glip22
Well-known member
Which one and Why?
rupe
Active member
They're essentially the same guitar, difference being the drop top has a maple top. I would say it depends more on what you want from an aesthetic standpoint than anything functional. If you want a fancy maple top, go Drop Top...if you want a solid color or graphic, go Pro Am. I'm sure there are some subtle tonal differences as well that would go unnoticed by most of the high gain neanderthals on this forum 
glip22
Well-known member
Thanks Rupe. I have 2 Suhr Moderns and a Melancon Custom and I keep wanting an Anderson. Not sure whyrupe":19l7ajxf said:They're essentially the same guitar, difference being the drop top has a maple top. I would say it depends more on what you want from an aesthetic standpoint than anything functional. If you want a fancy maple top, go Drop Top...if you want a solid color or graphic, go Pro Am. I'm sure there are some subtle tonal differences as well that would go unnoticed by most of the high gain neanderthals on this forum
steve_k
New member
The Pro Am is a solid body, Super-Strat. Alder or basswood and painted. These are more of the go to Anderson's in my bevy. Same body cut and drop top. The Drop Top are two piece bodies, quilt or flame tops, mahogany back, alder or basswood. Certainly, the Drop Top with a exotic top is going to be a prettier guitar. The Pro Am is a little heavier. Tone wise, I don't know as they seem about the same. If you are into all the switching configurations, the Drop Top would be the one to go with as I don't think these are available on Pro Am's. And, there is at least $500 difference with the Pro Am being the cheaper, for obvious reasons. I would be fine having all Pro Am models as they play well and are very comfortable to me. Tom has quite a few neck options for radius and taper to suit and a lot of pick up options and configurations. You won't go wrong with either. He's got a lot of good info on his website too.
Steve
Steve
rupe
Active member
No problem. They are simply great guitars...I'm confident that you'll appreciate the extra care Tom puts into his work (ala Suhr and Melancon). Even though there are "standards" as to what you can get for each model, Tom will build pretty much whatever you want within reason. The only thing he won't do is a painted/stained headstock with a maple fretboard (there is a purple Drop Top out there like this but he won't do it again).glip22":11wbba85 said:Thanks Rupe. I have 2 Suhr Moderns and a Melancon Custom and I keep wanting an Anderson. Not sure whyrupe":11wbba85 said:They're essentially the same guitar, difference being the drop top has a maple top. I would say it depends more on what you want from an aesthetic standpoint than anything functional. If you want a fancy maple top, go Drop Top...if you want a solid color or graphic, go Pro Am. I'm sure there are some subtle tonal differences as well that would go unnoticed by most of the high gain neanderthals on this forum
glip22
Well-known member
Thanks Guys. Im Gassin for one. I have my eye on a few.
killertone
Well-known member
ProAms are also available in Swamp Ash and Mahogany. I have a Drop Top 7 on order now and will be ordering a Pro Am 7 in th enext month or so.
glip22
Well-known member
The 7's look great.killertone":1o9mk4rh said:
gibson5413
Well-known member
From what I have read the 7s are now available all the time. They used to be on special runs only. Good to hear this: http://andersonforum.com/board/showpost ... ostcount=9
thiswaythatway
Well-known member
I never played a Pro Am but if you wanted a solid Alder body with a solid paint then that would be the way to go. Drop Top's have the maple top. All the Drop Top's I've played with basswood/maple configuration have been just killer sounding. Take a look at what neck shapes are available.
War Admiral
New member
Ive owned a drop top t and tried a pro am. The Anderson T was killer and never went out of tune with a nice snap on the top and full tone...the pro am sounded thicker and harder if that made any sense. The wood says it all I guess.
steve_k
New member
You won't go wrong with any of them. I own 5 of them now. 2 Drop Top's, 2 Pro Am's and 1 Classic. All are OFR equipped. A few different PU configurations and 2 different neck configurations. A couple things I did find was that for the bridge, I got to have the HN3+ PU. Neck PU wasn't critical, but I like the HS set up with an SC1 up front. Basic switching with no micro-switches and no pull pots. The Even Taper neck is great for me. All of mine have maple necks with satin finish and a couple with maple boards the rest with rosewood. With Tom Anderson, they are all made in the USA and Tom is a hell of a nice guy. If you had time to wait, having one custom built will ensure you get all the details you desire. Rarely will you see a used Drop Top come up for sale.
Here's the custom build if you need some more gas relief.....
And more......
Here's the custom build if you need some more gas relief.....
And more......
supersonic
New member
A Drop Top has a maple top bent to the shape of the forearm cut, a Pro Am does not. Depends if you like a maple top.glip22":lpsg2gvk said:
steve_k
New member
supersonic":10bm7ibc said:
They both have a forearm cut. And a belly cut.....
glip22
Well-known member
STEEEEVVVVEEEEsteve_k":1znf9tau said:supersonic":1znf9tau said:
They both have a forearm cut. And a belly cut.....
Hagen, Drop Top 
supersonic
New member
Not sure what you mean. The Drop Top gets its' name from the maple top being bent or Droped to the shape of the body. The Pro Am does not have a Maple top.steve_k":13fcpy21 said:supersonic":13fcpy21 said:
They both have a forearm cut. And a belly cut.....
reverymike
Active member
I'll do my part to stir up the GAS. . .I submit my 1993 Drop Top.
glip22
Well-known member
Killerreverymike":18n9zzb9 said:I'll do my part to stir up the GAS. . .I submit my 1993 Drop Top.
steve_k
New member
supersonic":1huwizvq said:Not sure what you mean. The Drop Top gets its' name from the maple top being bent or Droped to the shape of the body. The Pro Am does not have a Maple top.steve_k":1huwizvq said:supersonic":1huwizvq said:
They both have a forearm cut. And a belly cut.....
You are talking about the Forearm cut? The Drop Top has a maple top laid over the body wood with a Forearm cut. The Pro-Am is a solid body with the Forearm cut. The DT has binding, the Pro-Am doesn't.
Not entirely sure what you are on about. I have both and the are identical with respect to the Forearm cuts.
Steve
steve_k
New member
reverymike":2quh5lvw said:I'll do my part to stir up the GAS. . .I submit my 1993 Drop Top.
....and, my latest Drop Top that just arrived from the custom shop, was because I stole Mike's color after severe gas and he wouldn't sell it to me.....
I'll take it out in the sunshine and get some comparison photos. The top is awesome. Haven't had a chance to play it yet.
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