NGD: Guardian Angel Player! (starter post)

[Salmon]

Hi everyone, I'm TJ Chao from China. I want start with a big THANK YOU! to Tom & gang for all that went into building this guitar, as well as being most gracious whenever I had questions.:D

A little self intro: I've been playing guitar for 5 years as a hobby, and it brings me great satisfaction whenever I do something music-related. I do video covers now and then of music I enjoy, and perform live individually or with my band. Played a couple of TAGs (amongst other guitars) over the years and decided the time had come to make a first post with the arrival of my new Anderson Guardian Angel Player. So...Pics first:cool:


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h58/SalmonTJ/GAP/105A745A-DF29-49FE-BE52-5C74D12DD709_zps8oswzukg.jpg (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/SalmonTJ/media/GAP/105A745A-DF29-49FE-BE52-5C74D12DD709_zps8oswzukg.jpg.html)

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h58/SalmonTJ/GAP/DC4A29F8-655A-4F53-8BE4-64185E43DD95_zpsyw4e3s3a.jpg (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/SalmonTJ/media/GAP/DC4A29F8-655A-4F53-8BE4-64185E43DD95_zpsyw4e3s3a.jpg.html)

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h58/SalmonTJ/GAP/826D788A-C483-4AFC-9FB6-726A3BD8EB17_zps8cuhjk8i.jpg (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/SalmonTJ/media/GAP/826D788A-C483-4AFC-9FB6-726A3BD8EB17_zps8cuhjk8i.jpg.html)


SPARKLY! Had longed for a TAG before I'd even played one, and they still continue to amaze me after I owned a couple. This one in particular is my first ever self-spec'd TAG, and the great folk at Anderson have done a SPECTACULAR job. Absolutely dream-fulfilling moment for me haha!


Specifications:

Guardian Angel Player (SN:08-29-16C)
-Alder(Finished in Ruby Slippers)
-Chocolate Maple Neck (Even Taper -.020, 1 11/16 Nut, Jumbo Frets)
-Matching Gloss Headstock w Locking Tuners
-Pickups: The Sean Ashe combination hehe HF1,SC2,HF2 on pearl white pick guard
-5-Way Add Bridge with Splitter+VA Booster
-Recessed Vintage Locking Tremolo

The specs on this guitar were the result of much pondering and many emails back and forth between Tom and I(lots of hesitation & pestering from me in the previous months I do apologize). Finally it represents what I personally believe to be the all-purpose live guitar. Feel free to stare! and ask questions of course;)

[wolf]

Awesome. Congratulations.
I've spec'd a Classic with almost identical specs inc the new Floyd trem.

[Chuckracer]

Fantastic! That is beautiful!! :D

[Dfarr]

Love that "Ruby Slippers"! Here is my Raven "Superbird" in "Ruby Slippers".

[Salmon]

Awesome. Congratulations.
I've spec'd a Classic with almost identical specs inc the new Floyd trem.

Thanks wolf! The new recessed trem was a leap of faith for me, but Tom had to mention Guthrie-G style so I had to have it.:D (huge guthrie fan)

Anyway the trem is quite well-built, bet you'll enjoy it.

[Salmon]

Love that "Ruby Slippers"! Here is my Raven "Superbird" in "Ruby Slippers".

Droooool. Yours looks so badass! Love the red/black combo, looks like well tuned supercar.;)

[brokenvail]

I am a sucker for all shades of Red. Red/ Burgundy is my fav color. Add on Maple Neck double drool! I have not played an HF2 but have played a -1, 1+ and 3+ so I know that HF2 should be pretty cool

[Salmon]

I am a sucker for all shades of Red. Red/ Burgundy is my fav color. Add on Maple Neck double drool! I have not played an HF2 but have played a -1, 1+ and 3+ so I know that HF2 should be pretty cool


Same here. Red rocks hard! Burgundy I've only ever seen on a Schecter but I agree that color is brilliant. Maple neck is a must!

I went with choco-maple for the little extra stability it provides.(The two places where I spend the most time each year happen to have very different weather and totally opposite humidity conditions.)

The HF2 and HF1 are the first HFs i've used, I feel like they growl a lot compared to H2/H2+. Pleasant though different!

[Salmon]

Fantastic! That is beautiful!! :D

Thanks, loving it!

[brokenvail]

The HF2 and HF1 are the first HFs i've used, I feel like they growl a lot compared to H2/H2+. Pleasant though different!

Yes there is def more growl there. That is due to the mid range bump. They also sound profited to be due to the way the high end is. I love my H2 and H3. I am sure though different that I would dig the HF2 as well.

