[Perfect Stranger]

Agile AL3100 Spalt - Slim Neck

OK, sorry about the poor photos....I'll get better ones posted ASAP, I just didn't have
much time. Anyway, this will give you an idea about my new guitar. To say the least,
it is breath-taking to me. So far, my new guitar goggles haven't shown me a
single flaw. It came out of the box setup to play....however, since I replaced the
bridge and tuners it didn't really matter. The neck is perfect in every single way.

I WILL have to reverse the pots! I replaced the bridge with a roller bridge
from GuitarFetish, and replaced the Grovers with Locking Grovers. The rest of the
mods are just cosmetic, personal preferences.

The spalted top is perfect! At first glance it almost looks like a three piece top, however
it's just one and the spalt gives it kind of a neck-thru look. The back and neck mahogany
are much lighter than expected. But who cares...it's still beautiful Maybe tomorrow
I can give a more objective review. Without further ado.....here she is:

-----======BEFORE=====-----





-----======AFTER=====-----

• # Solid mahogany (not a multi-ply!) arch top body
  # Neck Taper (thickness) at the first fret is 17mm and 21mm at the 12th fret. (vs: 21.5 mm at the 1st fret and 23.5mm at the 12th fret for the standard AL-3000 model)
  # High quality Spalted Canadian Maple Top (100% real wood top-not a photo top!)
  # Triple bound body, and headstock. Single binding on neck.
  # Improved Nickel plate hardware, including Nickel die-cast Grover tuners with 18-1 turning ratio for ultra fine tuning (Model 102-18N)
  # Two Type V Alnico humbucker pickups for warm, tradional sound
  # The AL-3100 comes with improved wiring (4 conductor), improved pots (now higher voltage with brass shafts for reduced noise) and an improved pickup selector switch
  # Two volume and two tone controls, plus a three way pickup selector switch
  # One piece Mahogany set neck with 13.7" (350mm) radius neck for fast play and adjustable truss rod
  # Ebony fretboard with 22 Jumbo frets and real Mother-Of-Pearl Trapezodial inlays
  # The AL-3100 features D'addario strings installed at the factory and a professionally installed graph tech nut
  # Individually hand filed frets for professional feel and playability
  # Width of the neck at the nut: 1 5/8"; at the 21st fret: 2 3/16"
  # Overall length: 40"; Scale length: 24.7"
  # Body thickness: 2" at edge; Width at the widest point: 13"
  # Bridge pole spacing is 3", and the Tail piece pole spacing is 3 1/4"
  # Actual Weight is only 10 lbs

Like I said, I'll get better pix tomorrow and more objective review. Right now....tonight
....I'm in love. The wife better be very very afraid!

[crazy_guitar_man]

nice guitar i like the just wood type finish haha i dunno what to call it but yeah i am thinking if i ever build one from scratch i am going to get some nice wood and just leave it like that

[Perfect Stranger]

Actually it's called "spalted maple". And believe it or not, it's maple just as it has started to rot...

[crazy_guitar_man]

o yeah i saw that was what that was called i ment i didn't know what it was when you just let the wood show instead of staining or painting it would it be a natural finish haha

[MrSandMan]

I really like their spalted tops. They're really cool. The top is actually a two-piece. You probably already know this, but what they do is slice the top piece in half and lay it out on the top. If you were to fold it right in the middle, you'll see the grain lines up. If you look really close, you might see the seam right in the middle of the top.

Nice axe bro. I'm thinking about getting the all-white AL-2000 and having the top airbrushed with the Detroit Red Wings logo.

[Perfect Stranger]

You may be right, but if it is two piece I salute their artisans coz I can't find the seam.
Maybe they just did an outstanding job of matching the seam. either way....I love it.

[MrSandMan]

hey, have you played any of Rondo's AL-2000's? If so, how does it compare to the higher up ones like the AL-3000s and AL-3100s?

[Perfect Stranger]

I had the AL-2000 Spalted until I ordered this one. It was a great guitar. Didn't have the
fancy binding, and the pups weren't as good......but a seriously nice guitar just the same.
The neck was super. A really nice guitar over-all.

One oddity on almost every AL regardless of the version, is that the pots are reversed for
some reason. The A's are where the B's should be and visa versa. Have to swap them to
get good control. But it's really not a big deal to swap them.

[Turbo_Hasse]

Schweet!

[MrSandMan]

What's the next Agile on your agenda?

I just got an Epi Les Paul Custom in today and I'll be honest, the Agile AL-3100 that I had was nicer fit and finish.

Of course, Epiphone is now being made in China and if this is the Chinese quality?... agh!

Korean made is sooo much better in my experience.