, the pictures don't do the finish any justice at all. It has to be seen to be believed.

[Sinner]

Bob or anybody who has one - was yours tuned up when you got it and do you live in a cold climate? It's been hovering around zero to 10 degrees here and I just wonder if that had anything to do with mine being cracked. Mine was about a half step down tuning when I got it. {Of course the neck cracking could've done some of that.} I don't think that's the reason because i shipped a guitar to Canada once and I left it tuned up, but it had a floating trem. What do you guys think or how was yours?

[PrimeMover]

Yea, the string tension was up when I got mine...it wasn't zero degrees, but it was shipped to Wisconsin in December, so it wasn't warm...no problems.

[Sinth]

Mine was almost exactly a half step down as well. Temperature was probably around 45 farenheit.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Sinner
Bob or anybody who has one - was yours tuned up when you got it and do you live in a cold climate? It's been hovering around zero to 10 degrees here and I just wonder if that had anything to do with mine being cracked. Mine was about a half step down tuning when I got it. {Of course the neck cracking could've done some of that.} I don't think that's the reason because i shipped a guitar to Canada once and I left it tuned up, but it had a floating trem. What do you guys think or how was yours?

Mine was tuned down about a full step. I've always felt that this was he safest way to store a guitar. Keep some tension but not full tension.

[Armitage]

Originally posted by bob-ingram


Also, it's been many years since a Mahogany piece could be farmed at over 13" wide, so even the Gibby's are at least 2 pieces.



Many guitars, like my Hamer Standard Customs, are made of one piece Honduras Mahogany bodies. And explorer shape is more then 13 inches across. The wood is available, if you want to pay the price.

[StratKat]

Sinner -

Would you describe the crack to me? Just curious if it looked like the entire joint failed or it pulled apart somehow.

To answer your question about temp, yes, it could have contributed to the crack if it was that cold. The colder things get the easier they snap. But i think there had to be a fatal flaw in that axe that gave way and the temp helped it along. Ive had three bad guitars delivered to me in the past during extreme cold myself. Two had splits and one was a pulled joint. But that was ages ago...

Got a pic by chance? Just like to keep up on the proble\ms that people see so im aware... And let us know what the next one is like too!

[Sinner]

Originally posted by StratKat
Sinner -

Would you describe the crack to me? Just curious if it looked like the entire joint failed or it pulled apart somehow.

To answer your question about temp, yes, it could have contributed to the crack if it was that cold. The colder things get the easier they snap. But i think there had to be a fatal flaw in that axe that gave way and the temp helped it along. Ive had three bad guitars delivered to me in the past during extreme cold myself. Two had splits and one was a pulled joint. But that was ages ago...

Got a pic by chance? Just like to keep up on the proble\ms that people see so im aware... And let us know what the next one is like too! StratKat I don't have a pic, no digital camera. The crack followed the scarf joint but if I remember correctly it didn't go all the way to the binding. Maybe it did. It was clean, I mean it wasn't zig-zaggy. The wood stuck out about a 1/16" - I'm just going from memory here. I packed it up right away and shipped it the following day. I wonder if I should just wait until it's warmer outside:confused:

[Axeslinger]

My guess is that it was just an isolated incident,,one of those unfortunate things:(.. Highly unlikely that it would happen again..

[Kyle_Jones]

I'm gettign the e-1, and live in NW PA. shoudl i worry about temp? i can send it back, but that would really suck. Just wait to open when i get it?

[StratKat]

I would ask rondo in an email when ordering it to inspect it prior to shipping. This would eliminate it being a lemon right off. And then if it arrioves damaged the ovious is the ups and the weather.

[Sinner]

Originally posted by StratKat
And let us know what the next one is like too!
UPDATE- it was shipped to the wrong address.
EDIT - NOT RONDOS FAULT

[Backyard_Bullet]

Did it have the incorrect address on the box or was it dropped off at the wrong house?

[Sinner]

Originally posted by Backyard_Bullet
Did it have the incorrect address on the box or was it dropped off at the wrong house?
EDIT- NOT RONDOS FAULT

[Backyard_Bullet]

Something very similar did happen to me once like that many months ago. I tracked it all the way until it said out for delivery. Watched the truck drive by (with a different driver) real slowly and then just kept going. Now whether he honestly didnt know if it was the correct house or didnt want to stop (we live on a big hill and it wouldnt be the first time the driver stalled it everytime he tried to keep going up it till finally he backed down the road).

Maybe the label was damaged.

I'm sure they'll straighten it out.

