Product: Anderson VA
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
10/09/2007
at
11:56am
by
Thom
Features
:
Single coil. Passive. Specs on the website.
Instrument
:
Tom Anderson Classic. All 3 positions. Replaced some other Andersons that were stacked humbuckers. However, on my many other guitars, I have Fender American, Fender Cobalt Noiseless, Van Zandt, Semour Duncan. I know sounds... I replaced the other Andersons because I wanted the chime that only a true single coil can get you. The stacked humbuckers could be split but it is a 9/10 vs. a 10/10.
Sound
:
10
I have found the perfect single coil strat pickup. How do I explain Nirvana? As stated above, I have so many guitars with so many pickups that I was looking for this sound. The highs are just right, the mids are right and the lows are right. Everything is just the perfect blend. In addition, they are pretty noise free even through a tube amp and the lights blaring.
Overall Rating
:
10
If I could afford it, I would put them in every strat guitar I own. I paid $100 each for 3 and I would pay more.
Product: Anderson VA
Price Paid: US $60
Submitted
04/28/2003
at
12:30pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
Pickup features: Vintage Strat single coil set
Impedence or other specs:
Instrument
:
Model of guitar or bass: Squire Affinity Srat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): rock, alternative, indie
Reason for pickup change: Found a full set of brand new Anderson VA (VA2, VA1-R, VA1) for $60 total! I knew nothing about Anderson at the time but bought them based on how big the discount was.
Sound
:
No Opinion
Perceived output level: Average to slightly hot.
Tone: Very balanced, very musical, proto-typical Strat.
Sonic evaluation: I use this guitar with a vintage '65 Deluxe, a tweaked Marshall DSL201, Laney VC30, BF Champ. The Andersons sound great thru everything, the tone is articulate yet harmonic. Of course they're noisy, as vintage single coil's are expected to be.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Classic Strat tones from a Squire, this guitar sounds better than alot of Custom Shop jobs.
Overall Rating
:
10
Comments: I've been playing for 30yrs and own a pile of great guitars. I recently bought a Squire from a teenager that needed some $. I've never been a Strat kinda guy, but heard the Squire makes a decent gig guitar if you do some good pickups and tuners. After putting in the Anderson VA set, I can tell you it's true, the Squire is more than gigable.
If you're into price/performance more than name appeal, a Squire, a set of Gotoh tuners, and a set of Anderson VA's will put you in Strat heaven. It would have been worth it even paying street prices for the VA's, they transformed an entry level guitar into something a gigging pro will actually use. The VA's are definitely a cut above the typical retail brand aftermarket pickup.
