AGF Evolution?

[littlebadboy]

I don't have much NGDs to share anymore. I think I already found the guitars I like to stick with already. I am not wanting any guitar anymore... well, except for an Aristides some day.

The only Rondo guitar I have now is my headless Geodesic. But because of the pandemic, it is crazy at work not giving me time to play as I used to.

Same here, I come and visit because of the people here. I mean, I am not close to any of you, but the people here appreciated everything I post and had nothing but good words aside from being very helpful when the need arises.

[Partscaster]

I'm very glad to still have this forum to browse. Its a calm familiar port in a big sea.


AGF tought me what GAS was, and I learned a lot about set up and maintenance.
Rondo let me buy very many different guitars at a pretty cheap price. Many have been sold off. I still have more inexpensive guitars than
I will practically make good use of. But they all play really well and its a treat to have them as they are beautiful instruments. I have sorted out which guitar types suit me best, and its a much wider bunch than I knew about before finding AGF for Agile info 9 years ago.


My life will never be the same after seeing pics of TBJohn's guitar collection. I have seen the greater heavens, and a small piece like it, I have to enjoy.

[Blackened]

I had an accident that left me with limited use of my left hand so I can't really play anymore. I still have my guitars but they don't see much action beyond a few minutes of frustrating noodling before it gets put away. I switched to motorcycles a while back. At least I can still fo that well. I still pop in occassionally to see what folks are up to but don't have much to contribute.

[toomanycats]

With all due respect to the powers that allow this forum to exist, to which I am sincerely grateful . . .

This is like AGF lite, with amnesia, at a slower pace, G rated, and therefore less of a magnet for eminently entertaining erratics and crazies, bawdy wits, and eccentrics. I miss the passionate unrestrained conversations that used to happen, the more frequent NGD posts, and especially the pics of girls with big boobs and fat bottoms.

But I'm still here every day. I'm like a homing pigeon that compulsively returns to its cage, though I no longer carry any messages.

[golem]

I had an accident that left me with limited use of my left hand so I can't really play anymore. I still have my guitars but they don't see much action beyond a few minutes of frustrating noodling before it gets put away. I switched to motorcycles a while back. At least I can still fo that well. I still pop in occassionally to see what folks are up to but don't have much to contribute.

Sorry to hear that.

[mickey]

I had an accident that left me with limited use of my left hand so I can't really play anymore. I still have my guitars but they don't see much action beyond a few minutes of frustrating noodling before it gets put away. I switched to motorcycles a while back. At least I can still fo that well. I still pop in occassionally to see what folks are up to but don't have much to contribute.

Ever consider playing lefty?
Jerry of "Jerry's Lefty Guitars" began life as a righty but had a disagreement between a table saw & his left hand resulting in the loss of a few fingers.
So he switched to playing lefty. I know not everyone can make that sort of switch, but it sounds like it might be worth a shot in your case?

[UrenragK]

I'm so sorry I've not been about much, we took on a new house, which has taken a lot of work, the dog eats any other spare time I have, and work is an absolute pig at the moment having taken on a global role.

I've barely picked up my guitar in 6 months, in fact, it only came out of its case this morning, just to try to make me find a few minutes a day, at least . . . .

[dabbler]

A lot of the old discussions were about the steady flow of interesting 6 strings and crazy anomalies Kurt was bringing in for years and years. And the brave bros who would throw a few hundies or less at something enticing and report in. Plus, the B-stock Adrenalin rush factor.

Last time I perused the rondo website it killed dead any GAS I had going in. I miss the Douglas offerings. Cool things like the ISIS, or the Spad.

You aren't the only one who misses Douglas. The problem there was that Saein went belly up and they made many (most?) of the Douglas brand guitars.

I miss some of them too, but I got most of what interested me before the change. And in Rondo's defense, they did move some of the things I like to Haadean, like this one (on the left):

The KY/ISIS/SIS series is for sure one of my fav Rondo offerings which is why this:

and yeah, I'm glad I got my Spad too (no pic atm, so you'll have to trust me on that one ). But also in Rondo's defense, Kurt seems to me to be a pretty shrewd operator, looking for the market gap that he can fill and for a while that was the value FSOs, but Harley Benton and others have crowded that field. So while I'm also not a fan of the harp-sized number of strings on guitars nor the umm contemporary shaped objects, I ain't too mad at him for making money where he can. And he does give me something to consider every now and again, too, though it has been a while since I've bought from him.

Times, and markets, change.

[Flatline]

Less time, other hobbies, busy with the kids, etc... I still stop in regularly.

[Gergo]

About the same for me as a lot of other people here. I have mentioned in another thread that I am in the health care biz, so when covid hit, that changed a lot of things for me. I lurk here from time to time, but do not really participate in discussions or start threads like in the old days. Also, as mentioned, Rondo is considerably less exciting than it was when I came aboard here in 2012. I did manage to preorder one more AL-3200 from this last batch. I may do a review when that comes in. I think that is it for the AL-3200 collecting though. Now, really the only things I would buy from Rondo is an AD-3200 if he came out with a new exciting finish for one with P-90's. That, and maybe the current SX Tele Deluxe knock off he currently has. Replacing the electronics on that may provide me a much cheaper alternative to a 70's Tele deluxe, which I have always wanted.

