Rondo Custom

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Rondo Custom

I've heard nothing but great things from folks who snagged one.

Give it a go!

 

[ColeJustesen]

Re: Rondo Custom

I had an Agile TC-1200... It was there top of the line Tele knockoff and it was very nice! I replaced all the hardware to black (it suited the guitar so much more than the chrome) and slapped some Wilde noiseless singlecoils in it. I have owned several guitars and I would rate this one very highly. I liked it as much as the Fender USA Standard Tele. The wood for the body were very nice (2 piece ash, with a 3/8" spalted maple top) and the neck played like butter. The neck wasn't the fanciest neck that I have ever seen, but it played better than a lot of guitars that I have owned and tried.

I really don't think you have to worry about getting a bad guitar, and if for some reason you get a dud, the guy that runs the shop will take care of you. I have thought about doing one of the custom builds from them for quite some time now... I shouldn't have sold that TC-1200, I was craving a hollowbody style guitar and utlimately wish I would have just kept the Agile.

Good luck in your decision!

Cole

 

[Adieu]

Re: Rondo Custom

I have been searching online for reviews, and there seems to be a lot of positive reviews for Agile guitars; however, most of these reviews are from first-time guitar buyers. I don't hear much about Rondo's guitars from experienced players. Since I am a baritone player, there are not a lot of choices for me. Right now, there is an LTD Eclipse with the usual full-black motif, and there is the Hagstrom Viking Baritone, which is more to my liking. Both of them are made in China, and they're more expensive than what you'd expect to pay for MIC guitars. There is also a Fender Blacktop Telecaster Baritone, but it is only available is weird finishes. If I was to buy any of these, I would pour in a bunch more money on upgraded pickups and aesthetic changes.

The custom guitars at Rondo seem to be available with all the features I like. What I've heard is that they keep their costs down by using cheaper cuts of wood. I'm not really picky about "quality" wood because I just can't hear the difference between cheap guitars and expensive guitars.

What I want to know about Agiles n stuff is if they can be set up nicely and if they are known to physically deteriorate. Are there any intermediate- to advanced-level players using these things?

I have been playing for 17 years, and all of my instruments are Korean, and they are serving me well. I have played 4- and 5- figure guitars, and I can't discern anything to warrant the price difference, as long as the cheap guitar can be tweaked and upgraded.

Agiles are quite well made, just.... EXPENSIVE. At least for the fancy 7 & 8 string stuff they seem best known for. Seem to hold value used too, used prices on those things are literally in the lowerend Gibson & ESP range (500-600ish).

Not sure if the way cheaper Rondo LP copies are from the same manufacturing facilities as the expen$ive-a$s flashy 8 strings with spalted this, ebony that... Those are pretty flawless, though. Excellent QC

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Rondo Custom

One thing to keep in mind with the Agiles: they are reportedly heavier in weight on average than modern Gibson LPs. If you have back problems that could be an issue. Rondo has a user's forum and you can find posts about that. I actually started a thread there and got these kind of responses just two months ago when I was considering buying a custom Agile.