**NGD** Another Agile is added to the quiver

[FrankenFretter]

This arrived today, ordered for me as a birthday gift from the future Mrs. FrankenFretter. I threw in my own money for the case, which is the top of the line available from Rondo Music. DVM has already given his review of the case, so I won't post something redundant. The first thing that struck me once I pulled the shroud aside was that the flames were almost non-existent, looking more like a plain top. I pulled her out and gave her a once over, and discovered a small knot on the back of the horn, and a few other minor finish glitches, but nothing too awful. Here's some guitar pr0n for ya:

I've decided to keep her, and I'm growing to see her as unique rather than flawed. I've named her Marilyn, which was actually somebody else' s idea (kind of) due to the knot looking kind of like a mole. I've spent some time playing the new girl today, and although she's brighter than either of my other LPs, it's not a thin sound. Sounds great through my new Blackstar and 2 x 12 cab with the vintage alnico Rola speakers.
More pr0n:

She plays great, and the setup was pretty good right out of the box. The truss rod needs a slight tweak, but everything else is pretty decent. It's amazing what you can get for just slightly over 2 bills from Rondo.

 

[ET335]

Great looking guitar FF...Enjoy!

 

[Katastrophe]

Sweet! I dig the top... reminds me of older les pauls for some reason. The flame is nice and subtle. Congrats, man!

 

[Tig]

Sweet lemon drop goodness, I like it! Over time, the subtle flame will become even more welcome.

(The future Mrs. FrankenFretter is a smart gal)

 

[progrmr]

I love that lemon drop color. Nice score! And sounds like you found a real keeper in the future Mrs. congrats on both fronts!

I just traded my Agile Harm locally for a rootbeer AL-2000 w/ GFS humbuckers. Was a little unsure since it's the entry level LP but it is 100% perfect - frets are level, action was great, no finish flaws. I was shocked at how nice it was for a $225 guitar. I don't know how they do it.

 

[Katastrophe]

I just traded my Agile Harm locally for a rootbeet AL-2000 w/ GFS humbuckers.

Rootbeet? oke

BTW, FF, methinks that AL is just gonna look better and better as it ages. Congrats again!

 

[FrankenFretter]

Thanks again, Fretters. Someone on the Agile forum mentioned a Peter Green/Gary Moore look, and I thought that was pretty cool. Maybe I'll leave it out in the sun to hasten the aging. Oh wait...I live in Oregon. No sun here.

 

[Eric]

Nice looking guitar you have there. I like the more natural finish it seems to have. For the record, my friend has an AL-2000 in blue, and the flame is also very indistinct, though I still think it looks cool.

Happy NGD!

 

[NWBasser]

Very cool!

Mo Cat was pawing at the picture on the screen. I think he likes it too!

I'll look forward to a tone report with new pickups in it.

 

[FrankenFretter]

Here's a daylight photo, which gives a better detail of the grain. Yes, we actually had a few minutes of sunshine here!

You'll notice I've changed the knobs already, although I don't think I like the speed knobs on this guitar. I also need to change the crappy Korean strings that turn my fingers black when I play it, and top wrap around the tailpiece.

 

[bcdon]

Very nice!

 

[syo]

Nice looking guitar, Sean. Congrats!
Personally I like the subtle flame. Looks like a player's guitar. As for knobs, 1 vote for bell over speed.

 

[FrankenFretter]

Nice looking guitar, Sean. Congrats!
Personally I like the subtle flame. Looks like a player's guitar. As for knobs, 1 vote for bell over speed.

Thanks, Syo. I have reflector knobs coming that will replace the speed knobs. I also have some pointer washers to go with those knobs. Slowly, it comes together...

 

[Eric]

Cool. Sometimes I wish I had more guitars to mess around with, because I'd like to experiment a little bit more, but I think I'm in more of a find-what-works-and-use-it phase right now.

Do you have an ultimate plan for this thing (i.e. what role will this fill in your fleet of guitars)?

 

[Jimi75]

I love plain tops. That's really one of the best looking Agiles I have seen. Very cool guitar!

 

[ZMAN]

Here's a daylight photo, which gives a better detail of the grain. Yes, we actually had a few minutes of sunshine here!

You'll notice I've changed the knobs already, although I don't think I like the speed knobs on this guitar. I also need to change the crappy Korean strings that turn my fingers black when I play it, and top wrap around the tailpiece.

I really like the look of that top. It looks almost like a really old vintage top that the burst has faded. I really think you should reconsider the knobs. It just looks so vintage and cool with those gold knobs.
That case looks really good.

 

[Duffy]

Flame

I like the amber color and the laid back flame. It is a beautiful guitar. Hey, at least the flames aren't touched up with stain to make them stand out like I've seen on some flammed maple top guitars. I like the obviously genuine flame look, nothing too fancy, and commensurate with the price paid and more.

