Anderson Crowdster

My Crowdster is a standard nearly natural flamed maple top with a string gauge of medium-lites. The Crowdster is equiped with a LR Baggs Piezo Elements Pickup with 4 Band EQ, beating the other 3 Q's... AKA.... Taylor. The Gutiar has small frets and has a slightly darker satin finish on the back to add some class. It has a mag back at the same time with a natural binding. The Guitar is beautiful in every way. Features are simple.. clean.. and easy to understand. I would have to agree with the person below me mainly because the crowdster is so simple it lacks features but has a high stance in versatillity.

the sound is very versitile. It can reach the bass height of a Martin or the Crisp Brightness of the Taylor acoustic. Obviously since it does have a maple top, it does offer a more crisp sound to its structure, but with its mag back it also offers a more balanced tone while strumming. The guitar in large feedback situations receives none which is a huge plus for pro and large venue players. Although Taylor guitars offers there expression system which offers no feedback at the same time the full richness of the guitar. I would have to say the Crowdster does that and more for its price. Mainly because not only does it avoid feedback situations but it can also manipulate its own sound to fit your style. Perfectly.

The Action with the guitar is a little high, but it was no problem to fix. In my opinion relace the Medium-Lite gauge strings with lites, and that will make your fingers scream for more of your crowster. The Finish is a Polyester-Uritheme coating, which could be both a blessing and a curse. Because Poly-U can only be fixed or handled with melted plastic, which may or may not look well with your guitar and its a blessing because it helps the overall tone and aging of the guitar. Quick word to the wise. Never USE elixer strings polyweb coating with this guitar it could damage or clogg the bridge. And NEVER use Dunlop Wax on the crowdster for it will ruin the coating.

Reliability is sweet. Hands down the best. Durability... well i wish they would put like another layer of something to protect the guitar. My Crowdster fell on a chair.. and it chipped the binding pretty badly. Other then that well built.

Awesome. They are simply the best. Fast, Efficient and you can even e-mail the boss. Quality Service.

Great Guitar. I recommend it for acoustic players as well as electric players as well as christian players as well as all players in general. Worth EVERY DIME... Maybe Penny. Maybe worth 1999.98$. Dang.. 2 cents over changed...

This is a review for a TA Crowdster that I?ve owned for the past 8 months. I wanted to write a review of it earlier, but wanted to put the Crowdster through some work before I gave it due praise.

My Crowdster was made in July 2004, this Crowdster is equipped with standard appointments (see TAG website), but here?s a really brief overview of my Crowdster:

- 24.75? short scale on rosewood fingerboard
- thin-bodied profile
- chambered mahogany body
- solid mahogany neck, bolt-on
- quilted maple top in peanut butter/caramel shades
- Baggs/Anderson 3-band EQ & volume knobs

I compared the body size of the Crowdster to a Simon & Patrick folk guitar, and they?re VERY similar in terms of upper & lower bout width. If you can find either a Seagull, Art & Lutherie, Norman, or S &P folk guitar, that?s approximately the size of the Crowdster?s body.

For it's simplicity in design and ease of use (string-through body, simple EQ), I give this guitar a 9. A 10 indicates that the guitar is jam-packed with features, but this is a very simple, straightforward acoustic guitar for plugging-in purposes.

I?m a worship leader at 3 churches and various functions of different sizes, so having a clean ?acoustic? sound that carries presence and is audible in a large band is a must. Style-wise, I play in a similar fashion as David Crowder does while mixing some Big Daddy Weave picking in there. I strum energetically but not aggressively when flatpicking with the Crowdster.

Hands down, this guitar is absolutely wonderful when plugged in. Baggs and Anderson?s collaboration to figure out an optimal EQ is definitely one of the best in the arena of saddle transducers. This guitar has unbelievable sustain that rings and goes on and on.
Strummed with a pick, the sound is already full and broad even when all three EQ bands are flat. Fiddling around with the EQs give the Crowdster subtle colors to brighten it up or mellow it down.
Slap-harmonics on the fingerboard are clean and clear; combined with the incredible sustain, it?s nearly breath-taking to hear the harmonics ring out.

Finger-picking on this guitar is kind of a mystery to me, as I don?t grow out my nails nor use finger-picks at all. I tend to hear a muted, muffled sound no matter how much I amp the high frequencies for distinction between notes. Perhaps this might be due to my poor technique or lack of nails, but I?d go back to a standard acoustic over the Crowdster for fingerpicked songs.

