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Author Topic: NGD - Agile goldtop (now with images)  (Read 4259 times)

gwEm

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NGD - Agile goldtop (now with images)
« on: August 27, 2009, 12:42:50 AM »
arrived in brooklyn to be greeted by an Agile Goldtop AL-2000

its actually really nice for the money - i mean really really nice... i would pay twice as much for it and still say that. nicer than current epiphones quite obviously. its no '59, but its more than good enough.

i wonder how the top of the line ones are like the al-3000m with the full thickness maple top.
« Last Edit: August 30, 2009, 04:17:44 PM by gwEm »
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Quote from: AndyR
you wouldn't use the meat knife on crusty bread but, equally, the serrated knife and straight edge knife aren't going to go through raw meat as quickly

FernandoDuarte

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2009, 12:46:34 AM »
Cool! You know you shall take pictures :P
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gwEm

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2009, 12:47:44 AM »
will post pictures... this weekend - after surgery!

just wanted to add another Agile recommendation to the boards
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Quote from: AndyR
you wouldn't use the meat knife on crusty bread but, equally, the serrated knife and straight edge knife aren't going to go through raw meat as quickly

FernandoDuarte

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2009, 12:59:41 AM »
Quote from: gwEm on August 27, 2009, 12:47:44 AM
will post pictures... this weekend - after surgery!

just wanted to add another Agile recommendation to the boards

are you going to the knife? :?
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mikey5

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2009, 04:01:23 AM »
Man hope surgery goes well.
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mikey5

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2009, 04:38:23 AM »
Quote from: gwEm on August 27, 2009, 12:42:50 AM
arrived in brooklyn to be greeted by an Agile Goldtop AL-2000

its actually really nice for the money - i mean really really nice... i would pay twice as much for it and still say that. nicer than current epiphones quite obviously. its no '59, but its more than good enough.

i wonder how the top of the line ones are like the al-3000m with the full thickness maple top.

I have heard about these from other dudes. I just cant get it through my head that a guitar for this price could possibly be any good. I would think an edwards would be better or something. I think the very top of the line are these.
http://www.rondomusic.com/al3000m2ts.html
Seriously though how would it compare to a high end guitar. Here in the reviews they are holding them up to gibson standards but I cant go for that.
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Sifu Ben

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2009, 08:57:02 AM »
I've got a an AL3100 and a Septor 727, and they're both excellent. The finish is flawless, the frets are good, and the feel just screams quality in a way epiphones never can. The've both got ebony fretboards (the one on the Septor is astonishing, it's like glass), and the AL has real MOP inlays. The Septor is a 5 piece neck through with mahogany wings, a flamed maple top and an ebony board, and it cost me £380 shipped from the states with taxes. The AL cost the same with a hardshell case!
 The only thing I don't like with the AL is the pickups, but that's a taste rather than quality issue (they're a bit too vintage for me), and I'm mid solder job as we speak :)
Is the 3100 better than an epiphone? yes. Is it as good as a "good" gibson? No. Is it better than a "bad" gibson? Probably. The bottom line is that you won't find such a good value for money guitar anywhere else. If it weren't for the exchange rate at the minute I'd probably have bought another two by now.
About 4 times a year they also offer custom orders  8)
« Last Edit: August 27, 2009, 09:35:11 AM by Sifu Ben »
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Sifu Ben

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2009, 09:34:16 AM »
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dave_mc

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2009, 08:40:50 PM »
sweet :)
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PhilKing

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop - surgery shots added
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2009, 03:35:25 PM »
I have the before and after surgery shots of the goldtop!  Gwem brought the guitar over yesterday and he had already got the transplant parts.  We changed the P-90's for a Rebel Yell bridge and Lollar Mini-HB neck.  Also the pots and caps were changed to CTS and Orange Drop (though the pots supplied are full size alphas).  We didn't change the switch as it is a wafer, and the hardware was fine as it was.  I was pretty impressed with the quality of the construction.   After we routed the bridge pickup and put everything back the guitar had turned into a monster.  There was sustain for days and the tone was great - so good that I am thinking about doing it too!

There are a couple of pics of the before so you can see what we started with

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gwEm

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop (now with images)
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2009, 04:26:15 PM »
thanks again phil for the routing and turning your kitchen into a luthiery workshop!

heres the inspiration behind the customisation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MZbZm-NDBM (46 seconds in)

the lollar and bkp sound truly excellent, and balance fine in terms of volume. the sustain is remarkable! (just as phil says - a monster) the sound of the rebel yell was very close to the steve steven's clips in the players forum - definitely as good - although obviously it would be hard to capture this recording-wise. the mini-hb neck had fender-like qualities due to its brightness - though it was very humbucker in character and wasn't ice picky. one can use the neck tone control and volume controls in a similar way to a strat.

it wasn't bad sounding stock, but it was like night and day with the mods. if i wanted another les paul, i wouldn't hesitate to get an agile.

edit: this guitar is everything i wanted from a les paul!
« Last Edit: August 30, 2009, 04:28:13 PM by gwEm »
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Quote from: AndyR
you wouldn't use the meat knife on crusty bread but, equally, the serrated knife and straight edge knife aren't going to go through raw meat as quickly

Twinfan

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop (now with images)
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2009, 04:46:40 PM »
Looks great matey, like it a lot!
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hunter

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop (now with images)
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2009, 04:57:56 PM »

Very pretty. I always liked the look of mini HBs.
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AndyR

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop (now with images)
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2009, 04:59:25 PM »
Looks very tasty :D
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WezV

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Re: NGD - Agile goldtop (now with images)
« Reply #14 on: August 30, 2009, 06:10:00 PM »
looks really nice - i like the reflector knobs!
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