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Occasional Contributor
JimmyLong
Posts: 14
Registered: ‎05-19-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr
so really everyone is excited about a Samick product when it all boils down to it right?
Agile - Epi - Greg Bennett = Samick, does samick then have different quality control people that work differant shifts depending what is being machine made at the time and for who?


Actually it seems pretty unlikely that those 3 brands all originate from the same factory. JimEpi made a post the other day that laid out the Korean guitar situation more clearly than the "90% of Korean guitars are made by Samick" factoid we've all heard a thousand times. Apparently it was never true to begin with, and these days, the legendary Samick factory probably doesn't make 10% of the guitars coming out of Korea.

It's in this thread if you're interested.
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Super Contributor
Burgess
Posts: 19,844
Registered: ‎08-01-2001

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr


1) so you own a samick knockoff but will go for the agile ?
2) What about the Greg Bennett line of LP vs the agile?
Heres the thread that got me wondering about that.
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=178384

1) I own a few Samick knockoffs. My decision is based strictly on what you get for the price. I'm more concerned with how the guitar is built and plays as opposed to how it sounds. I would prefer to build the guitar myself and I've done so with bolt-ons. I prefer set-necks and I'm not skilled enough to build a set neck and I'm certain I couldn't do it for $250.

I usually gut these guitars and install custom wiring and premium p'ups. It's my idea of fun. Kinda like some people like to do crossword puzzles or build birdhouses. Same thing.

Make no mistake however, the Samick I mentioned is an exceptional playing guitar. I'd just as easily grab it as my SL-1 anyday. The EMG 89s I installed on it don't hurt.

2) I have a Greg Bennett Samick. Beautiful guitar, real nice sound. The guitar does have some issues, but that's a whole 'nother thread.

I didn't post in that thread because I think Samick has addressed some issues in that line. I'm not sure my guitar is representative of the new models.
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Contributor
Xprmntl Gtr
Posts: 30
Registered: ‎09-07-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Burgess

1) I own a few Samick knockoffs. My decision is based strictly on what you get for the price. I'm more concerned with how the guitar is built and plays as opposed to how it sounds. I would prefer to build the guitar myself and I've done so with bolt-ons. I prefer set-necks and I'm not skilled enough to build a set neck and I'm certain I couldn't do it for $250.

I usually gut these guitars and install custom wiring and premium p'ups. It's my idea of fun. Kinda like some people like to do crossword puzzles or build birdhouses. Same thing.

Make no mistake however, the Samick I mentioned is an exceptional playing guitar. I'd just as easily grab it as my SL-1 anyday. The EMG 89s I installed on it don't hurt.

2) I have a Greg Bennett Samick. Beautiful guitar, real nice sound. The guitar does have some issues, but that's a whole 'nother thread.

I didn't post in that thread because I think Samick has addressed some issues in that line. I'm not sure my guitar is representative of the new models.


My goal is to get the most bang for the buck also and was wondering if the samicks were being left out of the equation.
I also do not have anywhere to play these at all so thanks very much for the response , its settling a few questions that I had :smileyhappy:
I am now leaning more to the Agile myself, just didnt want this to be a scenerio where it it was getting positive responses that might have been just because it was a new name on a headstock that didnt have the stigma of saying "Epi" or "Samick" .
I myself have to admit that Im not keen on seeing "Epi" or "Samick" on my headstock but sorta like the idea of a new name thats not already tainted by public bias and has no preconcieved notion of its quality yet. I hate to fall for that but apart of me does .

Thanks again.
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Super Contributor
Posts: 2,796
Registered: ‎03-17-2001

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

I guess I've just gotten too old to care anymore because I truly don't give a Rats Ass WHAT it says on my headstock. I've been around guitars for a long time and know a good one when I play it and POS when I see it:smileywink:
The only thing that matters to me is that the platform(neck and body) is good, the rest can be easily changed..
Like Burgess mentioned above,I have no problem gutting and rewiring a guitar. I always have a project guitar going around here at all times..

Now, having said that I'll also say that as we sit right now that two of my favs are my Agile LP2000 and my Metallic Black KRAMER 424!! Both dertainly are NOT revered by the guitar snobs we see on this forum regularly:smileywink: But I could care less. I know for a fact what each of these guitars are and won't part with either.