When amplified, this guitar is stupid powerful. I?m amazed at how much volume it puts out with a single 9v battery. What?s more astounding to me is that the signal isn?t distorted too much, even when the volume is open full throttle. Normally, I run the Crowdster either directly through the PA (w/o a DI box) or a Roland AC-60 amp.
As mentioned earlier, the electronics are wonderful within the limits of saddle transducers. I wouldn?t go so far as to say that the Crowdster can be made to sound like any guitar though; it can mimic the brightness of the Taylor?s ES and the dull thuddy sound of a Martin, but that?s just talking about the electronics. The Element unit has it?s own unique sound, and perhaps it?s best to say that the Crowdster sounds like a Crowdster rather than comparing it to regular guitars (However, I feel that it bests the Taylor T5 in amplified, acoustic sound).

The guitar is absolutely wonderful in stock form. For years, I?ve regarded Taylors as having the easiest playing necks, but the feel of the Crowdster seduces my left hand to think otherwise. It?s well balanced when hanging from my shoulders.

The only issue I have with the Crowdster is that the higher frequencies can sound a bit brittle/tinny, but that might be due to the light gauge strings. I?m going to switch over to mediums pretty soon, so that might rectify that problem.

Visually, the guitar is a beauty. The quilted maple top is highly figured and gives interesting vein-like contrasts. Clay-colored dots on the fingerboard are a nice, subtle touch as opposed to ivory or pale white dots.

I DID make one slight modification to my Crowdster ? I had David Crowder sign the quilted maple top and the back of the headstock. The top?s signature is in a location similar to where the Chet Atkins name is on Gibson/Epi Chet Atkins SST?s. These signatures endows my guitar extra super powers and instant mojo.

Hah! This guitar was MADE to play live. As I mentioned earlier, this guitar has incredible volume and presence ? nobody will be able to ignore the person w/the acoustic guitar that has no soundhole.

This guitar has effortlessly survived worship leading at conferences, praise nights, Sunday and Friday services. I use the Crowdster to lead worship at different churches and fellowships that range from 30 ? 500 people per gathering. This past Christmas holiday, I used the Crowdster to lead worship at a conference of 450 people, and it held up all 5 days, 3 worship sessions per day.

In my 8 months of ownership, the only things I?ve had to replace were the strings (only once) and the ORIGINAL 9v that came with the guitar back in 2004.

Because I angle the guitar at around 40 degrees from the ground, I?m using these plastic straplocks from StewMac to prevent the guitar from falling ($2 a pair), although I?m sure the strap buttons are sufficient on their own. Still ? better safe than sorry.

I?ve never had a backup for the Crowdster every time I?m leading worship because the guitar is THAT solid. However - I wouldn?t mind having another Crowdster as a back-up if I drop this one while attempting to swing my current Crowdster around my body =)

I?ve emailed Tom Anderson before, and the guy responds within the day. Although I haven?t taken advantage of TAG?s warranty, I?m sure that Anderson Guitars will serve me with excellence. The only time I?ve ?cashed? in on anything remotely related to the warranty was when I filled out my registration info to get a free guitar strap, and that came within 2 days of mailing =)

Prior to owning the Crowdster, I had an Epiphone Chet Atkins SST. While the Chet was sufficient as an amplified guitar, it died on me at a praise night last year when my bass played knocked it off stage. I considered getting a Gibson Chet, but those are SO bloody hard to find in person. I had heard so much about the Crowdster, and I remember Crowder using it two years ago, and it left a profound impression on what I could expect aurally when used for worship. Unfortunately, the nearest TAG dealer was about 1.5 hours away from my home; nevertheless, I went out to check it out and see if the Crowdster was really worth its weight in salt or if it was just hype (*cough* Taylor T5 *cough*). Upon playing, I knew this was the guitar I wanted for pure amplification.

I?ve been playing the guitar since 1999, but never owned my own guitar until last year. My first guitar was a Taylor 307-GB (Big Baby), which I gave to one of my high schoolers as a graduation present recently. Aside from the Crowdster, I own a 1998 S&P Pro folk and a 2005 Norman folk cutaway. Amp-wise, I own a Roland AC-60.
The ONLY thing I really dislike is the price tag. Ugh.

Should something happen to my Crowdster, I wouldn?t hesitate to get another one.

This is an excellent instrument and highly recommended. If you?re looking for a hassle-free acoustic to amp, look no further: the Crowdster does it with ease and simplicity.

standard

my music style is generally christian rock and personally it has really served my need.

The pickups are set PERFECTLY and the 4 band pickups really add alot of versiltility to the guitar. I can make it go from a taylor adding less bass and go to a martin adding more bass. The guitar itself is awesome.. really worth every dollar i spent on it.

