Suggestions for Agile 3500

E

Echoes14

New member
New to the forum, but have been doing some research on different pickups. I'm looking to upgrade to SD, and would like some input from the very informed members here. I play in a cover band, and the other guitar player uses a Tele and Strat, so I've gravitated away from my Strat to the Agile Les Paul-style that I own. I've NEVER played humbuckers extensively (always been a strat player). We play everything from late 70's rock (Tom Petty, Bad Company), 80's (Rick Springfield, Prince, big-hair!) to more modern stuff, with a ton of 90's in between. We cover a lot of ground, but nothing REALLY heavy. I play through a Bugera V22, with a chain that includes an OCD, Keeley DS-1, and a couple of custom-built pedals.

I have a line on a trade for a set of SD's (Custom 5 bridge, SH-1n), but don't know if the Custom 5 would be good for my style of music/playing. I play mainly rhythm, but throw in some leads occasionally. I'm trying to choose between the Custom, Custom Custom, JB or '59. Or would I be fine with the Custom 5? What would you fine fellows suggest?

Here are the specs for the guitar:

Improved alnico V pickups with fiber bobbin and American made single conductor braided 18 gauge wire for great sound.
•High voltage pots with brass shafts for reduced noise.
•Improve bridge (Gotoh GE103B-T) and tail (Gotoh GE101AM-T). Both in nickel.
•Improved (Japanese made) pickup selector switch.
•3/4"+ (20mm) two piece maple cap. The flame pattern runs the entire thickness of cap.
•solid 2 piece mahogany body.
• Triple bound body, and headstock. Single binding on neck.
• Nickel hardware, including Nickel die-cast Grover tuners with 18-1 turning ratio for ultra fine tuning (Model 102-18N)
• Two volume and two tone controls, plus a three way pickup selector switch
• One piece Mahogany set neck with 13.7" (350mm) radius neck for fast play and adjustable truss rod
• Ebony fret board with 22 Jumbo (2.7mm) frets and real Abalone Trapezoidal inlays
• A pre-cut graphite nut is also included in the bag with the trus rod adjuster for those who prefer graphite
• Individually hand filed frets for professional feel and playability
• Width of the neck at the nut: 1 5/8"; at the 21st fret: 2 3/16"
• Neck taper/thickness at the 1st fret: 21.5 mm; at the 12th fret: 23.5mm
• Overall length: 40"; Scale length: 24 3/4"
• Body thickness: 2" at edge; Width at the widest point: 13"
• Actual Weight is only 10 lbs
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

ooh, nice guitar! I want to get a neck-thru Agile.

The C5 is not a favored pickup in the LP style guitars around here. It's scooped and boomy in a big mahogany body, but sounds pretty good in an SG with the thinner body. I'm gonna suggest a '59 hybrid somewhere on that guitar.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

First quality LP style guitar I've owned. I owned an Epi LP for about 5 minutes....absolutely no character in it. This Agile is quality, especially for the price I got it for.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

The C/59 hybrid is possibly more scooped than the C5. And, actually, the C5 is pretty favored for a LP. Not my cup of tea, however.

You cover a lot of ground in your cover band. Very similar to the band I was in up until about 3 years ago. The absolute best, most versatile pup that I found to cover all of that territory, and very well indeed, is the P-Rail with a Triple Shot mounting ring. Very heavy tones in series, bright chimey almost acoustic tones in parallel, Fantastic luscious P-90 tones, and Strat-like (even Tele-like) single coil tones from the Rail coil.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

Thanks for the input. I DO still use my Strat, so I don't have to worry much about covering single coil sound on my Agile. I think I've ruled out the Custom 5, based on things I've read here. I'm not ordering brand new, so what I have available (and narrowed down to) are the '59b, the JB, or the PG....paired with a '59n.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

JB can be hit or miss in LP's but by many accounts it can be magic in the right Les Paul. Can you describe the tonal character of the guitar?
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

Playing it through my rig, it plays on the brighter side with the current stock pickups. We don't play heavy (the heaviest I get as far as Palm muting is "Kryptonite", probably), and it tends to sound a bit "weak" on that....then again, that could be my rig. The neck PU tends to be quite a bit darker when strumming clean.

