Anderson Teles?

Lance · August 6th, 2003, 11:42 AM

The latest Tonequest report featured the Anderson Hollow T. Got a great review. Looks sweet...and stainless frets(mmmm....my favorite). [Note to self - take 2 Rolaids...GAS forming]

Here's pics of a few. Notice also that the tele bridge isn't there...thoughts? Anyone have any of these?

John E · August 6th, 2003, 11:56 AM

I used to be great friends with a dealer (he went out of business and went to work for VHT amps - bummer) who sold all high end bass and guitar stuff... I played many in his shop(Ok I played VERY many) and there was never one that was not a killer guitar. Very modern sounding to my ears, which could be good or bad - I kinda liked that as it made them unique... and they covered a lot of tonal bases. I know Dave Orban who used to post here alot had one that he gigged with all the time, and I remember from his posts that he loved his.

LPBlue · August 6th, 2003, 12:07 PM

They're purty'! Never played one but I'm gettin' the drools :D
J.R.

tellypicker · August 6th, 2003, 01:23 PM

...it was a Hollow T classic, 3 color-burst with white pearl guard. Alder hollow body with ash top. Had faux-binding on front, that is, not inlay binding but taped off paint type binding, so natural wood showed and looked like binding. Had the strat cut outs on backside. Had rosewood board, two pups. It was the best made, smoothest playing guitar I have ever seen, let alone owned. The fretwork was amazing, the fit, tightness, lightness, comfortable, all things perfect except it didn't sound Tele enough and I let it go. His necks were too small for me, although this was in 97 and he may have jumped on the club neck bandwagon by now I do not know. It was a nice sound, but I don't know if it was the missing real bridgeplate or not, but when you got to picking right up on the bridge, the sound petered out completely. Also couldn't dial in that gritty sparkle that a real Tele has when you get on the bridge pup. Just my humble op and ymmv.

sg3000 · August 6th, 2003, 02:00 PM

I have one and I love it. It was made custom for
Pete Anderson and has his name on the case.
Mine is set up with Seymour Duncan Antiquities;
Strat pickups in the middle and neck and flat pole
in the bridge. This one also has an LR Baggs piezo
trim bridge on it. I've had an original '54 tele, reissues, Pre CBS strats,etc., and for flat out playing and recording I can't beat this guitar.
Plays effortlessly and cops the tele tones and great strat type tones, too.
Maybe not 1000% tele like a '50s black guard
but I've been a gear junkie in the past and this
is what I now play ALL of the time. I can get just about everything from Don Rich to David Gilmour out of it.

halouis · August 6th, 2003, 02:03 PM

im sure it sounds great!! and is built very well, BUT 1: can you get over the funny headstock? and 2: why not make a custom pickguard or no pickguard. the cutout for the trad bridge makes no sense when the trad tele bridge is missing. OK call me vain, but i like the classic look OR you gotta really improve on perfection and go radical like the those "guitar girl" teles.

Teleman · August 6th, 2003, 03:14 PM

I also have one and I love it. It is made and set up like the Anderson hollow T Pete Anderson has and uses with Dwight Yoakem.

Mine is set up Anderson VA1 Strat pickups in the middle and neck and an Anderson TV3 in the bridge

The thing sounds great and plays effortlessly.

TwinReverb · August 6th, 2003, 03:28 PM

I agree with halouis. I don't get the cut out for the bridge plate while there is none... I would prefer a "Classic" Tele bridge. I don't think the headstock is a winner, as for that matter neither the Suhr or Tyler headstock, but this is absolutely irrelevant for sound or playability. If it plays great and sounds great go for it. They don't come cheap though:P

Oh dear, just remembered the picture of my "P270" I use for avatar

Jay N. · August 6th, 2003, 03:59 PM

Hollow, swamp ash on swamp ash. Rosewood board.

Pros: unbelievable playability, super light, acoustically resonant, beautiful looks and workmanship

Cons: neck heavy, piercing brightness (bridge pup was almost unusable alone), useless humbucking tones

I sold it and bought an early Relic Nocaster and haven't looked back since even though it's more of a fight to play it.

If I bought another Anderson, I'd get a solid T, a fatter neck (lots of choices) and 1 11/16" nut width (I find their 1 5/8" is too small).

sg3000 · August 6th, 2003, 10:30 PM

I agree that the looks are definitely non-traditional
and for some folks it just ain't a real tele.
Honestly I didn't care much for Anderson guitars
for quite a while. While they played awesome,
there was something a little too hi-fi about them for my
tastes. Then I played one with Antiquities in it and
loved the guitar. The difference was the pickups.
To be honest, some people really like the pickups but I'm just not a fan.
But when you couple their guitars with more traditional pickups it is a great combination. IMHO

