The Official Agile ERG Thread

[that short guy]

at some point someone is going to have to point out that having more strings doesn't make you a better player, it just makes you look like a bigger tool for having that many more strings you never use. 90% of the people that will get the 10 string version will probably only use 4-6 of the strings

[TomAwesome]

All right! I had wanted to get a 9-string for the sake of being ridiculous, but I told myself I'd hold out for the 10-string. I didn't think it would actually happen this soon, though.

Also, from the standpoint of practicality:

Originally Posted by celticelk

It'd be interesting also to see some tappers experimenting with options for two-handed tunings like those seen on the Stick. Rondo might be able to start luring some more economy-minded players away from Warr and other high-end builders with these.

I keep thinking about asking Kurt if he'd be interested in doing something like a Chapman Stick, but that would just be one more thing I'd want to buy.

[Explorer]

Originally Posted by that short guy

at some point someone is going to have to point out that having more strings doesn't make you a better player, it just makes you look like a bigger tool for having that many more strings you never use. 90% of the people that will get the 10 string version will probably only use 4-6 of the strings

I guess I even think of that point because I assume that people are like me, and use the full range of their instrument.

Which leads to the question... how did that thought occur to *you*?

*laugh*

Regarding CelticElk's and TomAwesome's point...

Originally Posted by TomAwesome

I LIKE JUICE!!!

...er... I mean the one about tapping... most of the current tappers have wider string spacing than the spacing on guitar. I suspect that established tappers might have a hard time making the change.

However, I don't see why one couldn't make a two-region tapper out of the 10-string, or even an 8-string. I just prefer to have my strings laid out guitaristically, so that I can not just tap, but also play straightforwardly in a normal guitar/bass/hybrid idiom.

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

I would probably move the pin so I could keep it in a hybrid of normal position and stick position, set the action ridiculously low, get it with a trem, and relase the taps. It's essentially a budget Warr guitar.

Originally Posted by TomAwesome

I keep thinking about asking Kurt if he'd be interested in doing something like a Chapman Stick, but that would just be one more thing I'd want to buy.

Well, if you were to chop off the wings you would pretty much have a stick. I would love to see a budget Grand Stick, though.

[troyguitar]

Whoa, they also now have a 24-25.5" scale option. Very interesting.

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

Originally Posted by troyguitar

Whoa, they also now have a 24-25.5" scale option. Very interesting.

Why does Rondo have to tempt me with things I want! An eight tuned B-A or a nine tune F# to A with a fan like that would be amazing!

[F4R537KTP09]

I just wonder wether the sound quality goes within the looks of it or not. I mean, imagine you get the famous 10 string guitar and you want, say, to have three more bass strings and one more high tuned string. The range is quite "extended" as it is. But still, are the bass sounds and the highest sounds, sounding out properly, or is it just an "approximation" with a good quality just on the sound of the "regular" strings and tuning?
All these options, for this price, are however absolutely awesome, and I wouldn't ask if not tempted even just a little bit...
Still, like most people already said, I guess I will stop to nine...

[Strawberry Man]

I'm not digging how wide the routes for this are all at all.

[in-pursuit]

this is so incredibly tempting, I'm almost certain I'm going to get in on this. only thing I'm concerned about is whether an extra 3 low strings will sound good with 27"ish scale.

[rythmic_pulses]

Originally Posted by Hollowway

Ah, crap, you're right. I was on my iphone and got all excited when I saw the bridge studs. Dang! I reeeeeeally want a double locking Floyd type 8. Without having to machine one myself. That being said I'm sure we'll see one from Kurt at some point. Lord knows no other company cares to make one.

Stability would definitely be an issue with an 8 string floyd, it would take some time to plan out, how much tension is too much on one side of the bridge and what tensions are suitable and so forth.

I can't imagine an FR 8 string bridge because from what I heard about the early Ibanez RG2228 prototypes with floating tremolo's is that they just couldn't get the intonation right on them due to the bridge's experimental flaws and such, they just took that design and turned it into a double locking hardtail.

I would like to see those Ibanez prototypes, see what was wrong with the bridge and hopefully work out a sort of norm for those early floyd-like bridges for the RG2228's.

It would take a damn long time though...

The finished Ibanez RG2228's do have the same bridge as both Fredrik Thordendal's and Marten Hagstrom's LACS RG8's so they must have been in the experimental stage for a long time too.

[Hollowway]

^ yeah the intonation thing would have to be worked out with long saddle ranges for the lowest string. But the tension doesn't make a difference because most people are going to use strings with relatively equal tension, or only off by a few lbs. Unless you out a ridiculously high tension low string on it's going to be pretty equal. And 6 string Floyds do fine with skinny top heavy bottom EBs.
Either way, though, there have been a few homemade varieties on here that have apparently done well. So a guy can dream!