Other than that, I really don't need anything else. The only guitars that I am even looking at is a new DAngelico semi-hollowbody with a Les Paul sized body, and those Epiphone Prophesy series Extura's with the Fishman Fluence pickups. Those look pretty sweet.

[Raindog]

The day that I found out my best friend fullonshred (Bob) killed himself (last Christmas season) I gave up the guitar. I no longer have a heart for it, even though I inherited a couple guitars from him. It was one of many things that we shared together. I spend most of my time now building LEGO, trading crypto and silver and mostly getting fat. Once I gave up guitar, even though I like you guys, I just kinda wondered away.

Nothing seems the same with Bob being gone. We talked many times a week, for hours at a time, and no one else can replace him. I miss my buddy.

[toomanycats]

The day that I found out my best friend fullonshred (Bob) killed himself (last Christmas season) I gave up the guitar. I no longer have a heart for it, even though I inherited a couple guitars from him. It was one of many things that we shared together. I spend most of my time now building LEGO, trading crypto and silver and mostly getting fat. Once I gave up guitar, even though I like you guys, I just kinda wondered away.

Nothing seems the same with Bob being gone. We talked many times a week, for hours at a time, and no one else can replace him. I miss my buddy.

I'm so sorry, truly I am.

If I recall correctly you and Bob were both natives of North Carolina. The only person I'm as close to as you describe the relationship between yourself and Bob is my younger brother, and I can't imagine the empty hole that would be there if that was taken away from me. I come across old posts by Bob on a regular basis, and it always makes me smile. He was a significant contributing member here and was always personally kind to me.

I'm putting the fullonshred emoji on your post not because I'm enthusiastic about your grief and resulting apathy towards guitar and this forum, but because you have my empathy and I miss Bob being here.

[tlarson58]

Hell, I bought a bunch of stuff.

Love you guys.

[mickey]

I had no idea Bob killed himself.
I had an uncle who did that.
It does take a while to put it past you, but you have to.
No matter how well you think you know someone, you can never walk in their shoes.

[howardlo65]

I still really like this forum but visit far less than I used to. This place felt like home and was my most visited forum. The changes in the Rondo offerings are a big part of my less frequent visiting. I fondly recall the good old days of The Agile Guitar Forum. Many good memories of some great members and the gas was really going. My first Rondo guitar was an alder STL-50 (Tele) followed by an Agile AL-2000 then a sunburst ash SX Furrian (I think) Thinline Tele, an alder sunburst SX P/J bass and most recently (a few years ago) a sunburst/maple alder Hawk (Strat). All were very good guitars bought at very good prices. Those types of guitars were hot items on the forum. I miss those days and now mainly now come for the people on the forum.

I put a set of Fender Original Vintage picks in the Tele along with upgraded pot, switch, cap, nut and tuners. It is still a very nice guitar. The AL-2000 got new pots, switch, cap, jack and a set of Artec Giovanni pickups. The Thinline now has all upgraded electronics, new nut and tuners and a set of Fender Vintage '64 pickups. The Hawk got all upgraded electronics, new nut, a Fender MIM trem assembly and a set of Guitar Madness A2 flat pole pickups (great sounding BTW).

A couple months ago I decided to thin to too large herd and gave away 10 guitars and a few amps, including the P/J bass, the AL-2000 and the Hawk (Strat), to a couple of my sons and one grandson. So now only the Thinline and STL-50 (Tele) remain of my Rondo guitars.

Met a lot of really good people on this forum but do really miss the old days when NGD's were plentiful and of course causing serious gas. They were really nice guitars at really good prices.

[uwmcscott]

I had no idea Bob killed himself.
I had an uncle who did that.
It does take a while to put it past you, but you have to.
No matter how well you think you know someone, you can never walk in their shoes.

I also had no idea about the nature of Bobs passing, thank you for sharing that @Raindog. I lost a close friend to suicide last year too and still haven’t made peace with it. To be honest I still resent him for it as selfish as that sounds but it is what it is.

I got to know Bob pretty well via the forum, and he and I shared/chatted a lot about Monte Montgomerys live streams during the heavy lockdown times of the past.

Mickey s advice is sage but hard to hear, I had plenty of people give me similar advice and basically told them to f-off. I hope time is a healer for you and I wish you peace.

[golem]

First I've heard about FullOnShred. My condolences. I can't speak for others, but for me playing is one way I deal with stress, frustration, and anxiety and it has been so I was a teenager. It's possible guitar was one outlet for him even if, in the end, whatever he was dealing with or going through got the better of him. I hope that whoever is reading this finds the thing or things that help keep them mentally healthy. It's a struggle for a lot of people. You don't always see or it or hear it from them. But it is.

[Tonray's Ghost]

I'll be posting more in 2022,its just this year was saving for new car priority. I still have 3 unfilled slots on my guitar wall..

