New Suhr “Aura” Singlecut

[stratjacket]

At that price range, will have to buy a couple, haha.
I’m sure it’s a cool guitar, I just don’t like the LP style but I do understand the Suhr venture. I’m sure the Ibanez AZ line is a threat and Suhr needs to do some hedging. So a ‘hot rodded’ LP to match their hot rodded strats, just more variety.

 

[engage757]

7900 is gonna be a hard nope from me.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I don’t have an issue with the price... but what turns me off is:

1. African Okoume wood body, and Khaya wood neck... no thanks. I’ll take old growth, 50+ year old S. American mahogany.

2. Poly finish... hells no. Give me nitro or nothin. Huge tone killer.

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

4. And I’m going to need a nice Brazilian Rosewood board at this price... not Indian.

So yeah... I’ll stick with the current Gibson 2017-2018 LP Historics.

 

[SFW]

I have no issue with Suhr making a single cut guitar. I’m actually good with any company making one. At $8k, I think it’s well out of the range of most working musicians, but then Suhr has never been about budget friendly. lol. I hope they sell a ton of them.

I’m sad that the middle of the market seems to be disappearing. It seems as though we are moving to basically a two tier system. The ultra expensive and the garbage. This is mainly an issue with amps... but I digress.

 

[Blackbird]

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

Actually, Suhr IS sticking with tradition here. Les Pauls are 24.625, despite being listed as 24.75.

 

[splatter]

it says "improved upper fret access " but from the front it looks to have the same clunky LP type neck joint . Maybe not I can't really tell . If so that's a deal breaker for me .............oh and of coarse the price has nothing to do with it

 

[splatter]

I have no issue with Suhr making a single cut guitar. I’m actually good with any company making one. At $8k, I think it’s well out of the range of most working musicians, but then Suhr has never been about budget friendly. lol. I hope they sell a ton of them.

I’m sad that the middle of the market seems to be disappearing. It seems as though we are moving to basically a two tier system. The ultra expensive and the garbage. This is mainly an issue with amps... but I digress.

Thats true on new guitars but lately I've seen some good deals on NOS gibsons. I saw a 2017 standard the other day for $2200 .
Kinda makes me laugh when I see 6 year old lesters that people want $1800 for

 

[LP Freak]

it says "improved upper fret access " but from the front it looks to have the same clunky LP type neck joint . Maybe not I can't really tell . If so that's a deal breaker for me .............oh and of coarse the price has nothing to do with it

It has a deeper cut than an LP.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

Actually, Suhr IS sticking with tradition here. Les Pauls are 24.625, despite being listed as 24.75.

Not really. It depends who you ask and how they are measuring it.

Paul Smith has changed his mind several times and now claims 24.594 is the "real" late '50s LP scale length. Hence his 594 SC.

Gibson is sticking with 24.75...

... and some others measure from the 12th fret to the end of the board and just double that measurement which is again different from 24.75... and swear this is the most accurate.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

it says "improved upper fret access " but from the front it looks to have the same clunky LP type neck joint . Maybe not I can't really tell . If so that's a deal breaker for me .............oh and of coarse the price has nothing to do with it

It has a deeper cut than an LP.

... and supposedly some back contouring/cuts... ala ESP Eclipse.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Full specs here:

Introducing the Suhr Aura Singlecut! We are starting pre-orders NOW if anyone is interested! We have a very limited number available!
STREET PRICE (Figured Tops) $7,995.00
STREET PRICE (Gold) $7,500.00
Details:
Limited to 100 Pieces Worldwide. John Suhr will oversee all aspects of construction, perform all fretwork, and set-up each guitar.
Beginning summer 2018. 100 guitars will be
produced over a 12 month period. Expected ship date: January 2019.
SERIES Limited Edition
MODEL Aura - 20th Anniversary LE
BODY WOOD Okoume
BODY TOP WOOD Figured Maple
BINDING Tinted Ivoroid
FINISH MATERIAL Thin Skin Urethane Gloss
FINISH COLOR Aged Cherry Burst, Caramel Burst, Tea Burst, Gold
HEADSTOCK Aura
NECK PROFILE Historic C .880" - .995"
SCALE LENGTH 24.625"
NECK JOINT Long, wide tenon neck joint
NUT WIDTH 1.687"
NUT MATERIAL Unbleached Bone
# OF FRETS 22
FRET SIZE Heavy
FRET MATERIAL Nickel Silver
RADIUS 10"-12"
NECK WOOD MATERIAL Khaya
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL Indian Rosewood
PICKUP CONFIGURATION H/H
NECK PICKUP Thornbucker
MIDDLE PICKUP N/A
BRIDGE PICKUP Thornbucker Plus
PICKUP SELECTOR 3-Way Toggle
CONTROLS V/V/T/T
ELECTRONICS 50's Wiring with 150 Style Capacitors & CTS Pots
BRIDGE Tone Pros NVR-2 w/ tailpiece
TUNERS Suhr Locking
HARDWARE FINISH Nickel Chrome
OTHER COA signed by John Suhr

 

[LP Freak]

I’m really surprised John didn’t go with Stainless frets

 

[Fordman65]

I don’t have an issue with the price... but what turns me off is:

1. African Okoume wood body, and Khaya wood neck... no thanks. I’ll take old growth, 50+ year old S. American mahogany.

2. Poly finish... hells no. Give me nitro or nothin. Huge tone killer.

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

4. And I’m going to need a nice Brazilian Rosewood board at this price... not Indian.

So yeah... I’ll stick with the current Gibson 2017-2018 LP Historics.

Totally agree. Don't care for the specs on this one.