[Salmon]

Yes there is def more growl there. That is due to the mid range bump. They also sound profited to be due to the way the high end is. I love my H2 and H3. I am sure though different that I would dig the HF2 as well.

I see. It is definitely easier to get some traditional flavors out of the HF2. What do you think about the HF1+ and HF3+ having played them?

[brokenvail]

I see. It is definitely easier to get some traditional flavors out of the HF2. What do you think about the HF1+ and HF3+ having played them?
The 3+ is way to hot for me. Due to the extra top end it has tons of sizzle. 1+ was to hot for me for use as a neck pup. I used it in the bridge of a cobra for a while and it was great there. In the end I swapped it for an h2. I wanted a slightly darker tone and a little less zing. I find that in general I am not a fan of the + pups, the HF1+, 3+ and H2+ All have something in the highs that I am not a huge fan of. It is obviously just me because SO many guys love the H2+

[Salmon]

The 3+ is way to hot for me. Due to the extra top end it has tons of sizzle. 1+ was to hot for me for use as a neck pup. I used it in the bridge of a cobra for a while and it was great there. In the end I swapped it for an h2. I wanted a slightly darker tone and a little less zing. I find that in general I am not a fan of the + pups, the HF1+, 3+ and H2+ All have something in the highs that I am not a huge fan of. It is obviously just me because SO many guys love the H2+

Interesting, I'd imagined the 3+ to be darker sounding.
Yes, I find even the HF1 to have plenty output for a neck pu, so the 1+ could be a bit much. The H2 I have in the bridge of a DTC and love it, although I have been meaning to try out the H2+ that everyone seems crazy about.
Thanks for your input brokenvail!

[wolf]

You've had it a week now, how is it ?
Are you enjoying the Floyd option ?

[Manning]

That is a sharp looking guitar!

[brokenvail]

Interesting, I'd imagined the 3+ to be darker sounding.

It is strange because yes it is darker than the 1+ that was in the neck but did have what some guys here call high end sparkle and lots of sizzle

[Salmon]

You've had it a week now, how is it ?
Are you enjoying the Floyd option ?

After playing quite a bit, I can say that I'm very impressed: the redesigned shape of the angel seems to make for an overall bigger guitar(than a classic)but weight distribution is superbly balanced. Lightweight and sounds surprisingly loud unplugged.

Soundwise the HSH with the switching I'd chosen gives me the widest array of instantly accessible tones (I emphasize 'instantly' vs switcheroo) honestly there are sounds on here I don't currently yet have an idea when to apply:confused:

The trem(i think mine's not a Floyd)is extremely pleasing. The bar feels spongey, easy to control with no mechanical give in the attachment socket, I hope it'll stay that way. Tuning stability after extra testing, is splendid. Being a fully floating system however it has some natural problems such as with double-stop bends and the tension of strings fighting each other, if I could solve that then perfect.

[Salmon]

That is a sharp looking guitar!

yes, I agree that all andersons are a bit pointy... JK! Thanks Manning!:)

[wolf]

After playing quite a bit, I can say that I'm very impressed: the redesigned shape of the angel seems to make for an overall bigger guitar(than a classic)but weight distribution is superbly balanced. Lightweight and sounds surprisingly loud unplugged.

Soundwise the HSH with the switching I'd chosen gives me the widest array of instantly accessible tones (I emphasize 'instantly' vs switcheroo) honestly there are sounds on here I don't currently yet have an idea when to apply:confused:

The trem(i think mine's not a Floyd)is extremely pleasing. The bar feels spongey, easy to control with no mechanical give in the attachment socket, I hope it'll stay that way. Tuning stability after extra testing, is splendid. Being a fully floating system however it has some natural problems such as with double-stop bends and the tension of strings fighting each other, if I could solve that then perfect.

Simple, stop playing country on it.
In tune double stops don't matter in rock 😉😉😉😉

[Salmon]

It is strange because yes it is darker than the 1+ that was in the neck but did have what some guys here call high end sparkle and lots of sizzle

Hmm. Must be Anderson sorcery... One pickup comes to mind though when I think of high output with sizzle: the Bill Lawrence humbucker on Nuno's Washburn.:eek:

[Chuckracer]

LOL! There's the answer! :D

[Salmon]

Simple, stop playing country on it.
In tune double stops don't matter in rock 😉😉😉😉

I'd like it to be able to though, but good point. When's your classic to arrive?

[Salmon]

LOL! There's the answer! :D

True, true.

[wolf]

I'd like it to be able to though, but good point. When's your classic to arrive?

