Douglas Guitars

Malikon · 02-04-2010, 12:46 AM

anyone know anything about this brand? A couple of the guitars I've been checking out lately are made by them, but they're ridiculously inexpensive, which I don't understand because they have some high dollar features.

I'd like to order a couple but something keeps nagging at me that it's to good to be true.

Papa Joe · 02-04-2010, 01:13 AM

They are on the Rondo web site..I'm lookin' hard at their baritone and a jazz guitar..

peskypesky · 02-04-2010, 01:39 AM

i'm not sure but i think Douglas are to Agiles the way Squiers are to Fenders....a cheaper line

ThrillBilly · 02-04-2010, 07:28 AM

are you looking at strat type or another shape?

there is a smaller but active community on the agile forums. they seem to love the cost to value of the SX/dougie/agiles the same way we value the squires. i think the forum is filled more with LP types than strat/tele.

there is a guy on fleabay that usually has takeoff maple SX necks for about $50 that i was thinking about for a project,

i walked into a local used gear shop and he had a used SX strat that he was asking $125. i would say it compared very well with a bullet or affinity for finish and feel. i didnt plug it in.

the neck in particular was nice. looked and felt very similar to a CV. there are a couple of diff heatstock shapes on the SX. the newer one is not at all F shaped, whereas the older ones could easily be made to look F with one hit on a saw and sander.

that strange shaped "billy gibbons looking" git always catches my eye.

Malikon · 02-04-2010, 01:07 PM

I was looking at the Tele shaped one actually.

ghostwolf · 02-04-2010, 10:02 PM

i can't vouch for the Douglas guitars, but i do have experience with an SX tele. it started life as BSB with a rosewood board. it now has a natural finish on both body and neck. older headstock design, so it now has the correct shape pickups are useable, but the neck pickup sounds a lot better with the cover removed. with the cover on, it was extremely muddy sounding.
all in all, it's a nice guitar. for the price, it's a great guitar. someday i'll get around to changing the bridge pickup and at least the saddles, but for now, it works just fine.

Malikon · 02-05-2010, 02:43 AM

the body I'm looking at looks real nice, decent pickups and hardware. I guess it's really the neck I'm concerned with, maybe I'll try and get a Squier neck as a replacement.

peskypesky · 02-05-2010, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malikon

I guess it's really the neck I'm concerned with, maybe I'll try and get a Squier neck as a replacement.

i think you'll probably be fine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeFc1yvgnbs&feature...

Malikon · 02-05-2010, 10:35 AM

I know tone is subjective, but "Eeewww"

Fast fingers and all but I really found the actual sound somewhat grating.

ghostwolf · 02-05-2010, 06:47 PM

i had concerns about the 13.5" radius on the fretboard on my STL62 before i got it. after rolling the edges of the fingerboard, it feels pretty good. not that i'd ever switch all my guitars to that radius, but for what it is, don't rush out to buy another neck just yet. give it a fair chance. i think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

peskypesky · 02-05-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malikon

I know tone is subjective, but "Eeewww"

Fast fingers and all but I really found the actual sound somewhat grating.

that's how i feel about all shredding and modern metal....

Route 395 · 11-30-2011, 04:24 PM

Douglas guitars are part of the Aguile line, but here's my advice, buy the squier std strat
with a little custom work you will have an awesome guitar, here's the secret.
complete fret dress, 10-46 strings, intonation & tremolo adjustment,, set of locking tuners
and graphite nut, now you have a git that plays like a $1500 strat. I own a 90s usa strat
and the squier plays and sounds more vintage then the usa. D @ Route 395 Guitars

Stratatattat · 11-30-2011, 05:46 PM

i always thought douglas was like the in between brand of sx-agiles. it went SX, Douglas, then Agile as far as top o' the line.

and yes, i agree with malikon on that video. fast fingers, but ear piercing tone. blech.

Caddy · 11-30-2011, 06:00 PM

Yes, the Douglas is the line between the SX and great Agiles.

Hoopermazing · 11-30-2011, 06:59 PM

They are intermediate to the SX and Agile lines at Rondo Music. Unfortunately, like almost every guitar sold by Rondo, they have absurdly flat necks, 13.7"! I bought 2 Agiles and I considered getting a Douglas hollow body, but the neck thing has put me off Rondo Music. I'll never touch another guitar from there again.

Caddy · 11-30-2011, 09:44 PM

Necks are just a matter of preference. I really like the necks on the Rondo guitars. The only necks I really don't like are the very thin or slim neck profiles.

I sold a Peavey T-60 a few months ago for just that reason. Great sounding guitar and well made, but the thinnest neck I ever had. Gave me cramps in the hand after a very short time. The guy I sold it to through CL loved the necks. Different strokes, but that was the only guitar I've owned that the neck really bothered me.

macrocket · 11-30-2011, 10:09 PM

My Douglas Hawker was similar quality to Epiphone, well built with strong clear EMG HZ ceramic pickups, Grover tuners and nice frets. The neck is just a little thick for my taste.
Heavy as an old Buick.

horax · 12-01-2011, 09:53 AM

The new stuff from rondo is spot on. I have bought so many of their guitars that I currently do not own a squier at the moment. For the price, the quality is sky high.
Just got a tele from sx and I've only had to change strings and lower the action a bit. Tweaked pickup height to taste, but other than that it's perfect. The neck on my agile les Paul and sx tele are the nicest I've ever felt.

Caddy · 12-01-2011, 10:29 AM

I have a friend that has a room full of Fenders, strats and teles, some high end, some MIM. I took my modded SX STL-50 (old headstock) tele over there one day and he liked it better than his teles. When he asked where I got and how much it cost me he was blown away when I told him $109 for the guitar and a total of around $200 in it, including the Fender '52 RI pickups and Fender pots and switch and GraphTech nut.
He has ordered one since then.