Anderson Guitarworks Drop Top Classic HSS Guitar, Quilt Maple Top, Natural Honey
Player's Perspective
Anderson Guitarworks coming at ya with another gorgeous Drop Top Classic HSS. The gorgeous quilted maple top on this one pops phenomenally with the Natural Honey finish!
The SC1/SC1/HC2 pickup configuration is designed for the workhorse guitar player who isn't afraid to mix things up when it comes to being able to achieve both vintage and modern tones on one guitar. The HC2 humbucker in the bridge is wound a touch hotter than vintage PAF to be able to drive your amp just a bit more while still blending incredibly well with the single-coil pickups, and it splits very well via the mini-switch, too. The SC1s, which are individually hum-canceling, are designed to sound like your favorite rich and creamy vintage single-coils, but work well in a modern context in higher gain settings as well. The clarity and note definition are fantastic throughout all positions of this set, and every note is clear and distinct as you effortlessly string together notes on the Even Taper profile neck.
You've also got a couple of pickup combinations you can't find on typical hot-rodded HSS S-style axes via the aforementioned coil-split mini-toggle as well as being able to combine the neck and bridge pickups via a push-pull switch. This guitar not only looks good, but can truly do it all!
Between the tonal capabilities, extremely comfortable neck and body contours, and the ultra-stable tremolo, Anderson Guitarworks left little to be desired on this world-class guitar.
Manufacturer's Description
Drop Top Classic offers its eye popping gifts accompanied with the class of a classic pickguard, hence the name Drop Top Classic. But its name not only denotes a look rooted in tradition but in its intrinsic sound as well. Yes, this classy guarded guitar not only delivers classic good looks but the anatomy of the actual pickguard itself creates a more "Classic" tone, a tone to certainly please a connoisseur of the classics. Drop Top Classic announces itself with a radiant book-matched flame or quilted maple, koa or walnut top that is actually bent (or "dropped") over a carefully chosen tone wood body create a smooth and comfortable, swooping forearm contour, and it does it all in keeping with the traditional of pickguard styling. Since 1991 Drop Top Classic has been the fancy, classic "S" to own. Before this time nothing like it existed. You could say, it was an inspired revelation that started a joyous revolution, of guitars that is.But we certainly could not stop there. Though the years, as we began to unlock the secrets of Drop Top tonalities and the vast richness lying within, we applied this depth of understanding to the realm of the Drop Top Classic.
Alder Body
Dating back to the late 1950's, this is the wood found in more 3 single coil, double cut-away, 25 1/2" scale length guitars than any other. Due to its wide spread popularity it produces a very familiar tone, a "vintage tone." Its sound is primarily a thicker, midrange tone. It is very full in the low midrange yet produces enough upper midrange to be clear and articulate.
Pickups
SC1: Slightly more than vintage level, single-coil sound, humcanceling (great for neck and middle application).
HC2: Our other most popular humbucker, perhaps. Who wouldn’t love a medium-hot output package with all the vintage flavor firmly in place, wound to create a full bouquet of tonalities. Muscular mids with a smattering of lush and soft highlights so it is impressively musical, with never a hint of that “oops, I accidentally sat on a duck,” tone. Beautiful from all tonal angles.
Position 1: Neck Pickup
Position 2: Neck + Middle Pickups
Position 3: Middle Pickup
Position 3 (alternate): Neck + Bridge Pickups
Position 4: Middle + Bridge Pickups
Position 5: Bridge Pickup
Specifications
Body
- Model: Drop Top Classic HSS
- Color: Natural Honey
- Top: Quilt Maple
- Body: Alder
- Binding: Natural
- Pickguard: Tortoiseshell
Neck
- Construction: Bolt-On
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Neck: Caramel (roasted) Maple - Satin
- Scale: 25.5"
- Radius: 12" - 14" Compound
- Nut Width: 1 11/16"
- Neck Profile: Even Taper + .030 - .840 at the first fret to .900 at the 12th
- Frets: 22, Heavy
Electronics
- Neck and Middle Pickups: SC1 Single-Coils
- Bridge Pickup: HC2 Humbucker
- Control Knobs: Volume, Tone (push/pull for alternate 3rd position pickup configuration)
- Pickup Selector: 5-Way Blade Switch
- Mini-Toggle: Coil-Split
Hardware
- Bridge: Vintage Tremolo
- Tuners: Locking
Misc.
- Case: Black Tolex Hardshell
- Instrument Weight: 7.3 lbs
- Serial #: 10-07-23N
Overall Condition
Music Store Live is proud to be an authorized dealer for Tom Anderson Guitarworks. This Drop Top Classic is 100% brand new and is being sold with a full manufacturer's warranty. Photos are of the exact guitar you'll receive.
Our in-house guitar tech will inspect, test, set up, and clean all of our instruments on site prior to shipping. All of our instruments are guaranteed to be fully functional upon arrival.