Not connecting with my Suhr

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spirit7

spirit7

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So, this is a bit of a silly thread, but bear with me.

I bought a Suhr GG last year. Didn't like the SSH+ in the bridge, so replaced with an Alnico Nailbomb. It has the same issue...doesn't have the snarl of a C-Bomb or Aftermath for me, through any of the amps in my sig. It just feels flat and lifeless, and doesn't have the crunch or liveliness of the aforementioned ceramic pickups.

So...do I replace with a C-Bomb? Alternatively, I'm considering an Aldrich. Has anyone else replaced pickups in a Suhr? I'm worried that the tonal issues are to do with the wood rather than the pickups and that they're just not great guitars for heavy music...please tell me I'm wrong. I'm quite close to selling it and picking up a Modern Eagle (which would be my third PRS).

-C
 
Just my personal preference, but I'm not a fan of bolt-on necks and/or non-mahogany bodies for heavy music. I like 'em neck-thru/glued-in and I like 'em mohogany (with maple cap) for the hard stuff... regardless of pickups. The Andersons and Suhrs that I've played (even had one at my house for a couple of weeks) just didn't stack-up to my ESPs for playing the hard-hitting stuff. Now, for smoldering blues, jazz fusion, classic rock, country, etc... they were GREAT. But for stuff with a dark modern edge and flavor, I haven't played a one of 'em that worked for me. YMMV
 
It really sounds like you'd be better off with another PRS perhaps. I can tell you this....I've had mahogany Suhr Moderns with both SSH+ and Aldrich pickups and much preferred the Aldrich over the SSH+. Although, I actually dig the SSH+ in alder body Moderns.
 
Which GG? Antique or regular sig? I have a mahogony body & neck modern with an Aldrich and it does the heavy just fine. It's designed for a Les Paul so it should sound good in a mahogany bodied guitar. I'd alos try a ceramic PU in it before you sell.
 
tripstan":2nk5w72c said:
Which GG? Antique or regular sig? I have a mahogony body & neck modern with an Aldrich and it does the heavy just fine. It's designed for a Les Paul so it should sound good in a mahogany bodied guitar. I'd alos try a ceramic PU in it before you sell.
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It's the regular sig. That's exactly my thought - trying a ceramic pickup first. But which one? I'm torn between a C-Bomb and a Painkiller. I can rely on the C-Bomb (love it in one of my Custom 24s) but I'm intrigued by the PK.

-C
 
I've sold the 3 Suhr's I've owned because IMHO each one was "polite" sounding. You can spend $4,000 on a Suhr modern with a pretty top but don't cry when a regular LP Standard kicks it in the balls for heavy tones.

However, when it comes to Anderson's I have played a few that were great for heavy stuff, one is my Drop Top, it smoked a PRS Rosewood McCarty I had. And my buddy Ivan, Robotechnology owns a hardtail drop top and a Cobra that sound great for hard rock and heavy stuff.

I'm sure there are some Suhr's out there that deliver for hard rock and metal, but I haven't played one yet and I've played a bunch.
 
Just curious to ask the OP what specifically you didnt like about the SSH+, what did it sound like to you? Good & bad what you didnt like about it. I have similar guitar...Thanks
 
I'm going to disagree on the Tom Andersons being 'heavier' in tone then the Suhr modern with hog bodies. I've owned cobras and drops and they just sounded a tadptw sterile IMO. Don't get me wrong. I love toms guitars and he's a great guy. But heavier in tone the a modern? Nah.

Grab yourself a historic les Paul for That stuff and youll never look back. Even a standard will be thicker. Not as well made as a Suhr or TAG. But thicker in the low mid thump.
 
RSRD":15co3osw said:
I'm going to disagree on the Tom Andersons being 'heavier' in tone then the Suhr modern with hog bodies. I've owned cobras and drops and they just sounded a tadptw sterile IMO. Don't get me wrong. I love toms guitars and he's a great guy. But heavier in tone the a modern? Nah.

