Crowdster in the NW?

[Pastor Jeff]

Does anyone living in the Northwest (two hours any direction of Portland) own a Crowdster? I would LOVE an opportunity to play one before dropping the money necessary to bring one of those home.

I had a Taylor T-5 for almost a year, but could never get it to sound like what I wanted. I don't want to do the same with the Crowdster.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Pastor Jeff

www.sherwoodnewlife.org

[marsodude]

Jeff, I bought a Crowdster Plus from Gleb Music in California sight unseen. I could not be happier...well...maybe if it had 2 electric pickups!

I demo'd several T5's in various settings...just didn't do it for me.

What kind of sound are you after?

[King Cobra]

Very smart to test ride before you buy. The internet makes it tough to say no sometimes on looks alone. And you can't get more beautiful then a new Anderson.

[Pastor Jeff]

Thanks for the replies. I was away from the computer for a few days.

I'm a pastor and worship leader, so I'm pretty much a rhythm player, though I do play fairly agressively.

I've been using a Taylor 410 the last 12 years or so, a Martin D-28 for 15 years before that.

The T-5 didn't really cut it as an acoustic sounding guitar for me, though I have quite a few friends who love'm and use'm. I'm looking for a little more diversity in sound than a straight acoustic can provide.

Listening to and seeing David Crowder play his Crowdster on the Passion 06 DVD caused me to check them out.

I can drive to Bellveue, Washington to play one, but it's about four hours from where I live. I don't care for the one they have for sale, aesthetically speaking, but playing it would hopefully let me know what I wanted to do.

I've heard nothing but praise for the Crowdster, and I've read a lot about
people selling their T-5's for the same reason I did.

Thanks again, Jeff

[Pietro]

I am also using the guitar for worship leading.

This guitar was MADE to do this. I have to admit, I bought mine sight unseen, purely based on my experience with TAGW guitars and the features of the C+. I couldn't possibly be more happy (unless, as marso said, it had two pickups in the electric side...)

It sounds more "acoustic" than any "real" acoustic I've ever plugged in.

You can NOT miss with this guitar. I highly recommend getting the Plus. The ability to add in a little electric can really make the high point of a song come alive.

Sorry I live too far for you to check mine out. I'm in PA.

[Pastor Jeff]

Thanks for shaing your experience. I was told by someone that the Plus would require a lot more understanding from the sound man, as it was a little tricky getting the sound right.

Have you not found that to be the case? I almost always have an electric lead player on the team, and I have several excellent electrics to play should I feel the need.

Granted, it requires switching guitars, which is next to impossible in the middle of a song, and can even be disruptive to the flow during a worship service.

I look forward to your reply. Thanks, Jeff

[enr1co]

Jeff, I bought a Crowdster Plus from Gleb Music in California sight unseen.


Heres marsodude's gorgeous Crowdster in Gelbs sold archives- I remember seeing that one as they were hanging it up.
Timely buy as I dont think it would have lasted in the shop for more than a few days- great snag!

http://www.gelbmusic.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=10&products_id=109


Here's another one at Gelb worth buying sight unseen. :)
http://www.gelbmusic.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=153

[Pietro]

Jeff.

GREAT point.

I do NOT trust a sound man to mix the acoustic and electric parts of my guitar. I run my Acoustic side through a Yamaha AG Stomp (You could use any one of a number of excellent acoustic preamps) and the Electric side through a Vox ToneLab (I occasionally use a "real" amp). Then I mix the two together onstage through a small mixer. I send a pre-mixed signal to the house. It sounds really great.

Running the instrument in stereo this way is the only way to go... so much that I don't recommend using the C+ ANY other way. The only time I use the stereo/mono switch is those rare occasions when I use only Acoustic. (Side note: Tom practically tried to talk me out of buying the guitar until he understood how I was going to use it. The more he tried to get me to reconsider, the more I knew it was just what the doctor ordered... and I was right...) Also, imho, controlling your own acoustic/electric mix is ALSO the only way to go.

But... once it's set up, I get the same great sound every time I use it. (All my main guitars have piezo pickups btw, I only play "two-voice" guitars anymore, I have four of them, two godins, a US masters strat, and the Crowdster+.) We usually are using electronic drums, so being able to dial in some extra "oomph" with electric is key to getting some dynamics. One of the songs we've used a lot lately is Crowder's "everything glorious", and dialing in that extra sound at the right time really makes the song work.

[Pastor Jeff]

Everything Glorious sold me on the Crowdster. What a great song. I notice that David doesn't use a +, unless that's changed.

It was Tom who suggested I probably wouldn't want the + based on how I use the guitar. I didn't want to quote him. I guess if the guy who made them is willing to talk about possible problem issues, that speaks volumes about his honesty and credability. He continues to amaze me!

The only two voice I use now is my Taylor with the B Band pickup, and I'm not sure that really qualfieis as a two voice. I like it better than any other system I've heard, including the new Taylor Expression system.

I use to use a Fishman Aura, then ran directly to the house. I still have it, and it's a good pedal, but now I use a Trace Elliott acoustic amp that IMO has a killer sound. I can't find a model # on it anywhere, and I've never seen another like it.

