Tom Anderson Angel

NAMM Crowds Don't Usually Form Around Mere Paint Jobs.

Tom Anderson guitars have been the not-so-secret weapons of discerning players for decades, but this Teal WakeSurf Angel represents something special even by Anderson standards. That quilted maple top peeking through the teal fade finish creates visual depth that shifts and flows under convention center lighting, drawing curious players like moths to a particularly musical flame.

You've probably experienced the disappointment of guitars that photograph beautifully but feel ordinary once you actually pick them up. This Angel works in reverse - that gorgeous finish is just the entry point to discovering why Anderson's reputation for playability remains unmatched. The satin-smooth, even-tapered maple neck feels intuitive from first contact, while that compound 9.5-14" rosewood fingerboard transitions seamlessly from comfortable chord work to technical lead passages.

The H1 and H2+ humbucker combination delivers exactly what Anderson customers expect: generous attack and clarity that responds to your playing dynamics with almost supernatural sensitivity. But here's where this Angel gets genuinely interesting - that five-way switching system includes series and split positions that transform two humbuckers into a tonal chameleon capable of covering far more sonic territory than conventional three-way switching allows.

That vintage tremolo system provides expressive vibrato without the mechanical complexity and tuning instability issues that plague double-locking systems. Sometimes the most musical solutions are also the most elegant ones. The locking tuners keep everything stable during extended playing sessions, while those jumbo stainless steel frets provide consistent response across all positions.

The alder body with quilted maple top creates perfect tonal balance between warmth and clarity, enhanced by Anderson's meticulous attention to construction details that separate boutique instruments from assembly-line production. At this level of craftsmanship, every component serves both aesthetic and functional purposes.

This represents Anderson's understanding that truly great instruments should inspire you to play better rather than simply looking impressive on stands.

Model - Angel
Body Wood - Alder
Top Wood - Quilt Maple
Binding - Yes
Finish Color - Teal WakeSurf
Neck Wood - Maple
Fingerboard Wood - Rosewood
Neck Finish - Satin
Headstock Finish - Matching
Scale Length - 25.5”
Neck Shape - Even-Taper
Fingerboard Radius - 9.5"-14"
Nut Width - 1 11/16 inch
Frets - Jumbo Stainless Steel
Inlays - Dot
Hardware Color - Chrome
Tuners - Locking
Bridge: - Vintage Tremolo
Neck Pickup - H1
Bridge Pickup - H2+
Knobs - Chrome-Volume, Tone
Switching - 5-Way for 2 pickups: 3=Series, Split
Strings - Elixir .010-.046 with Nanoweb Coating
Case - Soft Padded Case