Any TA Atom owners out there? Anyone demo'd em?

Funny thing Thomas, but I just posted a similar question on the Anderson forum. Not too many specific replies though-but like you, I really want to know how close it gets to a LP.

 

Express Music here in Seminole, Fl has an Atom in in Burnished Orange and I've been meaning to try it out. Sometimes I feel funny about asking if I'm not seriously thinking about buying it (I want another Cobra).

 

Thanks Thomas-I hope you're doing well too. I'm seriously considering the atom regardless of aesthetics. I'm just hoping other people who've played both could give me more feedback.

 

As a long time Anderson player I can tell you this.

If you want Les Paul tone, get a Les Paul cause nothing, I repeat NOTHING on the farging planet will do it better then a LP.

Having said that the last time I spoke with Roy at TAG he said the Cobra has the mid-range bite while the Atom has the bottom end ka-chunka. This makes sense based on the construction and the pigtail stop tailpiece, it is sure to get you closer to LP land. I have yet to play one myself, the styling is a bit hard to swallow. And truth be told my new R7 leaves nothing to be desired for me these days, it just fits me perfectly.

 

I've played two Atoms now, and they are closer to a LP tone than the Cobra (which I own), but they didn't make me think I was hearing a LP. The main difference I found was the Atom has less maple in the tone than a LP. It's very fat and darker than a LP,but it still has great defintion and clarity.It has plenty of balls and chunk,kinda thick and chewy,too.
The other thing to consider is that both Atoms I played were loaded with the H2+ in the bridge,which is a darker more middy pickup. Perhaps a more vintage output pickup would help get closer to a LP tone?
Does that help ya?

 

thanks Dave for the post. That helped a lot-I wonder what an atom with a wagner darkburst would sound like??

 

Some of you on the Anderson Forum have already read my thoughts, but here is a recap.

I've got a 2003 RO with everything on it you are supposed to do (thanks LP Forum). It is a dream Les Paul.

My Atom kills it. More sustain. More resonance. I think it's the neck pocket. The loudest guitar I've ever played unplugged (and I own 4 other Andersons).

The Atom is more LP than the Cobra, but agree that it's not a LP.

I disagree with the darker comment (sorry Dave).

Just play one. Nothing anyone writes here will do it justice.

 

I really liked the one that I tried. Very much in the Gibson-Fender mutant camp, not really nailing either's characteristic tones, but offering a unique blend. Very resonant acoustically, very versatile electronics and tone thru an amp. If it were not quite so expensive, I'd probably have bought it. Andersons seem to take a pretty big hit on resale so I may pick up a used one later.

IMHO, it is not really much like a PRS SC either.

 

Well, here is a couple of ways an Atom is just like a Les Paul.

 

They list north of $4k, most I've seen are going for $2,900. There is one on eBay right now from a Guitar Center of all things that hasn't moved at $2,500.