You can't seem to beat what Agile offers. I might get another one myself. Maybe a neck thru or maple cap, or maybe just a plain AL 3xxx. I like the pickups on the 3xxx bettter than the ceramics on the 2000. It is possible that the ceramic pickups are making it sound brighter than the AlNiCo ones on the 3xxx'es. I think you might be able to purchase 3xxx humbuckers from Rondo; it would be worth an email to Kurt to find out. Otherwise there are a lot of good pickups available that would sound great, even improve the sound.

Anyway, it's a beautiful guitar and many a person would be highly content with it "as is", and have the time of their life with it.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do with it. I got a white one with gold hardware for Charity's grandson along with an on sale Peavey Royal 8, Valve King tube amp. I was impressed with both of them. For the price paid I thought that the combination was a great place for someone to start - with something nice - bypassing all the junk starter bungles.

 

[FrankenFretter]

Cool. Sometimes I wish I had more guitars to mess around with, because I'd like to experiment a little bit more, but I think I'm in more of a find-what-works-and-use-it phase right now.

Do you have an ultimate plan for this thing (i.e. what role will this fill in your fleet of guitars)?

That's a good question, Eric. As much as I love the vintage LP type tone, I don't really feel the need for all my guitars to sound the same. If they did, what would be the point of having more than one? I'm now re-thinking what I want from my AL-3000; maybe instead of trying to match the tone of the 57 Classics in my Epi Tribute, I might try for a bolder, more aggressive tone. I may put alnico pickups in the AL2K, and perhaps a ceramic pickup in the bridge position on the AL3K. I'm not really sure what I'll do with the 2K...but maybe a set of A2 pickups rather than A4 or A5. Decisions, decisions...I have more than enough pickups sitting around to play with, so If I don't like one combo, I can always try something else. That's the beauty of an inexpensive guitar, I don't feel guilty about changing things.

I love plain tops. That's really one of the best looking Agiles I have seen. Very cool guitar!

​

Thanks, Jimi!

I really like the look of that top. It looks almost like a really old vintage top that the burst has faded. I really think you should reconsider the knobs. It just looks so vintage and cool with those gold knobs.
That case looks really good.

Thanks Z! I think the reflector knobs will help keep that vintage feel.

I like the amber color and the laid back flame. It is a beautiful guitar. Hey, at least the flames aren't touched up with stain to make them stand out like I've seen on some flammed maple top guitars. I like the obviously genuine flame look, nothing too fancy, and commensurate with the price paid and more.

You can't seem to beat what Agile offers. I might get another one myself. Maybe a neck thru or maple cap, or maybe just a plain AL 3xxx. I like the pickups on the 3xxx bettter than the ceramics on the 2000. It is possible that the ceramic pickups are making it sound brighter than the AlNiCo ones on the 3xxx'es. I think you might be able to purchase 3xxx humbuckers from Rondo; it would be worth an email to Kurt to find out. Otherwise there are a lot of good pickups available that would sound great, even improve the sound.

Thanks, Duffy! I actually have a set of the AL 3000 pickups laying around. I was experimenting with "distressing" the covers. They might be a good choice for a guitar that already has a slightly vintage appearance. These AL 2000s are such a good deal for the money, I think in the future I would just assume buy another one of these than pay the extra $200 for an AL3x00.
​

 

[oldguy]

Lovely guitar........ enjoy FrankenFretter! You are one lucky man.

 

[marnold]

I could see that if you were looking for a top that screamed flamed maple, you might be disappointed. However, if you are "just" looking for a top that looks good, that one has looks in spades, especially at the price point. Between the Agiles and the Ibanez ARTs, I might end up with a Les Paul style in my arsenal someday. Me likey a goldtop with P90s

 

[Duffy]

Check out this Marnold. Not a P90 but can be had for 300 NOS:

Ibanez SZ320 with Ibanez/Duncan pickups, awesome gold top - all mahogany, set mahogany neck, coil split;

 

[Spudman]

Ya, these are great. I've got a 520 and it's a blast to play. The stock pickups are good too. More comfy to play than an LP as well.

Congrats on your new guitar Sean.

Check out this Marnold. Not a P90 but can be had for 300 NOS:

Ibanez SZ320 with Ibanez/Duncan pickups, awesome gold top - all mahogany, set mahogany neck, coil split;

 

[marnold]

Stop it, Duffy! You're going to get me in trouble!

Then Duffy forced me at bazooka-point to go to Rondo's site and see this. Slim taper neck would be nicer, but still . . .

 

[FrankenFretter]

Thanks, Spud!

 

[Katastrophe]

Stop it, Duffy! You're going to get me in trouble!

Then Duffy forced me at bazooka-point to go to Rondo's site and see this. Slim taper neck would be nicer, but still . . .

P90s + Jet City set to raunchy crunch = fat single coil win! But, that might eat up the budget for the LTD Lynch Kami....

 

[marnold]

P90s + Jet City set to raunchy crunch = fat single coil win! But, that might eat up the budget for the LTD Lynch Kami....

Tr00, but no one seems to be selling that one.

 

[Duffy]

Nice gold top Agile P90, and I don't see that green tint I've heard some of the Epiphones or something have.

That guitar has some real charisma.