August 6th, 2003, 11:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,177	Anderson Teles? The latest Tonequest report featured the Anderson Hollow T. Got a great review. Looks sweet...and stainless frets(mmmm....my favorite). [Note to self - take 2 Rolaids...GAS forming] Here's pics of a few. Notice also that the tele bridge isn't there...thoughts? Anyone have any of these? __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

August 6th, 2003, 11:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
John E Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,396	Anderson makes good stuff... I used to be great friends with a dealer (he went out of business and went to work for VHT amps - bummer) who sold all high end bass and guitar stuff... I played many in his shop(Ok I played VERY many) and there was never one that was not a killer guitar. Very modern sounding to my ears, which could be good or bad - I kinda liked that as it made them unique... and they covered a lot of tonal bases. I know Dave Orban who used to post here alot had one that he gigged with all the time, and I remember from his posts that he loved his.

August 6th, 2003, 12:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
LPBlue Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Markdale Ontario...oot in the woods Age: 52 Posts: 267	They're purty'! Never played one but I'm gettin' the drools :D J.R. __________________ It didn't make that smell when it was new, PULL THE PLUG!

August 6th, 2003, 01:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
tellypicker Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 340	I had one... ...it was a Hollow T classic, 3 color-burst with white pearl guard. Alder hollow body with ash top. Had faux-binding on front, that is, not inlay binding but taped off paint type binding, so natural wood showed and looked like binding. Had the strat cut outs on backside. Had rosewood board, two pups. It was the best made, smoothest playing guitar I have ever seen, let alone owned. The fretwork was amazing, the fit, tightness, lightness, comfortable, all things perfect except it didn't sound Tele enough and I let it go. His necks were too small for me, although this was in 97 and he may have jumped on the club neck bandwagon by now I do not know. It was a nice sound, but I don't know if it was the missing real bridgeplate or not, but when you got to picking right up on the bridge, the sound petered out completely. Also couldn't dial in that gritty sparkle that a real Tele has when you get on the bridge pup. Just my humble op and ymmv. __________________ What would Scooby Do?

August 6th, 2003, 03:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Teleman Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Plainville, CT Posts: 393	Anderson T's are great I also have one and I love it. It is made and set up like the Anderson hollow T Pete Anderson has and uses with Dwight Yoakem. Mine is set up Anderson VA1 Strat pickups in the middle and neck and an Anderson TV3 in the bridge The thing sounds great and plays effortlessly.

August 6th, 2003, 02:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
sg3000 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 62	I have one and I love it. It was made custom for Pete Anderson and has his name on the case. Mine is set up with Seymour Duncan Antiquities; Strat pickups in the middle and neck and flat pole in the bridge. This one also has an LR Baggs piezo trim bridge on it. I've had an original '54 tele, reissues, Pre CBS strats,etc., and for flat out playing and recording I can't beat this guitar. Plays effortlessly and cops the tele tones and great strat type tones, too. Maybe not 1000% tele like a '50s black guard but I've been a gear junkie in the past and this is what I now play ALL of the time. I can get just about everything from Don Rich to David Gilmour out of it.

August 6th, 2003, 02:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
halouis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,404 7 Photos	im sure it sounds great!! and is built very well, BUT 1: can you get over the funny headstock? and 2: why not make a custom pickguard or no pickguard. the cutout for the trad bridge makes no sense when the trad tele bridge is missing. OK call me vain, but i like the classic look OR you gotta really improve on perfection and go radical like the those "guitar girl" teles.

August 6th, 2003, 03:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
TwinReverb Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 477	great guitars .......but I agree with halouis. I don't get the cut out for the bridge plate while there is none... I would prefer a "Classic" Tele bridge. I don't think the headstock is a winner, as for that matter neither the Suhr or Tyler headstock, but this is absolutely irrelevant for sound or playability. If it plays great and sounds great go for it. They don't come cheap though:P Oh dear, just remembered the picture of my "P270" I use for avatar

August 6th, 2003, 03:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jay N. Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 198	I had one... Hollow, swamp ash on swamp ash. Rosewood board. Pros: unbelievable playability, super light, acoustically resonant, beautiful looks and workmanship Cons: neck heavy, piercing brightness (bridge pup was almost unusable alone), useless humbucking tones I sold it and bought an early Relic Nocaster and haven't looked back since even though it's more of a fight to play it. If I bought another Anderson, I'd get a solid T, a fatter neck (lots of choices) and 1 11/16" nut width (I find their 1 5/8" is too small).

August 6th, 2003, 10:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
sg3000 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 62	I agree that the looks are definitely non-traditional and for some folks it just ain't a real tele. Honestly I didn't care much for Anderson guitars for quite a while. While they played awesome, there was something a little too hi-fi about them for my tastes. Then I played one with Antiquities in it and loved the guitar. The difference was the pickups. To be honest, some people really like the pickups but I'm just not a fan. But when you couple their guitars with more traditional pickups it is a great combination. IMHO