Agile guitars

Agile guitars

Nothing beats an original Les Paul, Telecaster, Stratocaster or PRS-model guitar. I'm sure that most guitarists, when asked, prefer the real deal. Problem is that Gibson's, Fenders and PRS's don't come cheap. For starters on the guitar market, or guitar players with a smaller wallet, there are lot's of alternatives. 

The "big" guitar brands have their budget lines, for example Epiphone for Gibson and Squier for Fender, but more interesting are the "clone" builders. They build the popular guitar models, often for a fraction of the price of the original, and this market is huge, ranging from "cheap" Chinese build guitars to the most expensive handmade custom "clones". One of the guitar brands offering budget guitars is Agile guitars. Agile guitars runs an impressive line of models, with flavours for everyone.

agile guitar

Agile guitars by Rondo Music

Unlike "normal" guitar builders, Agile guitars are build, commissioned by "Rondo Music", a USA (Claremont) based music store, established in 1959. Besides the Les Paul and PRS styled Agile's, Rondo Music also sells SX, Telecaster and Stratocaster shaped guitars. As a result, Agile Guitars aren't sold by other guitar sellers. Rondo Music sells their Agile guitars only through the internet, with a focus on Ebay selling.

Besides Agile guitars, there are lot's of guitar stores who sell a line of guitars, which they have produced under there own name or brand. Agile differences with these "store brands" offering a very extensive line of models and finishes. All major guitar models / clones are in Agile's catalog, from standard factory to custom guitars, and some more. Agile guitars are produced in Korea.

agile guitar

Agile guitars, the AL models

As said, Agile guitars runs a very extensive range of models. One of the most reviewed Agile guitar on the internet is the Les Paul styled AL series. Agile's from these series are considered to compete with the standard Epiphone les Pauls. The luxery Agile AL 3000, top of the line within the Agile AL series, should even compete with entry level Gibson Les Pauls.

This Agile Al 3000 features an ebony fretboard, triple bindings and Alnico pickups. Specifications not to be ashamed of for a 450 USD priced guitar. The entry level Agile AL 2000, priced around 200 USD is also Korean build, and according to different reviews on the internet, offers great value for the money. Within the Agile AL series, there is an almost unlimited choice in colors and finishes, compared to the entry level Epihines and Gibsons.

agile guitar

Agile guitars, the Septor, Interceptor and Intrepid models

Surprisingly, Agile guitars manages to offer 7, 8, 9, 10 and even 12 string guitars for incredible competitive prices. The Intrepid 8 string for example, is available for only 499 USD. More strings, more money.

The Agile Septor, Interceptor and Intrepid guitars all offer more than 6 strings, and like the Agile AL series, lots of colors and finishes can be chosen. All the Agile Septor, Interceptor and Intrepid models are PRS / Strat, modern and radical styled guitars.

agile guitar

Agile guitars, custom shop

Every four or five months a year, Ronde Music opens their Custom Shop for new orders. In the Agile Custom Shop, you can have your guitar build from the ground up to your specifications. Here also, Agile's prices are a fraction of the prices you pay for Custom Shop guitars from the major brands.

Anyway, if you have the time, and you are unknown with Agile guitars, take a look at the Agile guitars on Ebay or at Rondo Music. I'm sure you will, like me, be surprised by the specifications and prices.

agile guitar

Danelectro Dano

Danelectro Dano pro 1959 reissue

Danelectro (Dano), built some extraordinary guitars. All these Danelectro Dano guitars have been put in the market at affordable, budget prices. That doesn't mean Danelectro Dano guitars are cheap, crappy guitars; the Dano's are well built, and often reviewed "well worth the money". I was surprised to see that, despite the fact Danelectro Dano isn't a "grand" guitar brand, the Danelectro's have a large number of fans.
It's obvious, Danelectro surprised the world with some great guitars, each with unique looks, some with humbuckers, but almost all with the eyecatching lipstick pickups. One of my favourite Danelectra Dano models is the Dano Pro 1959.

danelectro dano

Danelectro, Dano, some history 

Danelectro was founded in 1947 by Nathan Daniel, who started in 1934 building amplifiers for Epiphone, which lasted till 1946. At that time, Epiphone was pushing Nathan Daniel to only build amplifiers for them. To stay independent, he started Danelectro. Danelectro, continued building amplifiers, and in 1954 Dano also started building guitars. In the years after, Danelectro build guitars under their own name, but they also produced guitars on request for sellers like Sears, who sold the Danelectro Dano guitar under the Silvertone brand.

In 1960 Danelectro was sold to MCA (Music Corporation of America), and in 1969 the Dano plant was closed as a result of mismanagement.
For some period in the late 90's till 2001, Evets Corporation sold copies of the early Danelectro Dano and silvertone guitars. From 2006, the Evets Corporation focuses on building effect pedals for guitars, but, in limited numbers, they market some guitar models, based on the old Danelectro "vintage" models.
The 2007 Danelectro Dano Pro 1959 reissue is one of them.

danelectro dano

The original Danelectro Dano Pro 1959

The Danelectro Dano 1959 Pro was introduced in 1959, and has been produced until 1963. The original Dano 1959 Pro is a relative small guitar, 3/4 scale, with only 17 frets, and due to the shape of the body, the higher frets are hard to reach. The shape of the guitar and the pickguard are fairly unique, it's difficult to describe, but the pictures (from the 2007 Danelectro Dano Pro reissue) tell it all. Like most unusual guitars, you either love them or hate them. In the case of the Danelectro Dano 1559 Pro, I think it's an icon of it's time.

In 1959, the Danelectro Dano Pro came with just a single lipstick pickup. This unique lipstick pickup is a single coil pickup, with all electronics packed in a chrome metal tube. Originally, this tube came from the cosmetics, lipstick industry. Danelectro became famous with it. The lipstick tube fits the Danelectro Dano 1959, and all Danelectro Dano's from that period very well, and makes the Danelectro Dano's easy recognizable. The lipstick pickups have a kind of "twang" in the sound, and are very suitable for creating the "surf" and rockabilly" sound.

danelectro dano 

One other part of the Danelectro Dano 1959 Pro which makes the guitar easy recognizable is the "coke bottle headstock". This type of headstock was also used on other Danelectro Dano's. As much as I dislike the headstock from another "vintage" guitar, the (Danelectro) Silvertone 1448, amp in a case, pictured in my previous post, I sure like the coke bottle headstock on the Danelectro Dano 1959 Pro.

danelectro dano 

The 2007 Danelectro Dano Pro 1959 reissue

In 2007 the Danelectro Dano Pro 1959 reissue was presented. The Dano reissue shares the same body shape as the original Danelectro Dano Pro, but some major improvements have been made to "modernize" the guitar. The Danelectro Dano reissue has a full scale, 19 frets neck, instead of the 3/4 scale of the original. 

Furthermore the Danelectro Dano reissue is equipped with 2 lipstick pickups, for more difference in tones, and last but not least, the old fixed bridge of the original Danelectro Dano1959 Pro has been replaced by a modern fully adjustable bridge on the Dano 1959 reissue. The Danelectro Dano 1959 Pro reissue has the vintage looks of the original, but has grown to a modern mature guitar.

danelectro dano