Anderson Drop Top or Suhr Standard?

[Stratboy151]

When a guitar feels stiff it' probably just not setup how you like it. I've played plenty of Anderson's in stores that had higher action for me, or the neck wasn't setup to be just how i like it. Some Suhr's like that also. The majority of guitars though from both Suhr and Anderson usually just play great right off the wall. After that, some minor tweaks and you're good to go.

this is so true. if a neck isnt set almost damn near straight then i will be adjusting it when i get home..

 

[steve_k]

Getting really gassy here with these Anderson's....

 

['63-Strat]

To be honest I haven't been completely blown away by either, yet (don't shoot me lol). The other guitar player in one of my bands has an early Anderson that he uses as a backup to either his bc rich or 335. I'm sure that sounds strange, but the Anderson does feel kind of dead to both of us. Maybe a setup could save it but it honestly plays very well as is so I'm not sure (this one has a floyd). I've played suhrs with floyds and vintage strat trems and so far I agree with the "stiff" feeling. Not stiff as in hard to bend strings per se, but just lacking a little bit of that full freq bloom like someone said above.

I have a friend who just got a beautiful custom modern and the build quality is right up there with Anderson IMO, and plays great, but again, doesn't really do anything for me. It could be a matter of me not having played the right one yet, but at the same time, I also don't think I'm the kind of guy that would be happy with getting a custom one sight unseen based on the ones I've played so far. I know guys that swear by both that are great players, but I haven't been blown away by their tones either. Obviously YMMV.

 

[Anonymous]

I've played both and if I closed my eyes and was just handed either guitar and played, I don't think I could tell the difference between a Suhr Standard and and Anderson Drop Top. They are so similar from a playing standpoint (TO ME) as to be indistinguishable. Truth be told, I don't really like either that much. Had two Suhr Standards - beautiful guitars - but sold 'em both... I see to prefer my Charvels to the Suhr Standards and Anderson Drop Tops I've played... I had money burning a hole in my pocket for an Anderson at one point. Went down to the Mesa Boogie store in Hollywood ready to buy... played all the Drop Tops they had... walked out empty handed and disappointed...

Now... I also own a Suhr Henderson and Suhr Guthrie and I LOVE both of those guitars. To me they don't play like the Standards I've owned at all. They both have 16" fretboard radius, which I seem to prefer on Suhr guitars although I seem to do fine on Charvel compound radius necks???

Weird... but whaddo I know anyway...

Steve

 

[thiswaythatway]

Getting really gassy here with these Anderson's....

BOING.

 

[gibson5413]

Now that Dan has posted I feel compelled to contribute:

Not mine but I love the quilt on this one:

 

[veji]

i used to own an Anderson Classic with H2+ humbucker in the bridger
and now i own a suhr modern with Aldrich humbuckers.
Both guitars were fantastic.

I could have gone either way but i prefer the 24 frets.

 

[LP Freak]

Black looks badass Steve.

 

[fearhk213]

Black looks badass Steve.

 

[SuperFlyinMonke]

Lp Freak, reminding me why I love trans-black finishes. I love the grey-silver in between.

I like Suhr better, personally, but you really couldn't go wrong with either one. As for selling a Suhr because you couldn't bond with it, that shouldn't count them out at all. That happens with every brand. Guitars are individuals as much as the people buying them.

 

[Anonymous]

Here's my Suhr family:

You really just need to try them out and make the choice that fits you. As I mentioned earlier, both TA and Suhr are at the top of their game...

 

[Little B]

You guys have some seriously nice guitars going on here!...I personally like the TA "small company" way of things,but to me, especially after visiting both websites for the last 5 days in a row,it seems they offer different things, depending on which line youre looking at...I had a guitar tech a ways back, that had a drop top and man,I loved the neck on that thing..Id always talk him into letting me use it on some gigs...I dont quite like the Suhr headstock as much as TA's..and Im not a huge fan of the modern's"off kilter" a tad body design...now, having said that, I love the fact that Suhr does a 24 frt neck...and I have played a few, and they are exceptional too......but I support a purchase of either..although I just ordered a custom shop 5 grade quilt top charvel!..so go figure...Im not much help...but I am broke.

 

[Solid Snake]

Personally I prefer the Andersons, but Suhrs are also exceptional guitars. You really can't go wrong with either one.

 

[Suhr]

I'll say Anderson because I own one, didn't Suhr copy T.A. anyway?

Nope not at all, the down sized body is something Tom did special for me at my request from the Pensa-Suhr days before Tom stopped cutting bodys and necks for other people and decided to only build.
Tom and I are the best of friends though, you cant go wrong with an Anderson, if I wasn't rolling my own I would buy one of his.

 

[LP Freak]

I'll say Anderson because I own one, didn't Suhr copy T.A. anyway?

Nope not at all, the down sized body is something Tom did special for me at my request from the Pensa-Suhr days before Tom stopped cutting bodys and necks for other people and decided to only build.
Tom and I are the best of friends though, you cant go wrong with an Anderson, if I wasn't rolling my own I would buy one of his.

Now that's a good man.

 

[Mark Day]

Just like his guitars, John is all class!!!


Mark

Here's my Suhr...Aldrich's will be replacing the Blackouts.

 

[vae]

another Andy lover:

...and a bulldog on the way.

 

[Nico]

These guitars are all beautiful!

I never played either, I think I like the Suhrs more, except for that headstock!

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

I'll show!

 

[jlbaxe]

I'll say Anderson because I own one, didn't Suhr copy T.A. anyway?

Nope not at all, the down sized body is something Tom did special for me at my request from the Pensa-Suhr days before Tom stopped cutting bodys and necks for other people and decided to only build.
Tom and I are the best of friends though, you cant go wrong with an Anderson, if I wasn't rolling my own I would buy one of his.

I always wanted to try a Suhr and a Anderson. After hearing this from the man himself I would luv to add a Suhr to my collection…… oh and a Anderson