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This was a first in several different ways. #1 it was my 1st LP copy #2 it was my 1st Agile, #3 it was my most expensive guitar
to that point!
So
I did as much research on this that I did on my Evolution. The major
difference being that there was a GREAT deal of information on Agile's
at the time. Not so much on the Evolution. One of the things that I
kept coming back to was that the only 2 LP copies available at the time
were the Agiles and the Jay Tursers. Agile had an lp2000, lp2500 and
the lp2800dlx. Jay Turser had about a ½ dozen different LP
copies but the MAJOR difference appeared to be the fret board inlays
and the paint job. Believe it or not the paint had a LOT to do with it!
Plus considering how much I REALLY liked the JTLT when I was looking at
Tele's I really was torn.
My in-laws actually were able to help here. They happen to live in NJ and we were going to be visiting them in the summer.
While in NJ I went to rondo and spent SIX HOURS playing EVERYTHING in sight. I came up with the following conclusions:
The
LP2000's were exactly what they expected to be AND were worth EVERY
penny that Rondo was charging. But they were also the low end of the
Agile line. The LP 2000's were very light, very well made and had a
nice sound to them.
The
LP2500's, wow how did these get past customs? They are lethal weapons.
Poorly made lethal weapons at THAT! I was SO disappointed at the 2500's
I tried 7 of them and couldn't find ONE of them that I'd use so much as
a CLUB, much less a guitar! The finish was bad, the weight was horrible
and the pups were terribly generic!
The
LP2800dlx ; WOW what a difference. This thing weighed a TON, was
VERY solidly built. The pups sounded wonderful no matter WHAT amp I
played them through. NOW THIS is what all the AGILE excitement was
about. It was solid, well built, the stock pups had their own unique
sound without being WAY out in left field, and the finish was
outstanding. I just wish they had offered it in a few more color
options.
The Jay Turser LP';s were only differentiated (at that time) by the inlays. I couldn't find any model
numbers at all. But the 3 that Rondo had were. Dot, Tree of Life and Serpent.
Bottom UP:
As
much as I LOVE me some flash, the Serpent was the worst guitar there. I
played 3 of them and all 3 sounded like Squire Affinity's on a BAD day.
The frets were sharp the neck weak and the pups were terrible.
The Tree of Life, a good set of inlays a nice set of pups and an acceptable finish. For me this was on the same quality
level as the Agile 2000, but priced like the 2800. THA'S where I had my problem.
The
DOT ; Wow this is a great guitar, point in fact it rivaled the
2800dlx in EVERY WAY but one. That one was WEIGHT! I wanted something
that FELT like an LP. I realize that they drill holes in them now, to
cut down on the weight. But me I wanted to KNOW I was playing guitar.
And the JT Dot just didn't give that feeling. Since it was the same
price as the 2800dlx ($239), the Agile won out. As of THIS writing
there haven't been any changes made to the DLX. Although I do have a
set of Gibson Burstbuckers that would fit in nicely..
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