Anderson Cobra- details?

[Jujo]

There is not much (recent) info here about the Anderson Cobra. I'm wondering what they are like? Seems like a flexible guitar with splitting humbuckers and equipped with a trem bridge. I've been considering picking one up in the used market, but I've never played one with 2 hums and trem bridge.

How do they sound? Can they do thick jazzy tones? Or are they more of a short scale tele sound? Are they good for a variety of music? Do they lean more towards Fender or Gibson tones?

If you think the Cobra leans more in the Fender direction, can you give an example of something with a similar design: 2 splitting hums with trem, that leans in more a Gibson direction?

Thanks for any info.

[Pietro]

Originally Posted by Jujo

Can they do thick jazzy tones? Or are they more of a short scale tele sound? Are they good for a variety of music? Do they lean more towards Fender or Gibson tones?

imho, yes, to all of the above.

Mine is hollow, but...

I can get passable LP style tones AND decent tele-ish tones (the tele-ish ones are closer to the real thing than the LP ones are, though... you NEED a set neck to nail LP tones). I can play anything on that guitar. Even though it's hollow, I can do real high gain stuff pretty well (although I don't do super high gain, because I'm a gentlemen... )

Most versatile guitar I've owned. totally love it.

[Cheeseisbestyes]

I've played a friend's a lot and it's like a smaller LP in a way. Great, fat and warm tones. Plus it plays so much easier than your average LP, the neck is AMAZING on these guitars. Just my humble opinion, but definitely one of my favorite guitars I've ever played.

I'm not too experienced with the split coil function, but the full on humbucker tone was awesome.

[Marty s Horne]

Great guitars! Here's one I custom ordered for myself....
http://postimage.org/image/umaz4doip/

[Jujo]

Nice- I used to own one with 2 M's and a humbucker. The M's don't work for me, but I do like Anderson's singles and hums.

I'd like to hear more about the Cobra leaning more towards Fender or Gibson tones. Pietro makes a compelling point.

Any examples of something similar (2 splitting hums with trem) that leans in more a Gibson direction?

[Pietro]

Originally Posted by Jujo

Nice- I used to own one with 2 M's and a humbucker. The M's don't work for me, but I do like Anderson's singles and hums.

I'd like to hear more about the Cobra leaning more towards Fender or Gibson tones. Pietro makes a compelling point.

Any examples of something similar (2 splitting hums with trem) that leans in more a Gibson direction?

I think it leans a little more towards Fender. Fact is, I think that to "lean" towards Gibson", you NEED the right neck angle and a set neck and a carved maple top, and to "lean towards Fender", you NEED the bolt-neck. One guitar can't do both "perfectly".

But I can get as close to LP tones and as close to Tele tones as I need with the Cobra, making it my go-to electric virtually all the time (unless I need a trem... my Hollow Cobra is hard tail).

[jcground]

Great guitars. IMO, they look like a Tele but play more like a Gibson. Their tone is more modern than vintage - loud and clear (not muddy), with good versatility. Anderson build quality is very consistent in my experience - similar to PRS in that regard, maybe even better owing to their smaller production.

[Droptopandy]

Originally Posted by Pietro

I think it leans a little more towards Fender. Fact is, I think that to "lean" towards Gibson", you NEED the right neck angle and a set neck and a carved maple top, and to "lean towards Fender", you NEED the bolt-neck. One guitar can't do both "perfectly".

But I can get as close to LP tones and as close to Tele tones as I need with the Cobra, making it my go-to electric virtually all the time (unless I need a trem... my Hollow Cobra is hard tail).

My friend has an H3 in his Cobra bridge and it gots BALLS to spare. Heck, it sounds better than some Les Pauls I've owned. And FWIW, when we say Gibson tones, i mean, I've owned a few LP's and the tones of them were different, a lot different. Some were DUDS.

But IMHO, the Cobra is a lot more towards what we think of a Gibson tone.

[Jujo]

Thanks for the replies, I went and checked one out today and found that it wasn't for me. I also tried a PRS 513, that was more what I'm looking for. That is why I was asking about the Fender/Gibson leaning.

[kebotrans]

My favorite Anderson model by far!

[phel21]

The most common pickups used on the Cobra with its standard mahogany body and neck gives it a tone comparable to a Gibson SG. It doesn't have the body mass of the LP. The TAG Short Drop T is essentially the same guitar as the Cobra these days if you choose mahogany body and neck, but it will have a more "fenderish" tone with alder or basswood body and a maple neck. All of these cover most music styles depending on the choice of pickups. If you want somthing closer to a Les Paul with a trem there's the TAG Bulldog for you. Here's a sample.