[Kombinator]

I'm not a veteran (this is my first post) but I am so intrigued about these agile/SX guitars. Has anybody tried the SX Flying V or Explorer?
How does the SX Sg compare to the Agile DC?
How expensive is shipping to Canada?
And does anybody know if a ES-335 or Jazzmaster style can be expected? Maybe Kurt could answer some of these.
I'm full of questions. :)

[GIVE IT A PUSH]

hey guys i was just here starting a thread about a washburn and saw the agile thread,had to jump in,i got an agile 2000 lp csb about 6 months ago from rhondo via the net because of hc reviews for it,man I,m in line with you guys,it is way more guitar than the cost.I love everything about it,a definite keeper,the hardest part is splitting my play time with my strat.:)

[Breakit23]

YOu guys convinced me to get one.

[International]

Originally posted by PrimeMover
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr
[B]

lol not the actual weight .. I meant like vs the epi / samick / greg benett as options .. but anyhow this is the one I want

agile with quilt
[QUOTE]

Here's how it looks in real life...

http://members.aol.com/primemover1965/images/agileup.jpg

http://members.aol.com/primemover1965/images/agiledown.jpg

do all the the quilt ambers come with that burst?

[PrimeMover]

Originally posted by International


do all the the quilt ambers come with that burst?

I think they do, but it's a subtle burst...the flash from my camera made it look much more drastic than it actually is.

[bob-ingram]

This thread has lasted over one month. I can't believe how many people hare hungry for an inexpensive replacement for Gibby's and Fenders. Cool! ;)

[Valtyr]

My wife said I could get a new guitar only if she got a membership to a gym. Later she found a womens' fitness center she wanted to join. BIG MISTAKE!

She started working out Monday. Come tax refund time, I'll be considering the Agile Les Paul or the Agile DC. :cool:

[PrimeMover]

Hey, here's a little solo I did on my Agile

Amber LP2000 Jam Clip (http://www.cyberjammin.com/phpnuke/html/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=205)

[Axeslinger]

Tough crowd eh Prime?:D
Well I liked your clip!! Good tone and good playin dude;)
The Agile sounds great!!

[bones112]

1 month Agile thread...I have had my agile for 3/4 of the thread and I CANNOT PUT THIS DOWN! I pick up the Strat out of loyalty, guilt , or something, but I always seem to have the LP2K around my neck....what a deal!!!

[riffy]

Originally posted by PrimeMover
Hey, here's a little solo I did on my Agile

Amber LP2000 Jam Clip (http://www.cyberjams5.com/data/cjforumjam2-primemover.mp3)

That guitar really really sounds great! Is that with the stock P/UPS in it??? IF so, WOW, what a value for the money!!!!!

riffy

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by PrimeMover
Hey, here's a little solo I did on my Agile

Amber LP2000 Jam Clip (http://www.cyberjams5.com/data/cjforumjam2-primemover.mp3)

Great clip. Nice playing and tone production.

[PrimeMover]

Originally posted by riffy


That guitar really really sounds great! Is that with the stock P/UPS in it??? IF so, WOW, what a value for the money!!!!!

riffy

Yep, stock pickups, neck position. I used my J-Station for ampage.

[riffy]

Originally posted by PrimeMover


Yep, stock pickups, neck position. I used my J-Station for ampage.

Does yours look as nice as the pics that stratcat posted of his too? Man, if so, I am ordering one posthaste...lol

riffy

[PrimeMover]

Mine is the one just up the page...beautiful guitar. The top looks good in the pictures, but they really don't do that quilt justice.

[riffy]

That is ONE FINE LOOKING GUITAR!!!!!!!!!!
I am another person that does not care whats on the headstock.
I have a PRS a couple of Gibsons and Kramers as well as Ibanez guitars... If it plays well looks good and sounds good... That is all that is important to me.Name recognition is for people who can't play or only want to be noticed... I wanna sound good... And sounding good cheaply is great by me!!!!!!!!!!

riffy

[evhell]

After reading this thread and the reveiws I ordered me a Agile LP 2000 in red flame. It just got here today, and looks great here are some pictures of it .http://mrevil.home.insightbb.com/mrevil.html
The only thing is that the low E sting is buzzing really bad and the action is already pretty high. I don't have the money to go get it setup, so can any of you help with some links to good pages to learn to setup a guitar. Any help would be great, I have searched online but so many pages say one thing and another tells you its wrong?????????? Sorry the pictures are so bad, but its the best I can do for now...

