Anderson H3+, too hot?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mrp5150
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What would be a good Anderson neck pickup to go with the H2+? Maybe an H1+?
 
H1-

The BEST neck humbucker I've ever owned. Clear as the Colorado River in Laughlin and sweet as a mothers love. :lol: :LOL: :D

It's a very clear pickup. Not harsh at all though and just, I don't know...it's like a great single coil that ascended to a higher plane. It's got a great "aura".

Yeah, I know that sounds retarded but I can't describe it any other way.
 
When I bought my Anderson it had the H3. I loved it but thought I'd try something hotter. I got the HN3+. I used it for many years and it sounds great for metal. The only drawback is it doesn't clean up as well as lower output pickups. Maybe a year ago I went to the H2+ and it is the best yet. Most modern amps have more than enough gain so you don't need the pickups to drive the amp. I can't imagine needing anything other than the H2+. It kills for heavy stuff but also sounds great on clean and mid-gain stuff.
 
bstaley":1hquuha0 said:
When I bought my Anderson it had the H3. I loved it but thought I'd try something hotter. I got the HN3+. I used it for many years and it sounds great for metal. The only drawback is it doesn't clean up as well as lower output pickups. Maybe a year ago I went to the H2+ and it is the best yet. Most modern amps have more than enough gain so you don't need the pickups to drive the amp. I can't imagine needing anything other than the H2+. It kills for heavy stuff but also sounds great on clean and mid-gain stuff.
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That's what I was thinking. I tend to prefer moderate output pickups since I play a 5150 and tune low.
 
nice thread marked 4 later - I've got a H+ or HN3 lying around here I haven't done much with yet
 
????? this really is the best pick up ever. This is from a webpage talking about James Hetfield and Metallica.
“I also found someone posting the same picture in a Duncan forum saying they were Duncans but someone corrected them that it was a Tom Anderson H3+ used on Ride/Master and then later changed to EMG's for the tour.

This does sound right because the guy that worked on the guitar knew they were "different" pickups and wasn't certain what they were. He thought they were perhaps dimarzio passive protoype pickups- but the H3+ could be correct and would basically fill in what the guy working on the guitar didn't know.

I should also mention- as someone that has really worshiped Hetfields ear for guitar tone for a while now- Nothing will get you close- no pickups or guitar or preset will get you to his sound. His right hand technique could be the best- his strength and attack is so powerful- that's where the sound is at. Honestly- before gear- copying his right hand angle will get you further than most amps and pedals can. That's where his secrets are at.”
 
My fav Anderson bridge pickup is the HC2, and I do like the H2+. I have an H3 in one of my Anderson's but I think I'm going to swap it out for a H2+. I have tried tons of different pickups in multiple guitars and I keep coming back to Anderson for pickups and guitars. For me the H3 seems to get a little mushy?

Chuck
 
MrDan666":2u64gms6 said:
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!
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I stuck an H3+ / SF2 combo in my Chubtone and really like that combo.

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My drop top came with an H2+. Wasn't hot enough for me 11K. Switched in an H3 and I'm much happier. It's only a little over 14K, so certainly not too hot. I wouldn't hesitate to get an H3+. I'm sure that one is still probably a little less output than a JB. Probably mid 15K. My abolute favorite Anderson neck is the H1+. It has that nice LPish neck tone. The lower output ones sounded real thin and weak to me.
 
H3 or the H2+ are my fav. I've got an H3 in each of my TAs
 
Markedman":1i024h3y said:
????? this really is the best pick up ever. This is from a webpage talking about James Hetfield and Metallica.
“I also found someone posting the same picture in a Duncan forum saying they were Duncans but someone corrected them that it was a Tom Anderson H3+ used on Ride/Master and then later changed to EMG's for the tour.

This does sound right because the guy that worked on the guitar knew they were "different" pickups and wasn't certain what they were. He thought they were perhaps dimarzio passive protoype pickups- but the H3+ could be correct and would basically fill in what the guy working on the guitar didn't know.

I should also mention- as someone that has really worshiped Hetfields ear for guitar tone for a while now- Nothing will get you close- no pickups or guitar or preset will get you to his sound. His right hand technique could be the best- his strength and attack is so powerful- that's where the sound is at. Honestly- before gear- copying his right hand angle will get you further than most amps and pedals can. That's where his secrets are at.”
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For what it's worth...

I was curious if Hetfield used the Anderson H3 in his 84 Gibson Explorer in the studio for Master of Puppets as well. I called Tom Anderson Guitar Works in November of 2019, Tom answered the phone and said he has never heard that Jaymz used his H3 pickups while recording MOP. Does that prove Jaymz didn't? No, but seems unlikely. Tom did say Kirk has 3 of those Tom Anderson silver guitars with H3 pickups in them. In certain photos of Jaymz with his 84 Explorer from the Puppets era you can see both pickups have 2 rows of slotted pole pieces, like the Gibson Dirty Fingers pickups that most likely would have been stock in that guitar. Does this prove anything? Again no. His 85 Jackson "Kill Bon Jovi" King V supposedly had custom made Seymour Duncan pickups in it, some say they are Invaders. They don't look like H3 pickups as the pole pieces are different, at least in the pictures i've seen.

I couldn't agree with you more, Hetfield's magic is in his hands... and heart & soul, enough said!!!

Although the Mesa Boogie Mark ii c++ you sold recently will help get mere mortals in the ball park ;)
 
Cant speak for the H3+, but Ive had a H3 in a Les Paul Custom and it sounded great.
They measured at 14.1K
 
I haven’t played an Anderson pickup I disliked yet! It’s interesting that I was mentioned in this thread almost 12 YEARS ago and I’m only now posting in it :lol: :LOL:

My number 1 is an Anderson Hollow Drop Top with an H1+/SA2/HN3+ If that means anything to anyone :rock:
 
You prick I just noticed you bumped a 12 year old thread!
 
itsme":21y06zeu said:
My drop top came with an H2+. Wasn't hot enough for me 11K. Switched in an H3 and I'm much happier. It's only a little over 14K, so certainly not too hot. I wouldn't hesitate to get an H3+. I'm sure that one is still probably a little less output than a JB. Probably mid 15K. My abolute favorite Anderson neck is the H1+. It has that nice LPish neck tone. The lower output ones sounded real thin and weak to me.
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The H-3 is hotter than a JB in my experience, and I much prefer the sound of the H-3. I'd note that pickup output is only loosely correlated with measure resistance. The resistance is only part of the output. It is just the part you can easily measure at home. It's a good comparison between similar constructed pickups from the same manufacturer, but doesn't carry across different lines or across different manufacturers very well.

The H-3+ pickup is a good pickup too, and I'm thinking of loading one of my guitars with an H-3+ once I figure out when neck humbucker I want to match with it.
 
Wow, super old thread. I currently have a H2+ in my strat and another H2+ in my dual humbucker tele, love them both. Very articulate. The H3 ended up being too hot for my liking. The H2+ pickups split really well too, so much that I don't miss having a single coil in the bridge of my strat.
 
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