Opinions: Tyler vs. Suhr vs. Tom Anderson

[gunihoon]

Hi guys,

No thanks to TGP, am having a bout of GAS for a SuperStrat, Tyler in particular

For those guys who have experience with Tyler, Suhr and TA, could you chime me mainly for Tyler vs. Suhr/TA? Those who went with Tyler, what tipped you over the edge?

I had (for a year) in care a friends Tyler Studio Elite (Mamyo body) but I found myself picking up my John Cruz 59 Strat over the Tyler. The Tyler felt great but somehow the tones weren't "organic" enough for me. Had people mentioned that it was due to the Mamyo body... am looking for opinions on ALDER Tylers pls

Tks in advance!

[Pietro]

They are all awesome, and all subtly different.

You can't miss. Figure out which one has features that tickle your fancy.

[Jim S]

[Eagle1]

They are all great buy the one you like .
I hate apples vs oranges threads ,or even cox vs granny smiths .
Personal opinion.

[jiml]

Originally Posted by gunihoon

but I found myself picking up my John Cruz 59 Strat over the Tyler.

Stick with a vintage type axe and find someone to cut a humbucker in there for you. I owned/played/drooled on many Tylers, Suhrs and TA's (some alder, some not, only owned alder and mamywo Tylers), none of them did the vintage strat thing that good, more modern sounding, hifi. Of all Tylers felt the best, but sounded the most modern to me. I sold off many Tylers that looked and felt great, but were not what my ears wanted to hear in a strat tone...

[stashman]

Before I owned a Tyler, I bought a Suhr from a Tyler fanatic and asked him about the difference. What he said was "A Suhr is a Porsche, it's about finesse and polish, while a Tyler is a Camaro, it's muscle and strength". I don't know why, but I really like that quote. Thanks Matt.

[eliot1025]

I'm not sure what you mean by organic, but I can tell you that these companies offer so many options that it's unfair to judge them on any one guitar. I don't know much about TA guitars, but with Tyler and Suhr the choices of neck shape, electronics, woods, finishes, and hardware mean that you can have a vintagey model or a modern-ish model from the same company. They will sound and feel very different within the same builder. So measuring that Cruz against a Suhr or Tyler built with very different specs is comparing apples and oranges.

I had a Suhr and a Tyler at the same time briefly. Similar build styles and specs. Both excellent guitars. I preferred the Tyler neck and didn't bond with the Suhr and couldn't afford to keep both. I went with the Tyler but I recommend all three of those companies.

[Mark Barna]

Lance at Wildwood told me a Tyler is like a muscle car and an Anderson is like a sports car. So take that for what you will. I've never played an Anderson or a Suhr, so I can't be much help.

I do own two Tylers, and they sure beat Fender Custom Shops for bang for your buck, and they also stay in tune, have treble bleed and a great neck.

Good luck. You really can't go wrong with any, I imagine.

[Ed Reed]

Suhrs are really nice strats, like the best Fender you ever played. I love my Suhr classic, it's a workhorse and I play it a lot. Tylers have this cool neck that feels like it's been played for years. Mine has a lot of mids. I have 0 problems or complaints about my Suhr but one thing I notice about my Tyler, it seems more in tune to me everywhere on the neck when I play it. It sets better with other instruments.

Both are great. I have a hard time choosing between them.

[matt5150]

Originally Posted by stashman

Before I owned a Tyler, I bought a Suhr from a Tyler fanatic and asked him about the difference. What he said was "A Suhr is a Porsche, it's about finesse and polish, while a Tyler is a Camaro, it's muscle and strength". I don't know why, but I really like that quote. Thanks Matt.

Your welcome

I think a guitar should speak to you no matter what it says on the headstock.

Every player has a different idea of what works and what doesn't. For me, the search ended with my first Tyler.

They play great, sound mean and have become a part of "my" tone.

Good luck. I would try all three and pick the one that works best for you.

Matt

[Kelsey]

I own a few Fender CS Strats, but no Tylers, Suhrs, or Andersons. I have played a few of the latter, including Tyler and Suhr Classics, side-by-side against Fender CS Strats. I preferred the CS Strat tones, especially at the neck, middle and tweener positions. And the CS Strats were less expensive than the Tylers at the time. The LSL Saticoy is the only current contender that I would likely go for, although Melancon comes close. Both of those have the best fret work I've seen across multiple samples, so I lean towards them on that count as well.

[iamdavea]

I bought an Anderson Classic, used, from Ebay, that had the exact specs that I would order from Tom personally. Very well made, but VERY flat sounding. Way too heavy in the mids and bass, no chime, no sparkle, no detail, no subtlety. These were the SC "Strat style" pickup series. I've never owned another Strat that sounded less like a Strat. I sold it within a month.

[GAT]

I've owned 3 Tylers, 2 Fender CS, one Anderson, and a Baker, all super strats.

I finally settled on a very cool Suhr Antique SSH with the SSC system and FL pickups and a Suhr bridge hb.

This one sounds the most "vintage" and warm to me. I have an original '65 Fender strat to compare it to. I prefer the original more, but the Suhr goes to the gigs. The SSC system is a wonderful thing too.

[Peppy]

Originally Posted by iamdavea

I bought an Anderson Classic, used, from Ebay, that had the exact specs that I would order from Tom personally. Very well made, but VERY flat sounding. Way too heavy in the mids and bass, no chime, no sparkle, no detail, no subtlety. These were the SC "Strat style" pickup series. I've never owned another Strat that sounded less like a Strat. I sold it within a month.

My Anderson Classic has the VA pickups and is the complete opposite of your experience. Sparkle, chime...defined.

[C-4]

Originally Posted by iamdavea

I bought an Anderson Classic, used, from Ebay, that had the exact specs that I would order from Tom personally. Very well made, but VERY flat sounding. Way too heavy in the mids and bass, no chime, no sparkle, no detail, no subtlety. These were the SC "Strat style" pickup series. I've never owned another Strat that sounded less like a Strat. I sold it within a month.

+1 Someone in a California high-end guitar shop once told me that anderson guitars did not have the "soul" of some other guitar companies offerings. The above statement aludes to this.

My fave between the three is Suhr. However, if the OP is thinking about a strat type guitar, bring Vigier into the playing/auditioning equation as well.
I have owned custom shop and Master Builds by Fender, andersons and Suhr, but my favorite is the Vigier. To each his/her own.