Tom says its due to be completed later this month.
I don't know if that also means its shipped so I'm hoping it'll be here by xmas.

[Salmon]

Tom says its due to be completed later this month.
I don't know if that also means its shipped so I'm hoping it'll be here by xmas.

Shipping usually doesn't take very long so I imagine you'll get it well before X-mas.

I had to try increasingly harder to supress my growing eagerness as the completion day got nearer because it started to feel like forever during the final month. Lol! Now it's your turn!;)

[wolf]

Shipping usually doesn't take very long so I imagine you'll get it well before X-mas.

I had to try increasingly harder to supress my growing eagerness as the completion day got nearer because it started to feel like forever during the final month. Lol! Now it's your turn!;)

Obviously I'm eager and excited to see the finished guitar but I'd rather not pressure them to get it to me and miss some minor flaw.
It has taken me 7 yrs to win my legal battle, my reward being the guitar, and I've another year before the legal process completes so another month's wait for the guitar is no hardship. ☺☺☺

[Salmon]

Obviously I'm eager and excited to see the finished guitar but I'd rather not pressure them to get it to me and miss some minor flaw.
It has taken me 7 yrs to win my legal battle, my reward being the guitar, and I've another year before the legal process completes so another month's wait for the guitar is no hardship. ☺☺☺

I wasn't at all aware...7 yrs is looooong! No doubt a very costly fight. Anyhow, congratulations on the outcome.

[wolf]

I wasn't at all aware...7 yrs is looooong! No doubt a very costly fight. Anyhow, congratulations on the outcome.

A surgical error left me with serious hearing loss.
I've just had some newly released hearing aids which are amazing. The first set that don't ''pop'' when I play the guitar.

[tom]

you can't pressure us to finish a guitar, when it's done it's done, there are no shortcuts.

[wolf]

you can't pressure us to finish a guitar, when it's done it's done, there are no shortcuts.

The correct answer ☺
I meant that I wouldn't nag for a specific date.
As you said, it'll be done when its done. ☺☺☺☺

[Salmon]

A surgical error left me with serious hearing loss.
I've just had some newly released hearing aids which are amazing. The first set that don't ''pop'' when I play the guitar.

Wasn't at all aware, great news on the hearing aids though.

Forgot to reply that TAG doesn't do 'minor flaws'. Their current build-slot order system and building process ensure that each guitar is given equal attention and takes the least possible amount of time from starting build to PROPER completion. So not only do they make perfect guitars, they manage to do so in a shorter amount of time than some other well known custom guitar order-makers out there, without the hiccups that other builders run into from taking more orders than they can hope to finish in the foreseeable future.

I'm not paid by TA/affiliated. I just like to understand all about the things I enjoy. Anyone can correct me whenever I'm wrong. It seems Tom has a clear enough philosophy surrounding the guitars he makes: to optimize usage of resources at hand in order to maximize satisfaction for all who support what he does(order his guitars) but always within the boundaries of no compromise on quality.

[wolf]

It seems my comments were misunderstood.
I was simply stating that I am quite content to wait as long as it takes for the guitar.
I don't intend to keep bombarding the company with ''when will it be ready'' emails but it seems that I've now unintentionally become the pest I was trying to avoid.

You know what its like when your kids keep nagging, you give in just to shut them up !!!
That's all I was trying, unsuccessfully, to say.
Sorry Tom.

[tom]

sorry, again my text didn't convey the correct emotion. it was not meant to be an angry or scolding message. i do appreciate not getting hounded. you have been a total gentleman in the process.

[wolf]

sorry, again my text didn't convey the correct emotion. it was not meant to be an angry or scolding message. i do appreciate not getting hounded. you have been a total gentleman in the process.

Thank you.

[Salmon]

It seems my comments were misunderstood.
I was simply stating that I am quite content to wait as long as it takes for the guitar.
I don't intend to keep bombarding the company with ''when will it be ready'' emails but it seems that I've now unintentionally become the pest I was trying to avoid.

You know what its like when your kids keep nagging, you give in just to shut them up !!!
That's all I was trying, unsuccessfully, to say.
Sorry Tom.

I should apologize. My replies are always way too long and can seem more serious than I intend them to be. Was trying to keep things informative, I do have to work on lightening things up when I make discussion.

[wolf]

Einstein was right , time is relative.
The bills always arrive sooner than you'd like but waiting for your new guitar seems like an eternity.
😨😨😨😨😨😨

[Salmon]

Einstein was right , time is relative.
The bills always arrive sooner than you'd like but waiting for your new guitar seems like an eternity.
😨😨😨😨😨😨

Right!!???