Where can i get a Suhr/Fender Preamp for a jazz?

eyeballkid · #1 03-03-2011, 10:11 AM

Anyone know where to get a Suhr/fender Preamp? the ones that were in the Jazz Deluxes in the late 90s..

eyeballkid · #2 03-06-2011, 05:06 PM

OK.. OK.. so if NOONE knows where to get one, What is the preamp that would be most close to its sound? ANYONE???? ( please dont just tell me your favorite aftermarket preamp, Im really looking for something that would have and VERY similar sound to the Suhr preamp in the fender deluxes..
Is the Classic J's made by John Suhr now similar at all? or are they a totally different direction?

**SamanthaCay** · #3 03-06-2011, 05:10 PM

Did you try,
http://www.suhrguitars.com
Edit: sorry didn't see that you know of the more resent suhr products.
Maybe they would one off one for you.

eyeballkid · #4 03-06-2011, 05:19 PM

yeah, i thought of contacting them, but I figured that they would give me "the sell" on one of theirs, and not the true user accounts of it actual similarities.. plus the right up about their model SEEMS like it would sound different.

i think a one off would be stupid expensive.

Phendyr_Loon · #5 03-06-2011, 05:53 PM

If you're looking for this specific preamp, you probably know a lot about them. I know the pickups have a unique coil design, but how is the pre amp any different from other stock Fender preamps?
Just curious.
I'm on the hunt for original Suhr jazz pu's myself.

scotch · #6 03-06-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

OK.. OK.. so if NOONE knows where to get one, What is the preamp that would be most close to its sound? ANYONE???? ( please dont just tell me your favorite aftermarket preamp, Im really looking for something that would have and VERY similar sound to the Suhr preamp in the fender deluxes..
Is the Classic J's made by John Suhr now similar at all? or are they a totally different direction?

I used to have one of those Fender deluxe's with the Suhr's. It was my main bass for almost 10 years. Honestly, I don't remember it having such a distinctive 'tone' of it's own. It was a great sounding bass & pre, but I'd have no idea how to quantify anything that distinctive about it.

Tigger Bangdang · #7 03-06-2011, 06:03 PM

I have a control plate from a 96' Jazz Deluxe 5.

eyeballkid · #8 03-06-2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

I used to have one of those Fender deluxe's with the Suhr's. It was my main bass for almost 10 years. Honestly, I don't remember it having such a distinctive 'tone' of it's own. It was a great sounding bass & pre, but I'd have no idea how to quantify anything that distinctive about it.

yeah, they are not THAT distinctive, but they sound different than a stock fender to me, and theres something about the way the controls work the tone that just says "SUPER BASS" to me... Ive been having a hard time finding one, and if I CANT I want as close as possible...

scotch · #9 03-06-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

yeah, they are not THAT distinctive, but they sound different than a stock fender to me, and theres something about the way the controls work the tone that just says "SUPER BASS" to me... Ive been having a hard time finding one, and if I CANT I want as close as possible...

Gotcha. Definitely not a classic passive-jazz tone! But, it was a good tone. Mine was dead quiet. The neck was a little squirrelly, though. I don't think those graphite rods to anything if the wood wants to move. I had to adjust that neck 4 times a year!

eyeballkid · #10 03-06-2011, 06:41 PM

weird. I never had to adjust the neck of the fretless one I had in over 12 years!

scotch · #11 03-06-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

weird. I never had to adjust the neck of the fretless one I had in over 12 years!

Right. The longer I play & learn about instruments,... the more I'm convinced it's largely about the piece of wood! A stable piece of wood stays stable. An odd piece doesn't- despite whatever trickery you employ!

I think you got a good neck, mine.... not so much.

KeithPas · #12 03-06-2011, 07:14 PM

I see these preamps on ebay all the time.

eyeballkid · #13 03-06-2011, 07:26 PM

REALLY?? are we talking about the same one? fender preamps yeah..but Ive been looking for a Fender/Suhr preamp for a loooong time and havent seen one. and if so.. for how much usually?

**SamanthaCay** · #14 03-06-2011, 07:40 PM

See if you can find a schematic or one that you can examine and either build it yourself or find someone to build it for you.
If you can find a schematic you can then price shop different techs and see if it is something you can afford.

KeithPas · #15 03-06-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

REALLY?? are we talking about the same one? fender preamps yeah..but Ive been looking for a Fender/Suhr preamp for a loooong time and havent seen one. and if so.. for how much usually?

I am pretty sure it is the same one. It is not always called Fender/Suhr preamp but I think it is the same one. They usually go for around $60.00.

walterw · #16 03-06-2011, 08:48 PM

are you gonna use the old suhr pickups, or the earlier fender noiseless?

my impression is the fender preamps were designed around the somewhat dull-sounding early noiseless pickups, and had a noticeable treble boost even when set flat. (swapping the pickups for real singles in an older active fender definitely makes the thing aggressive and "zippy".)

the new suhr stuff is not the same, in that his new noise-canceling pickups are more "natural" sounding, and thus the new preamp is not hyped in its response to compensate.

Husky · #17 03-14-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

Anyone know where to get a Suhr/fender Preamp? the ones that were in the Jazz Deluxes in the late 90s..

That was a 3 band EQ, actually not my favorite. I tried to get them to go with my 2 band. Either way we could sell you one except I don't have the stacked pots so if you want that direction you would need to supply the pots. I can make it with our new design, the original fender values (when I left they toned it down and changed some things) or my preference the current 2 band which most of the artists we tested actually preferred anyway.
Thanks
John Suhr

scotch · #18 03-14-2011, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Husky

That was a 3 band EQ, actually not my favorite. I tried to get them to go with my 2 band. Either way we could sell you one except I don't have the stacked pots so if you want that direction you would need to supply the pots. I can make it with our new design, the original fender values (when I left they toned it down and changed some things) or my preference the current 2 band which most of the artists we tested actually preferred anyway.
Thanks
John Suhr

I didn't know John Suhr was on here! Hey, man- great products! A good friend of mine is starting to install your strat dummy-coil backplates for some clients here in Nashville. Cool system- when are you getting started on designing something similar for a Jazz Bass?