AL-3200 VS. Epi 1959 LP Standard which one and why?

BatUtilityBelt · Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:02 pm

tobijohn wrote: ↑Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:58 pm
BatUtilityBelt wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:23 pm ...And... your post made me look. Damn it, I saw a lefty lemon burst 3200 single cut. Good thing it had a pick guard, or I probably would have bought another guitar.
There's only one in stock so if you're OK with removing the pickguard, then you have the opportunity to save me $550...

I love my LPs without pick guards. I only have one that was born with a PG but the previous owner took it off. That top screw hole bugs me occasionally. So I don't take them off if they're already there. It really is a beautiful guitar, isn't it?

Partscaster · Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:11 am

when I remove LP pickguards, I put the 2 screws back in their holes, and it doesnt look so out of place as open holes might..

BatUtilityBelt · Sat Jan 23, 2021 11:41 am

Partscaster wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:11 am when I remove LP pickguards, I put the 2 screws back in their holes, and it doesnt look so out of place as open holes might..

Good point. The previous owner of my Ibanez AM-93 did that, and I agree it helps. You never see a screw and stop to think "why is that there?". In the Rondo pictures of that lemon burst, it is hard to make out, but there is a tiny label that says @tobijohn.

doc-knapp · Sat Jan 23, 2021 11:58 am

tobijohn wrote: ↑Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:58 pm
BatUtilityBelt wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:23 pm ...And... your post made me look. Damn it, I saw a lefty lemon burst 3200 single cut. Good thing it had a pick guard, or I probably would have bought another guitar.
There's only one in stock so if you're OK with removing the pickguard, then you have the opportunity to save me $550...

Oh TJ, I thought I was out....And you guys pulled me back in. I haven't purchased a new guitar in over a year now, and I thought I was really done with collecting. Then I saw that gorgeous lemon top. I think I've been staring at that photo for days and this morning I finally pulled the trigger and bought it. The upgraded Giovanni pickups was what finally made me do it. I've had to upgrade the pickups in ever other AL3200 I've bought. The old stock pickups were just not remotely worthy of a guitar of that build quality.

Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:52 pm

doc-knapp wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 11:58 am ...Oh TJ, I thought I was out....And you guys pulled me back in. I haven't purchased a new guitar in over a year now, and I thought I was really done with collecting. Then I saw that gorgeous lemon top. I think I've been staring at that photo for days and this morning I finally pulled the trigger and bought it. The upgraded Giovanni pickups was what finally made me do it. I've had to upgrade the pickups in ever other AL3200 I've bought. The old stock pickups were just not remotely worthy of a guitar of that build quality.

Bless you, now please go buy the remaining two CSBF AD-3200CCs so I don't pick up another one of those...

sabasgr68 · Sat Jan 23, 2021 1:30 pm

This is the kind of threads we need here happening more often...

Congrats @doc-knapp

Shame on you @tobijohn

redman · Sat Jan 23, 2021 2:38 pm

I have one of the last batch 3200's and it's an excellent guitar probably one of the best built guitars I've ever owned . That said still not crazy about the pickups. I have only owned one Epi in my life and have not tried the EPI 59 however just looking at the specs it sounds great. For one thing if they are using US made Burstbuckers instead of the Epi Probuckers that's like Holy Smoke how do the do that with $300 and up per set retail and it comes with a HSC. Good luck

BatUtilityBelt · Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:52 pm

doc-knapp wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 11:58 am Oh TJ, I thought I was out....And you guys pulled me back in. I haven't purchased a new guitar in over a year now, and I thought I was really done with collecting. Then I saw that gorgeous lemon top. I think I've been staring at that photo for days and this morning I finally pulled the trigger and bought it. The upgraded Giovanni pickups was what finally made me do it. I've had to upgrade the pickups in ever other AL3200 I've bought. The old stock pickups were just not remotely worthy of a guitar of that build quality.

I'm glad one us AGFers picked it up! That is a fantastic looking top, and all the specs are great. Because of his remorse, I won't even suggest TJ talk Kurt into a run of a similar guitar without pickguard, maybe rootbeer burst, with stainless steel frets. No, I won't do that.

Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:26 pm

BatUtilityBelt wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:52 pm
I'm glad one us AGFers picked it up! That is a fantastic looking top, and all the specs are great. Because of his remorse, I won't even suggest TJ talk Kurt into a run of a similar guitar without pickguard, maybe rootbeer burst, with stainless steel frets. No, I won't do that.

According to that last Rondo email, no more Agiles until the spring or summer. Based on past communication, the production lead time is at least six months and if that's still the case, Kurt should know at least theoretically, what is due in then. I'll drop him a line and see if he might give us a hint. FWIW, in my back and forth with him regarding the AD-3200MCCs, he never mentioned anything about the AL-3200MCCs or the Giovanni pickups.

