Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

[Gearjoneser]

I've never been particularly interested in Anderson superstrat type guitars, but I've never picked up a Tom Anderson guitar that wasn't spectacular.

Today, I stopped at Norman's Rare Guitars in Tarzana, Ca. and fell in love with a Hollow T with contoured back. The bridge pickup mounts into the wood, rather than bridge plate like most other teles. The guitar resonated and rang like a bell.

The one I played was trans white w/maple neck. That might be the best playing tele I've ever picked up. It was priced around $2300, so that's not happening for me right now.

Anyone have any love for Tom Anderson guitars? The tummy cut on the back made me wish all teles had that. What a smokin guitar!

 

[tone4days]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

yup

much respect

the suhr tele's are the same

once you get over what they want for them (if you can get over crazy money for a bolt neck instrument), you realize that they are the epitome of the genre

did you plug it in? how did the pickup into the wood sound different than pickup on a baseplate?

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

Anderson's at the top of the Tele heap, IMO.

I tried the body-mounted Tele bridge pickup in my Tele and didn't care for it. The bridge mount just adds too much to the tone, IMO.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

yup

much respect

the suhr tele's are the same

once you get over what they want for them (if you can get over crazy money for a bolt neck instrument), you realize that they are the epitome of the genre

did you plug it in? how did the pickup into the wood sound different than pickup on a baseplate?

The Suhrs, Andersons, and US Schecters pretty much have the same DNA.....like superfast playing Fenders. I have a cool US Schecter, so when I get home, I may spend an hour on the setup, getting it dialed to perfection like the Anderson I played today. The neck on mine is just about as good as the Anderson, but it's got some buzz in the nut slots, so I may cut a new nut for it.

As for the pickup....It looks a bit ugly compared to the traditional plate mounted teles, but it pulls back the steely highs a tiny bit.

The more good guitars you play over your lifetime, the more you just know when you pick up a gem. In a store full of killer guitars, that Anderson kept my full attention. It's not even a fancy looking guitar.....it just had the mojo.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

OK, tonight I pulled out my tele....a US Schecter with the best body and pickups you could wish for.....custom wound Chubtones with Alnico 5 under the wound, and Alnico 3 under the plain.

I dialed in the setup as perfectly as possible, and the neck is a slim and fast neck. The problem is it's good. But great is another level. Great is what that damm Anderson neck was.

Here's the thing about guys like Suhr and Anderson.......they're masters.
They know that carving a neck is an art and science. Fender, Suhr, Anderson, and Schecter all make good necks, but there's a few profiles that are perfect. And what's perfect? There's a point that's fat, D, C, boat, V, slim C, slim tapered.....

What happens with guys like Anderson, Suhr, and Fender's best master builders is that they learn how to dial in necks. My Schecter neck is OK, but it's not what the Suhr and Anderson tele necks are.

That goddamm guitar haunts me now. It's THAT close to perfect, but the thin neck robs tone.

My Schecter body, hardware, and pickups are great, but now it's time to either sell the whole shebang, or swap that neck for a killer one.

That's what happens when you play something amazing. You either consider selling and buying, or you consider swapping one component.

Here's the 1997 American made Schecter I have. It's amazing, but the neck bugs me. Now, it's time to find the neck for it. Those crappy Anderson pickups are gone....it's got handwound Chubtones now. The neck is the only weak point.

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

Trade time Jonesy!!! :scratchch

Peace,

Darrin

 

[tone?]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

I know what you mean Joe.

I cant hardly pick up other guitars now after messing around with Suhrs.
Of course it is ALL in the neck. that is the point your hand 'makes love' to the guitar.
Comfy neck carves are where its all at.

What i really love about the new andersons is that cool new doohicky neck bolt on system. Did that one have it on it??

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

TA makes a great guitar but I'm not much for the bridge on those and I much prefer the pickup mounted to the bridge...however it's all just a matter of opinion.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

Looks like you've got it bad for that Tele GJ! I have to agree about having a tummy cut.... hell my Wayne Tele has a strat like forearm contour as well and it really is the most comfortable and easy playing guitar... made a hell of a difference for me as that's one of the reasons I sold the G&L ASAT.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

Joe,

You have done what I do on a weekly basis. I see/play a great Tele and then I go home and get my Tele out try and get to sound like the one I played at the store. Then I start modding; taking out pickups and mobving them around with other pickguards and such. My advice? Get a pic of that Anderson Tele and stick it up on your fridge. That's the Tele you need. Find a way to get it....

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Oh man.....the Tom Anderson Hollow T Tele!

Since I love the body and pickups on mine, I think I'll wait till I can put a killer neck on it.
The only thing I don't like about my Schecter is the skinny tapered neck that hurts the tone of the guitar. It's like Schecter put an Ibanez Jem neck on a tele.