Anderson Pickups

[LP Freak]

I know this one's been brought up before but what's your favorite Anderson humbucker and why? How do they stack up to other brands?

 

[glpg80]

H3 with a boost on at all times - it has the suhr aldrich attitude, but much cleaner character and without the output, and cleans up REALLY good - overall attitude wise it sounds great and is my favorite anderson pickup, i wouldnt mind having a few on the shelf for shits and giggles to slap in a particular guitar.

problem though is output - its not very powerful output wise - the sustain lacks - id say 3/10 weaker than a wolfgang pickup/tonezone. so the boost would be needed for me.

character wise i really like it though

 

[dpeterson]

H2+ is the perfect humbucker imho... the H3 was a little hot for me. hard to compare, if anything they seem a little more neutral than other brands.

 

[supersonic]

I've got a H2, H2+ and H3. I swapped from a H3 to the H2+ some time ago and have been using it for well over a year. The H3 was a little hot and dark in my XTC. Recently I've been playing through a Marsha and I've put the H3 back in. It seems to work well with the Marshall tone BUT I still haven't played this combo in a band situation due to the Xmas break. The H2+ is more "classic rock", the H3 is more"modern rock". I couldn't imagine needing anything higher output.

 

[glpg80]

I've got a H2, H2+ and H3. I swapped from a H3 to the H2+ some time ago and have been using it for well over a year. The H3 was a little hot and dark in my XTC. Recently I've been playing through a Marsha and I've put the H3 back in. It seems to work well with the Marshall tone BUT I still haven't played this combo in a band situation due to the Xmas break. The H2+ is more "classic rock", the H3 is more"modern rock". I couldn't imagine needing anything higher output.

higher output is all personal preference, but FWIW the JB and the duncan distortion are hotter than the H3 - i know because i own both and can tell a huge difference - especially with the JB.

the H3 was balanced tone wise in the guitar i played - if anything it cut like a knife no natter where you were on the neck. it made all other surrounding pickups/guitars sound thin in comparison.

FWIW a weak pickup strat has its place, but if im going to play a humbucker i want alot at my fingertips on the volume control. amplifiers can deliver the crunchy goods by dialing back the gain. i cant stand weak humbuckers though - its why i prefer the H3. its "almost there" to me. YMMV.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

H2+ is my favorite pickup!


the H2+ is just a tad less hot than a Duncan JB, and the H3 a little hotter IMHO.


H3 is also a nice pickup, just slightly darker and hotter.

 

[LP Freak]

I have an H3 and it seems hotter that my Aldrich. I'm not sure if it's really hotter or just not as articulate. Does anyone know the output on the H Series?

 

[LP Freak]

I've got a H2, H2+ and H3. I swapped from a H3 to the H2+ some time ago and have been using it for well over a year. The H3 was a little hot and dark in my XTC. Recently I've been playing through a Marsha and I've put the H3 back in. It seems to work well with the Marshall tone BUT I still haven't played this combo in a band situation due to the Xmas break. The H2+ is more "classic rock", the H3 is more"modern rock". I couldn't imagine needing anything higher output.

Would you say the H3 is darker than the H2+?

 

[supersonic]

I've got a H2, H2+ and H3. I swapped from a H3 to the H2+ some time ago and have been using it for well over a year. The H3 was a little hot and dark in my XTC. Recently I've been playing through a Marsha and I've put the H3 back in. It seems to work well with the Marshall tone BUT I still haven't played this combo in a band situation due to the Xmas break. The H2+ is more "classic rock", the H3 is more"modern rock". I couldn't imagine needing anything higher output.

Would you say the H3 is darker than the H2+?

Yes. Hotter, more compressed, legato, aggressive. The H2+ has more bite and brighter.