[JimyTheAssassin]

I still think fondly of the old days no doubt. It was a time of learning and investigations into gear knowledge, and some good fun. I don’t remember to check in here as often anymore, or any forum for that matter. My only true distraction is a podcast about vintage gear that has collected its own diverse group of followers, and a Facebook group to compliment it. I haven’t even made time to carve out for the bi-weekly podcasts. My spare time is mostly spent busy with family. Right now I find myself here because everyone is sleeping and I can do this quietly (and without someone needing my attention or causing distraction). “What are you typing dad?”

I’ve bought a good lot of things this past year, but near all of it has been parts, tubes or projects with parts and tubes. The only piece of gear I can think I’ve gotten all year was a tuner pedal this Christmas. There are a few cool items this past year that I should share, like a late 1920/30s Jensen exciter speaker.

My band resumed practicing after we all got vaccinated, and that was good fun for sure. Gigs were a lot harder to setup, so We only played a handful in total. In the fall my wife took a travel nursing job and that has curtailed my availability to practice in a full band. But I did subscribe to the fender play app. I have had a lot of fun learning songs on guitar and ukulele.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nomadh]

Well this seems like a good place to checkin. I haven't been here since the 5th it looks like. It's been a strange period. Today is my official 1st day of retirement. So I was pretty busy getting ready but something happened to me that's very disturbing the last few months. I've barely picked up a guitar the last few months. Just as I've got time for my fav hobby I burned out. I know what mostly did it. I got the axe from that ufo cover band and it really threw me. Just doing rhythms having fun everyone said they liked it. Told them I'd have much more time after retirement but nope. Then there was the band before that. And then the 2020 covid band that was going so well and it imploded. Just all left a bad taste in my mouth.
Sorry I missed checking in with christmas and everything.. I need to hang out here more and get my guitar pilot light going again.
Late merry Christmas everyone

[Tonray's Ghost]

I'll be posting more in 2022,its just this year was saving for new car priority. I still have 3 unfilled slots on my guitar wall..

...and in addition my phone was 5 years old, had a spider cracked screen and lacked the processing power/memory to adequately interface with the new 8 inch Android Auto Screen in the new car ! (it never ends !)..so another guitar delay

[nomadh]

I had an accident that left me with limited use of my left hand so I can't really play anymore. I still have my guitars but they don't see much action beyond a few minutes of frustrating noodling before it gets put away. I switched to motorcycles a while back. At least I can still fo that well. I still pop in occassionally to see what folks are up to but don't have much to contribute.

Sorry to hear about your hand. I've always thought if I were to lose function that I would dig deep into slide guitar. Maybe something to consider?

[nomadh]

A lot of the old discussions were about the steady flow of interesting 6 strings and crazy anomalies Kurt was bringing in for years and years. And the brave bros who would throw a few hundies or less at something enticing and report in. Plus, the B-stock Adrenalin rush factor.

Last time I perused the rondo website it killed dead any GAS I had going in. I miss the Douglas offerings. Cool things like the ISIS, or the Spad.

You aren't the only one who misses Douglas. The problem there was that Saein went belly up and they made many (most?) of the Douglas brand guitars.

I miss some of them too, but I got most of what interested me before the change. And in Rondo's defense, they did move some of the things I like to Haadean, like this one (on the left):

IMGP1488a (2).JPG

The KY/ISIS/SIS series is for sure one of my fav Rondo offerings which is why this:

IMGP1454a.JPG

and yeah, I'm glad I got my Spad too (no pic atm, so you'll have to trust me on that one ). But also in Rondo's defense, Kurt seems to me to be a pretty shrewd operator, looking for the market gap that he can fill and for a while that was the value FSOs, but Harley Benton and others have crowded that field. So while I'm also not a fan of the harp-sized number of strings on guitars nor the umm contemporary shaped objects, I ain't too mad at him for making money where he can. And he does give me something to consider every now and again, too, though it has been a while since I've bought from him.

Times, and markets, change.

I do feel a little abandoned by Kurt but I too don't blame him. He gave me a guitar collection the likes of which I never would have dreamed. I think he's missing s few tricks with some gibson shapes being allowed now. I still think he could clean up with a flying v collection and a proper jr and lp doublecut collection.

[nomadh]

The day that I found out my best friend fullonshred (Bob) killed himself (last Christmas season) I gave up the guitar. I no longer have a heart for it, even though I inherited a couple guitars from him. It was one of many things that we shared together. I spend most of my time now building LEGO, trading crypto and silver and mostly getting fat. Once I gave up guitar, even though I like you guys, I just kinda wondered away.

Nothing seems the same with Bob being gone. We talked many times a week, for hours at a time, and no one else can replace him. I miss my buddy.

I'm sorry. I didn't know you were that close. It must be terrible thinking you somehow could have helped or missed a sign but it's obvious you would have helped if there was a way. Take care of yourself now.

[Rollin Hand]

Worth noting in all of this discussion is that the last couple of years have been weird, to say the least. Lots of us have had other stresses and priorities, and this has sadly led to reasons to not play, or the necessity to sell gear.

@Raindog, i knew you and fullonshred were tight, but did not know the details. My condolences.

I firmly believe that better days are ahead because the last couple of years have been poop.