Are these for real?

[JeffB]

I keep hearing about these Agile Les Pauls.

Linky

Lets hear it folks. Good. Bad. Indifferent.

Just figured I'd be putting in over a grand total by the time I got an Epiphone Les Paul Standard and had new pups put in, plus a complete rewire/electronics swap.

Seems the Agiles have at least decent pots, etc..real wood..looks like a pup swap would be all I need.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Are these for real?

no-one?

Heck they even get great ratings over on Harmony Central

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Are these for real?

I recently got one. It's an all-mahogany one (no maple cap). It beats any of the Epis that I've actually played, though I think I'll be replacing the pots as well as the pickups, as my volume pots seem to have very little effect until just before they turn off (no matter what position I'm in, so no it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that with this wiring doesn't allow for individual volume control when using both pickups).

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Are these for real?

Addendum:

When I say it "beats any of the Epis I've actually played" I DO NOT mean that it beats Epiphone at making you think you're playing a Gibson. I meant that on every front, it looks, feels and sounds like a better instrument in stock form than any of the Epis I've played. But then, I wasn't exactly looking for a Les Paul. I was looking for an all mahogany, dual humbucker guitar to turn into punk and metal machine (though I've chosen a decidedly non-aggro look for it-- pics soon ) And while I'm in the VAST minority, I actually like the look of the new horn. I am glad, however, that they haven't changed the upper ...ummm... hump. When the Greg Bennet series Samick Avions changed theirs to something similar to a Tele's, they got a lot uglier.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Are these for real?

Thank you for the info

Anyone else have any comments?

 

[JimiHWannaBe]

Re: Are these for real?

I own one buy it right now if you want a les paul sound but cant afford a gibson this is a steal

 

[Jag513]

Re: Are these for real?

They're excellent for the price. They aren't Gibson quality, so if you're in that price range, better off getting the real thing. I'd take one over an Epiphone any day though. Epi and Gib are both extremely overpriced.

 

[RushOfBlood]

Re: Are these for real?

i'm going to have to back up genesius on this one.

 

[Tweed]

Re: Are these for real?

The maple tops will undoubtedly be veneer. You'll be paying for a cosmetic upgrade only, which is fine if that's all you care about. Just don't expect any tonal changes with the maple. Not sure what the concern is with pots. They're cheap to buy. Sounds like they use linear, which Gibson uses also. Most players put audio tapers in. At that price, I guess you'll get what you pay for. Any kind of decent case for the Agile, add another $75.00, if you buy a new set of Duncans, another $150-$200. You're looking at around $600.00 for an imported knock-off budget guitar. You could get into a used Hamer USA Studio for $700 or so, with Duncans, nice pots and a nice case. Just my opinion...I'd save up a couple hundred more and find a Hamer. You could drive a Kia and save a couple hundred bucks, or you could drive a Mercedes.

 

[poopsmith921]

Re: Are these for real?

I'd get one over an epiphone. The features appear to be the same, except the agile is way cheaper. A friend of mine got an agile sg for 99 bucks, that played as good as an epiphone g400. On the other hand, it looks deformed. When you think about it, if you pay 99 bucks for an epiphone, you are gonna get one with bad pickups, cheap wiring, bad frets, and plywood with a bolt on neck. My friend also has a 99 dollar les paul jr that epiphone sells is made out of tonewood. What the hell is tonewood? more like "unknown woods compressed together." The agile is mahogany, im not sure how many pieces. With neck binding, nice frets, nice action, set neck, etc. Too bad they dont sell those 99 dollar ones anymore, but the les pauls look like a good deal

 

[RushOfBlood]

Re: Are these for real?

The maple tops will undoubtedly be veneer.

they're not

 

[RushOfBlood]

Re: Are these for real?

The agile is mahogany, im not sure how many pieces.

depends on the model, the 2500 & 2800 have 3, sometimes two.

the 3000 and up have 1 and sometimes 2

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Are these for real?

