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

jtcnj

jtcnj

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I'm seriously considering my first guitar purchase over $250.

https://www.rondomusic.com/Agile_AL-320 ... Flame.html
image.png

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... dark-burst
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone/1 ... 0322443.gc
image.png
The plus of the Agile for me is the contoured neck heel.
But tons of people get used to the LP blocky heel for playing frets 19-22 (21?)
The build and finish and hardware are probably better but how much of a difference really.

But, it will need pickups and for this I would likely go with SD or maybe used Gibsons / not budget pickups, though many are pretty darn good.
1st choice at the moment would be SD 59's.
Al-3200 $550.
SD 59 PAF set ADD around $150
Douglas case add $90
add around $20 shipping + tax = about $865.

The Epi comes with Gibson Burstbuckers, which I have not played but I would think are supposed to be like 50's PAFs.
The electronics include CTS pots, and includes a case.
Free shipping, so $799 +tax = $855 so its a wash.

They both may be around 10lbs so that is a wash but a bit heavier than I would prefer.
The Epi will have more resale value but I'm not concerned: I want a nice LP to play and keep.

What do you think?
 
My faux 335 has a Burstbucker 2 in the bridge and they are really great pickups. Kind of like a 57 Classic Plus with a little more beef to it. That being said, id say either would be fine, especially if you ultimately DO change the pickups. The Agile has a lil more playing access going for it, the Epiphone has the traditional Gibson Les Paul look.
 
Clockworkmike said:
My faux 335 has a Burstbucker 2 in the bridge and they are really great pickups. Kind of like a 57 Classic Plus with a little more beef to it. That being said, id say either would be fine, especially if you ultimately DO change the pickups. The Agile has a lil more playing access going for it, the Epiphone has the traditional Gibson Les Paul look.
Click to expand...
So is it a wax potted pickup? I like the 57+ in the Explorer but also the 498T in the Custom
 
Jethro Rocker said:
So is it a wax potted pickup? I like the 57+ in the Explorer but also the 498T in the Custom
Click to expand...
Funny thing about that question: no one has a real definitive answer, believe it or not lol

Largely speaking, its an unpotted pickup if you buy it as an aftermarket. In a stock guitar from Gibson however, many actually WERE wax potted from the factory.

Theres actually 3 original Burstbuckers with the Burstbucker 1 being really tame
, more as a Rhythm pickup. The 2 is perfectly balanced as a mid range voiced pickup and the 3 is hot winded and more aggressive. They later made Burstbucker Pros, which are Alnico 5 vs the other original Burstbuckers that are Alnico 2s and have more windings, which make them more hi output
 
I did some looking online at used Gibson studio, tribute, etc., as mentioned.
some of the bodies look pretty rough; not sure the cheapest Gibson is better than the higher end EPIs.

I would like to own a Gibson though, since it is in the same $$$ ballpark.
I should finally go to a larger music store to try a Studio even if just to get an idea what the used ones would likely be.
 
gball said:
But...for the money you are talking you are in range of a used Gibson Les Paul Studio. That would be my choice, for pretty much every reason I can think of.
Click to expand...
THIS--- was exactly my thinking when I read the $ amounts for the Agile and the Epi

TBTH -- wait a year and get EITHER the Agile or EPI for half off or LESS (both great guitars not BASHING either -- love Epis -- LOVE Agiles--wont hold the resale $$$ ) but at those #'s
Get a Gibson
HELL IVE GOTTEN GIBSONS IN THE 400.00 RANGE!!!!!
APPLY YOURSELF JT ----- YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!
 
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Gibson Les Paul Special Plus 2011 | Reverb

2011 Gibson Les Paul Special Pro. This was a Guitar Center exclusive, and rare.Fantastic guitar with great playability. Frets in good condition. Guitar is scratched up around the edges. See pics.Buckle rash on back as well. All original. ***GUITAR DOES NOT INCLUDE GIBSON HARDSHELL CASE IN PICTURE...
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Gibson Les Paul Special 2013 | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.
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Gibson Les Paul Studio Satin 2012 - 2015 | Reverb

Part of the full mahogany body Les Paul Studio series - the Studio Satin line uses a Baked Maple Fretboard and Burstbucker Pro pickups Previously known as the Les Paul Studio Faded Series from 2010 - 2011 Available in a wider variety of finishes than previous iterations of the all-mahogany bo...
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Gibson Les Paul Future Tribute 2013 Gold top | Reverb

Very gently played at home and in amazing condition. Just can’t get used to the asymmetric neck.Mahogany body with solid carved maple topMahogany neck with Asymmetrical profile Rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlaysZebra-coil '57 Classic humbucking pickups in the neck and bridgeSteinberger™ g...
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and that is without Craigslist---- opium den spelunking or even trying hard ....... ;)
 
and the winner is:

Gibson les paul studio 2007 Vintage / Faded
Seller's pic.

The pickups were changed to what the seller says are Rhythm Pro and Lead Pro, any searches come back with Burstbucker Pro.
Anyone have input on these pickups?
No pics of the pickups until I get hands on.
1611501128921.png
 
jtcnj said:
and the winner is:

Gibson les paul studio 2007 Vintage / Faded
Seller's pic.

The pickups were changed to what the seller says are Rhythm Pro and Lead Pro, any searches come back with Burstbucker Pro.
Anyone have input on these pickups?
No pics of the pickups until I get hands on.
View attachment 57009
Click to expand...
If they're burstbucker pros, they're really good pickups. Kind of like the 57 Classic PAF alnico 5 with a lil more umpf to them in the lows and mid range crunch. They're wax potted too which is a plus definitely.

The studio is a great no frills Les Paul. Virtually no structural differences than any other Les Paul like a Standard, Classic or Custom. The only thing that sets it apart from a standard is the lack of any binding, namely the top body and neck. Classics are just standards with different pickups essentially and Customs mean you have top, back, neck and headstock binding with an ebony fretboard and block inlay.
 
jtcnj said:
I'm seriously considering my first guitar purchase over $250.

https://www.rondomusic.com/Agile_AL-320 ... Flame.html
image.png

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... dark-burst
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone/1 ... 0322443.gc
image.png
The plus of the Agile for me is the contoured neck heel.
But tons of people get used to the LP blocky heel for playing frets 19-22 (21?)
The build and finish and hardware are probably better but how much of a difference really.

But, it will need pickups and for this I would likely go with SD or maybe used Gibsons / not budget pickups, though many are pretty darn good.
1st choice at the moment would be SD 59's.
Al-3200 $550.
SD 59 PAF set ADD around $150
Douglas case add $90
add around $20 shipping + tax = about $865.

The Epi comes with Gibson Burstbuckers, which I have not played but I would think are supposed to be like 50's PAFs.
The electronics include CTS pots, and includes a case.
Free shipping, so $799 +tax = $855 so its a wash.

They both may be around 10lbs so that is a wash but a bit heavier than I would prefer.
The Epi will have more resale value but I'm not concerned: I want a nice LP to play and keep.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

You are in the price range of a real Gibson Les Paul.
A little more $$ and you should just buy a real one.

I bought a LP Studio,
SD pickups, ratio locking tuners, and graph tech bridge, hard case.
I have about $1000 into it.

But if I ever sell it, I probably won't have much trouble recovering the price I paid for it.
With a guitar made in China, I'm not going to get that much for it.
 
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