Although the sound is awesome on the stage.. you definately need to fork over 160$ on a DI box or something because when plugged in without one it really gives a strange acoustic sound with an electric boom to it.. not the real full body i was looking for until i bought the DI box. Unplugged the guitar sounds decent louder then i thought for a solid body guitar.. but still really quiet. I would consider that the only down but hey i use my kawasamy for that job.

Action is perfect. Although its a little stiff on the old fingers maybe because i used polyweb elixers instead of the nanoweb anderson guitars recommended. But none the less its perfect. The finish on mine is set nicely.. natural maple. what you'll notice on the crowdster too is that the top right of the guitar the part that goes toward your arm is angled for better comfort. Definately a plus in my book. The only flaw in my opinion is maybe the neck. The neck although it feels great and is made from african rosewood.. i still feel like the neck feels a little dryer then other necks i played.. you cant really feel the moisture in the neck but still its not something THAT noticable.

and FOR SURE this guitar can handle playing live.. even when breaking a string the guitar is designed so u wont hear that nasty CLUNG sound when you break a string. Its the best freaking guitar i ever played live. This guitar is built so perfect that i believe that i can drop it from the empire states building and still this guitar will be intacked.. im not sure about the guy under the guitar but hey thats life! I bet this guitar can even outlast the energizer bunny! Everything in the playing world is set PERFECT on this guitar.

Customer support is a 10. Not sure about repair but i bet it should be a little slower then the guitar being made.

I believe this guitar is the ultimate stage guitar. If your looking for a guitar that would probably sound better than a taylor on a stage, or u just hate taylor and u want a more better martin guitar sound on stage. The crowdster is definately for you. Or if your a david crowder freak and u want that sound he has, this guitar is definately for you. So go buy it you pagans! (pagan meaning.. if you dont have it)

-Tom Anderson made this in his California factory.
-Acoustic/electric with a volume knob and three EQ knobs (low, mid, and treble).
-The pickup is an LR Baggs piezo pickup specifically EQed by Tom and the LR Baggs company.
-Thin body

Save your money and buy this guitar. The sound can best be described as very crisp, clear, sparkling, and powerful. Messing with the three EQ knobs (bass, mid, treble) can truly alter your sound in great ways. Unplugged, the guitar sounds great but is too quiet simply because it does not have a soundhole. But if you mainly play live or record, then this guitar is unmatched. No feedback! Plug it in, crank the volume, and experience no hassle. It's totally trouble-free and that means a lot when performing live.

I've been a longtime guitarist for churches and struggled with acoustic tonality all my life. The electric always sounded great coming out of a Marshall amp or PSA-1 Preamp, but the acoustic guitar was always the weakest link in the chain. With the Crowdster, however, all that has changed. You must plug this in and hear it for yourself. Make sure to get a high-quality direct box, plug your guitar into the direct box, and then go into the mixer/snake. Strum some open chords, play barre chords, fingerpick, and do some nifty soloing and notice how the guitar responds perfectly. Play with your entire band and no matter how loud your drummer gets, this guitar will cut right through the mix with a powerful yet crisp tone.

Action is pretty low and very comfortable for fast-playing. The pickups are embedded in the guitar and so there's no hassle. Plus, it's a thinbody so I'm getting spoiled by having the guitar hug my body close. I'm so comfortable that I don't know if I can go back to cradling a big-bodied pure acoustic. Tom Anderson made this, so looks and finish are flawless. If you know Tom, then you know quality.

Top-quality craftsmanship that will most likely last a lifetime. Tom Anderson does not mess around with cheap stuff. You'll play this over and over without a problem. David Crowder, the guitarist whom the guitar is named after, used the Crowdster to record his latest album and to go on tour in several cities. It's tough and it's durable. David has never been happier, and neither have I.

If something happened to my guitar, I'd replace it in a heartbeat. I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard for my electric, and now this Crowdster as my permanent Acoustic/Electric for live performances. Sometimes you buy a guitar and years later search for something better, but my search has truly ended.

Roy, Tom Anderson's main guy for contact and support, emailed me and responded to all my questions. If you have any problems, I'm sure he'll take care of them.

Magical tone. No feedback. Beautiful look. Need I say more? Go get one and write your own glowing review for this website.

April 2003. CA, USA. Just like the previous review this guitar has all the same features. Body style is very similar to the Chet Atkins SST.