 

[Blackbird]

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

Actually, Suhr IS sticking with tradition here. Les Pauls are 24.625, despite being listed as 24.75.

Not really. It depends who you ask and how they are measuring it.

Paul Smith has changed his mind several times and now claims 24.594 is the "real" late '50s LP scale length. Hence his 594 SC.

Gibson is sticking with 24.75...

... and some others measure from the 12th fret to the end of the board and just double that measurement which is again different from 24.75... and swear this is the most accurate.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

You should go to 1:34......

 

[godgrinder]

I don’t have an issue with the price... but what turns me off is:

1. African Okoume wood body, and Khaya wood neck... no thanks. I’ll take old growth, 50+ year old S. American mahogany.

I thought using okoume on the $2k Modern Satins were a bit stingy already (these should at least have khaya). Okoume on $8k guitars is definitely pushing it...

 

[van hellion]

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

Actually, Suhr IS sticking with tradition here. Les Pauls are 24.625, despite being listed as 24.75.

Not really. It depends who you ask and how they are measuring it.

Paul Smith has changed his mind several times and now claims 24.594 is the "real" late '50s LP scale length. Hence his 594 SC.

Gibson is sticking with 24.75...

... and some others measure from the 12th fret to the end of the board and just double that measurement which is again different from 24.75... and swear this is the most accurate.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

from what i recall with my conversation with john is that these are based on several 59's that john measured. the scale length over the years of les pauls was very inconsistent due to the old assembly process. john has a very unique tennon that is as accurate in getting the scale length correct as possible, considering its not a bolt on. I'm no builder but i know for a fact that john obsessed over the discrepancies of 59 les pauls for the past several years while designing this. I've known about this guitar for a very long time and seen its progress. its really impressive to see johns knowledge take shape and become an instrument. As for price 8k is cheaper than most les pauls of similar quality and consistency, and for 8k a private stock PRS doesn't get you Paul himself plaining the board and personally fretting it.

its expensive yeah, freaking REALLY expensive. i could never afforded one coming up in the game. But then again i could never afford a Lambo or ferrari.

A Wood

 

[van hellion]

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

Actually, Suhr IS sticking with tradition here. Les Pauls are 24.625, despite being listed as 24.75.

Not really. It depends who you ask and how they are measuring it.

Paul Smith has changed his mind several times and now claims 24.594 is the "real" late '50s LP scale length. Hence his 594 SC.

Gibson is sticking with 24.75...

... and some others measure from the 12th fret to the end of the board and just double that measurement which is again different from 24.75... and swear this is the most accurate.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

You should go to 1:34......

Exactly.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

Actually, Suhr IS sticking with tradition here. Les Pauls are 24.625, despite being listed as 24.75.

Not really. It depends who you ask and how they are measuring it.

Paul Smith has changed his mind several times and now claims 24.594 is the "real" late '50s LP scale length. Hence his 594 SC.

Gibson is sticking with 24.75...

... and some others measure from the 12th fret to the end of the board and just double that measurement which is again different from 24.75... and swear this is the most accurate.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

You should go to 1:34......

Based on what?

Original Gibson Les Paul Standards from 1958-1959 had varying scale lengths... some were:
24.75
24.625
24.56
24.594
No one set spec on this. It really depends on the specific example and how it is measured. Don’t take my word for it either... go to the LesPaul Forum and read the posts from guys that own several original bursts (the same ones Gibson used as the blueprints for the collector series)... they are different. There is a lot of variation... which is why PRS and others have changed this spec often.

Obviously Paul Smith and John Suhr have different opinions... and another builder might have his own preference as well. Just like the top carves and neck carves... there is not one universally, 100% absolutely historically accurate example. Do some more reading on the subject.

 

[technomancer]

All the bitching on these is hilarious... at the end of the day Suhr sold all 100 slots to dealers before NAMM was over so it is already a success.

Personally I'm looking forward to next year when they become a regular Suhr model and seeing the options that are available...

 

[van hellion]

3. Scale length: 24.625 inches... let’s stick with 24.75 since we’re at it.

Actually, Suhr IS sticking with tradition here. Les Pauls are 24.625, despite being listed as 24.75.

Not really. It depends who you ask and how they are measuring it.

Paul Smith has changed his mind several times and now claims 24.594 is the "real" late '50s LP scale length. Hence his 594 SC.

Gibson is sticking with 24.75...

... and some others measure from the 12th fret to the end of the board and just double that measurement which is again different from 24.75... and swear this is the most accurate.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

You should go to 1:34......

Based on what?

Original Gibson Les Paul Standards from 1958-1959 had varying scale lengths... some were:
24.75
24.625
24.56
24.594
No one set spec on this. It really depends on the specific example and how it is measured. Don’t take my word for it either... go to the LesPaul Forum and read the posts from guys that own several original bursts (the same ones Gibson used as the blueprints for the collector series)... they are different. There is a lot of variation... which is why PRS and others have changed this spec often.

Obviously Paul Smith and John Suhr have different opinions... and another builder might have his own preference as well. Just like the top carves and neck carves... there is not one universally, 100% absolutely historically accurate example. Do some more reading on the subject.

if I'm not mistaken it was based on several 59's that john personally had access to. i wasn't saying or implying that Aura was a pure recreation, i was simply saying that the scale length was based off of specific 59's. And that the inconsistency came from the old building process. I don't need to research any farther than that as I'm not going into the job of les paul historian, i was just trying to help shine some inside light on why that scale length was chosen. John knows way more than me, and we could get him in this thread to give us more info if you guys really wanted to go down the rabbit hole. The guitar is consistent for every piece, that was the goal. And when choosing the scale length from 1959 he went with the one that consistently sounded great in the vintage pauls he has worked on and played over his career.