Sound Pure's Take

This Anderson might look like an unabashed modern rock and roll machine, and it is! In the bridge position, this Drop Top with it's super hot Anderson H3+ pickup will howl, roar, and wail with the absolutely best of them. Full locking nut and sunken floating tremolo gives you access to the dive-bombs and bends of your dreams. All that said, there's a sweetness to the clean sounds you'll wring out of this guitar too! The range from position 1 to positon 5 is absolutely astonishing. You'll be comp'ing gorgeous, clear, rhythm chords in one and scorching solos with the other. Quite possibly the most usable two-pickup guitar we've laid hands on! And wait! The finish! Pictures do not do justice to the depth and subtlety of the Deep Ocean to Black Burst finish, but we think our photographer did a heck of a job!

From Tom Anderson Guitarworks

Before the introduction of the magnificent Drop Top in 1990, the number of "S" style guitars that had a maple top that was “dropped” to create a comfortable forearm contour were exactly zero.

As a result of this design, we've chosen a body top thickness of 3/16 of an inch, which actually enhances and enrichens the sonic character of the instrument. The result is a guitar that not only plays effortlessly, is extremely comfortable, and sounds amazing but is so darn good looking that if you don't dress well it just may upstage you.

Today, along with your choice of flame or quilted maple, walnut or koa top, Drop Top now offers four choices of body backing tone wood to bring the sonic character you desire from your "S" to bear on the bandstand: 

Alder back: our most popular backing wood, its lower-mid fullness and upper-mid bump give a familiar “S” timbre that supports the lower-end

fullness of single coil pickups and humbuckers alike while its upper-mid penetration makes sure other instruments are unable to step into your spot on stage.

Mahogany back: focused and aggressive mids bring humbuckers roaring to life and offer an overall powerful experience-, a very popular choice.

Swamp Ash back: Deep low-lows and softly sparkling highs with an open, scooped middle make for a breathtakingly musical presentation of subtle nuances. And the added bonus is that the maple top actually presents this quintessential Swamp Ash tone.

Basswood back: You can never go wrong with this wood if it is done the way it should be done, and believe me, we do it the way it should be done. The sound of an 80's vibe humbucker is defined by this body wood, soft (not hard), full flowing focused mids make everything this wood touches bloom with rich, lush, even-balanced midrange tonality.

Model: Drop Top

Serial Number: 08-24-20A

Weight: 7.3 lbs

Body Wood: Alder

Top Wood: Flame Maple

Finishing Options: High Gloss

Body Finish: Deep Ocean to Black Burst with Binding

Body Back Color: Matching Back

Neck Wood: Caramel Maple

Fretboard Wood: Rosewood

Scale Length: 25 1/2"

Headstock Finish: Satin Natural

Neck Back Finish: Satin Natural

Neck Back Shape: Even-Taper

Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Frets: 22

Fret Wire: Heavy

Bridge: Sunken Locking Tremolo with Locking Nut

Tuners: Locking

Hardware Color: Chrome

Neck Pickup: SC2 (Black Cover)

Middle Pickup: None

Bridge Pickup: H3+

Pickguard: None

Switching: 5-Way for 2 Pickups

Knob Color: Chrome

Switch Tip: Black

Case: Hardshell

Free 3-Year Warranty

Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →

Returns

Try Before You Buy: 48-hour audition. Program details →

Sound Pure Studios Control Room A — Durham, NC

Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC

Come hear it in our control rooms.

Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.