Like I said before, I've always been a Strat player, so this style guitar, and humbuckers, are new territory for me....... I feel like I don't have the ear for describing it accurately yet. :-)
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

I have a set of 59s in my Agile 3000M that fit most styles and sound really good to my ears. I sometimes wish I had a little more push from the bridge though.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

Thanks for the input, Hecubus. Being from Dallas, are you an Old 97's fan? :)

Would anyone suggest a Custom Custom?
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

I don't think you'd like a CC, it will sound dark and muddy to you. The C5 is a much better choice. The 59b would also be good. The JB is a risky choice...you may love it, but you may hate it. I suspect the latter.

Just a quick additional note...I also have a V-22 and love it. A lot of people badmouth it because it's made by Berringer (and I have to admit I don't have any love at all for most of their crappy stuff), but they got it right with this amp. I love my Bogner and Marshall, but my Bugera and Egnater are my favorites.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

GuitarDoc said:
Just a quick additional note...I also have a V-22 and love it. A lot of people badmouth it because it's made by Berringer (and I have to admit I don't have any love at all for most of their crappy stuff), but they got it right with this amp. I love my Bogner and Marshall, but my Bugera and Egnater are my favorites.
Click to expand...

I totally agree....for the money, there might not be a better tube amp than the V22. I don't really use the gain channel much, but it's nice knowing it's there....and I like having my delays and modulations in an effects loop, so it meets my needs there, too. I'd love to have a Vox AC15, but I'd lose out on the features the Bugera has. I actually started off with the BC-30. Loved it, but it was just too much amp for the places we play.

As far as the pickup, I'm leaning towards the '59. The only thing that's keeping me from making the decision final right now is that I have a '59 for the neck, and I'm mulling over versatility by having a different style bridge pickup.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

A little off-topic here, but as an FYI, I've got a Bugera V5, and I liked it so much I bought a second one to run stereo (from my stereo Uni-Vibe). Being a cheapie, their hit and miss, so I had to play a few to find a good second one. And the features are great - switchable power output down to 1/10 watt, and a headphone out (on a tube amp!).

OK, carry on.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

So, I ended up with a '59 in the bridge, and a Jazz in the neck.....here are some thoughts.

Compared to the stock Agile pickups (which weren't bad), the '59 is really bright. I'd compare it to my Strat now, but with a thicker low end, of course. I had to adjust the treble and tone settings on my pedals and amp down. I love the openness I get now! Every string rings clear, especially with a little mild OD thrown in.

I love the tone of the Jazz in the neck. I can strum away on the clean stuff (I hardly ever play the neck with OD or Distortion), and everything rings through clearly. The only the problem I have is the volume difference between the Jazz neck and '59 bridge. If I have both volumes dimed, if I switch from bridge to neck, the neck is WAY louder. I've lowered the neck quite a bit, but still can't get them reasonably close, volume-wise. Is there any other pickup that has the same tonal qualities as the jazz, but with a little less output?

Other than that, I'm quite happy with the Duncans! Thanks for your help and suggestions!
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

I was thinking just that out of the gate! Excellent selection.

As for the jazz volume issue….there is knob on the guitar for that.

That said - the Jazz should NOT overwhelm the 59!!!! Check the wiring. 59 might not be right.
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

I wouldn't say the '59 is weak at all. To my ears, it sounds dead-on. I'll have the guy who does my tech work recheck his work, though. He had to add an inch or so of lead to the '59.....
 
Re: Suggestions for Agile 3500

Echoes14 said:
View attachment 55013
Click to expand...

VERY NICE Echoes ;)

I nearly pulled the trigger on an Agile about 2 years ago.

Something very similar to this plain top :


hsb7.jpg
 
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