Here's my (admittedly odd) Agile journey:

Bought used 2500 for $190 (in town, no shipping)

Sold it immediately for $230 (buyer paid shipping)

Bought NEW 2500 for $230+$18 shipping = $208 spent so far

Was refunded $35 from Rondo because changes had been made to the model that were not reflected on the website.

That's essentially a $173 guitar I've got there...

Ordered two Duncan pups for $128

So that's $301 invested on my part. I've never been much on cases -- all of mine are in a closet I rarely open -- and I've got plenty of gig bags for toting. Add in another few bucks for new pots and you're still under $320. I actually prefer buying something with parts I want to upgrade becuase for me that's part of the fun.

I'm not interested in arguing the guitar's merits as a replacement for Gibson. If I'd wanted a Gibson, I'd have bought a Gibson...and probably STILL replaced the pickups.

But regardless of how it may stack up against any other brand, this is most definitely not a case of 'get what you pay for.' I have put this instrument in the hands of some very skeptical people and none of them come away able to believe how little it cost.

At that price, I guess you'll get what you pay for. Any kind of decent case for the Agile, add another $75.00, if you buy a new set of Duncans, another $150-$200. You're looking at around $600.00 for an imported knock-off budget guitar. You could get into a used Hamer USA Studio for $700 or so, with Duncans, nice pots and a nice case. Just my opinion...I'd save up a couple hundred more and find a Hamer. You could drive a Kia and save a couple hundred bucks, or you could drive a Mercedes.

 

[Jag513]

Re: Are these for real?

^Completely true. My neighbor bought one and let me mod it to his specs. When set up properly, they're like Schecters in terms of value...you get much more than what you pay for.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Are these for real?

They're excellent for the price. They aren't Gibson quality, so if you're in that price range, better off getting the real thing. I'd take one over an Epiphone any day though.

Yep, I totally agree. And I've owned 3 Agiles, a few Epi's, and countless Gibsons.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Are these for real?

In fact, here's the first Agile I ever owned. It was the best one and has the correct Gibson style cutaway. About a year ago they went with a softer/rounder horn to try and avoid getting sued by Gibson.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Are these for real?

that's a sweet axe TC .. damn, bro! you never seem to show a dog .. looks like you got the golden touch when it comes to guitars

as for the different models of agile LP clones, where do you guys think the best value is? $369 for the 3000? or pay a little more for the 3000M? or keep going to the 3500 for $499? 05 $599 for the 3500 with duncans?

cheers
t4d

 

[JeffB]

Re: Are these for real?

Thanx everyone for all the comments.

Looking for a decent sounding/playing LP type guitar without spending a ton. Kinda kicking myself now for selling my Heritage. Thought these agiles would be interesting with some tweaks compared to an Epiphone.

I recently got a PRS, but am sending it back. Very nice guitar. Beautiful. Plays great. Love the trem. Rotary switch effed up on it though within a couple days. But the reason I'm getting rid of it, is that I couldn't justify the playability/sound for cost vs.the $600-800 guitars I own. It's not a $1000 better to my ears, eyes, hands than my Wolfgang.

Same reason I can't really justify a newer Gibson LP. I've been looking hard at the Epiphone Elitist series though. Hamers are sweet but I really want a single-cutaway "true" Les Paul style. Then I'll have my bases covered: A "Les Paul", A Strat, and a "Super strat" with the Wolfgang.

One of these days I'm gonna win the lotto and then I won't have to worry about this crap

 

[boulder4112]

Re: Are these for real?

Hamers are sweet but I really want a single-cutaway "true" Les Paul style.

That's what the Hamer monaco elite is for

you'll probably spend at least 200 more for one than you would for a Hamer studio, but also remember that you'll be getting a better quality instrument than a gibson costing hundreds more (used, of course). They come with a custom in the neck and a custom custom in the bridge.