Thank's

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by evhell
After reading this thread and the reveiws I ordered me a Agile LP 2000 in red flame. It just got here today, and looks great here are some pictures of it .http://mrevil.home.insightbb.com/mrevil.html
The only thing is that the low E sting is buzzing really bad and the action is already pretty high. I don't have the money to go get it setup, so can any of you help with some links to good pages to learn to setup a guitar. Any help would be great, I have searched online but so many pages say one thing and another tells you its wrong?????????? Sorry the pictures are so bad, but its the best I can do for now...

Thank's

Right now, contact Rondo. They stand behind what they sell and if there's something wrong that they can't help you with over the phone or through e-mail, they'll take it back and replace it, even pay the shipping.

[evhell]

I want to keep it, its not messed up it just needs setup I think. I just don't know much about setting one up..

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by evhell
I want to keep it, its not messed up it just needs setup I think. I just don't know much about setting one up..

Start by changing the strings, sometimes a bad string can buzz. Then move on to this........

Hold down the low E string at the 1st and 15th frets, then look at the space between the string and fret at the 7th fret. It should be about enough to slip a piece of paper folded twice (4 thicknesses of paper). You can also use a spare high E string, .010, to see if this is the correct gap. If there's not enough gap, loosen the truss rod 1/4 turn, if there's too much, most likely that's not your problem but you'll need to tighten the truss rod.

Here's what this looks like.
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/BuzzDiagnosis/Relief/ReliefViews/relief1.jpg

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/BuzzDiagnosis/Relief/ReliefViews/relief2.jpg

This picture is showing too much relief.

Once the truss rod is adjusted correctly, check the action. It should be about 5/64" on the E string and 3/64" on the high E string.

If you still can't get to the bottom of this problem, check the alignment of the frets. Using a small straight metal ruler, hold it on the frets like this

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/BuzzDiagnosis/UnevenFrets/UnevenViews/uneven3.jpg

If the ruler rocks up and down instead of sitting on the frets even, I'd return the guitar, it's not fretted correctly and will need quite a bit of work.

[evhell]

I tried what you told me and at the 7th fret there is no space. It lays right on the fret.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by evhell
I tried what you told me and at the 7th fret there is no space. It lays right on the fret.

There's your problem, there's no room for the string to vibrate.

Make sure the guitar is tuned to proper pitch first. Loosen the truss rod 1/4 turn and check again. if that is not enough, go another 1/4 turn. Wait a half hour or so before turning anymore.

Once you get the relief set correctly, you can now set the action correctly. Use the thumb screws on the bridge to adjust a little at a time, retuning after each adjustment.

Last you'll need to adjust the intonation. Tune each string to the harmonic at the 12th fret, then fret the 12th fret and check the tuning. If it's off, adjust the bridge as needed. If the fretted note is sharp, move the bridge saddle away from fretboard, if the fretted note flat, more it towards the fretboard. Adjust every string.

These are the steps I always go through with any new guitar. Yes, I did my Agile too.

[bob-ingram]

Oh, here's a link that may help you.

http://mysite.verizon.net/jazz.guitar/guitarsetup.htm

[PrimeMover]

Bob, I just wanted to chime in here and say that you do, in fact, kick ass.

[evhell]

Yes you do, and thank's for the help. Im going to work on it tonight. Ex wife just droped off my strings and im going to try to fix the neck. Thank's again for the help, i'll let you know how it goes...

[evhell]

I put on the new strings and gave the truss rod 1/4 turn and let it sit for 2 hours. Then I checked it and it was the same, so I gave it another little turn and let it sit over night and I still can't get an high E string in there. Should I give it another turn? I checked the frets and there even. I may have to set it aside for month till I can get the money to send it out to get setup..
Thank's

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by evhell
I put on the new strings and gave the truss rod 1/4 turn and let it sit for 2 hours. Then I checked it and it was the same, so I gave it another little turn and let it sit over night and I still can't get an high E string in there. Should I give it another turn? I checked the frets and there even. I may have to set it aside for month till I can get the money to send it out to get setup..
Thank's

Sure, loosen it 1/4 turn at a time. This is to prevent over adjusting. You really only need to wait 15 minutes or so. If this won't get the relief into the neck, you might need to send it back.

