Tom Anderson Pickups

S

shane1713

Member
Recently acquired a Guardian Angel Player with an H2+…not really digging it. Looking for something fuller/thicker. Medium to high’ish output. Primarily rock/80’s/blues. Any input appreciated. Would like to stick with Anderson pickups but don’t have any familiarity.
 
From there you'd go to the h3, hc3 (covered) and the + variation of both. I had a a custom pick guard configured for a raven I used to have. Originally had h2+ in the raven and liked the h3 better for more modern and heavier music. I sold the raven but kept the custom guard and loaded it in a mahogany super jazz master with a gotoh 510, hc3 with two va7s and wired with the va boost option. It's a pretty awesome setup. I also tried an h3+ in a mahogany jazz master with a Floyd and found it to be too bassy in that guitar so I pulled it out...
 
The H series is Anderson's non-midrange oriented HB (he calls them broadband/full frequency response). They're his design from the 80s. They are ceramic mag and designed a bit differently from typical PAF style HBs. They have less of a mid-prominent tone, which accentuates the highs and lows. H3 will be hotter and thicker than H2+ but might not be what you're looking for since it's in this same family.

The HC and HF series are TA's more recent HBs that were designed to be his take on the more typical HB sound. They are more mids-oriented, like a traditional HB and hotter derivatives, and use alnico instead of ceramic. The HF is the same as the HC. HC is covered, HF is not. From what you wrote, it sounds like you might want an HC/HF2 or maybe the HC/HF2+.
 
I switched my H2+ out for an H3 and like it much better. Keep in mind that Anderson pickups like to be lower than normal pickups. If you have them too close, they get harsh. My treble side is fairly low and the bass side slightly closer. Sounds pretty full
 
I’ve had an H3 and an H3+ in different guitars, they both sounded great.
Very well constructed too. (All Tom’s pickups)
 
Fiesta Red said:
What don't you like about the H2+?
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I liked it's tone just fine, I just wanted a bit more oomph. I really wanted the h2+ to sound like it did with the va boost engaged as it's starting point and still have the va boost available, TA recommended I go H3/HC3.
 
Ive tried a bunch of the Anderson pickups. HC2+ and HC3 are my fav. The H pickups are nice too but have a dryer sound and wider eq. In the right guitar they are great also. The HC pickups sound like a really good modern PAF, so traditional mids and smooth highs, bass is not super tight but its fast and clear, no mud.
 
BlueParfait said:
It sounded fuller and more dynamic than the H3, with more note bloom, while not being a dull fat slab like the HC3+

It's a scuffed comparison, but here it is compared to a Suhr Aldrich (similar specs on paper aside from pole pieces) installed in a guitar with nearly identical specs
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I’ve been eyeballing the HCs. Thanks for the description!
 
Dale B said:
I’ve been eyeballing the HCs. Thanks for the description!
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You're welcome.

Now I've never tried these pickups outside of an Anderson, though, so I can't comment on that. Local pickup repair and custom winder guy here says they sound best in Andersons and Andersons sound best with them lol. Not sure how true that is, but I found the "this brand guitar sounds best with this brand pickup" to be the case generally with Ibanez and DiMarzio
 
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BlueParfait said:
You're welcome.

Now I've never tried these pickups outside of an Anderson, though, so I can't comment on that. Local pickup repair and custom winder guy here says they sound best in Andersons and Andersons sound best with them lol. Not sure how true that is, but I found that to be the case generally with Ibanez and DiMarzio
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I have used them in Les Pauls, PRS and Ibanez for 20 years. That’s the H3+ and H2+. I want to try the HC, so it’s worth a shot.
 
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