Anderson H3+, too hot?

[mrp5150]

Just wondering if any of you guys have used this pickup before? The description makes it sound extremely hot and real bass heavy, but I know how great their other pickups sound. Would it sound good in a mahogany guitar for lower tunings?

Also, I assume Anderson pickups don't come in F-Spaced versions since the pole pieces are huge?

 

[AmpliFIRE]

The regular H3 is a KILLER pickup. I've never tried the H3+ though....

Ivan has the HN3+ which is the hottest pickup they make...he's never complained about it. All anderson pups will work with F or regular string spacing...

 

[jcj]

I think so....try the H2+

 

[shredhead666]

I have one in my Jackson SL3. It LOVES that guitar. I don't think it's too hot, but then again I don't use a 5150 either.

 

[mrp5150]

Yeah, I'm thinking the H2+ will be good enough. I recall that one having a similar output to something like a JB?

 

[Variable]

Just wondering if any of you guys have used this pickup before? The description makes it sound extremely hot and real bass heavy, but I know how great their other pickups sound. Would it sound good in a mahogany guitar for lower tunings?

Also, I assume Anderson pickups don't come in F-Spaced versions since the pole pieces are huge?

The H3+ isn't necessarily hotter than the H3, it just has more upper midrange. I have the H3 in my ASAT Deluxe tuned to C standard and I'd say it's about the output of a JB. It's a LOT FATTER than a JB though. Very balanced pickup with an emphasis on the low-end, cleans up really well, and lends itself particularly well to detuned riffage. Not a traditional sounding pickup at all. One dealer I spoke with said the + pickups tend to have a more traditional (upper) midrange to them. The non + pickups have a lot more of a lower-midrange growl and are smoother.

I have an HN3 in my custom Legacy, and it's an absolutely smoking pickup. Not too hot, though... it cleans up well. But probably too hot for clean stuff without rolling off the volume.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Yeah, I'm thinking the H2+ will be good enough. I recall that one having a similar output to something like a JB?

Try a regular H3 Mark. It's very similar to the Duncan Custom...but better

 

[mrp5150]

Yeah, I'm thinking the H2+ will be good enough. I recall that one having a similar output to something like a JB?

Try a regular H3 Mark. It's very similar to the Duncan Custom...but better

I could, but there's none on eBay right now. I have a $20 off PayPal/eBay coupon and I want to take advantage of that on a pickup before it expires.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

i'd say an H2+ is at or more likely a little less output than a JB, and that the H3 is just a little hotter than a JB.


the H2+ is my favorite pickup, like better than even the Suhr Aldrich.



have heard that the really hot Andersons can be harsh, as they use a Neodymium magnet, but have never heard them? kindda hard to beleave Tom would put out a bad sounding pickup, so could be BS?


anyways, the H2+ and H3 are damned good pickups.

 

[LUKATHERFAN]

I have the H3 in my Zion and it kills....great pickup

 

[Greazygeo]

i'd say an H2+ is at or more likely a little less output than a JB, and that the H3 is just a little hotter than a JB.


the H2+ is my favorite pickup, like better than even the Suhr Aldrich.



have heard that the really hot Andersons can be harsh, as they use a Neodymium magnet, but have never heard them? kindda hard to beleave Tom would put out a bad sounding pickup, so could be BS?


anyways, the H2+ and H3 are damned good pickups.

I have the H2+ in my two Cobras. I was running the H2 which I like alot too. The H2+ is hotter with a bit more edge. Output is about like the Custom.

All the 3 series are too hot for me, except for the single coils.

 

[EvilBatman]

H3+ to me was a like a Hi-Fi crossing of a Duncan Distortion and an Invader. I wouldn't call it bass heavy but it has a nice bump in the lows. With that said, Tom's pickups, to my ears and the ones I've tried, seem to have a level of clarity that I haven't gotten out of other pickups. Even when they're strong in the bass.

You sound like you're scoping an H3+ on the 'bay. If you buy it and don't like it, I'll buy it from you. I've been wanting to get an H3 for one of my Jacksons and the + is close enough for me.

Here's a link from a forum member I saved, (can't remember who it is) where he's done some clips using an H2+ and an HN3 along side a JB. Hope it helps.

https://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=565792

 

[maiden_fan]

I had a H3+ in a strat I hated it. Too smooth, too bassy, not enough crunch for what I like.

 

[blackba]

I just put an H3 in my MIA strat, it replaced a JB. So far I really like it. Only issue is that with the JB I thought it did the punk sound better than H3, but the H3 does metal through my marshall 2553 much better than the JB.

So Mark if you get an H2+ and want something hotter, I would be willing to trade. I would like a little more mids from the H3 and a touch less output, so I think the H2+ would be perfect, but the H3 is staying for now.

BTW, the H3 does do a nice job of splitting, much better than the JB.

 

[mrp5150]

Just bought an H2+ so hopefully it sounds as good in low tunings as it does in standard.

 

[MrDan666]

I have no experience using Anderson pickups, but im planning on buying the H3 for the bridge and the SA2 for the neck in my GMW Superstrat. They seem to be fat and smooth sounding pickups, and thats exactly what my GMW needs.. its a bright guitar!

 

[van hellion]

h3 is my fav anderson bridge pickup. check sig for audio
peace
A Wood

 

[again with this]

I find the Hn3+ too hot for my high gain amps, Recto & 5150. I think it may do better in a stock-ish Marshall... I dunno. I went back to the 500T in my Les Paul.

 

[blackba]

H3+ to me was a like a Hi-Fi crossing of a Duncan Distortion and an Invader. I wouldn't call it bass heavy but it has a nice bump in the lows. With that said, Tom's pickups, to my ears and the ones I've tried, seem to have a level of clarity that I haven't gotten out of other pickups. Even when they're strong in the bass.

You sound like you're scoping an H3+ on the 'bay. If you buy it and don't like it, I'll buy it from you. I've been wanting to get an H3 for one of my Jacksons and the + is close enough for me.

Here's a link from a forum member I saved, (can't remember who it is) where he's done some clips using an H2+ and an HN3 along side a JB. Hope it helps.

https://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=565792

Thanks for linking the clips. I liked the H2+ clips the best, seemed to be similar to the JB but like a blanket was lifted off. The H3+ was lacking some mids for my tastes....

 

[Dale B]

I use an H3+ in the bridge of a Gibson Les Paul Classic and a PRS Singlecut. It's not super hot where it is going to just smack the hell out of your amp. You can overdrive the amp if you hit the strings hard enough, but it's not extreme breakup.

The H3+ has a lot of thickness. I've never played a Rio Grand BBQ, but a lot of people describe its qualities in that it's kind of darker and richer sounding. That's the way the H3+ is, yet it has a bit more output than the BBQ. It has thick lows, thick mids and a little more of a high-mid and top end kick. It's a pretty cool pickup.

The H2+ has pretty much the same EQ as the H3+, but the output isn't the same and it sounds a little more "boxier". It doesn't quite have the roundness of the H3+. I've used the H2+ in the same Les Paul.

If you find the H3+ or H2+ too dark, either swap your pots out to higher value or disconnect your tone pot. This will open it up a good bit. It will be a tad bit more aggressive, but it won't be harsh by any means whatsoever.

I've been using Andersons for 7 years. They're great pickups if you're looking to thicken up the tone of your guitar.



Dale