I've been checking these out and it's incredibly rare to see anything negative being written about these Les Paul copies, but I'd like to get detailed accounts about these guitars.
What are their weaknesses, their strengths? I mostly heard the pickups suck. Which ones would you recommend? How heavy are they compared to regular LPs?
I've owned several, the models with the original Les Paul horn shape, before the expensive ones came out.
The biggest complaint I've heard abot them is 'fret buzz'.
They seem to be very good quality, but for the price of the good ones, I'd rather have a Studio, or an Orville.
Tell me more about those Orvilles, then. Just very curious.
Orville is a Japan made Gibson Les Paul. Never intended for export to the USA. 1988 to 1997
Two models,
Orville: Japan electronics.
Orville by Gibson: USA electronics.
All have long neck tenon, solid Mahogany Neck & Back (some multi piece backs) & Maple Cap construction.
Some of the flametops are photoflame, so shop carefully.
Here is a nice example....... 1992 Orville by Gibson on ebay
I bought an Agile 3000 w/P-90s about a year ago now. I love it. I am a mediocre player at best. I have friends that are top shelf players. They couldn't put it down. I didn't make it for the original horn or the open book (gibby type) head stock but did get it before they went to the current one.
It is well made, finely finished, 5/8 " maple cap, the P-90s sound great...It looks just like in the pics of the website. It is about 12 lbs (ever weighed - but that is a good guess).
In all - the Best $359 guitar I own, or have played lately. I sold two strats since I got it.
My guitar has a black 3000 solid mahogany w/HBs - he sold one strat since he got it.
talk all the smack you want. I love mine, and don't plan on selling it. Period. Everything on it is quality. Of course, some things could be better, but not likely at the price.
I also plan on getting a Strat style eventually or the tele........
Kenny Belmont
>:^{I)>
http://www.marcondo.com/marcondo/Orville/index.html
Here is the Orville I had for awhile wish I had it back it played so smooth and sounded good real good!!!
I agree with all that, with one exception.
The Agile top of the line AL-3500 starts at $529.00
For a little bit more you can have a real Gibson.
Now, if all you want is an inexpensive 'Les Paul' copy, the Agile AL-2000 starting at $199.99 can't be beat.
Either go real cheap, or go for the Gibson/Orville.
I know which one has a resale value.
This chart is really good for comparing the Agile features.....
http://www.rondomusic.net/alspec.html
I haven't bought one of their assembled guitars, but I did buy one of their unfinished Strat style bodies when they still offered them.
The pup route was a little rough, but since it was covered by the guard, I really don't mind. It was light, sealed, and sounds great, all for $39. I'm happy.
Customer service was great, too.
I'd buy another in a heartbeat, but they haven't offered any in several months.
I was happy enough with that purchase to give their other stuff a try...I'm not much of a Strat guy, but having one with a standard configuration laying around for when I need that sound is enough to make want to pick up one of their $100 models.
"Go Team Venture!"
I have an Agile 2200jr which is their copy of a 59 LP Junior double cutaway. It's way better than any 58 or 59 Gibson version I have played (and I've played a lot of them since it was like my dream guitar). Their stock P90s, though they're just cheap ceramics, sound great and I have no plans to change them.
This is my only experience with Agile though.
Besides Orville there are several other Japanese makers of Les Paul copies, many made in the very same factory including Ibanez, Greco and Burny. Edwards and Tokai are other great Japanese copies.
I also own a Burny LP Custom copy that burys my Gibson Les Paul.
Like Rainman... only not as well adjusted
BTW... Burny were the biggest freaks about copying Gibsons exactly. They were the only ones to my knowlege that had fret-edge binding. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the Orvilles did.
Like Rainman... only not as well adjusted
Keep in mind...Agile 2000 is lower end of their series...lower pups, hardware, tunesrs, finishing, etc. 2500 used to be the low end, but had the grovers, and solid wood body w/veneer top.
2800 had upgraded top, bone nut, better finished frets and upgraded pups.
3000 had eony fretbpard, better yet pups, 5/8" top/solid woods (some models are solid ash or solid mahgony though) and abolone inlay work.
they added a 2900, chambered body, 3500 seriex and then some with Duncans.
When I got mine, the 3000 was top of the line. I still say, for $359, ir is hard to beat. I don't think I wouold go with a 2000, unless it was as a "beater".
You can only buy new ones at one place. I suggest checking one out, or finding a used one on ebay. The HBs sound pretty good. But I REALLY like these P-90s.
As for the duncan loaded models, or the 3/4" maple top models...you might be suprised at how high the quality level is. Mega bang to buck ratio.
Kenny Belmont
>:^{I)>
I've been looking at the Orville's on eBay. They look good...
But the real question is... If I get one, will I be laughed off the Les Paul Forum?
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Who cares? Being happy with a guitar is much more important than what others might think, IMHO.
Besides, I see people with Strat clones all the time and nobody gives them a hard time, so why should they?
The only area of the Les Paul Forum you can discuss Orville's is the 'Backstage' area. That's the only place you can talk about clones, and it's a subscription area.
Kinda ridiculous, aint it?
Like Rainman... only not as well adjusted
im assuming ya cant talk about epi lps either huh?
No, there is a seperate forum for Epiphone.
Would you talk about Fenders on a PRS forum?
Well, we certainly do a lot of non-Fender chat here.Originally Posted by Dave TV
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
And besides, the relationship between Epiphone and Gibson is aking to Fender with Squire. It's just a lower-end version that is actually certified by the parent company.
