Acquired a Pro Am - need some help

[waylay00]

Hey guys, glad to be part of the Anderson community now!

Anyways, I was in Nashville recently, and I had seen this Pro Am at their local Guitar Center. However, at the time, I didn't have the money to purchase it. Some two months later, I happened to see this very same guitar pop up on eBay. I couldn't let it pass this time.

Sure, it may not be your best fanciest Tom Anderson, but the tone and quality are still there. It's a workhorse, and it's obvious that the previous owner/s really played the heck out of it. It's got that cool switcharoo system too. I used to not be a fan of EMG's, but the EMG's in this Pro Am just scream with great tone.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w136/waylay00/andersonproam.jpg

However, it did not come with the original neck plate, and I have no way of ID'ing it. I took the neck off to find "1986" written on the neck and what looks like "TA 3186" in the neck pocket. I've tried entering various combinations in the serial number database to no avail. Therefore I have no idea of telling the body wood, etc. I assume it's basswood though. Any help on ID'ing this one?

Here are the two inscriptions (sorry about picture size):

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w136/waylay00/neckheel.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w136/waylay00/heel.jpg

The frets might need a little level soon, but not that big of a deal.

Anyways, thanks!

Wade

[michaelomiya]

waylay, welcome to the Forum! And what a beautiful piece you've acquired.
One thing's for sure, with every Anderson you're assured of getting a killer tonal experience.

I love the old, smaller S/H on the pre-90's TAG's.

Congrats and welcome!
mike.

[Road King]

Cool axe man. I just joined the Anderson faithful a month or so ago. You'll like it around here. btw, I think that the neck writing might be 10/86 instead of 1986. Anyway Tom will be by soon enough to shed light on the mystery.

Welcome

Brad

[trikim]

Nice guitar. The body really looks like and old Ibanez Pro-Line I used to have back in the 80's. I been trying to buy old Ibanez Pro-Line but I have had no luck.

[tom]

that is a long time ago! that is a 3/86 in the neck pocket. a little strange that it's a 10/86 on the neck. back then that's a lot of time between parts. but that was really before we were seriously making guitars, mostly just selling parts. the data base is completely blank prior to '86. i have a june '86 that we took to our second namm show. back then we didn't have logo'd neckplates. most were some alumium ones made in the schecter days. they were hand engraved by me with made in california by ta, sideways on the plate. the switches look like they're in the regular place we used to put them, pre switcheroo. i can't remember that guitar, but it looks like the reral deal. if the loose frets are around the 17th fret, that's not uncommon when people put the long neck screw where the short one goes:( if the neck is showing signs of being swollen, that could also contribute. doesn't sound like anything that couldn't be fixed with a dressing if the frets aren't badley worn, or a refret if they are.

[waylay00]

Thanks for the info Tom! Yeah, I'm sure a simple fret level would get the job done.

[waylay00]

Also, does anyone have an idea as to what body wood it is? It's pretty light. I'm thinking it's basswood, but I'm not sure.

[SonicGator]

Cool guitar! I saw that one hanging on the wall at GC a few months back when I was in Nashville. Glad to see it ended up with you.

FYI...they have a Classic and an Atom used on the wall there as of last Wednesday!