A year in the life...

[guitarzan]

Actually, it's been a little over a year now. But I've had my Short T for about a year now and can honestly say that it's the best guitar I've ever owned.

I've owned 7 Andersons in the last 10 years (I think) and have borrowed another half dozen maybe. 4 of those I spec'd myself, others were used or retail stock. I've had 4 Tylers pass through my house in the last year. I own a CS Fender strat and have had 2 others in my house this year. LOTS of guitars have come and gone in the last 10 years and lots of guitars have come and gone in the last 12 months.

In the last year, I've done tone workshops, an instructional video on tone, a year-long CD vanity project (http://www.thetonechef.com/the-tone-chefs-cd-strong-is-finished-and-available/), and hundreds of gigs and it seems that my sweet little Black Short T keeps surprising me at every turn of the road.

If you are curious about what a Short T does, here are my thoughts:

For starters, mine is a hollow ash, black with scraped binding and body contours, maple neck +.50 oversized, M in the bridge and an Anderson something or other single in the neck, 3-way switch, no push-pull or hidden switches. Just good ol' WYSIWYG. Mine has the drop D tuner as well.

On Stage:
This guitar is fatter than your standard tele. To me, a tele has a snarl in the upper mids and a bit of rasp to its voice. My short T has a bit of that but you lose some of the nasal honkyness that occasionally rubs me wrong with a standard tele. Also, one of the upsides to a tele is that it has a fast attack and a somewhat one-dimensional appeal that helps it to cut through the mix. Admittedly, my Short T has a little more compression and more bloom and blossom than a standard tele, but I feel like it still cuts through perfectly. And the tones are more accommodating and less brash. I also feel like this guitar works when it's the only guitar on stage because it takes up a little more space where a standard tele can sometimes sound lonely as if the sonic footprint isn't quite large enough to make an impression. With the M in the bridge, it's what Tom called "one of the greatest all-time Classic Rock crunch tones". It's got plenty of bite thanks to the ash body, but the growl and bloom of the hollow body leans everything towards a little more brown sound, regardless of how much gain is coming from the amp. The neck single coil is syrupy sweet and regardless of how gainy the amp/pedal combination is, always sounds articulate and tight. The middle position is my go-to for the pretty and the clean stuff. It's my Gretsch-in-a-switch sound.

In Sessions:
This one is a little harder to quantify because the approach to tracking is different from the approach to playing live. In tracking, we like to find little hidden corners of the EQ spectrum in which to hide a cool guitar part. It's ok to have a bright, scrapey sounding guitar part that matches with a honky and woofy old Silvertone amp tone. But between the three pickup sounds, and the ability to roll the volume off and on, it is my secret weapon. While doing my CD, I grabbed my short T more than any other guitar when it came time to do solos. It's the guitar that is all the solos on "Just So" and "London", and carries most of the melody on "Strong".

I know there has been a good amount of talk about making a Short S, and lots of speculation about how that might sound coming from Anderson World Headquarters. But if that never comes, and you're looking for the guitar that could potentially change your life (make you run faster, jump higher, grow thicker hair, be more attractive to the opposite sex, etc.), it's worth giving the Short T a try.

Thank you, please drive thru....

[paleolith54]

Actually, it's been a little over a year now. But I've had my Short T for about a year now and can honestly say that it's the best guitar I've ever owned.

I've owned 7 Andersons in the last 10 years (I think) and have borrowed another half dozen maybe. 4 of those I spec'd myself, others were used or retail stock. I've had 4 Tylers pass through my house in the last year. I own a CS Fender strat and have had 2 others in my house this year. LOTS of guitars have come and gone in the last 10 years and lots of guitars have come and gone in the last 12 months.

In the last year, I've done tone workshops, an instructional video on tone, a year-long CD vanity project (http://www.thetonechef.com/the-tone-chefs-cd-strong-is-finished-and-available/), and hundreds of gigs and it seems that my sweet little Black Short T keeps surprising me at every turn of the road.

If you are curious about what a Short T does, here are my thoughts:

For starters, mine is a hollow ash, black with scraped binding and body contours, maple neck +.50 oversized, M in the bridge and an Anderson something or other single in the neck, 3-way switch, no push-pull or hidden switches. Just good ol' WYSIWYG. Mine has the drop D tuner as well.

On Stage:
This guitar is fatter than your standard tele. To me, a tele has a snarl in the upper mids and a bit of rasp to its voice. My short T has a bit of that but you lose some of the nasal honkyness that occasionally rubs me wrong with a standard tele. Also, one of the upsides to a tele is that it has a fast attack and a somewhat one-dimensional appeal that helps it to cut through the mix. Admittedly, my Short T has a little more compression and more bloom and blossom than a standard tele, but I feel like it still cuts through perfectly. And the tones are more accommodating and less brash. I also feel like this guitar works when it's the only guitar on stage because it takes up a little more space where a standard tele can sometimes sound lonely as if the sonic footprint isn't quite large enough to make an impression. With the M in the bridge, it's what Tom called "one of the greatest all-time Classic Rock crunch tones". It's got plenty of bite thanks to the ash body, but the growl and bloom of the hollow body leans everything towards a little more brown sound, regardless of how much gain is coming from the amp. The neck single coil is syrupy sweet and regardless of how gainy the amp/pedal combination is, always sounds articulate and tight. The middle position is my go-to for the pretty and the clean stuff. It's my Gretsch-in-a-switch sound.