Bottom line is, I don't care what the Headstock says..Just how it feels in my hands and how it sounds acoustically.
http://www.jmo-music.com/index.html




Washburn Padauk N4
BC Rich Gunslinger
Carvin CS4C
Variax 700 Acoustic
Fractal Audio AxeFx
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Super Contributor
Posts: 594
Registered: ‎03-29-2001

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Im with ya there bud! Give me what looks and plays great and i can MAKE it have decent tone with off the shelf items and amps. Name doesnt matter anymore to me. Shoot, some of the best axes ive ever had i let go because it wasnt a fender or gibby and was shamed out of them by other players i was working with.

not anymore....

As to the string length thang i too feel the factory should be doing these at the standard fender and gibby lengths. This was an area i did talk with Kurt about several times last year. But the factory wasnt too hepped up on making THAT big of a change overall since they already had big lots made ,and on order, and in production i guess....

Its ONE thing i think that could become a detriment to some. But all i can do is what i did. Say it, explain it, let Kurt try to convince them to change it (which im convinced he did try to do) and then its up to economics at the factory.

Out of the hundred or so things ive mentioned to Kurt (and the factory through Kurt) this was the single only issue they didnt take advantage on and decided to let it stay the same as is.

Eventually though, i forsee them HAVING to change to standard scales due to public demand or risk losing sales. Why? Because Rondo is the first company to display and sell these in america. And upto this past year they were totally unknown in the USA market. Now, we americans will tolerate small problems or differences in the way things are made but when this company overseas gets more attention and sales increase the demand for an ACCURATE scale guitar will be a deciding factor in the minds of the semi pro and pro players... The pro and semi do not accept the idea that "its close enough" when the price increases (and i expect them to raise their prices as demand increases.) As long as they are this cheap in cost it wont have much effect....

And as a jab as my buddy Kurt!

Remember when i was tellin ya that "if someone out there made a cheap knockoff of a lap steel for under a hundred bucks it would sell like hotcakes!" ???

I have seen 4 in the last three months from musicians friend that friends of mine bought!

:smileytongue: :smileytongue: :smileytongue: :smileytongue: :smileytongue: :smileytongue:

And remember what i mentioned about the big ol stick upright bass like the ampeg? Bet ya see THEM soon too....

The market is ripe i tell ya!

Hheheheeee!

:smileyvery-happy:
Yea though i walk through the Valley-Of-Shadows i shall not fear. For i have 2 spare sets of Ernie Balls in my guitar case! Muahahahaha!
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Contributor
Xprmntl Gtr
Posts: 30
Registered: ‎09-07-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

I should clarify that I made that comment about name brand stated "a part of me falls for that" but not always.
I own korean Ibanezes , Fernandaz , De Armond , Washburn and
then I have the OLP . I also own Parker , Fender and Gibson.

I also own Japanese Fenders and Squires.

I guess I just have a problem with Epiphones for some reason :smileyvery-happy:
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Super Contributor
SomeGuyNamedRob
Posts: 637
Registered: ‎01-30-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr
I guess I just have a problem with Epiphones for some reason :smileyvery-happy:


Just leaves more for the rest of us. :smileyvery-happy:
- CAUTION: this product has caused some laboratory rats to rip through their cages, fly across the room and brutally murder hundreds of innocent people.
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Super Contributor
Posts: 1,529
Registered: ‎05-20-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

*raises right hand*

I hereby swear never to view this thread again, cuz' it will only make my buy something I can't really afford to buy and I'll get it big trouble

There....I said it. Whew. :cool:
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Super Contributor
SomeGuyNamedRob
Posts: 637
Registered: ‎01-30-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Smokey
*raises right hand*

I hereby swear never to view this thread again, cuz' it will only make my buy something I can't really afford to buy and I'll get it big trouble

There....I said it. Whew. :cool:


Don't forget to follow it up with :

"...and this time, I really mean it!" :smileyvery-happy:
- CAUTION: this product has caused some laboratory rats to rip through their cages, fly across the room and brutally murder hundreds of innocent people.
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Contributor
Xprmntl Gtr
Posts: 30
Registered: ‎09-07-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by SomeGuyNamedRob


Just leaves more for the rest of us. :smileyvery-happy:

Theres plenty out there go for it .. all the stores around me are overstocked may I give them your phone number and credit card info ? :smileyvery-happy:
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Super Contributor
SomeGuyNamedRob
Posts: 637
Registered: ‎01-30-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr

Theres plenty out there go for it .. all the stores around me are overstocked may I give them your phone number and credit card info ? :smileyvery-happy:


Thankfully I don't have a credit card. That would be dangerous.

