The Steel Guitar Forum

Thanks to Mike Perlowin who talked me into getting one of those E-Bay Raven guitars he mentioned. Mine is basically a super nice Korean knock-off of the Paul Reed Smith thinline chambered F-hole solid/hollow body. It has a mahogany neck and body with a beautiful highly figured quartersawn amber colored swamp ash top. It's a bit twanger than a PRS - nice thin but wide 24 fret neck that reminds me of a Firebird or SG and it really sings when cranked thru a tube amp and has oodles of clean fat twang thru my Fender Steel King.Great value for way under $5oo.It looks,feels,plays and sounds like a very high end guitar. If I was to go back to playing 6 string fulltime,it could easily be my main ax. -MJ-

I agree with Mike Brown, the new Peavey JF-1 is a great guitar for the money, if you're looking for a semi-hollow body. These are being sold through Musicians Friend and probably most other internet resellers. They are offered in three colors, red, sunburst, and black. The only drawback in my opinion, is that Peavey does not offer a case for them, and a 335 case is a little too small. TKL makes a good gig bag that fits. I have a red one and a sunburst one and just bought a black one that is in transit. The red one played great right out of the box, the sunburst one needed the action tweaked just a little, but both sound great.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

I've been looking at the Agile guitars. Someone noted that Frank Estes had a written a review. Does anyone know where I can read this review? I am very seriously considering the Slim neck profile 3000 model for $379.

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings

Look for a Fender Lead II (made in the early 80's). They can be had for under $400.

Strat style body, just a little smaller. Not quite the strat tone, but it's a well built guitar (American Made) with no extra cost for snob appeal. I've had one for about 20 years, and it was my main axe for 15.

I have a G&L Legacy (mid 90's) that I paid $550 for. I'd put it up against any Strat style guitar up to $1500 or so.

Mike- it sounds like you're saying that music wasn't invented by Jimi Hendrix. Did I read that wrong? <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steve Frost on 07 February 2005 at 02:43 PM.]</p></FONT>

Steve S, the Harmony Central reviews web site is here: http://www.harmony-central.com/User_Reviews/

Here is Frank's review:

Features: 10
2002 Agile LP 4000 - sparkle white
Mahogany body, maple neck, humbuckers, "standard" LP stuff

Sound: 10
This guitar sounds incredible. In fact, the action and tone is so good that I got rid of my Fender Telecaster! I love the clean clear tone of the neck humbucker and the bridge pickup really screams when I use distortion of a Zoom 505. I can also get away with playing an intro on a country song like "Chattahoochie" using the bridge pickup with no effects. That is normally a Tele intro, but the LP 4000 gets the job done.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10
Absolutely beautiful. I see no flaws in mine. I did not have to make any adjustments. I simply replaced the strings with a lighter gauge of Ernie Balls I prefer.

Reliability/Durability: 10
It is rock solid!

Customer Support: 10
Rondo (the store where Frank purchased the guitar- mp)is outstanding! I have purchased other items from them and have always been more than pleased and the products have always arrived sooner than they estimate! I was so impressed with the Essex SLP Jr I purchased earlier in the year, that I had no reservations in ordering this Agile LP 4000.

Overall Rating: N/A
I am primarily a pedal steel guitar player, but have regained a new interest in lead guitar over the past 5 years. I regularly play both pedal steel and electric guitar in a couple of bands. I first started to learn to play guitar about 25 years ago. I use Zoom 505 effect units and play through Peavey and Fender amps. We play a variety of music and I am just now really getting into some of the distortion sounds and man, does this guitar honk! You can see photos of my LP 4000 at http://frankestesmba.us/MyLP4000.html


I would not mind owning a few more of these Agile LP guitars. In fact I am so impressed with this Agile LP 4000, that I would be comfortable buying any Agile instrument on the Rondo site without hesitation. The quality is that good.