I understand all that..............jeeez you think I just fell of the turnip truck?
The LPF forum is dedicated to the discussion of Gibson Les Pauls.
If it says something other than Gibson on the headstock, it's not a Gibson.
That's not my rules, it's theirs, right on the front page. They do have a section for other Gibson guitars, but not a section for clones.
Gotcha. I wasn't insinuating anything with my comment, by the way.
i just thought since epis were a sorta gibson they would be acceptable topic of discussion.oh well...my bad.......
So I bought a 70 Chevelle with a straight six..and here's what I did...:lol :lol
I got some SS badges, changed the motor and cloned it into a Super Sport.
I tell ya, it pisses those guys off at the Super Sport forum when I clue them in that my clone is at least as good as their originals, maybe better for nowhere near the price. What a bunch of assholes. They always start talking resale and
engine codes and shit. :rofl
Geez, there's no way I can tell you what a bunch of total dweebs those guys are.
Huh??? Well, yeah, my Chevelle is a 4 door. Whats your point? Asshole!
If you leave the house, you're just asking for it.
:nicholas :wav :nicholas
:blbros
That should count for the flashiest post I've ever seen! Wow! :lol
Nope, we save that for the PRS folks....
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
Well they do seem to be a nice bunch over there on the LPF.
They do allow me to hang out, even though I don't have a Les Paul. I can sort of wiggle my way in because my kid has one, and I do play it a lot, but it can be debated that his special is a real Les Paul also.
It does say Gibson. And it does say Les Paul on the head stock...
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if I worried what others were going to say about a purchase I wouldn`t have any of my Yamahas, my Fender USA custom shop shell pink strat, nor most of my MIJs. Doesn`t matter what you buy, somebody somewhere is gonna have something negative to say about it. So, the only person I have to please is me. Why should anyone else care about the guitar a guy plays? Frank Zappa got it right.
shoganai ne
Agiles are made by Unsung Music Co. in Korea. They also make some Epi models (serial # begins with "U"). I'm sure they make other brands. I've had four and have another on the way. 2 LP copies, a 335-style and a big hollowbody called the "Cool Cat". The Cool Cat had two high frets, so a level and dressing was required. Other than that, I had no problems and they're fun guitars, especially for the price. All four had the same pickups. They weren't the worst, but I swapped them all out except for the 335. They sounded good in that one.
Rondo changed the LP horn shape in hopes of avoiding action by Gibson. That wasn't enough. He had SG, Explorer and 335 copies that were too close for Gibson's comfort. Gibson made contact and he had to drastically alter those models. He blew out the remaining stock at rock bottom prices. I got the 335 for $199 and just scored one of the original Explorer models for a whopping $99. Normally I wouldn't consider an Explorer-style, but mahogany body, set neck, full binding, Grover tuners with a proper headstock? I couldn't pass it up.
Whenever I buy from Rondo I always order three of the same guitar.
Play all three, pick the best one, and send the other two back.
Your saving enough money that the shipping costs is not that big a deal.
I don't know if Kurt would like everyone doing that, but so far he has worked with me without complaint.
If the PRS forum had an area that Fenders could be talked about they would be more universally accepted and more geared toward the forumites. I like this forum because your hands aren't tied to just speaking about Fenders. I believe most guitarists are not going to be completely loyal to one brand since there are so many good manufacturers out there. I just feel that to average guitarist their hard and fast rules are a little restrictive.
I understand that no one here made these rules and I'm not leveling accusation, just expressing my opinion.
Like Rainman... only not as well adjusted
OK..........kind of abrasive and overstated .....but point taken.....
Keep in mind though, most people recognize that they are not exact knock offs, not "just like the original" and that they are similar in appearance. I believe as long as you keep that perspective, and recognoze that it is a great quality guitar for a great bang/buck ratio, you are good.
The moment you do direct comparison (Mine is "the same as..."), your wrong and misguided.
BTW -
Most folks *do* like em!
C'mon ........c'mon over to the dark side.....
Kenny Belmont
>:^{I)>
Frank,
Small world, huh?
Dude, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were a member of the Super Sport Forum.
At the time I witnessed my "other" forum change from an open forum to a strict subscription only policy, Agiles were one of the main topics that led to the change. I guess I'm a bit defensive.
I'm beginning to see posts here and other places taking pot shots at my "other" forum because they aren't happy with the way it's structured.
I get tired of seeing people I respect dragged through the mud.
I meant nothing personal to you or any other member.
If you leave the house, you're just asking for it.
I like the people on the sister (or brother) forum. I don't even have a Les Paul and they let me throw my 2 cents in. I don't think I'm going to buy a Gibson Les Paul just so I can fit in over there.
I just REALLY want one!
I might add that I'm out of the acquisition mode on guitars. I had quite a few, but I've learned that for me, a few good choices are better. I have a decent Strat, and you know I've gone through quite a few. My Tele is fantastic, and a nice LP would finish it off for me.
I kept finding that when I would play Strat, or take it to a jam or gig; I would be always wishing I had the other one. It got too confusing, so now I just learn how to deal with one. I do end up with the Tele most of the time, though.
In another words, I don't have guitars to just have guitars anymore.
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my comments were never meant in a negative manner towards any other forum .......Im just glad that we are allowed to discuss Squiers, and Dumbassocasters and other such animals on this forum...
Frank,
Small world, huh?
Dude, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were a member of the Super Sport Forum.
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