 

[supersonic]

I've got a H2, H2+ and H3. I swapped from a H3 to the H2+ some time ago and have been using it for well over a year. The H3 was a little hot and dark in my XTC. Recently I've been playing through a Marsha and I've put the H3 back in. It seems to work well with the Marshall tone BUT I still haven't played this combo in a band situation due to the Xmas break. The H2+ is more "classic rock", the H3 is more"modern rock". I couldn't imagine needing anything higher output.

higher output is all personal preference, but FWIW the JB and the duncan distortion are hotter than the H3 - i know because i own both and can tell a huge difference - especially with the JB.

the H3 was balanced tone wise in the guitar i played - if anything it cut like a knife no natter where you were on the neck. it made all other surrounding pickups/guitars sound thin in comparison.

FWIW a weak pickup strat has its place, but if im going to play a humbucker i want alot at my fingertips on the volume control. amplifiers can deliver the crunchy goods by dialing back the gain. i cant stand weak humbuckers though - its why i prefer the H3. its "almost there" to me. YMMV.

I should have typed, "for my needs".

 

[rupe]

H2+ is my favorite pickup!


the H2+ is just a tad less hot than a Duncan JB, and the H3 a little hotter IMHO.


H3 is also a nice pickup, just slightly darker and hotter.

This. The H2+ has a bigger yet tighter bottom than a JB as well along with clearer highs and no high mid harshness...a very big sounding pickup and my all time favorite humbucker.

 

[LP Freak]

H2+ is my favorite pickup!


the H2+ is just a tad less hot than a Duncan JB, and the H3 a little hotter IMHO.


H3 is also a nice pickup, just slightly darker and hotter.

This. The H2+ has a bigger yet tighter bottom than a JB as well along with clearer highs and no high mid harshness...a very big sounding pickup and my all time favorite humbucker.

I think I need to replace my H3 with an H2+.

 

[Code001]

If anyone is interested, I'll sell my H2+ for $55 shipped. It has 10'' of lead and comes with the mounting screws. I went back and forth between the H2+ and H3 for a few months, and I decided the H3 is better for me since I play metal most of the time.

 

[LP Freak]

If anyone is interested, I'll sell my H2+ for $55 shipped. It has 10'' of lead and comes with the mounting screws. I went back and forth between the H2+ and H3 for a few months, and I decided the H3 is better for me since I play metal most of the time.

Gone.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've got or had an HN3, HN3+, H2+, and an H1.

The H2+ is my favorite out of the bunch. It's perfect for heavy rock.

HN3 reminded me a lot of the JB because of the spiked upper mids. It sounded miles better too.

HN3+ is huge and dark. Lots of output but not muddy.

The H1 is cool, but I'm in the process of swapping out neck pickups to find one I like the best.

Overall, Andersons are Hi-Fi, articulate, big, and immediate. They wouldn't be my first choice for raw, classic tones, but for modern rock and metal they're hard to beat.

 

[HELSTRUME]

Maybe I should think about getting the HN3 again. I want a better JB sound.

 

[LP Freak]

I'm gonna give the H2+ a try. If it doesn't cut it I've got a set of Aldrich on standby.

 

[MrDan666]

I have an H3 and it seems hotter that my Aldrich. I'm not sure if it's really hotter or just not as articulate. Does anyone know the output on the H Series?

Hey Paul,

I have done extensive tests with the Aldrich and H3 in the same guitar, and i would say output-wise it is hotter than the Aldrich. It also is darker and a bit smoother/more compressed too

 

[eternal_idol]

having owned both aldrich and h3 in the same guitar, i find the output are similar with the aldrich being the brighter and more open of the pair.

sounds like i should check out the HN3.. i liked the H3 but wanted more upper mids and less low low end

 

[LP Freak]

I have an H3 and it seems hotter that my Aldrich. I'm not sure if it's really hotter or just not as articulate. Does anyone know the output on the H Series?

Hey Paul,

I have done extensive tests with the Aldrich and H3 in the same guitar, and i would say output-wise it is hotter than the Aldrich. It also is darker and a bit smoother/more compressed too

Thanks Dan, that seems to be my take on it too. I just wasn't sure because they were in two different guitars but that confirms it.