I was considering Epiphone LPs when I found the Agile on Ebay. Harmony Central reviews helped me decide against the Epiphones and I am grateful.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 07 February 2005 at 08:19 PM.]</p></FONT>

Steve F, I honestly and truly believe that Mozart, Beethoven, Miles Davis, John Coletrane, Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, Buddy Emmons, and Lloyd Green can all be called musicians, even though they don't play rock and roll, and music really and truly did exist before 1967.

Undoubtedly, many Hendrix fans would disagree, but that's my belief and I'm sticking to it.

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In my life, I have experienced both wealth and poverty, and after carefully comparing the two, I've come to the conclusion that wealth is better.

I want to mention that while the RAVEN auctions are winding down, there are still a few left.

I think that these are very nice guitars, and the best deals around rignt now, and they won't last much longer. I now own 4 of these guitars and I'm quite pleased with all 4.

[url=http://search.ebay.com/Raven_Elec ... 33034QQsbr ftogZ1QQsofocusZbsQQsotrZ2[/url]

I have a 2002 Mexican strat that I just love. The neck is great, it stays in tune, and sounds pretty damn good. They made a lot of these so it shoudn't be too difficult to find one.

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www.natelapointe.net

My main gigging guitar is an MIM Tele (with serious modifications). It works just fine:
http://tullochgorm.com/images/P1000279.JPG

Well, I'm not likin the finish on this american made Strat at all. If anyone is thinkin of gettin the american made Hwy 1 Strat, I'd advise not to do so. I've been settin it in my guitar stand and it has scratches on it.Where it sits on the stand is soft rubber. That should not happen.
This is a terrible finish on these guitars!!


Terry

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Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Terry, unfortunately...you get what you pay for. For the $$ your looking to spend, you're going to run across issues with just about any guitar. Plated metal parts, fit and finish, frets, pickups, etc. Look at this auction on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33042&item=3781727529&rd=1

It's actually a T-51. The seller mis-identified the guitar in the listing. This guitar may go beyond your budget. Or it may not. I will say this, tho...nobody builds a better guitar than Hamer USA. These Teles (and all their other guitars) are killer guitars, professional instruments in every regard. I have seen T-51s go for prices in the $400 range, usually with a few dings, but nothing I would consider significant. They don't show up as often as other Hamer USA models, but they do show from time to time. They don't make them anymore. I have no connection with this auction, I'm just passing along the good word. If I were in the market for a Tele, I'd be watching for one of these (regardless of price). Top-quality woods and construction. Hamer USA guitars are expensive new, but they don't have the brand recognition of Gibsons or Fenders, so they depreciate considerably. Easily the best value in the used guitar market. Hamer also has an import line, which pales in comparison to the USA models.

Geoff, what I paid for was a new american made strat that listed for $856. look in musicians friend, Music 123, they all list this particular strat,(Hwy 1) for $856 . musicians friend and others sell it for $500+.
They had this one marked down because of the flat finish, and a couple of tiny places where the paint was off where it had been sittin on a guitar stand that had the hard yellow rubber pads. I should have done more research on this guitar, it's nobody's fault but mine, but when you see an american made guitar you don't expect to get somethin of poor quality like this.

Terry

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Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

I second an earlier post regarding the G&L Tribute guitars. I bought a like-new for less than $400, with hsc, original tags & warranty, ASAT Tribute, like a Tele, great neck, plays great, sounds great, wonderful value.

Terry, my comment was in reference to your topic ($400), not the Fender you bought.

Sorry Geoff. I just read you wrong.

Terry

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Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Our fellow forumite Jerry Hayes has mentioned Aria Pro II a couple of times. I saw 2 of these in a pawn shop yesterday, one for $150, and the other, a Les Paul copy for $200. I must say I was VERY impressed, particularly with the Les Paul. The neck heel is at an angle, making it far more comfortable to play than the straight heel of a Gibson.

It was very difficult for me to not run to the bank and take the money out of my savings account and grab it.

So many guitars, so little time...