Pondering a Suhr...

[59Bassman]

I've recently realized I have a local Suhr dealer. The guy has 10 or so of the Pro models on the wall, and a small mountain of Badgers and Corsos. They mean well, and are really trying. Prices are pretty close to some of the online pushers. I have played most of the Pro models in there, and for me it comes down to the necks are smaller than I like - both nut width and depth.

The owner and I were chatting, and he asked me what I thought about ordering a custom. He asked me if he ordered a few customs, would that appeal to me as a customer. My answer was that after 29 years of playing, I'm pretty settled on what I like. And what I like isn't normally hanging on the rack. His odds of hitting it blind were pretty slim, and if I was dropping Suhr Custom money, it needed to be exactly what I'd want.

So he's asked me to give him what I'd spec out, and wants to show me he's serious about moving a custom Suhr. I may give him the specs, but am not yet committed to the idea. I'm thinking it would be an Alder bodied Classic in an old Fender color, set up HSS but routed for HSS, HSH, or SSS.

A couple questions:

For those who've gone the custom Suhr (or other) route, were you ultimately happy with it? What are the odds of getting a "keeper" from a custom build?

What pickups would you suggest for a HSS blues/roots/rock setup? I was thinking SSV/V60LP/V60LP, but am open to alternatives - wondering about the ML's.

Would you go with the SSC setup on something like this? I've never used an SSC and am wondering what the downside is.

Thanks for any help, I may be dropping by the shop tomorrow and giving him a "no commitment" spec sheet to work with.

 

[Glynchfan1]

I can't speak to anything Suhr but I had a custom guitar built by Jon Hill(now known as Bootleg guitars) and it was what I wanted/ asked for and beyond. I've had it going on 8 years now and it will not go anywhere except to my son when my day comes. Like you said, you know what you want and like and I'm sure Suhr would get everything right. I highly recommend Jon and Bootleg as well.

 

[cardinal]

I went the custom route with a Tom Anderson and just couldn't bond with it. I spec'd it out pretty much identically to another Anderson I own but it just wasn't the same. Unfortunately, with guitars it just boils down to luck of the draw sometimes. I'm not sure Id ever go that route again since the resale is so bad. Just like you, if people are buying a Suhr/Anderson/whatever, they either want their own specs or a heck of a deal.

 

[Deleted member 16554]

I think you're going to come across a lot of varying opinions. i have a custom ordered suhr modern and a tom anderson droptop, and have sold all my other guitars after getting those two. they are perfect from a playability and cosmetic standpoint.

the key to getting a stellar guitar is knowing exactly what you like and working with someone who is capable of communicating that to the luthier/company.

Both suhr and tom anderson will bend over backwards to get you what you want.

 

[Shark Diver]

I can't speak to anything Suhr but I had a custom guitar built by Jon Hill(now known as Bootleg guitars) and it was what I wanted/ asked for and beyond. I've had it going on 8 years now and it will not go anywhere except to my son when my day comes. Like you said, you know what you want and like and I'm sure Suhr would get everything right. I highly recommend Jon and Bootleg as well.

Jerry use to work with Jon back in Ohio.

Lots of variables. I've had a lot of custom builds from a lot of different companies. I've had a few builds go bad - never got the guitars - but the ones I got I was pretty happy with all of them. As stated, the more you know about what you like, the easier it is to get a build you will love.

A big factor for a lot of guys is $$$ coupled with expectations. If you spend $4k on a custom Suhr, and $14K on a PRS private stock - in reality they are going to be very similar guitars. What I mean is don't expect $10,000 more of greatness from the PRS, it doesn't work that way. So, that kind of expectation is unrealistic, and can taint your opinion of the Private Stock.

I think a custom build has ultimately given me my best guitars, but I have found some off the rack gems at pretty reasonable prices.

 

[Glynchfan1]

Shark, no kidding?!? If he was there 7-8 years ago I've prob met him. I actually did a road trip to pick up the guitar when It was done. And your totally right. When I did my custom I knew what I wanted wood and looks wise. I priced from a handful of places(esp, mcnaught that I can remember. I think a few others). Price wasn't as much a big deal as the process. For what I was looking for Hill seemed to have everything I wanted. We had some bumps along the way but if I had it to do over again I'd deal with Jon everytime. He turned my dream into reality and really nailed it. And cost wise, it wasn't cheap, but it wasn't ESP $5k either lol.

 

[59Bassman]

So I wrote up what I think I'm going to give the dealer to price, and I'm amused. I've pretty much talked myself out of every "bling" component I thought I'd originally go for (gold hardware, abalone inlay, figured transparent top, pearloid pickguard) in favor of a pretty basic HSS strat. The neck dimensions and woods in particular are different from stock models, and I'm asking for a specific routing (routes wide enough for HSH, HSS, or SSS) to mess around with pickups in the future. And the SSC system, because my house buzzes like a MFer with my singe coils. Still up in the air for pickups, but leaning towards the DSH/V60LP/V60LP setup.

Pretty plain jane, but it'd be the Millennium Falcon guitar - "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

But hell, give me 15 minutes and I may have spec-ed out a one-piece Koa modern with a ninja inlay on the fretboard....

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

if you want a simple Strat style guitar, I don't know if custom is necessary.
http://www.suhr.com/Classic-Pro/

The Pro Series Classic is a killer guitar at a moderate price point. For a custom build you'd spend a fair amount more, but the plus is you can select neck size, pickups, and more paint color choices.

I've had several Suhr builds and they all turned out great.

 

[59Bassman]

I've played a number of the classic pros and they are great. The neck is the dealbreaker. It's all in my head, but I don't keep guitars with 1 5/8" nuts. Every guitar I've had for more than 2 years has had a 1 11/16" nut. I'd also prefer a flatter radius and a pau ferro fingerboard, but those aren't the dealbreakers. If Suhr would do a run of 1 11/16" Pro Classics, I'd be on a Pro Classic like a fat kid on a cupcake.

I took one of my teles in (1 11/16" nut) and played it back-to-back with an incredibly cool Pro Classic. Realized I just could not get down with the nut width.

We all have our own neuroses.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

then you're a prime candidate for a Suhr Custom. You won't regret it, as they make incredible guitars.
I also prefer 1 11/16 nut width and a 16" radius. I can live with 12" - 14" too but I like their necks a lot.
My gold T has a fat C shape that's really comfy.