[gibson1001]

Hi Bob, thanks for the info on the truss rod and set-up. I changed the strings on my DC to GHS 10-46's and was having the same trouble as Evhell. I ended up having to go three 1/4 turns of relief. I then adjusted the bridge for the action. I got it to about .070 on the low E at the 12th which I think is just a little over 4/64. I then was able to tighten the truss rod 1/4 turn to get .011 at the 1st fret. Now I am working on the intonation. Let you know how it works out.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by gibson1001
Hi Bob, thanks for the info on the truss rod and set-up. I changed the strings on my DC to GHS 10-46's and was having the same trouble as Evhell. I ended up having to go three 1/4 turns of relief. I then adjusted the bridge for the action. I got it to about .070 on the low E at the 12th which I think is just a little over 4/64. I then was able to tighten the truss rod 1/4 turn to get .011 at the 1st fret. Now I am working on the intonation. Let you know how it works out.

Great. So the frett buzz is gone now?

.011 is too low for me on the E string. Extra low action does not mean good always. You lose dynamics and feel. I like about 4/64th on the treble side and 6/64th on the bass side, but this is your guitar. ;)

[evhell]

OK, tell me if this sounds ok. I adjusted the truss rod the best I could and reset the action. On the low E string its 5/64" and on the high E its 3/64". The low E still has a very lite buzz, I just can't find it. Must have a high fret somewhere. The pickups are set to " neck is 2/32" and the Bridge is 1/16". Does this sound right? It does sound pretty good when playing, what little I can play...
Thank's for the help...

[gibson1001]

Bob, the .011 is at the first fret not the 12th. Gibson recommends around .010 to .013 at the first and around 4/64 on the low E at the 12th and a little less on the the treble E. Fender's site recommends around the same tolerence. I have my Godin SDxt set a little higher at the 12th and I have some trouble barring major 7th's and 9th's in the higher register.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by evhell
OK, tell me if this sounds ok. I adjusted the truss rod the best I could and reset the action. On the low E string its 5/64" and on the high E its 3/64". The low E still has a very lite buzz, I just can't find it. Must have a high fret somewhere. The pickups are set to " neck is 2/32" and the Bridge is 1/16". Does this sound right? It does sound pretty good when playing, what little I can play...
Thank's for the help...

Actually that sounds exactly right, even the little buzz. Most electrics have a light buzz but you really can't hear it amplified.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by gibson1001
Bob, the .011 is at the first fret not the 12th. Gibson recommends around .010 to .013 at the first and around 4/64 on the low E at the 12th and a little less on the the treble E. Fender's site recommends around the same tolerence. I have my Godin SDxt set a little higher at the 12th and I have some trouble barring major 7th's and 9th's in the higher register.

That makes since now. I don't measure my nut height like this. I hold down a string at the 2nd fret and look for the string to clear, just barely, the 1st fret. Like this.........

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/NutAction/NutActionViews/press.JPG
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/NutAction/NutActionViews/6th1.JPG

4/64th is also about right and I'd expect barre chords to be difficult any higher. I'd also expect the guitar to sound flat and non-dynamic any lower.

Sounds like you nailed this setup. So how do you like the Agile now?

[gibson1001]

Bob,
Thanks for all of the help on the setup. The photos are really helpful. I have gone over this DC with a fine tooth comb and can't fine one thing wrong with the finish, joinery work or machines. For the money, I don't think there is a guitar out there that can touch it. I emailed Kurt and he said that he is going to get some different colors and pickup options in the near future. When he does I am going to pick up another one.

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by gibson1001
Bob,
Thanks for all of the help on the setup.

Happy to help. For future the photos came from http://www.frets.com which is more geared toward acoustic fretted instruments, but it's a very helpful site.

[Xprmntl Gtr]

Originally posted by evhell
After reading this thread and the reveiws I ordered me a Agile LP 2000 in red flame. It just got here today, and looks great here are some pictures of it .http://mrevil.home.insightbb.com/mrevil.html
The only thing is that the low E sting is buzzing really bad and the action is already pretty high. I don't have the money to go get it setup, so can any of you help with some links to good pages to learn to setup a guitar. Any help would be great, I have searched online but so many pages say one thing and another tells you its wrong?????????? Sorry the pictures are so bad, but its the best I can do for now...

Thank's

Even with those grainy pics I bet that thing looks so sweet in person :)

[bob-ingram]

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr


Even with those grainy pics I bet that thing looks so sweet in person :)

Grainy? It must be you're PC. Those picture are 3 Mega pixel and very sharp. I tried to get the best possible quality.

[evhell]

I think he was talking about my pictures...

[gt5litre]

Hello,
I hope this place is still here by the time my agile gets here. The set up info, hints ,measurements and pics will helpful

Thanks for taking the time to do this!!!

Sincereley,
gt5litre