Suhr Guitars
Encyclopedia
Suhr Guitars is an American company that manufactures electric guitar
s and bass
es, guitar amplifiers
, and effect units
. The company is based in Lake Elsinore
, California
and was founded in 1997 by John Suhr, who "has a reputation for building exquisitely crafted guitars", and Steve Smith.
doing guitar repair. He also created the first Suhr Custom guitar in 1984. Teaming up with Rudy Pensa
they started selling guitars under the Pensa-Suhr brand, and the signature model they built for former Dire Straits
frontman Mark Knopfler
is perhaps their most famous guitar.
Around 1991, Suhr moved from NYC to Los Angeles
to work with guitar rig builder Bob Bradshaw. Before leaving NYC they had collaborated on the design of a preamplifier
, the Custom Audio Electronics (CAE) 3+, used for instance by Steve Lukather
. They also designed a 100 watt amplifier head, the Custom Audio Amplifiers (CAA) OD-100. From 1995 to 1997, John Suhr worked as Senior Master Builder at Fender's Custom Shop
, and then left to form his own company with Steve Smith. Suhr had the knowledge about building guitars, Smith knew about management, software and CNC programming. Combining their efforts, they had total control of the manufacturing process and used the CNC routers to efficiently produce guitar necks and bodies, rather than doing it completely by hand. In the 1990s Suhr also made a name for himself making pickups
, such as the custom-made single coils for Scott Henderson
(Bill Frisell
also uses Suhr pickups).
During their first years the company built high-end guitars to customer specifications, introducing a new model about once a year. In 2004 they expanded into guitar amplifiers when they re-introduced the CAA OD-100, which had earlier only been available in very limited numbers. In addition to the OD-100, which still bears the Custom Audio Amplifiers brand, they now also manufacture the Badger line of amplifiers bearing the Suhr name. 2005 saw the introduction of the Silent Single Coil system, which uses a secondary coil for noise cancellation to enable guitars with single coil pickups to function without picking up noise. Later years have also seen introduction of various other electronic accessories like single-coil, humbucker
and electric bass pickups, mixers, and now also effect pedals. This included a collaboration with Doug Aldrich
to create high-output pickups for an aggressive rock style of playing. In addition to receiving attention for their instruments, the company has also received some attention for their usage of modern technology in the design and manufacturing process in what might be regarded as a hand-craft niche of the guitar industry.
At the 2010 winter NAMM show, the company introduced a new line of guitars with a new brand; Rasmus Guitars. These guitars will be manufactured in Asia but have the final setup and Quality Assurance check performed at the Suhr factory in Lake Elsinore, California, and there's only four different models to choose from. Moving production to Asia enabled the company to lower costs, and these guitars will therefore be priced a tier below the Suhr Pro line.
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s and bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
es, guitar amplifiers
Guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
, and effect units
Effects unit
Effects units are electronic devices that alter how a musical instrument or other audio source sounds. Some effects subtly "color" a sound, while others transform it dramatically. Effects are used during live performances or in the studio, typically with electric guitar, keyboard and bass...
. The company is based in Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore, California
For the lake see Lake Elsinore.Lake Elsinore or LE is a city in western Riverside County, California. The population was 51,821 at the 2010 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was founded in 1997 by John Suhr, who "has a reputation for building exquisitely crafted guitars", and Steve Smith.
History
Prior to founding JS Technologies Inc, John Suhr had worked at Rudy's Music Stop in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
doing guitar repair. He also created the first Suhr Custom guitar in 1984. Teaming up with Rudy Pensa
Pensa Custom Guitars
Pensa Custom Guitars is an American company that manufactures electric guitars and basses in handmade fashion. The company is based in New York City. Pensa Custom Guitars was founded by argentinian luthier Rudy Pensa. Pensa strives to make extremely high quality guitars. They are therefore among...
they started selling guitars under the Pensa-Suhr brand, and the signature model they built for former Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
frontman Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
is perhaps their most famous guitar.
Around 1991, Suhr moved from NYC to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to work with guitar rig builder Bob Bradshaw. Before leaving NYC they had collaborated on the design of a preamplifier
Preamplifier
A preamplifier is an electronic amplifier that prepares a small electrical signal for further amplification or processing. A preamplifier is often placed close to the sensor to reduce the effects of noise and interference. It is used to boost the signal strength to drive the cable to the main...