In Sessions:
This one is a little harder to quantify because the approach to tracking is different from the approach to playing live. In tracking, we like to find little hidden corners of the EQ spectrum in which to hide a cool guitar part. It's ok to have a bright, scrapey sounding guitar part that matches with a honky and woofy old Silvertone amp tone. But between the three pickup sounds, and the ability to roll the volume off and on, it is my secret weapon. While doing my CD, I grabbed my short T more than any other guitar when it came time to do solos. It's the guitar that is all the solos on "Just So" and "London", and carries most of the melody on "Strong".

I know there has been a good amount of talk about making a Short S, and lots of speculation about how that might sound coming from Anderson World Headquarters. But if that never comes, and you're looking for the guitar that could potentially change your life (make you run faster, jump higher, grow thicker hair, be more attractive to the opposite sex, etc.), it's worth giving the Short T a try.

Thank you, please drive thru....

Cool post, thanks, I wonder if you have any feel for how the "short" aspect of it contributes to this other than somewhat easier playability? Is there something about this one you love that would be missing if all else were held equal but the scale was 25.5?

[guitarzan]

Cool post, thanks, I wonder if you have any feel for how the "short" aspect of it contributes to this other than somewhat easier playability? Is there something about this one you love that would be missing if all else were held equal but the scale was 25.5?

Well, one of my other favorite Andys that I've had in the past was a Hollow T Classic. Alder body, same neck, M-series in both the bridge and the neck. It was a really awesome guitar fer sure. But it didn't do what this one does. It leaned more towards a conventional tele sound where this one feels a little greasier and slinkier. I also think that the shorter scale length adds a little more girth to everything you play. Single note bends and bluesy licks feel a little more robust on a short scale guitar to me. The trade-off is gonna be less spank and pop, but I think the swamp ash adds a little of that spank back in.

And, I also think it's important to state that each guitar will have its own personality. Tom is gonna make an amazing guitar that plays beautifully and feels like a work of art. BUT, since we are dealing with wood (organic and distinct from piece to piece), then each one is gonna have its own personal sound. My buddy, Jeff, and I both had Anderson Classics that were almost identical specs and they both sounded pretty different from one another. Both were awesome, but they each did their own thing. I'll admit that maybe what I love about this Short T is that it does a "thing" that my ears were in love with since the first time I heard music. :)

[dannopelli]

You know Corey, I've been thinking of a Short T, but could not get my head around losing the T Spank. Spec'd with Swamp Ash, and a bigger Maple neck, I agree would you get back most of that while still gaining the girth and looseness of the shorter scale.

So, if I ever get employment again, (18 months and counting), I'll be calling my boy in VA to get one! (a red one...)

[chriswhite]

I have had my Hollow Short T for a little over a month now and I can say hands down that its the best sounding Andy I've played. I have it equipped with Ms as well and its alder top on hollow alder. I am not a fan of bright sounding guitars that sound "thin" to me so I was afraid of swamp ash just a little and stuck with alder but with the Ms in there I am sure it wouldnt have been an issue. I am not good at all at describing tone but I can say that Corey gets it right if you're trying to tell someone what it sounds like. Great description and I couldnt agree more.

**Edit** One other thing I rock this thing out through my Maz 38 in the bridge positions and I get tones out of it the are reminiscent of tones that I hear on Slash's solo album and he traditionally plays Gibby's.

[jbbusybee]

Yep I've got gas for a Short T. Seems like a great concept. Please show pictures.

Oh thanks for the CD. I love it.

[chriswhite]

heres mine

http://andersonforum.com/board/showthread.php?t=7794

Corey we need to see yours too.

[jbbusybee]

[QUOTE=chriswhite]heres mine

http://andersonforum.com/board/showthread.php?t=7794

Stop it, that guitar needs to be banned from this forum it's tooo tempting!

[Charlie J]

Classic post!
Yes, this guitar he speaks of and I have had a fling....a sort of weeklong romance that left me trembling in adoration.....and .....fear......fear that I need a job soon so I can get a shortT........and adoration as this thing is in my top4 of fiddles I've ever tenderly caressed and abused with my hackness. The other 3 are my Skermetta 290, a Hollow Tyler SE, and a friends old 58 burst LP.

yes, this shortT will soon, if not already has, reached a mythical status of uber delight which is not for the faint of heart or Hondo player.

[SonicGator]

Wow, that's a ringing endorsement for the Short T. Makes me wonder...Cobra or Short T...Cobra or Short T

[guitarzan]

Here is the same review on my site but I added a picture as well. Also, on another post, I added a pic or two.

http://www.thetonechef.com/tom-anderson-guitarworks-short-t-review/

http://www.thetonechef.com/checklist-for-traveling/

[mdrs]

I'm going to side with guitarzan here........I simply love my Short T. It's NOT a Tele. But, I didn't want a Tele. The Short T plays and has the feel of a short scale guitar. As much as I love a Tele (and a Strat, for that matter), the Short T has that killer look of a Tele body, with the killer feel of a LP.

