Anderson H3+
Submitted at: 16:52, 8/6/2003
Product Info
Pickup features: HB, passive.
Impedence or other specs: Best to get it from mfr website.
Price Paid: US $60 used
Purchased from: private party
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Fender Jazzmaster '64
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan JB
Other pickups on guitar: Tom Anderson H1
Artists using this pickup: don't know
You musical style(s): Prog Rock, Bluesy Jazz
Reason for pickup change: Liked the warmth and character of the H1 in the neck position. In comparison, the JB was pretty hot but fairly sterile... really only served for scorching leadwork.
Sound
Perceived output level: Seems to be a little more than the JB but the sound character is different making an "ear appraisal" of the output a little tricky. Hotter than the H1 but balances well with it.
Tone: Tone is considerably darker than the H1 and even a little darker than the JB. Not my most favorite balance for clean but man oh man this pickup screams in od/distort modes, just unbelievable.
Sonic evaluation: Jazzmaster w/Andersons>GNX3>Carvin X100B with Fender Deluxe 90 for stereo. Also use a natural ash Strat with Joe Bardens, a Yamaha sg style w/Bill Lawrence's and a Dillion.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Prog Rock, Bluesy Jazz - originals and covers of Steely Dan etc. The H3+ is a great lead pickup - the harmonics are outstanding - and it balances well with the H1; I really like them together and out-of-phase (quack).
Overall Rating
Comments: It's excellent for blues and big-sustain leads. If it disappeared I might consider getting a less hot Anderson, maybe an H2, trading off some output for warmth, but this will work just fine, thanks.
Matching pickup to wood takes some trial and error for best result and no one pickup covers everything so I use different makes on different guitars. Over the years my favorites are Lawrence, Barden and now Anderson, because they give outstanding note definition and nuance... even with gain set way up none of these get muddy.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 9
Submitted at: 17:49, 1/29/2002
Product Info
Pickup features: Passive
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: US $75.00
Purchased from: N/A
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG 60
Other pickups on guitar: Anderson H1+, replaced other EMG 60
Artists using this pickup: Billy Howerdel, A Perfect Circle
You musical style(s): Industrial, Progressive Rock
Reason for pickup change: EMGs suck. Plain and simple. They are the most sterile, lifeless pickups on the face of the planet. A pickup should affect your sound, but not determine exactly what it will sound like before and after it hits the amp. The sound is exactly the same between a driven Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and a TSL 100 Marshall. That blows, and so do EMG's.
Sound
Perceived output level: Extremely hot. Only the HN3+ is hotter. This is the hottest pickup that I've ever played with, yet it is the cleanest, quietest humbucker that I've ever heard.
Tone: Completely balanced. What incredible tone. To die for.
Sonic evaluation: I work with one of the guys who worked with Tom Anderson himself when they were both at Schecter years ago. He said that Anderson pickups are basically a Schecter design, or the design that was happening twenty years ago. Schecter sucks now, but then the instruments were incredible sounding and incredibly expensive.
This pickup is the most interesting pickup that I've heard so far. Everything else out there is cookie-cutter crap, except vintage Gibson PAF's. This pickup is INCREDIBLY HOT and sounds totally different in my Les Paul than any stock pickup.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great match with any style. I like having my volume knob on seven, then being able to just roll it up for a gain boost. It cleans up really well, too. Hell, this thing even made my POD sound totally different. The Dual Rectifier sounds LIKE a Dual Rectifier now....
Overall Rating
Comments: Buy this pickup. Andersons are cheap, well built and incredible sounding. If you want a different sound, but want GOOD tone, try this pickup. You WON'T be dissapointed....
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 9
Submitted by: Jordan Wagner
Submitted at: 17:43, 1/29/2002
Product Info
Pickup features: Passive
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: US $75.00
Purchased from: N/A
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG 60
Other pickups on guitar: Anderson H1+, replaced other EMG 60
Artists using this pickup: Billy Howerdel, A Perfect Circle
You musical style(s): Industrial, Progressive Rock
Reason for pickup change: EMGs suck. Plain and simple. They are the most sterile, lifeless pickups on the face of the planet. A pickup should affect your sound, but not determine exactly what it will sound like before and after it hits the amp. The sound is exactly the same between a driven Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and a TSL 100 Marshall. That blows, and so do EMG's.
Sound
Perceived output level: Extremely hot. Only the HN3+ is hotter. This is the hottest pickup that I've ever played with, yet it is the cleanest, quietest humbucker that I
Tone:
Sonic evaluation:
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:
Overall Rating
Comments:
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: No Opinion