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Suhr

S. Cane

Active member
Joined
Dec 10, 2014
Messages
656
So, some of you probably owned/played Suhr guitars at some point.

It is somewhat common to see people in guitar forums saying that they're usually better guitars than, say, the top notch Fenders.

I played a couple of Suhrs myself and though they were undeniably very good, playable and beautifully finished strat-like instruments, they weren't all I've read they were. Let's say I wouldn't necessarily trade a custom shop Strat or maybe even one of the nicer US regular production Fender strats for one.

Looking forward to hearing opinions here.
 
Last edited:

P.Walker

New member
Joined
Apr 17, 2007
Messages
941
So, some of you probably owned/played Suhr guitars at some point.

It is somewhat common to see people in guitar forums saying that they're usually better guitars than, say, the top notch Fenders.

I played a couple of Suhrs myself and though they were undeniably very good, playable and beautifully finished strat-like instruments, they weren't all I've read they were. Let's say I wouldn't necessarily trade a custom shop Strat or maybe even one of the nicesr US production Fender strats for one.

Looking forward to hearing opinions here.

John Suhr made better Fender guitars at that time, which eventually became very different and now distinctly Suhr, though we know where its derivation comes from.

Fender well...just my opinion but no one does Fender better than Fender and Fender CS. John Suhr does Suhr best. It's somewhere in between a superstrat and a fender, and I don't like wishy washy things. To me, the sound is like a kemper model of an actual amp, as are the aesthetics.

Personally, I have a Fender CS 1957 Relic Strat in 2-tone sunburst which is my top 1/2 along with my R9, and I'm firmly in that camp. I wouldn't trade this guitar for any fender (save for an actual vintage), let alone any fender-derivative. Not a big fan of John Suhr, Anderson, Tyler, etc. PRS is a different story.

I do concede several of those companies are "better" in some aspects such as final stage qc control, but that's also a byproduct of firm size, etc., and fender cs is no slouch in that either (well except for those stupid overly bevelled frets). Fortunately I know a thing about guitar maintenance and fretwork that a mishap or two I can pretty much have ironed out.

Also those derivates are fantastic versatile session instruments...of which I have no use for since I don't play session.

For me, the ethos and originality is a big thing when I buy something. Kinda similar but I don't need a fine tuned TS-808 or its countless imitations on that market. The original 808 is fine and that's the sound and aesthetics the originals and reissues have and that's paramount to me (as silly and superficial as it sounds). I use 808.

Hopefully that was somewhat unbiased yet personal and reflective enough.
 

WallyWorld

New member
Joined
May 22, 2018
Messages
11
Quality wise they are as good as anything made. I had a couple of Strats. Flat fretboard, Noiseless pickup system, Stainless Frets. Nothing like any Fender I ever played. Not better or worse just very different and modern. I don’t have the Suhr anymore but have plenty of Fenders. The Suhr’s were top notch and dollar for dollar they might have been better instruments but I liked the feel of the Fenders. Old dog…new tricks….
 
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