Tom Anderson Pickups

[the rossness]

I'm thinking of putting some Tom Anderson pups into my Charvel Condomcaster and wanted to get the gereral concensus on if they're good or not. I've played a few TA guitars and aave always liked them more than Suhr's, especially their PU's. I find that the ones I've played seem to be very fat sounding while retaining clarity and harmonics. I'm looking for something that Has huge bottom end, mids like a JB and is incredibly hot in output, but doesn't sound super modern. Does TA make such a pickup or should I look elsewhere? For the same price, I could get a BKP which everyone seems to rave about. Just thought I'd get some opinions before I pull the trigger.

Peace~

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've got a H2+ loaded in my PRS. I've also had the HN3+ and the HN3. The HN3 sounds like what you're after. It's similar to the JB in that the upper mid frequencies are very present, but that's were the similarities end. Unlike the JB, the Anderson pup is clear and articulate. Doesn't get muddy with fast, thrash style playing. The HN3+ is darker and has more low mids. In the end I went with the H2+ because it's not as hot as the other two and is more balanced across the tonal spectrum. In general, Anderson pups are hi-fi, articulate, and wide sounding. You can't go wrong with any of them, imho.

If you go with BK, I think the Holy Diver covers the JBesque territory. I haven't tried any though.

 

[lester]

H3's sound great - thick, kinda hot and a pretty unique mid.



.

 

[supersonic]

Here's a track mainly using an H3. There is a single coil track (TA Sa1) 0:40-0:53. I like the H3 better than the H2+ ATM due to it's extra fluidity and bottom end.
Not sure that this is the model that would suit you but it may help.
https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=11338199

 

[Dave L]

My favorite is the H3+, but if you want some JB-ish mids you probably want the HN3 or HN3+.

 

[blackba]

In my strat I went from a JB regular spaced, to a JB tremspaced, to an Anderson H3, to an Anderson H2+. The H3 was too hot for me, the H2+ has been great, but it doesn't have the mids of the regular spaced JB. So probably another Anderson is a better choice if you are trying to get closer to the JB in sound. The H2+ is a great pickup, but it is significantly different sounding than a JB, it took me a while to get used to it, but I love it now.

 

[rupe]

The H2+ is my all time favorite pickup. It has a similar output to a JB but is voiced wider and more evenly across the frequencies. As others have mentioned, the HN series is where you should be looking if you want the upper mid push of a JB with a tighter low end.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I love Anderson Pickups.

 

[7 Stringer]

I love Anderson Pickups.

Me like more than you.

My all time favorites also, have them in all my guitars.

Chris

 

[Metlupass2]

H3+

Read up here

http://www.andersonguitars.com/customco ... s_0609.pdf

 

[dpeterson]

H2+ is perfect... Toms favorite is the H2 btw.

 

[Metlupass2]

H2+ is perfect... Toms favorite is the H2 btw.

Not if he wants more output and bigger bottom end.

 

[Heritage Softail]

How about h2+ neck and h3+ bridge?

That is the pup combination in a Pro Am I have coming my way. On the Anderson website those seem like a great set of hard rock to metal pups...

Glad to hear so much love for those 2.

 

[rupe]

How about h2+ neck and h3+ bridge?

That is the pup combination in a Pro Am I have coming my way. On the Anderson website those seem like a great set of hard rock to metal pups...

Glad to hear so much love for those 2.

The H2+ is typically a medium/hot bridge pickup...I would think it would be a bit much for the neck position. That said, it's articulate enough that I could see the potential for it to work...I'll be curious to hear what think. It's gonna be a flamethrower for sure.

 

[mniel8195]

if you wanted a different option for that guitar i would also say a bkp holy diver combo would sound good. I would love to try the andersons

 

[Heritage Softail]

How about h2+ neck and h3+ bridge?

That is the pup combination in a Pro Am I have coming my way. On the Anderson website those seem like a great set of hard rock to metal pups...

Glad to hear so much love for those 2.

The H2+ is typically a medium/hot bridge pickup...I would think it would be a bit much for the neck position. That said, it's articulate enough that I could see the potential for it to work...I'll be curious to hear what think. It's gonna be a flamethrower for sure.

Sweet I'm buying it for flamethrower duty.

May pull the H2+ and just try it in an LP, and Suhr Standard.

Great info in this thread...

 

[scottosan]

I recommend an H3 or H3 plus. I would stay away from the HN3,HN3+. While they do have a mid emphasis, the top end really suffers. I almost sold an amp because it sounded like it had a blanket over it with an HN3+, I ordered and H3 and it it literally sounded like a different amp with tons more clarity.

 

[JTyson]

I love the H2+, the H3 and H3+, all for different reasons
the H2+ is hard to beat

 

[jcj]

Every Anderson I've owned has ended up with an H2+ in the bridge; very tough to beat.

Anything hotter just ends up sounding too dark and compressed; really changes the whole character of the guitar, for me.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Every Anderson I've owned has ended up with an H2+ in the bridge; very tough to beat.

Anything hotter just ends up sounding too dark and compressed; really changes the whole character of the guitar, for me.

I am not a pickup expert, as in understanding the why of the compression. But, can you just dial back the volume on your guitar? I have an X2N in an old SG. That pup is not one to sweeten up at all. The SD does sweeten up a bit dialed back. Those two pups are very old 1982 vintage. I hear the pups from 30 years ago are a little better grade CU.