Atom owners... What is the Tone Palette of your guitar?

[lairdy28]

Heya All! I've been looking into acquiring an Atom but before I take a stab in the dark and lay out the cash (because in Australia I can't try one out) I wanted to ask you guys your thoughts. Of course I'm looking for the "golden ticket" (the guitar that does everything!) but I've narrowed down to the tones I need for the variety of sessions and gigs I do.

Objectives :

I'm atttracted to being able to produce Tele type tones for rhythm (both clean and overdriven) but having a humbucker for lead tones.

Easy switching between these two tones.

Also should I be looking at the 2 pickup (H's) version or the 3 (M's)?

Of course strat tones are a bonus!

Look forward to your thoughts,

Cheers

Craig :D

[mbrown3]

Well, you can mix and match the H and Ms (mine has H2 M1 M1). I don't hear a whole lot of Tele in my Atom, but then again I'm not really looking for that tone. The Atom, to me, is a little bit LP, a little bit fat strat (with the kickback), and a lot of its own thing going on. I haven't heard any other guitar that can get the tones that my Atom gets. Just amazing. Can't go wrong with one, IMO, though if I were ordering one right now, I would go CT (and I still might).

[olectric]

I'm atttracted to being able to produce Tele type tones for rhythm (both clean and overdriven) but having a humbucker for lead tones.

Easy switching between these two tones.

Also should I be looking at the 2 pickup (H's) version or the 3 (M's)?

Of course strat tones are a bonus!


sounds like a Cobra with 2 humbuckers would be a better fit. i have owned a 3-M Atom, but the dual humbucker Cobra suits me better. here are what the various pickup selections sound like in terms of other guitars:

full neck: keef teleish
split neck: stratish
full middle: 335ish
split middle: teleish
full bridge: lp/sg
split bridge: tele/lp jr.


of course, the guitar has its own really cool character that comes through all those settings.

[lairdy28]

Thanks for the help guys I read the review on the Anderson site about the Atom (quote below) which put me on the Tele road. I have a 51 Nocaster which I just love for rhythm but it's hard work for solo's, much prefer the TAG for that.


Switch to the
single-coils and, boy, has this beast got
twang: in fact if you just use the centre
three positions (and the single-coil mix
mode) it’s like the best Telecaster you
never owned


Olectric is yours a hollow or solid body ?

Cheers!:D

[Rhys]

I've had two Atoms--one with two buckers and my current one with M1/M1/H2.

I actually like the two-buckers configuration better for me. The Atom's has it's own thing, but the tonal approximations are a lot like what olectric said about the 2-HB Cobra. It's been said that the Cobra has more of the Fender ping, so if you really want that, Cobra may be a way to go. I love Tele tones and do a lot of chickin' pickin' on the split HB setting of my Atom. But I did like the tele-ish middle tone of the split HBs better than my current M1/HB set up.

[olectric]

Olectric is yours a hollow or solid body ?

Cheers!:D

solid, which i prefer. i'm tellin ya, you described a Cobra to a T in your first post. the Atom is a seriously cool guitar, but, as has been said many times before, it leans to the Gibson side of things. the body shape and the bridge of the Cobra lend to far more Tele-ish split sounds.

[tom]

i agree, the first thing i thought of was a double hum cobra.

[LearnedHand]

If you want to go with the shorter scale, go with the cobra. However, if you really want the Tele rhythm sound, then it is going to have to be a Hollow T or T classic with a maple neck and maple/rosewood fretboard.

[lairdy28]

I'm totally leaning towards a Cobra , sounds like a super charged Tele is just what the Dr ordered!

[mbrown3]

I'm totally leaning towards a Cobra , sounds like a super charged Tele is just what the Dr ordered!

Supercharged tele sounds like T Classic to me, since it will have the longer scale for the classic tele "snap" and "twang". Cobra will maintain some of the same characteristics, but be a little beefier and a bit more oomph (and, of course, maybe that's what you mean by supercharged). IMO, can't go wrong with either one. However, I think the Aton, along with the Parker Fly and the Soloway Swan, is one of the most significant and innovative guitar designs since Leo's. My Atom is one of just a few very special instruments that will be passed on to my kids (and, if somehow they don't play, they'll hold it for my grandkids).