It's like the small TE with two 4 inch speakrs, but it also has a 12 below the two 4's. I've never heard a better sounding acoustic amp, including the Rivera Sedona. I bought the amp for $300.00 locally off Craig's List.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your hook up system, I appreciate it. Jeff

[Pietro]

The only thing about the "non"-plus is this.

At that price level, if you buy the plus and never use the electric pickup much, you've spent a pretty small percentage of the cost of the guitar on that feature. On the other hand, if you buy the regular Crowdster, you're locked in, because you really don't want to add another pickup later.

I didn't think I'd use the electric side nearly as much as I do.

The problem with the T5 for me was that whole "non-stereo" issue. I LOVE the sound of the acoustic over the electric, with maybe some delay or a little chorus on the electric side only, than a little crunch to bring up sections of the song. It is just, imho, worthless without being able to be run stereo. Maybe they'll "fix that" one day, since I think the guitar is pretty cool, otherwise... Although I know one guy who has had one for a few months and STILL can't get the sound out of it he wants...

[Pastor Jeff]

Anyone know what the addition cost is for a + over a straight Crowdster?

[enr1co]

from the Anderson Retail Price list-Jan 2007

Crowdster Acoustic-$3500
Crowdster plus -$3850
Case(required) -$189

[Pastor Jeff]

So about 350 then. Thanks for this additional info, I appreciate it.

[taclassic]

Pastor Jeff,

I live in Tigard. My wife and I were trying out new churches last year and we found one in Wilsonville where the worship leader was using a Crowdster. Don't recall the name of the church, but it was just off of the 5 freeway behind some orchards. You could look into it and see about trying his out.

Ruben

[Pastor Jeff]

Was it west of the I-5 a little bit? I know of a church using the PGE building, or something like it, on the left side of the road going away from the freeway. There are a few others too.

If you're in Tigard, and not connected to a specifc church, please considering visitng us sometime. We're blessed with a great group of people.

You can check us out at www.sherwoodnewlife.org There's video clip of me using the T-5, but only about 2 seconds worth.

Thanks for the info, I will check it out.

Jeff

[taclassic]

Pastor Jeff,

That is the church. I do recall going into a PGE location. Thanks for the invite.

[ckofahl]

Pastor Jeff,

I pastor a church here in Albuquerque, our web site is www.tccag.org I encourage you if you can get you hands on a crowdster, you won't regret it. I have several taylors, and a Yamaha LL25a and my go to guitar of choice for accoustic live is the crowdster. OUr sound man says that it has a clarity and it's very easy to get a great sound with no eq prob. WE did an outreach to the NM state fair last Sunday pm and I took my crowdster, and I was blown away by how great it sounded. It's a no brainer. If you were closer, I'd let you try mine out.

[Pastor Jeff]

Thanks for the reply concerning the Wilsonville church. I know several people who attend there, so I'll use those contacts to meet the worship leader.

Thanks Chuck, I appreciate your info on the crowdster.

I checked out your website, and it looks like you've got a great work going there.

I put a down payment on a Crowdster at a shop in Washington, but it won't be built until November. I looked at every shop I could find that sells Anderson guitars, and very few had a Crowdster in stock. The few I did see didn't appeal to me visually. I figure when you spend that much money on a guitar, you ought to get one you like looking at!

It's going to be Bora to Trans Blue Burst with white binding on a maple top. I've never had a blue guitar, but it looked good to me.

Over the years I've managed to put a few axes in the stable, electric and acoustic, along with a banjo, dobro, mandolin, old Fender lap steel, Rickenbacker 12 string, too many stomp boxes, and about a dozen harmonicas. I wish I could say I was great with all of them, but at best I'm basically a rhythm player who hacks away at everything else.

I use to play banjo in a gospel bluegrass group, but that was a loooong time ago! Before that I made a living singing and playing guitar in bars and clubs. Thank God that's in the past.

Thanks again to everyone who has shared their stories and info. It's been greatly appreciated, Jeff

[ckofahl]

Our church was hosting a city wide worship event with churches from around the Albuquerque area which included their worship leaders about 8 different leaders. There were an assortment of accoutics, taylors and such. I had my crowdster there as well just in case. I was on the electric for this night. One of the worship leaders asked if he could try my crowdster, I handed him it to him and he plugged it in and started playing. We hired a soundman for that night and he was back at the board with his head down tweeking something, as soon as the worship leader started playing my crowdster, he threw his hands in the air and said, "what ever guitar that is, play that one tonight". The worship leader smiled at me and said, that was a several thousand dollar mistake. I know you'll enjoy it.

[Pastor Jeff]

My feeling is nothing is too good for the Lord. I also understand financial limts.

Several people have reported positive comments from soundmen.

I spoke with one guy who sold his Crowdster. He said he finally realized he really preferred playing acoustics to electrics, and I can respect that. We all know they play quite differently from one another. I go back & forth between a Tele, Strat, and my Taylors that I don't have a problem, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

Thanks again