Help me with the details of my guitar

[TimH]

hey all,

I work for Western Canada's Anderson dealer, Mother's Music. Finally, after 2 straight years of lusting over the Anderson's I've sold, I get to buy one for myself. I've decided on most of the specs but could use some advice on a few fine points. Here is the guitar:

T Classic in Dark Cherry Burst or Tobacco Fade (do you think DCB will look good with ash??) - Also, does anyone have a direct comparison of a hollow t classic and t classic with a powerbridge? This is kind of my all in one guitar.
Ash Body
Neck: I love the feel of the maples but I've been told african rosewood fingerboard will sound "better"....plus I like the look of the dark board.
Large Frets
Aged white PG
Pickups : Ok so I was initially going to go with VA1, VA1R and H2+ (I know the H2+ is a bit strong for those but when I go for the bridge I want a big rock tone). I have recently been rethinking this...either to get an HB of some kind in the neck that when split with sound "as much" like the VA1 as I can get OR to get the M's put in the neck and middle. The middle pickup I never use except for the 2 and 4 sounds on a strat, which i really only use 2 most of the time (neck and middle). I have a classic in the shop right now that has the VA1's in it and it's godly for those tones. But I'm thinking I might want some other sounds. Anyhow, there's where I am with pickups.

I think those are the only crucial ones I am concerned about. So basically, fretboard wood and pickups and some comments on piezo related to hollow or solid body. I just want to LOVE this axe for a long time so I want to do it right. Looks like I'll get this axe sometime in November/December.

Thanks!

[fractal]

Hey Tim,

I wish I could speak from personal experience, but if you wait a few months I can. I just ordered something that seems relatively close to yours. I wanted to get a great all-around, do anything well type of guitar. (This is replacing a Tele Thinline that has a neck so thin it causes me pain. I only want to get one electric to replace it with that would work for a lot of styles. Okay everyone, stop laughing...)

I ended up ordering a hollow T classic ash on alder wood, with transparent red to dark red burst finish (check that one out on the finishes page - should look great with an ash top). Electronics-wise, I have a piezo with TM2 in the bridge, M1 in the middle, and HO1- in the neck. I tend towards blues/jazz stuff, so I wanted a big neck sound (splittable, of course). Hollow seems logical if you want to get acoustic(?) piezo sounds, because there are less mids. I also wanted that 2/4 position sound too, especially mid/bridge. I'm getting rosewood too, because I like it - although my Tele now has maple. (Plus, Roy talked me into that wood. All of my other non-electric guitars have ebony.) Realize that I don't really play metal, but if I got a second Anderson, it might be a solid Cobra or something to cover the other spectrum of tones.

So, if you ask me, it sounds like you will get yourself a great, very versatile guitar. I'm only regretful that I can't tell you how great it sounds from experience.

I suppose I'm looking forward to responses as much as you are.

Good luck,
-Garrett, due in June

[TimH]

thanks for the reply. Roy tried to talk me into that fretboard wood also...that's why I'm thinking of it. I guess I'm cautious because Calgary is SOOOOO dry....rosewood always seems to have exposed frets....very few guitars don't have that.

I guess I still need some pickup advice...and the hollow thing....It looks like I just got another guitar student today so maybe I can justify the cost lol.

Cheers!

[TSL]

Hi Tim,

I live in Albuquerque NM and can relate to your concerns about dry climate. My Hollow T sounds great and I have had no problems with the fretboard. I do use a humidifier and oil the fretboard whenever I change strings. I also have a hollow Cobra with a rosewood fretboard. Specs for my T are listed below. It's a very versatile guitar and the one I grab most often to go jam with. You may find the pickup/switching combo more to your liking as well great 2 and 4 sounds also sweet combination with either 1 up 2 down, or 2 down and 3 up. I'd have to look at the micro switches under the back cover to tell you if I have vintage voicing on or not though. I love the acoustic sound I get with my X-bridge, but am not familiar with newer options. I've played solid models without piezo, and prefer the tone the hollow models have.
That's a very subjective thing though, I will say that Roy helped a great deal with all the selections on my Hollow T. He really knows his stuff and you can trust he will guide you to the right choices for you.

Model - Hollow T Contoured
Body Finish - Honey Burst with Binding
Body Wood - Quilted Maple Top on Basswood
Neck Wood - Hard Rock Maple, Madagascar Rosewood Fretboard
Neck Finish - Matching Headstock, Satin Back
Nutwidth - 1 5/8 in
Frets - Medium
Back Shape -
Hardware - Chrome
Bridge - Non-Tremolo X-Bridge
Pickguard -
Pickups - H1- SA1 H2+
Switching - Switcheroo
Strings - .011-.049 Elixir strings

Terry

[kirby323]

Hi Tim;

I'm in Calgary also and I must say, as dry as it is here, I've not had any problems with any of my TA's and they all have rosewood boards. I can't say that about all of my guitars and one or two certainly suffer during the winter. Like Terry down in Albuquerque I too use humifiers in the house with two big monsters pumping out moisture (it seems I have to fill 'em up almost every day) and one is dedicated specifically to the room where I park my guitars.

As for your pick up selection, it seems you're on the right track on what appears to be a quest for that classic "strat" sound with the VA1/VA1R/H2+.
I've place an order for an Atom through your store (with Gilbert up in Edmonton) and I'm going to try the M's. Now maybe if you can use some pull and get Roy and Tom to build this one soon then maybe you can try these pick ups and compare before you have to place your order......grin. Unfortunately it's scheduled for some time in late May

Good luck, but be very very carefull, cuz once you have your first TA......, well, you'll find out soon enough.

Cheers,
Mark

[TimH]

thanks again guys. I know, I already am obsessed with Tom's guitars. Blasted!! Anyhow, my guitar won't go into production untill August so you'll have to bring the Atom over to the shop :D

I know if I want to classic strat sounds I have the correct pickups. I'm just unsure as to whether I want other sounds as well and whether I'm going to want to sacrifice the best strat sounds for ones I might not use as often. Too many choices.

[kirby323]

Hi Tim

I suspect that you'll see the Atom before I do as Edmonton will ship it down to your shop for me to pick up.

Just to confuse you some more, I can get some nice "in between" sounds, certainly "strat" like, on positions 2 and 4 on my Cobra (with H1- and H2+ pick ups) that are splitable with the 5 way switch. I find the Cobra to be a very versitile guitar.

More food for thought.

Cheers,
Mark

[TimH]

I think that's what I'm going to do...H1-, VA1R and H2+, african rosewood and aged white gaurd. All I need now is to determine whether I'm going to spend the money to get it hollow.

Any advice is still welcomed.