Tell me about the Tom Anderson H3 and H3+

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Rex Rocker

Rex Rocker

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So these two pickups have been under my radar for some time. Wonder what they're like? How how are they? What's the EQ like? Has anyone had any experience comparing them to the usual suspects (JB, Distortion, etc.)?
 
I love them, have them in several guitars. They are powerful, full sounding, a little warm but not mud, warm in a good full way. If you want the same thing but an EQ curve swung upward with more bite and highs then the HF3 and HF3+ do the trick. Between the H and HF, I have them in about 10 guitars.
 
Awesome, thanks! How about the output? How hot do you think they are? They are ceramic, right?
 
I'd say the H-3 is in a similar output range as the JB, but it's not so peaky in the upper mids and has a bit more focused low-end. It's one of my favorites. (Also, the pickup Mesa used for years for testing, so presumbably matches nicely with their amps.) For me, the H-3 is killer in a lot of super-strat guitars for something with high output, but still rolls off nicely, and is warm but still articulate.

The H-3+ is more aggressive, higher output, and bit more low-end grunt, more in the Distortion level of output. It doesn't clean up as well as the H-3, so I've stayed with the H-3 which is plenty into amps I run. Still, the H-3+ is a great pickup.
 
Awesome, thank you! They are ceramic, right? I see they're not very traditionally built, are they?
 
Rex Rocker said:
Awesome, thank you! They are ceramic, right? I see they're not very traditionally built, are they?
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If I'm not mistaken Tom's pickups uses round magnets as opposed to the bar magnets.
 
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I have the H3+ / H1N set in my Charvel Pro Mod, sound great in this setup. H3+ is a hot pickup, but it has great clarity at least in this setup.

IMG_E2826.jpeg
 
I’ve been a fan of these since the late 1980s when I found out that this was the pick up that James used to record Master of puppets with. I have both H3& H3 plus in four of my guitars. So freaking awesome. The debate goes on as to what pick up James used but I was there when it happened, not actually in the studio but reading guitar player magazines and really into Metallica at the time and I found interviews stating it was the Tom Anderson H3.
 
Had the H3 in one of my Les Pauls for a while, its a great pickup. Output was around 14k from what I remember.
 
I was thinking of getting these for one of my LPs.

I got to meet Billy Howerdel last week and was asking what PUPs he uses.

There was conflicting data out there (H3+ on Equipboard), but he said H1 in Neck and H3 in the Bridge (after checking with his guitar tech).
 
Interesting info, guys! Thanks! Really want to try an H3+ out now!
 
rstites said:
I'd say the H-3 is in a similar output range as the JB, but it's not so peaky in the upper mids and has a bit more focused low-end. It's one of my favorites. (Also, the pickup Mesa used for years for testing, so presumbably matches nicely with their amps.) For me, the H-3 is killer in a lot of super-strat guitars for something with high output, but still rolls off nicely, and is warm but still articulate.

The H-3+ is more aggressive, higher output, and bit more low-end grunt, more in the Distortion level of output. It doesn't clean up as well as the H-3, so I've stayed with the H-3 which is plenty into amps I run. Still, the H-3+ is a great pickup.
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my expeirence spot on!
I also have a H2 and H3 and love it. My H3 in the Wakesurf darker guitar is my favorite. The Maple top with mahogonay body has to be taken into consoderation too -it's perfection with my Slo 30!!.

Here ya go, I don't have the gutair with the HSS anymore



Traded it for this, which has the HC2 plus.



Same amp H3 guitar live

 
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From what i remember of the H3 it was a little more low mid focused than a typical Duncan distortion or jb. A big, fat sounding pickup, but still pretty tight.
 
For me the H3 was hotter than the JB. I found the Anderson H2+ to be more comparable and also much more to my liking.
 
I have had an H3+ and H3 in several Anderson guitars. I have the H3 in my Bulldog and Pro Am. One of my favorite bridge humbuckers ever! Well rounded and not quite as hot as you'd think. Tom makes great pickups. I had an H3+ in my Drop Top when I first spec'ed it (2009). I left it there for about 2 years and switched to an H2+. It is the perfect fit for that guitar! I thought about throwing an H3 in there but the H2+ just fits my Drop Top so well (mahogany body and chocolate maple neck).
 
Very interesting, guys. So you think they're not all that hot to begin with?
 
How’s the H3 split? I have an HF2 in my Drop Top and sometimes wonder if I should go a bit hotter but I do split it quite often
 
According to TA website

Due to their construction, these pickups also split amazingly well.
 
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