This guitar was actually recommended to me by David Crowder (for whom the guitar was named) back in January, just before he got his 2 guitars. I was a little skeptical at first because I was used to playing Taylors and other "true" acoustics. I was looking for something that would suit my needs tonally without having to deal with feedback. This guitar is absolutely awesome sounding. You can pretty much dial in any acoustic tone you like from warm and bassy to bright and punchy. I use a Monster "bass" cable and run into a passive DI box straight to our church PA. Even the unplugged tone is incredible. There's absolutely nothing I dislike about this guitar.

This guitar was shipped to me from North Carolina to Texas, so I expected the guitar to be totally out of tune when I pulled it out of the box. I was wrong. The Buzz Feiten tuning system kept the guitar in tune, even though I'm sure it was exposed to different temperatures and humidity levels. It plays very much like an electric, and has an extremely silky smooth neck. The finish on this guitar is incredible. My guitar has the "Desert Sunset" finish on it, which allows just enough of the top grain to show through.

This guitar is extremly well built, and I'm sure will withstand the stress of playing live on a weekly basis. I traded a high end custom acoustic for this guitar and a new Taylor with the ES system, and this guitar has easily become my main axe. It's even a blast to play unplugged.

I've had nothing but great response from the people at Anderson.

I've been playing guitar for about 15 years, and this is without a doubt the best guitar I've ever owned. If it were stolen or lost I would buy another without batting an eye. This guitar closely compares to the Chet Atkins SST (which I also own), but this guitar is superior in every aspect.

June, 2003. California, USA. Sealed body cutaway electro with Buzz Feiten system; 22 frets, 24.65 scale length. Gloss finish; unbraced bookmatched figured maple with natural edge "binding" and forearm contour. Back: Hollowed mahogany with solid bridge block; Neck: Quartersawn mahogany, bolt-on; Fingerboard: rosewood, clay dots,
thin stainless frets; Anderson sealed tuners;ebony bridge with through body stringing; LR Baggs Element piezo, four-control custom-voiced preamp with 3-band EQ. As a stage acoustic, it is without peer!

I went into the store to buy a new Taylor -- preferably the 600 series with the ES system to fight feeback and give me a good balanced tone for live use. I loved the Taylor and was ready to buy -- but when I saw the Crowdster, I thought I'd give it a try for fun. Heck, it was the same price as the Taylor 614CE I was looking at anyway. Well, next thing I know I'm A-B'ing both guitars through the Californiua Blonde amp for the next 30 minutes. I couldn't get over the "acoustic" tonality of the Crowdster. So I went farther: with the the 3-band EQ, I was able to dial in the same clarity of the 614CE, the snappy sound of the 714CE and fuller sound of the 814CE and dreadnought Martin -- all of which were in the store for comparison. I didn't get the cavern sound of the Gibson jumbo, but heck, the Crowdster covered a lot of ground anyway. Having some other acoustic options for unamplified situations, I was able to conclude that the Crowdster made the most sense for plugging in purposes. The guitar is so much more versatile than a regular acoustic guitar, and no feedback at high volume.

If you're familiar with Tom Anderson electrics, rest assured that the Crowdster is comparable: the best in the business from every point of view. Interestingly, I think Anderson nailed the action and ease of a Taylor acoustic neck, which I consider to be the easiest playing acoustic available today. The construction is on par with any of the great acoustic guitar makers, and I have owned or still own -- Taylor, Martin, Santa Cruz, Tacoma and James Goodall guitars.

The guitar is well built, hardware is top-quality. There's no doubt that it is built to endure.

I've had the pleasure of dealing with Anderson for electrics in the past: some of the bigger names in the business could learn something from them in how to treat customers. Responsive, helpful!

40 years after picking up my first guitar, I'm still in love with the guitar. I enjoy playing and have been fortunate to care for some fine instruments. I've enjoyed trying new designs, too, through the years -- Ovations, Takamines, Rainsongs, the new Taylor ES, Sunrise and other magnetic pick-ups, Fishman blenders, etc. I've tried electric-acoustics from Parker Fly to Godin Multiac to Fishman power bridge-equipped electrics. I've come to the conclusion that the more sounds that you try to coerce from a traditional design, the more compromises you make. I like the idea of a guitar specifically built to BE a plugged-in acoustic. That's all it does, but it offers terrific variety of sound within that niche. Nothing touches the Crowdster for delivering believable acoustic sound at high volume. It is, I know, not suitable for the guitarist who has to cover a lot of bases in one night. But it's the BEST solution for the perfectionist looking for the finest electro-acoustic in a live, especially band, situation. For its uniqueness in application and in execution, it deserves a ten.