Anderson Crowdster Plus

Features: Flamed-maple top with chambered mahagony cutaway body; Bolt-on extremely tight fitted 2-bolt design; Anderson acoustic neck design - mahagony with African rosewood fingerboard; 24.75" scale length; small fret (Anderson stainless); LR Baggs piezo electronics; CMA electric pickup. Electronics: Vol, Vol, Treble, Middle, Bass, acoutic/ electric pickup selector, switch stereo / mono switch.

Just wished the electric pickup electronics included a tone control for added versatility.

First of all, this is an acoustic guitar, yes..slimline, but not an electric foundation that added a piezo pickup for acoustic tones. It's unplugged voice is very acoustic (and is actually loud for an instrument with no soundholes) and more importantly, it feels like an acoustic guitar.

Acoustic section:
This guitar packs an awesome amplified acoustic guitar sound. All those frequencies that have to be constantly cut to avoid causing a standard acoustic guitar to feedback can be heavily exploited to generate a huge sound. No more having to mute the strings (as a preventive feedback technique) while you strum / pick to avoid that feedback or worse having to cover the soundhole which really mutes a standard acoustic guitar's sound. The powerful eq for the piezo
pickup can greatly change the guitar's persona to sound like many different acoustic guitars. If I want to get the Taylor-like sound, I can scoop out the mids or add some and bass for that Martin-like sound.

You may not get as "transparent" an amplified acoustic sound as a good sounding acoustic with a piezo but at medium to high volumes, you will have no problem getting a great acoustic sound (no matter how you face the monitors or the mains) that I have not heard any standard acoustic guitar match. Going through a decent PA (with no additional tone shaping preamp prior to the board), I was able to get a great volume even with a drummer who was playing at a good volume. And if you every wanted to get a great acoustic solo tone live (think "Year of the Cat"), no problem here and it can do so much more. I never had any acoustic able to command an amplified sound like this one. I've had nothing but compliments on its tone.

Electric section:
Do not be fooled into thinking that electric guitar section will be a muddy sounding after thought, it is extremely well-balanced all around with great crispness. The sound really jumps out of this instrument thanks to the wood combination but also due to the chambered body. It is light! Clean sounds can sound semi-Tele to jazzy with amplifier tone manipulation (remember no tone knob for the electric side). The overdrive sound is really big like a nice
sounding ES-335 on the rear pickup with a touch more highs and slightly less lows. This electric voice can definitely eat up some regular electric guitars. Beware lead guitarists if you have a lead singer/acoustic player and he/she gets this guitar, his/her tone may have you searching for a new instrument! Very responsive..no mud here!!

Blending the two, acoustic through the PA and electric amp mic'd(old Fender with pedals) or electric guitar pedal processor (Zonelabs SE) through the PA, the sound is amazing especially in the stereo mode. It really can sound like two guitar players because the two sounds are so good yet entirely different. Clean acoustic with light overdrive and delay..awesome...Jazz tone with a touch of piezo for bite...unreal. Many sonic combinations are available and will
be only limited to your creativity!

I have not played any of the Taylor T5 series. I also looked at the Goldins but IMO the Crowdster feels more "right" (playing hour(s) spots with this guitar will not tire you) than the acoustic series-Goldins (although Goldins are awesome, great sounding instruments) and compared to the designs like the Parker Fly medium high-end models (basswood composite or mahagony), the Anderson acoustic section totally blows this guitar away and the electric section, though more limited, exhibits the breathing power and authority of a lively electric guitar whereas the Fly in my experience has sounded sonically compromised. Best of all, this guitar is STILL light. Just think if this guitar had two pickups!!! (as the previous reviewer mentioned).

The build of this instrument is first-rate all around. Setup, frets, finish, hardware and electronics are all great.
The neck is really good and fast for soloing and comfortable for chording. For me, it's a bit narrow for chording near the nut but workable.

Like all Andersons, I have no doubt that this guitar will be able to survive many gigs and then some. They look really beautiful with the awesome finishes but they also can take a beating. I own some of their electrics and they have survived years of performances and falls!!

This guitar is setup great and I'm not sure if I'll need any repairs/modifications. However, if that should arise, the Anderson Support staff is really friendly and knowledgeable. I have dealt with them a few times.