BTW, have you by any chance taken a look at the bottom of the P-100s to see who the source might be?

BatUtilityBelt · Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:36 pm

tobijohn wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:26 pm According to that last Rondo email, no more Agiles until the spring or summer. Based on past communication, the production lead time is at least six months and if that's still the case, Kurt should know at least theoretically, what is due in then. I'll drop him a line and see if he might give us a hint. FWIW, in my back and forth with him regarding the AD-3200MCCs, he never mentioned anything about the AL-3200MCCs or the Giovanni pickups.

BTW, have you by any chance taken a look at the bottom of the P-100s to see who the source might be?

Good to know. Regarding the pickup manufacturer, I have not looked. This guitar is one of the few cases that was so good fresh out of the case that I have not even adjusted the pickup heights. I tend to only look inside when I know I want to change something or shield the cavities.

peskypesky · Sat Jan 23, 2021 8:38 pm

AL-3200

uwmcscott · Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:09 pm

tobijohn wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:26 pm According to that last Rondo email, no more Agiles until the spring or summer. Based on past communication, the production lead time is at least six months and if that's still the case, Kurt should know at least theoretically, what is due in then.

Looks like he's really getting down there on everything, not just Agile. I've been hemming and hawing about getting one of those medium scale SX Ursa's and looks like there's only 1-2 left of just about every model. The liquids are pretty much all gone too.

jtcnj · Sun Jan 24, 2021 11:27 am

someone had mentioned that at the price point, to consider used Gibson studio.

I was about to buy the Agile, but went with a 2007 Studio. I got a little confused comparing and thought this one had the 490r / 490t set, but it has Gibson Rhythm Pro and Lead Pro, but is in better condition than the others.

I cant find much on these pickups; searches come back with burstbucker pro. No pickup pics until I get it in hand.
anyone know about these pickups?

jtcnj · Sun Jan 24, 2021 1:52 pm

Looks like these are Burstbucker Pros, ok by me.

doc-knapp · Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:46 pm

Guys, I am so freakin' happy I chose to buy this lemon burst. The Koreans have stepped-up their game, for sure. This is the nicest Agile I have ever owned. The only flaw I could find in it is a slight blemish where the stain bled onto the binding where the body meets the neck. This thing looks like a perfect AAA 1958 Gibson LP and if I'd slapped the Gibson name on it, I'd easily be able to sell it as a custom shop job for $5000. I ain't ever letting this one go. It's a work of art.

Partscaster · Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:09 pm

doc-knapp wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:46 pm Guys, I am so freakin' happy I chose to buy this lemon burst. The Koreans have stepped-up their game, for sure. This is the nicest Agile I have ever owned. The only flaw I could find in it is a slight blemish where the stain bled onto the binding where the body meets the neck. This thing looks like a perfect AAA 1958 Gibson LP and if I'd slapped the Gibson name on it, I'd easily be able to sell it as a custom shop job for $5000. I ain't ever letting this one go. It's a work of art.

Doc, lets see some nice pics. I'ld appreciate it, thanks.

uwmcscott · Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:36 pm

jtcnj wrote: ↑Sun Jan 24, 2021 11:27 am someone had mentioned that at the price point, to consider used Gibson studio.

I was about to buy the Agile, but went with a 2007 Studio. I got a little confused comparing and thought this one had the 490r / 490t set, but it has Gibson Rhythm Pro and Lead Pro, but is in better condition than the others.

I cant find much on these pickups; searches come back with burstbucker pro. No pickup pics until I get it in hand.
anyone know about these pickups?

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If you want a les paul, buying a les paul is the proper solution - nice work! Burstbuckers are a very nice pickup set and likely an upgrade.

doc-knapp · Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:00 pm

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She's even more gorgeous in person.

uwmcscott · Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:47 pm

Love that cross-grain, beautiful top for sure.

Partscaster · Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:31 am

Thanks doc! That is a nice balanced flame.

jtcnj · Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:14 am

Congrats.
Glad someone here got it.
What does it weigh?

doc-knapp · Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:15 pm

10.3 lbs.

jtcnj · Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:29 am

doc-knapp wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:15 pm10.3 lbs.

thanks.
That is the main thing that kept me from buying it before you did.

sabasgr68 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:43 am

So, class, in the end, the quantum physical/mathematic equation AL-3200 VS Epi 1959 LP Standard = Gibson LP Studio, which leads us to the conclusion that this is more than the sum of the parts, or, in other words, the result is 40% better, heavily influenced by weight.

Was it clear, class?

HNGD, John @jtcnj . Don't forget to post pics once you have it in your hands.