It's off-topic, but Rondo Music is having a sale - http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/category.html?UCIDs=940498

I have heard good things about their Agile guitars, specifially the LP2500 and the LP2800, which are supposedly a good deal better than the Epiphone LPs which cost ~$600. They're Korean-made, and Rondo is the only place that sells them. Most reviews are favorable, although the Gibson fans seem to tire of everyone declaring this to be the be-all, end-all cheap LP copy.

Does anyone have experience with this line of guitars? I've always played strats, but at $200 for the LP2500, I'm really considering one. I know it won't compare to a Gibson by any means, but it's also an order of magnitude less expensive.

They also have some Explorer copies, a jazz hollowbody which looks nice, etc. And I wonder how that $60 strat plays... I wouldn't mind tearing that up as a project guitar

I think those are the regular prices.

I bought a SX LP Jr copy about a year ago for $99. I was intrigued by the mahogany body and glued-in neck. Turned out to be a great deal. Sounds great with the P90 type pickups, sustains forever. It's China made, and up close, you can see the finish isn't as refined as would be on a expensive guitar. But it's thick and shiny and keeps me from getting splinters, so I can't complain too much.

I tweaked the action a tiny bit, and rewired the electronics to try a blend knob idea I had. And completely shielded the electronics in the process. But other than that, it was pretty good right out of the box. I suspect the higher priced Agile branded ones are more consistently set up.

Yes, you're right, those -were- the real prices back when the LP2500 was a 2000. There was enough demand to make it a -little- better (forgot what they added, better pickups and grover tuners?) and increase the price to $250. It's not a huge discount, but rather going back to the old price to get rid of inventory before the end of the fiscal year.

I wonder how the Gibson/PRS lawsuit will affect guitars like those.

I made it a plan to go to New Jersey this summer and check them out,I will probably come home with a couple of LPs or an LP and a PRS copy.
Aharon

Ok, since it's an inventory reduction sale for tax purposes and the Taxman Cometh within a few days, I decided to just go for it
I haven't been following it closely, but the shape of the horn on the LP copies was changed to be more rounded, due to threat of legal action. And I think the headstock was changed, and was just changed again to something even more silly (the top looks like some sort of flower). Oh well, it's how it sounds that counts, and the blue finish looks awesome too.

The spec of the $60 strat looks better than the Kramer Focus from MusicYo, two of which made excellent project guitar starts for me. Go for it.