A Lengthy Review of My First Suhr (with sound clips & photos)

[scmavl]

I recently acquired a 2006 Suhr Classic Chambered T (thinline style) from a fellow forum member and after a couple of weeks of playing, I feel I can give an honest opinion of it.

After a little re-wiring (no fault of Suhr, maybe happened in shipping) and getting the pickups properly balanced... WOAH. The bridge pickup (Broadcaster) is hot and bright, but not abrasive. Very usable in many situations, whereas my in last tele I either has to roll off the tone knob or change my amp setting to use the bridge with a mildly hot pedal. The middle position as a nice balance of warmth and brightness, great for strumming rhythm work. The neck pup (SSV humbucker) is creamy, yet aggressive. Not really hot, but easy to dirty up and has great sustain. A previous owner had installed a mini-toggle switch to split the neck pickup and it's a great mod. It gives it the option of a more classic tele neck tone, but then you can flip it to both coils for leads or just a bigger sound. I play through a Goodsell 5/17 head and a 1x12" cab so that my cleans have just a bit of hair on them. When pushed with a Catalinbread SCP boost (set on Fat), it gives a nice breakup when hit hard or stays bright and clean with controlled picking. Using a Honey Bee or a Liquid Sunshine (stacked with the SCP) give a killer rhythm sound for rock (a'la Black Crowes) or a nice cleanish lead tone. Kicking on a BJFE LGW boosts the mids and it just SINGS for leads. Cream City on the full neck humbucker. Stacked with the SCP, Honey Bee or both, it's still not overly noisy. That's very surprising, as they aren't "silent" pups, and it's probably a testament to the wonderful Goodsell amp as well.

The body is fairly light, as it's chambered, but still has enough weight to feel "solid" on a strap. Fit and finish are spot on, no gaps or cracks in the neck pocket. The bridge is a Wilkinson, so even though it has brass barrell saddles, it's fully intonatable. This is the first tele I've owned with a vintage style ashtray bridge, so it's taking some getting used to but it's still very comfortable and, IMO, looks better than the flat Fender American Standard type (which my other 3 teles had). The finish (orange crush metallic) is a mixture of subtle and flashy and I think will continue to look better with play wear, much like a LP Goldtop. As this is my first Suhr, I didn't know what to expect with the neck but I was anything but disappointed. The back is satin and as smooth and fast as possible. The shape (even C medium) fills the hand nicely but doesn't feel fat or thin... it's just THERE, much like a Tyler neck. And that's a very good thing. The Brazillian Rosewood fingerboard is gorgeous and plays well and the Heavy SS frets are just right, not too big or too small. Again, just THERE. Sperzel locking tuners and a glossy headstock front round out the neck. It holds tune GREAT, just as well as a PRS, which for me hold tune extremely well.

Sorry for my long winded gushing about this guitar. Here are a couple of clips. The first one is me running through the various pickup positions on the guitar with varying degrees of overdrive. The second is a quick single note line with a BJFE HoneyBee. The last one is just a bit of a song I was toying with. I laid down the guitars, bass, and drums in about 15 minutes. The only other effect used is a Dr. Scientist RRReveberator. The first two were recorded with a cheap Zoom H2 mp3 recorder placed 4" in front of the speaker. The third was recorded on a Tascam digital 8 track with an SM57 and no other effects or mastering. Sorry, the strings are new and a bit buzzy, and my playing is simple and sloppy as always.

Clip 1 - http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/7/...93/STE-060.mp3
I use this order on every setting: bridge, both, neck hb, neck single - First, through a clean amp, then with a SCP boost, then boost + Liquid Sunshine, and lastly boost + BJFE LGW.

Clip 2 - http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/7/...93/STE-072.mp3
Just a quick line using both pickups (with the neck tapped for single) and just a Honey Bee OD.

Clip 3 - http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/7/...ele%20Test.mp3
A bit of a song I recorded using the tele. The melody line is both pickups with a SCP boost, and the louder guitar is on the bridge with a Liquid Sunshine.

Here are a couple of photos (courtesy of Pete, the former owner):

[dognmoon]

that's a cool guitar, Jarrod.

[Drowned Rabbit]

Great review! Adding clips was a very nice touch. I have 4 Suhrs myself, they're are amazing guitars.

Welcome to the club :AOK

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by dognmoon

that's a cool guitar, Jarrod.

Thanks Corey, you see why getting rid of the Tyler wasn't quite so hard. And after I sold the Classic, to replace it (and to save $$), I got... a Fender Highway 1! Yikes, we'll see how that works out....

[ChazMania]

One of my favorite looking Tele's.....I thought about buying it too but no cash. Congrats on a very cool and unique looking Suhr!

[scmavl]

Thanks, it's a looker for sure. It has a white pearloid pickguard too, but I think a chrome humbucker would be needed to make that look right.