Agile Septor Elite Custom 2012 Run

[noodles]

Originally Posted by Chris

You know, I'm beginning to think that I am to Agile what Dave is to djent threads.

I own an Agile, a 12-string ES-335 clone, and it's a pretty good guitar. The pickups and hardware are shitty, but it plays fine and goes for under $350 new, so I have just been upgrading it. Having said that, if the Ibanez Artist series had a 12-string semi-hollow electric, that is probably what I would own, since it is a better guitar. It ought to be, for the cost.

I've played two other Agiles, one of the original 7-string Interceptors and one of their higher end Les Paul clones, and I felt they're as good as any of the other imports. That was the Interceptor with the Dimarzios, before Dimarzio pissed all over Kurt, and the thing just shit all over a 7620 tonally. It had the sound and feel of a LTD SC7, but with that shitty TRS bridge and lesser fretwork. The LP copy is as good as those singlecut Schecters or PRS SEs, and it actually had pretty damn good hardware. I think the problem is they lack the QC of a bigger company, so when you get a bad one, you really get a bad one. I've not personally played a bad one, but I absolutely understand why some people hate them.

I really think Schecter got it completely right by doing a fret dress and full setup in the USA shop. Right off the shelf, Schecter fit and finish is just light years beyond anything else in that price range. If they had a more reasonable neck, I would have owned several by now.

[Blankplank]

So, for someone who owns a 7620, and can't get a Carvin affordably......

[jacksonplayer]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Or a Carvin for $100 more that's USA made, and guaranteed to shit all over the Agile.

I hate to say it, but my old Interceptor 725 sounded way better than either of the Carvin 747s I owned, and it played just as nice. I kind of wish I'd kept that Interceptor, actually.

[Emperoff]

I had two Agiles. One of the original Interceptor runs with Dimarzios that I sold due to the crappy QC and flaws that bothered me (the tone pot fell off the guitar, the trem springs cavity was routed free-hand, the E string swept off the fretboard...) but I always thought it sounded really damn good.

Same with the second one. Paid 400$ for B-stock "Pro" model. It looked great and sounded awesome with the 18v modded EMG-TWs. But guess what? After a year or so I couldn't stand the tiny and sooooft frets (a year of playing and they show more fretwear than my 10 year old S7420 and my "dunno what year" Jackson KE-7?) and the cheap feel that all the Agiles have. Some kind of "plasticy" and dirty gloss finish with a photoflame that looked like it was painted or something...

On the other hand, my '05 Hellraiser had AWESOME fretwork and now they're more or less the same price than Agiles. My Interceptor was a fucking kickass guitar for the 400$ I paid. For 800$? Not so much

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

I hate to say it, but my old Interceptor 725 sounded way better than either of the Carvin 747s I owned, and it played just as nice. I kind of wish I'd kept that Interceptor, actually.

I had the opposite experience. The Septor I had sucked, as has the others my friend has/had. The Carvins have been a lot better. I just didn't like the brightness, and was too lazy to swap pickups.

[playstopause]

Let's not forget that some of us aren't cork sniffers when it comes to how a guitar sound. When you play for fun only, it's not much of an issue really. Sure, Carvin and Ibanez are better built and might sound better (question of taste, imo) but if you're looking to play a guitar that is attracting to you, I think Agiles Interceptor line look WAY better than Carvins and most Ibanez in their price range category. I know that if I had to choose between the Carvin that sounds better and is fugly and the Agile that cheaper in overall quality and sound but looks terrific, I'll take the Agile. I don't know about others, but beeing attracted to my guitar is essantial. Because i'm playing at home and not gigging, I know there won't be a world of difference in tone between a 600$ Ibanez and a 600$ Agile. At least, not the same as a 150$ Douglas and a 3000$ Suhr.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by playstopause

Let's not forget that some of us aren't cork sniffers when it comes to how a guitar sound. When you play for fun only, it's not much of an issue really. Sure, Carvin and Ibanez are better built and might sound better (question of taste, imo) but if you're looking to play a guitar that is attracting to you, I think Agiles Interceptor line look WAY better than Carvins and most Ibanez in their price range category. I know that if I had to choose between the Carvin that sounds better and is fugly and the Agile that cheaper in overall quality and sound but looks terrific, I'll take the Agile. I don't know about others, but beeing attracted to my guitar is essantial. Because i'm playing at home and not gigging, I know there won't be a world of difference in tone between a 600$ Ibanez and a 600$ Agile. At least, not the same as a 150$ Douglas and a 3000$ Suhr.

* Leon often plays a $260 LTD.

[Reverend 7 Strings of Hate]

Originally Posted by playstopause

Let's not forget that some of us aren't cork sniffers when it comes to how a guitar sound. When you play for fun only, it's not much of an issue really. Sure, Carvin and Ibanez are better built and might sound better (question of taste, imo) but if you're looking to play a guitar that is attracting to you, I think Agiles Interceptor line look WAY better than Carvins and most Ibanez in their price range category. I know that if I had to choose between the Carvin that sounds better and is fugly and the Agile that cheaper in overall quality and sound but looks terrific, I'll take the Agile. I don't know about others, but beeing attracted to my guitar is essantial. Because i'm playing at home and not gigging, I know there won't be a world of difference in tone between a 600$ Ibanez and a 600$ Agile. At least, not the same as a 150$ Douglas and a 3000$ Suhr.

I'm not sure what carvins you've been looking at, but the vast majority i'v seen/played have been fucking beautiful.
I also like the fact that a carvin is american made.

[playstopause]

^

It's all personnal preference man. I've never liked any Carvins. At all. (well, ok, maybe 3-4...).

... And i've been looking at them since the Tony MCalpine ads from the 80's. I still have hope.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by noodles

I own an Agile, a 12-string ES-335 clone, and it's a pretty good guitar. The pickups and hardware are shitty, but it plays fine and goes for under $350 new, so I have just been upgrading it. Having said that, if the Ibanez Artist series had a 12-string semi-hollow electric, that is probably what I would own, since it is a better guitar. It ought to be, for the cost.

I've played two other Agiles, one of the original 7-string Interceptors and one of their higher end Les Paul clones, and I felt they're as good as any of the other imports. That was the Interceptor with the Dimarzios, before Dimarzio pissed all over Kurt, and the thing just shit all over a 7620 tonally. It had the sound and feel of a LTD SC7, but with that shitty TRS bridge and lesser fretwork. The LP copy is as good as those singlecut Schecters or PRS SEs, and it actually had pretty damn good hardware. I think the problem is they lack the QC of a bigger company, so when you get a bad one, you really get a bad one. I've not personally played a bad one, but I absolutely understand why some people hate them.

I really think Schecter got it completely right by doing a fret dress and full setup in the USA shop. Right off the shelf, Schecter fit and finish is just light years beyond anything else in that price range. If they had a more reasonable neck, I would have owned several by now.

Dave, an Agile owner, hating on a 7620. Shock and awe!