But I've always seemed to get good deals on Epis because in whatever area I live in, no one seems to want them. I once bought a brand new 90's Coronet with a gig bag for about 65 bucks US because I told the store manager I'd take it off his hands. I was going to mod that one really nicely until it got stolen at a gig.
- CAUTION: this product has caused some laboratory rats to rip through their cages, fly across the room and brutally murder hundreds of innocent people.
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Regular Contributor
bob-ingram
Posts: 231
Registered: ‎05-27-2001

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Axeslinger
I guess I've just gotten too old to care anymore because I truly don't give a Rats Ass WHAT it says on my headstock.


I've gone beyond that,

I want the name on the headstock to NOT be a big name. I don't wanta pay Jimmy Page and Jimmy Vaughan and any other has been star that already makes too much money, just so Gibson or Fender can sell more crappy guitars.

So that said, I do own a few Fenders and PRS's, but I've avoided top of the line and endorsed guitars (Les Paul's included, that IS an endorsement deal too), also re-issues and vintage and any other marketing scam designed increase the company's profit margins.

Ok, enough for now. (man this thread was started to show off my new guitar, but it has really taken a life of it's own)

Getting down now.
Bob I

I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that!
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Contributor
Xprmntl Gtr
Posts: 30
Registered: ‎09-07-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bob-ingram


Ok, enough for now. (man this thread was started to show off my new guitar, but it has really taken a life of it's own)

QUOTE]
glad you showed it, and your review of it is making me consider getting one I just needed to weight it against the other options.

And not 1 reply occured when I posted this question
in its own thread.
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Regular Contributor
bob-ingram
Posts: 231
Registered: ‎05-27-2001

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr

glad you showed it, and your review of it is making me consider getting one I just needed to weight it against the other options.

And not 1 reply occured when I posted this question
in its own thread.


8.5lbs. Didn't I post that earlier?

LOL. I meant enough ranting about endorsement deals and marketing schemes.
Bob I

I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that!
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Contributor
Xprmntl Gtr
Posts: 30
Registered: ‎09-07-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by bob-ingram


8.5lbs. Didn't I post that earlier?

LOL. I meant enough ranting about endorsement deals and marketing schemes.


lol not the actual weight .. I meant like vs the epi / samick / greg benett as options .. but anyhow this is the one I want

agile with quilt
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Regular Contributor
bob-ingram
Posts: 231
Registered: ‎05-27-2001

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr


lol not the actual weight .. I meant like vs the epi / samick / greg benett as options .. but anyhow this is the one I want

[/IMG]


Yea, I knew that, yea, I did..... no really.

The only thing I can say is that they are aout the same as the Epi's LP copies, except the price is much better and the quality more consistant. I've played too many Epi's that were in need of something, setup, adjustments, new pots, an AX to chop then into firewood. Every single Agile I picked up was good.
Bob I

I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that!
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Frequent Contributor
PrimeMover
Posts: 113
Registered: ‎12-07-2001

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Xprmntl Gtr


lol not the actual weight .. I meant like vs the epi / samick / greg benett as options .. but anyhow this is the one I want

agile with quilt
[QUOTE]

Here's how it looks in real life...



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Regular Contributor
bob-ingram
Posts: 231
Registered: ‎05-27-2001

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Originally posted by SomeGuyNamedRob


Thankfully I don't have a credit card. That would be dangerous.



Funny. I bought my Agile with this funny stuff called "CASH". I always thought that CASH was an acronym for "Corporate America Service and Handling", but apparently it's this stuff that's made out of cotton, is printed green and has dead people on it. you can exchange it for stuff.
Bob I

I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that!
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Contributor
Backyard_Bullet
Posts: 33
Registered: ‎04-06-2002

Well, i did it....

Bob I. gave me good advice a long time ago (although i cant remember on exactly what) but to this day i'm glad i listened to him.

So i just ordered the DC Agile via the web (i dont like buying unplayed but the price tag seemed so tantalizing!)

I am hoping the consistency is better than the ^%$$$ Epi standards i owned in the past.

Will post pics when i get it and post a review.

Thanks Bob!

Dana
"No good deed goes unpunished"

It's amazing the favoritism of admins here and what some are allowed to post without repercussions. Pretty sad...



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Contributor
Backyard_Bullet
Posts: 33
Registered: ‎04-06-2002

Re: Agile Les Paul DC

Hey Bob,

were these guitars set up (as in your standard consistent setup)when you played them? I find that most stores didnt have the majority of their guitars set up. I cant help but to recall the Epi *&&*^^*&* just coming out of the boxes like blind fingerless monkeys set them up.

Dana
"No good deed goes unpunished"

It's amazing the favoritism of admins here and what some are allowed to post without repercussions. Pretty sad...



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