Been playing for over 25 years. Would replace this guitar if it got stolen (if I could find one). Great guitar, awesomely setup, awesome sounding. Put a tone knob for the electric section and this guitar would be perfect.

Model - Crowdster Acoustic Electric Plus made in June 2006 (It was designed with David Crowder in mind, so it's designed for Worship Leaders who want to play acoustic in loud situations... This is the "plus" version with the electric pickup, designed for the guy --like me-- who wants to switch from acoustic to electric and back of both. So Versatility is OFF THE CHARTS with this one!)
Body Finish - Natural w Autumn Bursted Edge with Binding (binding is part of the maple top.)
Body Wood - Soilid Flamed Maple on Mahogany BEAUTIFUL finish, GORGEOUS flame
Neck Wood - Mahogany, African Rosewood Fretboard
Neck Finish - Glossy on Headstock, Satin Back
Nutwidth - 1.73 in
Frets - Small Stainless Steel 22 frets
Hardware - Chrome
Bridge - Acoustic
Pickups - LR Baggs CMA (Electric pickup for use with Bronze strings
Switching - Electric Volume, Acoustic Volume, Acoustic: Treble, Middle, Bass, 3 Way switch that switches between electric pickup, acoustic or both.
Strings - .011-.052 Elixir lights
Formfit Hardshell Case included

Best looking guitar I've ever owned.

I lead worship in a church and am often trying to switch between electric and acoustic sounds. I already have two Godin's that are two voice (Flat Five X and Multiac Jazz) and they are AWESOME, but they are Electric guitars with an acoustic-style piezo pickup system under the bridge. This, however, is a full on solid-body acoustic guitar with a specially designed pickup (in the normal "lead" position) that works with bronze strings, so it sounds really electric and REALLY acoustic. I run the electric side through a Vox ToneLab and the acoustic side through a Yamaha AG-Stomp. Then I mix the signals together with a Mackie 1202 and send 'em to the board. When I dial both in, it sounds HUGE! I kinda wish it had two electric pickups instead of one, but it sounds amazing nonetheless.

It has a great crisp, very present acoustic sound, a very full rich electric sound that can, if you need it to, really SHRED even! And all that with bronze acoustic strings on it! AMAZING!

Guitars from Anderson (I've played quite a few of them) are always set up perfectly. Not well, Not very well... perfectly. About a week after it settled into my climate it needed a VERY slight neck tweak (totally normal for any wooden instrument), but every detail about the fit and finish of this guitar is better than any other brand of guitar I have ever had. As good as or better than any PRS, Grosh, stuff like that. Certainly as good as or better than any real high end Fender Custom Shop or Gibson Historic guitar. Fret dressing is unbelievable, and I, for one, LOVE the Stainless Steel frets. The top is just a work of art. The neck joint is fabulous. It's just plain perfect.

I've played Andersons, I've known guys who've owned them for years. I have no reason to expect anything but a very long life from this guitar. I would never play a guitar without a backup, because I tend ot break the occasional string and plus it looks cool if you have multiple cool looking guitars, but I might be tempted with this guy.

Only had this guitar for a little less than a month, but I have known guys with Andersons, and used to work in a store that sold them.

I emailed the company with questions, and Tom himself answered them all, much to my satisfaction. He knew this guitar was a niche product and was so careful about recommending it that he basically tried to talk me out of it.

Didn't work, the more he described what it would do, the more i wanted it. It was MADE for me.

Who knows what will happen with the warranty, with Tom downsizing his company in March. I don't expect this instrument to ever need any serious repair.

I've been playing for over 25 years. I have 3 Godins (NICE ones, not the cheap ones... though they're pretty good, too) and a great US Masters Strat from the late 90s. I've had high end Gibsons, G & Ls, Heritage, Ibanez, Fenders... I've worked in a music store so I've played everything. Andersons are the best. Period. I've never played a guitar better. High-end PRS, Grosh, other high end guitars like that compare... Nothing else does.

If I could change one thing, I'd give this guitar a "rhythm" pickup... That's all. But with the amazing array of sounds I can get out of it like this... I ain't compaining.

I'm really trying to be critical of this instrument... I just can't!