[Stevenems]

Much like the OP, I'm looking for LP style humbucker for lead tones, and I'd also like to be able to approximate bright/chimey funk strat rhythm tones with the same guitar. Obviously, one way to get that is with a Classic or Drop-Top S with a humbucker bridge pickup.

However, I really like the body shape and feel of my Crowdster, so Atoms appeal to me since they have a similar shape. Would a primavera Atom Special take the split tones closer to the funky strat sound, or am I completely misunderstanding what primavera does for the tone?


Thanks,
Steve

[Harry]

I have to agree that a Cobra is what you described. I've had mine for 3 years and it can seriously HONK out those single coil bridge tones. The mids can pound holes through the walls if you want, you will never be washed out of the mix. For me it is the best all around guitar I have ever owned. Good luck!

[mbrown3]

Much like the OP, I'm looking for LP style humbucker for lead tones, and I'd also like to be able to approximate bright/chimey funk strat rhythm tones with the same guitar. Obviously, one way to get that is with a Classic or Drop-Top S with a humbucker bridge pickup.

However, I really like the body shape and feel of my Crowdster, so Atoms appeal to me since they have a similar shape. Would a primavera Atom Special take the split tones closer to the funky strat sound, or am I completely misunderstanding what primavera does for the tone?


Not sure about Primavera, and as I mentioned I'm not much into the Tele thing so can't speak to that, but I DO really like the kicked back "in between" sounds on the Atom...very strat-like to my ears.

[mslugano]

I don't own an Atom but own three DT's (two with M's and one with HSS) and a TAG T-type with M in neck, SC middle and TV3 in bridge. My only twin HB guitars are a Suhr T-type and US Masters Super T deluxe. I also own a Tyler SE retro with HSS and a bunch of Strats and Teles. I only list them here because I have really spent tons of time comparing M's, HBs, and SC's trying to get the perfect setup.

I find the M's work best slightly, or very, overdriven. I have M1's, M3's and M1+ and hate to say this, but, I have not been able to get the same clarity in clean settings compared to HB's (split or not) or SC's so I usually prefer an SC over an M for clean pickin'. The US Masters is really a surprisingly good instrument for clean stuff, especially in split coil mode. I guess it is sorta like a Cobra with twin HB's except with a 25.5 in. scale neck for extra twang.

So, I guess I am saying that, if you spend a lot of time in overdrive, I would go with M's because they sound incredible in OD and not so "over the top" as HB's...the neck is especially cool overdriven and sounds like a huge fat SC. If you play more clean stuff, I think I would go for a split-able HB and SC's.

I have never seen one, but I think a great "best of all worlds" would be a long scale TAG DT or T-type with a split-able HB in bridge, SC middle and M neck (or alternatively, a standard HSH with split coils). Maybe even a MSM configuration if you could split both M's (now that I think of it, I think that would be REALLY cool...certainly would be unique).

[lairdy28]

Yeah that makes sense. I seem to be doing some smaller bands these days, many are three piece kinda rock trio style. As the sole instrument providing harmony I generally have a 'pushed" sound for chords to give it some character but need clarity to get all the chords out there.

More overdriven sounds have to still be defined to keep the body in the band in the chorus (still need to be able to play an open chords with definition) and retain plenty of air.

What your saying about the M's appeal to me as clarity is key and I don't need over the top gain but I like to gain up on the solos so a humbucker in the back is a must.

If I can use my 2000 model 51 Nocaster Relic as an example , it is awesome for all the chord stuff (clean included) but no humbucker for solos which is it's downfall, and the neck is like a tree trunk. To retain those sounds , add a humbucker and maybe a neck that is a bit easier to get around would be great. On the otherside I have a Valley Arts from the 80's which is Humbucker heaven (Fralin 59) made of Mahogony, but not Tom's mahogany cause it weighs a tonne so I only play it in the studio.

I thought the atom was maybe a fusion of these two but maybe the Cobra is closer or a T with a splitable humbucker

[mslugano]

Man, if you are looking for big distorted tones with clarity, you can't go wrong with M's. An M3 in the bridge will get you close to an HB with more clarity and without going overboard. M1's in middle and neck are great. I have an M1+ in one of my TAG's in the neck and it sounds glorious overdriven a little but not as good clean. I just think you might prefer your Tele for the really clean stuff.