Tom Anderson Drop Top | Walnut (Special Selection Top)

This Tom Anderson Drop Top is an absurd piece! The walnut top has a level of three dimensional figuring you just do not see often, especially in walnut. It sits over a swamp ash body, which keeps things lively and responsive, while the walnut adds depth to the mids and a bit more authority to the overall voice. On top of that, the chocolate maple neck with a ziricote board brings a smooth, fast feel with a slightly warmer, more focused top end. Finding walnut suitable for a top is already difficult, and pieces with this kind of depth are almost never seen. With how scarce this material has become, builds like this are likely not something we will see much of going forward.

This is also a Special Selection top that we hand selected specifically for this build, which makes it even more unique. We went through the options to find something with exceptional movement and character, and this one stood out immediately. That level of intention shows in the final result.

It is not just about the top either. The black shaded edge frames it perfectly, and the black with amber dog hair back adds contrast in a way that feels intentional and cohesive rather than overdone. Tonally, the HC1 in the neck delivers clear, articulate cleans with just enough warmth, while the HC2 in the bridge brings punch and push without losing definition. The switching gives you everything from full series drive to usable split tones, making it a seriously versatile player while still feeling like a special, hard to replace piece.