Grab yourself a historic les Paul for That stuff and youll never look back. Even a standard will be thicker. Not as well made as a Suhr or TAG. But thicker in the low mid thump.
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Just my experience but I owned a Modern and it was a nice guitar but it didn't touch my Drop Top, I also found I don't like neck bucker tones with 24 frets. YMMV.
 
Red_Label":3anpsg9l said:
Just my personal preference, but I'm not a fan of bolt-on necks and/or non-mahogany bodies for heavy music. I like 'em neck-thru/glued-in and I like 'em mohogany (with maple cap) for the hard stuff... regardless of pickups. The Andersons and Suhrs that I've played (even had one at my house for a couple of weeks) just didn't stack-up to my ESPs for playing the hard-hitting stuff. Now, for smoldering blues, jazz fusion, classic rock, country, etc... they were GREAT. But for stuff with a dark modern edge and flavor, I haven't played a one of 'em that worked for me. YMMV
Click to expand...
Interesting. Pretty much everything stated in this reply, I concur with. I've had a number of Suhrs through my hands, I've yet to gel with one like I gel with my LPs or ESPs. Just an interesting observation. The wood combo is so true - mahog/mahog or mahog/maple, glue in or neck thru, these are the guitars that just hammer way better, and to me, really hum.
 
I have a Modern Mahogany body/neck with a maple top with Aldrich's. I've had it for several years now. I've compared it to many Gibsons (pauls,V's,SG's,Explorers) the gibsons that sounded heavier, also sounded wooly, muddy, and darker. The suhr has more clarity for sure, maybe you don't like that(my other guitarist doesn't). The Suhr sounds much more balanced than any Gibson I've tried. What I don't like about it is you really get that mahogany HONK, which I think becomes too pronounced. After trying multiple pickup changes in several different guitars, I feel the wood/construction ultimately determines the guitars sound. Suhr's have decent resale I'd sell it and try again.
 
I have two Suhrs: An S2 and an S4. S4 has a Dimarzio Crunch Lab in the bridge, S2 has a Mo' Joe in the bridge. Both can do heavy just fine. Amp is Splawn Quick Rod. Have used Diezel VH4, Hughes & Kettner, Ceriatone Chupacabra 50, Jet City JCA100H , and Marshall Vintage Modern 2266.
 
Take your Suhr to the park. Go on a nice relaxed date. Spend some time together outside of the bedroom. You'll get the old fire back. Hope this helps.

Or, have you considered active pickups?
 
i had a PRS Tremonti before i got my Suhr Modern, it was ace for heavy stuff, very thick sounding and full of beef. The Suhr was much clearer, more defined and a lot more versatile, it's a mahogany body and neck with maple top and Aldriches.

The Suhr never gets muddy even at high volume, but in a straight beef off vs the Tremonti, the PRS wins all day long.
 
Thanks guys. I think the solution is to buy a ceramic BKP. My choices are therefore the C-Bomb (which I have in my PRS and love), Aftermath (which I have in my other PRS and love), Miracle Man, Cold Sweat, Warpig.

I'm tempted to go with what I know, but it'd be good to have a little variety. Miracle Man in a Suhr?! Opinions welcome!

-C
 
I recently put a Motor City Hot Head in my Suhr...it slays dragons and friggin pirates.

Mark
 
spirit7":21n2rzcu said:
Thanks guys. I think the solution is to buy a ceramic BKP. My choices are therefore the C-Bomb (which I have in my PRS and love), Aftermath (which I have in my other PRS and love), Miracle Man, Cold Sweat, Warpig.

I'm tempted to go with what I know, but it'd be good to have a little variety. Miracle Man in a Suhr?! Opinions welcome!

-C
Click to expand...

Oh, and Painkiller.

Mark: Motor City seem interesting, but hard to get them in the UK.

-C
 
Mark Day":27idzlqf said:
I recently put a Motor City Hot Head in my Suhr...it slays dragons and friggin pirates.

Mark
Click to expand...

whats a "hot head" dont see it on the site...alnico , ceramic ?
 
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