Quality of Agile?

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guitarrob

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I have been reading mixed reviews on the quality of these Agile brand guitars.
I checked the Rondo music and they seem to have many great price instruments but how is the quality of these guitars? I have always figured you get what you pay for, any opinions on their guitars?
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

I haven't bought any in a few years, but they are on par with a good Epiphone. If you get anything unsatisfactory, they have excellent customer service
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

..so might aswell just go with an Epiphone then?
I was looking at their models other then LP's, the superstrats, do you have any idea on their quality?
 
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Re: Quality of Agile?

guitarrob said:
..so might aswell just go with an Epiphone then?
Click to expand...

Not at all.

I'd choose any Agile against any Epiphone that's twice the price. I'd rather have a $200 Agile than a $500 Epiphone.

Are they as good as a Gibson? No. But they're one of the best import LPs around. Replace the pickups, pots and switch, (as they've already got pretty decent tuners and bridge and you can leave those alone) and you've got an unbeatable deal.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

i like them , i have 4 , but all but 1 (RED= /EMG X) pups were changed to SD.. they play well, & stay intune , but i block all of the trems to down only, the orange one is the only 1 that had a fat neck , i shaved it down, it might be for sale..
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Re: Quality of Agile?

They are very much comparable to Epis in terms of quality. The price is where Agile pulls ahead. $225 for a flame top Agile AL-2000 or $500 for a flame top Epi standard. Another advantage for the Agile at least imo is the 1 3/4 nut option.

The Agiles suffer from the same quality issues as the Epis do. Especially the Epi customs. I looked at several epi customs recently and all had pretty severe binding issues. It must be hard to get that 5-ply thing right. I bought an al-3100 which had the same issues, so I sent it back and got an al-2000. I figured, the simpler the better.

The 2000 I got wasnt 100% perfect, but still very few issues, but overall feel and playability were very similar to the 3100. You lose the 5-ply binding and the ebony board. thats about it.

I dont think the pots and switch necessarliy need to be changed. My 2000 has 500k alpha pots installed and work perfectly. The controll cavities are shield painted with foil on the back of the cavity covers as well, which is a nice touch for that money range. The pickups arent bad either. They have good tone if not a ton of output. Ill probably eventually swap them out for some zebras soon, mainly for aesthetic reasons if anything.

In short, Agiles arent Gibsons, but they are good competition for Epis and every bit worth the price asked as well as the good customer service aspect mentioned earlier.


If you want max quality for the $ though, I would seriously look at the Michael Kelly lines. Ive been really impressed with every one ive seen in person and I also happen to own an MK Vex. The quality is in a different league from the Agiles. The only reason I dont have a Patriot instead of an Al-2000 is the shape of the patriot really doesnt work for me. Its just off imo. They do play wonderfully though, if the shape is to your taste.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

AniML said:
I haven't bought any in a few years, but they are on par with a good Epiphone. If you get anything unsatisfactory, they have excellent customer service
Click to expand...

+1. They're nice guitars, good for the money, but I wouldn't consider them way above Epi's in quality. To me they're similar. Both need a pickup upgrade.

I personally don't like the weird upper bout of some of the other LP copies, like Michael Kelly, Dean, Washburn, etc. Too homely.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

I haven't read a whole lot of bad reviews on the Agiles. From my own experience my AL3100 is not only on a par with my LP Studio but in the areas of finish, workmanship, and playability out of the box it's better. It's a lot prettier as well.

And, yes I agree with the benefits of a pickup swap. On the other hand once done there isn't much that can outshine the Agiles.


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Re: Quality of Agile?