[Waelstrum]

Originally Posted by troyguitar

Whoa, they also now have a 24-25.5" scale option. Very interesting.

Yeah, wish they had that last time around. Oh well.

[squid-boy]

Originally Posted by EtherealEntity

It's cool, I strung my 7 with a high A for a while and it was real nice.

It is real nice.

[Explorer]

Originally Posted by dragonblade629

Why does Rondo have to tempt me with things I want! An eight tuned B-A or a nine tune F# to A with a fan like that would be amazing!

I'm tempted to get that 24" - 25.5" fan for my 10 string. It will be the brootalz. *laugh*

Originally Posted by F4R537KTP09

I just wonder wether the sound quality goes within the looks of it or not. I mean, imagine you get the famous 10 string guitar and you want, say, to have three more bass strings and one more high tuned string. The range is quite "extended" as it is. But still, are the bass sounds and the highest sounds, sounding out properly, or is it just an "approximation" with a good quality just on the sound of the "regular" strings and tuning?

There are a lot of people who have been happy with the sound of their ERGs. I own four 8-strings, and the sound quality is great.

You might not be aware of this, but the earlier posts here on SS.org had people unable to find pickups, and therefore resorting to larger/wider bass pickups. The EMG active line, for example, has a wide frequency range, which is why it was usable for both bass and guitar.

So, if those pickups were good guitar while being designed for bass, then I suspect there won't be a problem heading in the other direction.

[Hollowway]

Originally Posted by in-pursuit

this is so incredibly tempting, I'm almost certain I'm going to get in on this. only thing I'm concerned about is whether an extra 3 low strings will sound good with 27"ish scale.

There are a number of people doing F# at 25.5", so the 27 would seem fine, but the C#1 on my 30" 10 string is just barely cutting it. I think it sounds to bassy (imagine that! ) so I'm actually wanting to do a longer scale build to allow me to use a thinner string to get a more guitarlike tone. But getting up over 8 strings makes it really tough to not fan the frets. And I think a 10 string is just about impossible to not fan if you're going to tune in 4ths. The A4 is just too scary at that length.

[rythmic_pulses]

Originally Posted by Hollowway

^ yeah the intonation thing would have to be worked out with long saddle ranges for the lowest string. But the tension doesn't make a difference because most people are going to use strings with relatively equal tension, or only off by a few lbs. Unless you out a ridiculously high tension low string on it's going to be pretty equal. And 6 string Floyds do fine with skinny top heavy bottom EBs.
Either way, though, there have been a few homemade varieties on here that have apparently done well. So a guy can dream!

It would help to have the option though, things are really picky for 8 strings at the moment because the haven't really existed for that long, people are still finding ways and means of creating a tremolo that works with the 8 string and unfortunately Kahler are the only truly stable tremolo's so far, but if I see one with an 8 string Bigsby that is the day when...

[AntiTankDog]

^
yeah, an A4 at 30 inches will break if you look at it funny.

[Necris]

Sorry Kurt, I'm not spending that much money on an Agile, 10 string or not.

[thatguy5557123]

Not for me, I don't need more then 8 I don't think, but it's super cool it'll be an option....NGDS?

[Hollowway]

Originally Posted by Necris

Sorry Kurt, I'm not spending that much money on an Agile, 10 string or not.

Yeah, cuz there are so many different options for 10 strings at $950.

[bce5150]

I'm glad they're doing it and that the instrument is evolving... but I still feel way less comfortable on my 7 than my 6... I'll be a new born babe on that monstrosity

[in-pursuit]

Originally Posted by Hollowway

There are a number of people doing F# at 25.5", so the 27 would seem fine, but the C#1 on my 30" 10 string is just barely cutting it. I think it sounds to bassy (imagine that! ) so I'm actually wanting to do a longer scale build to allow me to use a thinner string to get a more guitarlike tone. But getting up over 8 strings makes it really tough to not fan the frets. And I think a 10 string is just about impossible to not fan if you're going to tune in 4ths. The A4 is just too scary at that length.

Cheers for the info I was gonna ask how the OAF 10's performed with the extra low strings, I think I'll just stick to 8/9 for now. now I just have to think of a way to justify this to the wife

[rythmic_pulses]

I played on one of those 9's Agile make that my friend had imported, I have to admit though I do have small fingers so I could only just reach the 9th string at a stretch, it was really fun to mess around on, but 10 is too much for me, what would the basic tuning for that even be because I only know tunings up to 8 strings?

[urklvt]

Kurt did say it would happen if there were enough interest. He's a man of his word!

[misingonestring]

Prepare to start chugging a low Ab.