Thoughts on Suhr Guitars?

[mattsmusiccenter]

I'm looking at them online right now... does Bob Bradshaw have something to do with Suhr?

[MikeE]

But the Jackson guys have been doing this for 20 years also and they use just as good of materials and workmanship. Read Matts thread sometime about it on this forum.

Anderson worked for Schecter (when it was owned by Dave Schecter) from '77 to '84 and was the head of R+D. And since then he has been making guitars under his own name. That's almost 30 years of guitar building. Tom was also very involved in the whole California guitars parts and strat modding era along with Wayne and Lynne Ellsworth.

Tom has worked on EVH's guitars when EVH was with Kramer (the frankie hockey stick neck that said Kramer was actually made by Tom) and had also worked with Vai (right before the Ibanhad deal). He also built all the parts for the Kramer Ripley guitars. Plus he makes his own pick-ups...

Suhr was building guitars (from parts) and modifying them under the Pensa-Suhr name in the early 80's. He made guitars for Knofpfler, Frampton, Reb Beach... He then moved to CA to work for Bradshaw (CAE) then onto the Fender Custom Shop. He's been building guitars under his own name since '97 and like Anderson, does everything in house including pick-ups. He also builds his own amps and has pedals on the way.


I'm not discounting the quality of the Jackson custom shop but "been doing this for 20 years" isn't a valid argument. I'm not trying to start any arguments; I just wanted people to understand that Anderson and Suhr have been around and worked with many of the greats.

[MikeE]

I'm looking at them online right now... does Bob Bradshaw have something to do with Suhr?

Suhr worked for Brashaw (CAE) and designed the OD-100 amp which he has recently begun building under the Suhr name.


From the Suhr website..

"With an obsession for tube amp design, John left NYC to work with Robert Bradshaw in 91' and designed the CAA 3+ and 3+SE tube preamps and CAA OD100 amp with Robert Bradshaw."

[hippietim]

matt, the amps kick ass.

[mattsmusiccenter]

I'm listening to some of the Suhr MP3's right now... they sound great.

[Robotechnology]

Yes... Bradshaw is/was involved. If you like a hot rodded Marshall channel with an AWESOME clean channel you would like the CAE's.

[Shawn Lutz]

OK lets not go overboard here. Ever had a CS Jackson? I have. And the one I got is spectacular.

I have played Andersons and Suhrs at American Guitar Boutique and Willies Guitars here in MN (along with Melancon, Tyler, Zion, Warrior, Baker, Langcaster, etc...)

The bolt on CS Jackson has better tone than the Andersons I have played hands down. The neck is the best I have ever played. And I do really like the necks on both the Suhrs and the Andersons - they are great.

But the Jackson guys have been doing this for 20 years also and they use just as good of materials and workmanship. Read Matts thread sometime about it on this forum.

I can tell you from personal experience you have a sweeping statement up there. They are great traditional vintage style guitars. But if you want a Ferrari shred machine I will take Jackson - at least a CS one.

If Suhr comes out with a 24 fretter I will probably buy one. But I think a neck only gets so good. Suhr and Anderson have it down. But my pesonal experience with my own CS Jackson is every bit as good - the shape is just perfect.

Yes I'v owned CS Jacksons.

No need to be defensive...nothing personal in my initial reply...its just my opinion of them. Matt asked for opinions of Suhr and Anderson....I gave mine...really its all subjective in guitar tastes and tone --its up to the individual to decide for themselves. There are no right or wrong answers here. You have you opinion of any piece of gear, guitars or anything for that matter and it it is only that...your opinion based on what you like. I like different things and have different tastes and don't feel the need to point, counter-point everyone elses opinion nor defend mine.

Matt, Suhr amps also kick much ass

[El_Kabong]

Matt, on the amps:

On TGP, the consensus is that the CAE OD-100s are Bogner 101B killers, with far more versatility. But one channel metal players didn't see the price meeting the value of the OD-100, prefering the Splawn products. There is a new OD-30 about to be released that should break the price point and get more guys into the CAE topology. In addition, the new Badger has the bedroom boutique boys salivating.

Re: guitars~ I have never picked up a Suhr that I had an easy time putting down. One of our former veteran posters jumped to Suhr, IIRC and he was a long time Charvel supporter, saying, "I found something better".

On Anderson, I have played a few dogs that just sounded and played lifelessly, though they sure looked pretty. People are either in the love or hate camp with their pick-ups. I am in the latter.

I love Charvel, but there is something very special in a Suhr...

[hippietim]

at this level it is all about preference - there is no better.

in fact, i never liked the suhrs at all because of their neck profiles. they always looked and sounded good to me but i didn't like the way they played. then i played a chunky neck one. sold. i put money down right away.

[ChickenScratch]

Greg Howe and Scott Henderson play Suhrs and sound amazing. They should do a 7 I think.

[Groove_Machine]

I believe the Custom Shop Schecters USA that are made in California, are very close if not identical to the anderson guitars, and they are not that expensive.........I have tried both drop top types and they rocked, I believe also schecter USA and anderson use the samme type of pick ups as they look identical and sound very similar

[Robotechnology]

I think the Bogner Ectasy 101B's suit my needs more than the CAE 100. I belong to a little guitar fraternity called Ralph's House of Metal and the general consensus is a way huge thumbs up for the clean channel and a sideways thumb for the dirty. Mainly this is because most of us are Mesa guys rather than Marshall types.

The USA Schecters I've played have all underwelmed me. I'm sure there's some great ones in the bunch but, no great experiences with one so far.

[shredmonster]

No need to be defensive...nothing personal in my initial reply...its just my opinion of them. Matt asked for opinions of Suhr and

I agree - it is personal taste. I have already emailed John Suhr about a 24 fretter and he said they will be introducing them at NAMM 2007.

My only point I guess is that the CS Jackson that I received seems to be of the same quality as the Anderson/Suhr guitars I have played. Its a very rock solid guitar.

And when Suhr comes out with a 24 fretter I am going to place my order the same week!

[Shawn Lutz]

yeah Shred. I guess I should have rephrased my original statement. There are some super high quality CS guitars out there w/o question...old and new CS guitars. There are in my opinion a little more inconsistencies in quality with the newer ones but it doesn't mean all of them are POS guitars....there's some beauties and some dogs

[Shawn Lutz]

As for the CAE-OD-100/50's they are excellent amps but in my opinion are not 101B killers. The do have a better clean channel than the 101B but the gain channel, although great, didnt make me put my 101B on the market or buy an OD-100