Some good 2nd planes:

WM T34 - smooth as silk and easy to fly
WM Super Sport 40 - more aerobatic than the T34, landings are slightly hot only if you do not flare her.
WM Rambler 45 - big 40 sized plane, good tail dragger
Phoenix Scanner - cheap and nice to fly, good first low wing trainer
VMAR - STAY AWAY!!! Hehehe ...

All the above planes are not hard to handle on a dead stick.