, the Custom Audio Electronics (CAE) 3+, used for instance by Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
. They also designed a 100 watt amplifier head, the Custom Audio Amplifiers (CAA) OD-100. From 1995 to 1997, John Suhr worked as Senior Master Builder at Fender's Custom Shop
Fender Custom Shop
The Fender Custom Shop is a division of Fender Musical Instruments, housed within their headquarters complex in Corona, Riverside County, California. The Fender Custom Shop primarily exists to compete with smaller companies and independent luthiers that, in turn, build products reminiscent of those...
, and then left to form his own company with Steve Smith. Suhr had the knowledge about building guitars, Smith knew about management, software and CNC programming. Combining their efforts, they had total control of the manufacturing process and used the CNC routers to efficiently produce guitar necks and bodies, rather than doing it completely by hand. In the 1990s Suhr also made a name for himself making pickups
Pickup (music technology)
A pickup device is a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations, usually from suitably equipped stringed instruments such as the electric guitar, electric bass guitar, Chapman Stick, or electric violin, and converts them to an electrical signal that is amplified, recorded, or broadcast.-...
, such as the custom-made single coils for Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson is a fusion and blues guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech.-Early days:Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Henderson began playing guitar at an early age...
(Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell
William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
also uses Suhr pickups).
During their first years the company built high-end guitars to customer specifications, introducing a new model about once a year. In 2004 they expanded into guitar amplifiers when they re-introduced the CAA OD-100, which had earlier only been available in very limited numbers. In addition to the OD-100, which still bears the Custom Audio Amplifiers brand, they now also manufacture the Badger line of amplifiers bearing the Suhr name. 2005 saw the introduction of the Silent Single Coil system, which uses a secondary coil for noise cancellation to enable guitars with single coil pickups to function without picking up noise. Later years have also seen introduction of various other electronic accessories like single-coil, humbucker
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
and electric bass pickups, mixers, and now also effect pedals. This included a collaboration with Doug Aldrich
Doug Aldrich
Doug Aldrich , is a Los Angeles-based hard rock guitarist, since 2003 a member of Whitesnake. He founded the band Burning Rain with Keith St.John in 1998 and has played previously with the bands Dio, Lion, Hurricane, House of Lords, and Bad Moon Rising...
to create high-output pickups for an aggressive rock style of playing. In addition to receiving attention for their instruments, the company has also received some attention for their usage of modern technology in the design and manufacturing process in what might be regarded as a hand-craft niche of the guitar industry.
At the 2010 winter NAMM show, the company introduced a new line of guitars with a new brand; Rasmus Guitars. These guitars will be manufactured in Asia but have the final setup and Quality Assurance check performed at the Suhr factory in Lake Elsinore, California, and there's only four different models to choose from. Moving production to Asia enabled the company to lower costs, and these guitars will therefore be priced a tier below the Suhr Pro line.
Instruments
Electric guitars
Their guitar models are based on the below mentioned four distinct body shapes, and different series are available. All guitars are built to customer specifications, with the exception of the Pro Series, which are a limited option series of guitars based on the Standard and Modern body shapes.- Classic
- Classic T
- Modern
- Standard
Artists who use Suhr guitars
- Reb BeachReb BeachReb Beach is an American rock guitarist. He is a member of the bands Winger and Whitesnake...
- Scott HendersonScott HendersonScott Henderson is a fusion and blues guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech.-Early days:Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Henderson began playing guitar at an early age...
- Guthrie GovanGuthrie GovanGuthrie Govan is a guitarist known for his work with the bands Asia , GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship as well as Erotic Cakes...
- Mike LandauMichael LandauMichael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Seal, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis...
- Chris BrooksChris Brooks (guitarist)Chris Brooks is an Australian rock, metal and fusion guitarist most noted for his debut instrumental album The Master Plan and his subsequent work with members of Yngwie Malmsteen, Black Sabbath, Lana Lane, and fellow Australians LORD.-Early life:...
- Peter JosephThe AbsenceThe Absence is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida. Their style has been described as aggressive thrash metal with Scandinavian metal influences. They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records...
- Dani Rabin of MarbinMarbinMarbin is a Jazz-Rock group based in Chicago IL.Marbin first started in 2007 as an improvised music duo consisting of Israeli-American guitarist Dani Rabin and Israeli saxophonist Danny Markovitch. Markovitch and Rabin met shortly after Markovitch had completed his military service as an infantry...
- Nick SterlingNick SterlingNicholas James Sterling, is a guitar player and songwriter from Mesa, Arizona. He started learning guitar at the age of 7 years old; by the age of 10, he had released his first CD, Ten. At age 10, he shared a stage with Alice Cooper at a New Year's Eve concert. When he was 13, guitarist Dave Mason...
- Andy Wood