How is the quality on the other models, such as their superstrats?
The prices seem crazy low for a guitar with a FR tremelo on it.
To me that seems like you would just get really low quality, am I wrong here?
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

I doubt you have to worry about low quality. I think you will get some variance from guitar to guitar like with most models in lower price ranges, but with Agiles there is really literally no risk involved to see for yourself. If you dont like it, send it back.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

Some I have seen look like high quality guitars for sure. Maybe I will check one out.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

Well I picked up an Agile AL-2500 off of craigslist today. Got it home, put some new strings on it, and gave it a good set up. I also got a MIK Epiphone Les Paul Custom Black Beauty last week. Well I sat down for a good while and just got done comparing them... the Epi LPC is a very nice playing guitar, but the Agile AL-2500 wins for me. This is the first Agile I've owned and it is a truley great guitar for the money. The neck feels just right, not too thick; not too thin, and the fret work is really great too. Just a very well made, solid guitar for the money. You'll probably be seeing the Epi in the trading post soon, because with all of the new guitar additions I've had the last couple weeks, I can only keep one of these. Lol So to sum it up, I think Agiles are great guitars!! I know that not all guitars play or sound exactly the same, but out of the Agile and the Epi I own, the Agile is a better guitar. (Not saying that all Agiles are better than all Epiphones)
 
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Re: Quality of Agile?

My new Agile (AL-3200) has nicer switchgear than most low-rent imports. They've upgraded to brass shafts on the pots, the pups sounded great, and when I took it out on New Years' Eve the sound, feel and balance were exemplary.

I'm not downing Epis or Gibbys, I'm just glad I got a great guitar for a killer price. A mahog, maple/walnut neckthrough for $425 with case!
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

I have never owned one. Played one or two for about as many minutes.

From everything I have heard: On par with an Epi, but generally at the higher end of Epi quality seems about accurate.

I'd caution that these are often people buying a mega-cheap guitar and don't own a top end axe. That makes the opinion somewhat questionable. People who blow their hard earned money on something tend to justify it whether it's a Gibson class 5 or a bottom of the line Ibanez.

And let's be clear - those tops are laminate, the parts are not top of the line, and the pups are likely highly questionable. Still - as I have said, if it feels good, and sounds good, it is good. And of course, pups to me are a HUGE chunck of the sound in a basic decently assembled axe.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

I think an overlooked aspect of the Agile vs Epi/LP Studio debate is the solid vs weight relieved. Agiles are solid and super heavy. Most studios and epi's are weight relived I believe. I don't have an opinion on how that effects tone, but I'm sure that many do, so it is something to keep in mind.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

I'd try an Agile if I could but there's one spec that takes them off the list.... the nut width. Same issue I have with Epi's. I can't play comfortably on 1 5/8". Has to be 1 11/16". That's what I love about PRS SE models.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

Franknfilms said:
I think an overlooked aspect of the Agile vs Epi/LP Studio debate is the solid vs weight relieved. Agiles are solid and super heavy. Most studios and epi's are weight relived I believe. I don't have an opinion on how that effects tone, but I'm sure that many do, so it is something to keep in mind.
Click to expand...

True, my AL3100 is over 9 lbs, but I haven't held enough of them to say it's representative of the product line. Maybe they run a pound heavier, or maybe Epi's vary more.

As 'King of the Epi's' I haven't seen any weight relief, other than some have a little more wood cut out around the PU's than others, which could be a Korea vs China production thing and not a company policy. I've got heavy Epi LP's, and heavy Epi 335's and SG's too. From my experience, the weight difference in Epi's is due more to variations in the woods used than anything else. And that was a problem for Gibson way back in the 1950's; McCarty complained that same size piece of mahogany could weight between 5 and 25 lbs due to the mineral content. Weight variation in wood is nothing new.
 
Re: Quality of Agile?

ErikH said:
the nut width. Same issue I have with Epi's. I can't play comfortably on 1 5/8". Has to be 1 11/16". That's what I love about PRS SE models.
Click to expand...

Personal preference. Not a deal breaker for the vast majority of players.

There's variation in Epi's too. One of the new SG P-90 Specials I held has a noticeably wider neck.
 
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