I love my Atom CT. Love my Koa HDT......really LOVE. I also really love my Classic S. But, the Short T has the Andy feel and playability, with KILLER tone.

Mine is actually a Koa top HDT Short T with a chocolate maple neck.......dig it!!

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m114/mdrs1/Electric%20Guitars/Anderson/CIMG4449.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m114/mdrs1/Electric%20Guitars/Anderson/CIMG4450.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m114/mdrs1/Electric%20Guitars/Anderson/CIMG4458.jpg

[chriswhite]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Holy Mackerel, mdrs, that Guitar is jaw droppingly beautiful!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[bud]

Mine is actually a Koa top HDT Short T with a chocolate maple neck.......dig it!!

My life is ruined, how am I supposed to chose between that and this...http://www.andersonguitars.com/images/guitarImages/05,11,2010_11-52-33.jpg:D

Gorgeous guitar, simply stunning (your Koa)

[nova]

@mdrs

Wow, when you're selling, I'm buying! :D

[BFC]

Working up an order for one with Jack. I'm going with the more traditional TV1/TV3 pickup set with VA booster and a solid body.

[Jason G]

Actually, it's been a little over a year now. But I've had my Short T for about a year now and can honestly say that it's the best guitar I've ever owned.

I've owned 7 Andersons in the last 10 years (I think) and have borrowed another half dozen maybe. 4 of those I spec'd myself, others were used or retail stock. I've had 4 Tylers pass through my house in the last year. I own a CS Fender strat and have had 2 others in my house this year. LOTS of guitars have come and gone in the last 10 years and lots of guitars have come and gone in the last 12 months.

In the last year, I've done tone workshops, an instructional video on tone, a year-long CD vanity project (http://www.thetonechef.com/the-tone-chefs-cd-strong-is-finished-and-available/), and hundreds of gigs and it seems that my sweet little Black Short T keeps surprising me at every turn of the road.

If you are curious about what a Short T does, here are my thoughts:

For starters, mine is a hollow ash, black with scraped binding and body contours, maple neck +.50 oversized, M in the bridge and an Anderson something or other single in the neck, 3-way switch, no push-pull or hidden switches. Just good ol' WYSIWYG. Mine has the drop D tuner as well.

On Stage:
This guitar is fatter than your standard tele. To me, a tele has a snarl in the upper mids and a bit of rasp to its voice. My short T has a bit of that but you lose some of the nasal honkyness that occasionally rubs me wrong with a standard tele. Also, one of the upsides to a tele is that it has a fast attack and a somewhat one-dimensional appeal that helps it to cut through the mix. Admittedly, my Short T has a little more compression and more bloom and blossom than a standard tele, but I feel like it still cuts through perfectly. And the tones are more accommodating and less brash. I also feel like this guitar works when it's the only guitar on stage because it takes up a little more space where a standard tele can sometimes sound lonely as if the sonic footprint isn't quite large enough to make an impression. With the M in the bridge, it's what Tom called "one of the greatest all-time Classic Rock crunch tones". It's got plenty of bite thanks to the ash body, but the growl and bloom of the hollow body leans everything towards a little more brown sound, regardless of how much gain is coming from the amp. The neck single coil is syrupy sweet and regardless of how gainy the amp/pedal combination is, always sounds articulate and tight. The middle position is my go-to for the pretty and the clean stuff. It's my Gretsch-in-a-switch sound.

In Sessions:
This one is a little harder to quantify because the approach to tracking is different from the approach to playing live. In tracking, we like to find little hidden corners of the EQ spectrum in which to hide a cool guitar part. It's ok to have a bright, scrapey sounding guitar part that matches with a honky and woofy old Silvertone amp tone. But between the three pickup sounds, and the ability to roll the volume off and on, it is my secret weapon. While doing my CD, I grabbed my short T more than any other guitar when it came time to do solos. It's the guitar that is all the solos on "Just So" and "London", and carries most of the melody on "Strong".

I know there has been a good amount of talk about making a Short S, and lots of speculation about how that might sound coming from Anderson World Headquarters. But if that never comes, and you're looking for the guitar that could potentially change your life (make you run faster, jump higher, grow thicker hair, be more attractive to the opposite sex, etc.), it's worth giving the Short T a try.

Thank you, please drive thru....


Great write-up! So which "M" pickup do you have in your bridge position? I have a TM2 in my Hollow T Classic... it does really smoke through a VHT Pitbull45 and a JCM 800. I've just started playing with some youngin's(22-23) and we're doing some edgy(to me) covers of like Audioslave, Corrosion of Conformity, Stone Temple Pilots, Silvertide, etc.
We are tuning down 1/2 step, so it makes me wonder how similar my 25.5 scale down-tuned would compare to the Short-T. Any thoughts/ideas?
Also, I am curious how the TM3 might work out for me? Not really having trouble with the TM2, but thought I'd ask anyway.

take care, JG