New Drop Top drops in....

[CJW]

Got a call from Jack Gretz today. "Merry Christmas to you". I replied, "hey, Jack, same to you".

He said, "No. MERRY Christmas to YOU."

Me.... silence. Of the confused variety.

Him: "Your Anderson's in."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!

Tom Anderson Drop Top in Cajun Red to Dark Red Burst. The burst is actuallly pretty slight. No fret markers on the Madagascar rosewood board and a nekkid back, which is really a killer piece of mahogany.

3 way toggle, and the mini switch puts the coils in series.

The hardware was supposed to be gold, and they'll fix it if I want, but I actually think the silver is pretty snazzy.

I don't have a weight on it, but it's lighter than my boat anchor Clapton Strat. After messing with my Mesa Nomad for 20 minutes, I got a really nice woody drive out of it. The pickups are hot, not 'metal' hot, but with a nice lower midrange. The really nice thing on this is the tone knob. Turning it down doesn't so much darken the tone, as it gives it a bit of a nasal tone, almost as if I was using my wah half-cocked as a tone filter.

I haven't spent enough time with it to give a great report, but that'll come.

Meantime, here's pics.
http://chrisw.echoes.net/guitars/Anderson/An0003F.jpg

http://chrisw.echoes.net/guitars/Anderson/An0014F.jpg

http://chrisw.echoes.net/guitars/Anderson/An0015F.jpg

[brian b]

Very nice hope you enjoy. :D

[Scott Peterson]

Very nice! Congrats!

[BoraBora]

Very sweet guitar. Nice color. :cool:

[Suriel Zayas]

wow! what a beauty. enjoy! :D

peace.

suriel

[andersonguy]

Someday when I grow up and can order another Anderson, I think I'll order it without fretboard dots, thats just a cool look.
Great looking guitar CJW!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

AG

[Marty S Horne]

Congrats on your new axe. It looks and I'm sure sounds great; enjoy!

[CJW]

Someday when I grow up and can order another Anderson, I think I'll order it without fretboard dots, thats just a cool look.

Thanks. And really, it's surprisingly easy to navigate. I think we tend to use the markers as a crutch, but after playing for a while (and in my case, it's 15 years, but I'm not that great a player), they're like training wheels. Take 'em off and you'd be surprised how little you need them.

It does have full side markers, which I tended to use more anyway. And I'm using this as a means of trying to learn the board better, thinking in terms of the notes I'm fingering, as opposed to thinking "A chord, 5th fret".

Here's a question - has anyone noticed any difference in 'ease of playing' by hanging the strap on a particular strap button? I've been experimenting, seeing which hangs better for my tastes.

Chris

[Dave K]

That's a nice setup and cool finish.
I have a HDT with the same setup; two buckers,three way toggle,a mini switch for series/split/parallel operation,and a Madagascar rosewood board with no position markers.
Enjoy making some noise with it! :)

[killerburst]

Smokin'! I've always liked the dotless look. My first made-to-order axe was an ESP in '92 with no dots. I left 'em off my most recent DT, as well.

[JoeB63]

Nice axe. Congrats, and play it in good health.

[Turrican]

congratulattions! Great color, TAG has the best red colors in the industry, IMO.
which pickups have you opted for?
and how come it has no middle pickup?

[Turrican]

I've always liked the dotless look. My first made-to-order axe was an ESP in '92 with no dots. I left 'em off my most recent DT, as well.
Man, this is a seriously good looking axe! the epitomy of rock guitar looks! love the no binding concept, gives it a "worn in" feel!

[enr1co]

Very nice- Congratulations!
Love the mahogany back. At first glance it looks like a cobra S.
The no marker fretboard is an classy look!

e

[CJW]

Man, this is a seriously good looking axe! the epitomy of rock guitar looks! love the no binding concept, gives it a "worn in" feel!
Actually, it does have binding. The edge of the maple top is unfinished, and it stands out against the darker mahogany. My camera's flash is broken however, so I couldn't get a very good shot of it.

[CJW]

congratulattions! Great color, TAG has the best red colors in the industry, IMO.
which pickups have you opted for?
and how come it has no middle pickup?
They do. And while I love it, my red doesn't look quite like the one in TAG's gallery. That Crowdster looks more red. Mine is a bit magenta.

The pickups are (at Jack Gretz's recommendation) HO1 and HO1+. I don't know anything about TAG pickups, and I was looking for something slightly (very slightly) hot, but retaining that warmth that you'd find in a vintage.

No middle p/u? Don't like them. I don't like the looks, and I don't particularly find much need for single coil sounds. I have a Strat should I want to go there. Personal choice really.