Members BigThumbs Posted September 14, 2020 Members Share Posted September 14, 2020 Greetings, I just acquired a Agile Cool Cat hollow body. It definitely date to before 2003 when the headstock was changed. It has a sticker under the finish on the back of the headstock with SnXXXXX , another sticker on top of the finish is stamped made in Korea. I've been trying to find out which manufacturer built her. It appears as though it may have been built under the Samick tent. The guitar is rock solid but after 20 or so years the wiring is a little scary. Any clues are appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted September 14, 2020 Members Share Posted September 14, 2020 Kurt Zentmaier has been the president of Rondo music since 1985. He probably knows more about where your guitar was manufactured than any one. I believe they were sold through Rondo Music. Give the main number a call. Rondo Music, Inc. 427 Washington St Claremont, NH, 03743 United States (603)542- 5100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigThumbs Posted September 14, 2020 Author Members Share Posted September 14, 2020 Thank you Mikeo, I have written Kurt here was the bottom line: Kurt; "Thanks Stephan, however we only keep about 15 years of serial records on our computer and that model is well beyond that time frame." This video gives a history from the year 2000CE. So this guitar seems to be a red headed stepchild from Agile's past. With the brand for sale we probably won't see these again. Judging from the headstock it may have been made by Samick? In the grand scheme its a nice well built guitar and I foresee many years of playing pleasure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted September 14, 2020 Members Share Posted September 14, 2020 Being a Korean made guitar, it's either from Samick or Cort. Both companies make some well built guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted September 15, 2020 Members Share Posted September 15, 2020 Lovely guitar. Congratulations and Happy New Guitar Day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigThumbs Posted September 15, 2020 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2020 Thank you gentlemen. I looked at older photos of both Cort and Samick head stocks kind off leaning towards Cort. She shows promise to be a keeper either way. My next challenge will be to sort out the wiring. Either the PU selector is bricked or its some more arcane wiring fault. I think its time to get a multi-meter and a soldering rig. Is trying contact cleaner first a good idea? Pic of my other two guitars a HB BigTone and a Circ. 2013 Gretsch 5422 hollow body. I'm considering a small parlor guitar next, maybe a Gretsch Jim Dandy. I'm not a collector anymore. I have a room full of Northern Indian stringed instruments that are gathering dust. (just a metaphor, they are in cases). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted September 15, 2020 Members Share Posted September 15, 2020 2 hours ago, BigThumbs said: Thank you gentlemen. I looked at older photos of both Cort and Samick head stocks kind off leaning towards Cort. She shows promise to be a keeper either way. My next challenge will be to sort out the wiring. Either the PU selector is bricked or its some more arcane wiring fault. I think its time to get a multi-meter and a soldering rig. Is trying contact cleaner first a good idea? Pic of my other two guitars a HB BigTone and a Circ. 2013 Gretsch 5422 hollow body. I'm considering a small parlor guitar next, maybe a Gretsch Jim Dandy. I'm not a collector anymore. I have a room full of Northern Indian stringed instruments that are gathering dust. (just a metaphor, they are in cases). I like Gretsch guitars. I have a Tennessee Rose and a Power Jet. They are made in Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigThumbs Posted September 16, 2020 Author Members Share Posted September 16, 2020 I was digging through the internets and found this model Cool Cat the Prestige. Looks like mine is an early (before 2003) model. It has the abalone inlays, flame maple top and correct hardware. The difference is the peghead the older open book style. Hello again, another variation of the Cool Cat mine is this model w/ a maple top and abalone inlays but with the old style open book headstock. https://www.rondomusic.com/coolcatprestvintstoptail.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigThumbs Posted September 20, 2020 Author Members Share Posted September 20, 2020 I got my Cool Cat Prestige sorted out. Contour sanded the wood bridge base, installed a roller bridge (No Bigsby but I figure its easier on the strings and it made a huge improvement in the tone, a sweet mixture of acoustic resonance and great electric tone for Jazz, and Rockabilly as well as ambient experiments using a Zoom G1X Four. Well worth the $450. I know that's more then the price of a new one but it sure got rid of my GAS. I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMille. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigThumbs Posted September 21, 2020 Author Members Share Posted September 21, 2020 Another observation. The pics of the Cool Cat Prestige on the Rondo website does not do justice to the beauty of this instrument. The top, back and sides are a nicely figured flame maple. The ebony! fret board is dark as the night and sets off the real abalone fret markers beautiful. I'm really a newb but I really like the range of the pick ups too. The neck PU gives sweet clean jazz tones and the bridge PU is a growling snarling beast. Unplugged it sounds comparable to a decent acoustic guitar with plenty of projection while having a really nice rich tone. I cannot find a flaw in this instrument. I was about to pull the trigger on a Epi Joe Pass model but can't see why I need to. They look like they may be cousins. It may never be "collectable" but Harmony guitars used to be dirt cheap too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Smilin' Bob Posted September 23, 2020 Members Share Posted September 23, 2020 I have an Agile HARM 2003 / P90s that remains my fave! I did replace the ceramic pups. A few months ago, Kurt said I could have the Agile brand for only 1 million! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigThumbs Posted September 24, 2020 Author Members Share Posted September 24, 2020 Such a deal! do you think he would sell it to me too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kevman Posted September 24, 2020 Members Share Posted September 24, 2020 I have read multiple times from different sources that the factory that builds Agiles in Korea is Unsung. Not Samick or Cort. Now I was out of the loop for a few years and apparently some Agiles were made in China which tosses a bunch of other factories into the mix but the 2500+ series I believe are still and always have been MIK at Unsung. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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