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Yes SUHR! Calling all Suhr players.. Post em'

Well I actually started out making more basses than anything else. Currently I agree our offerings are slim for bass players but we will change that very soon. Currently we are only an original J shape and thickness with vintage radius. OK.... so tell me what you guys want to see in the basses.

Hi John,

On the existing J Basses it'd be great to see the following:

Trussrod access slot in the pickguard
Block Inlay option
Neck Binding option
Flatter radius option
 
The headstock shape could use a little more style..

wut ! no way :D:bassist:
sj2.gif
 
When I was out looking for my next bass, A Suhr came in 2nd place behind my Roscoe... for two reasons.
Firstly, let me say that the Suhr I tried was really nice. Nice neck, build etc... except that for what ever reason, none of the knobs on the bass would stay on! OK, small detail really, but based on the price, I couldn't get myself to pull the trigger.
Now I have a personal issue with any "copies" as I can't get my head around paying top dollar for a copy, of anything. I know many of you will find that wrong, well so be it. I have tried Suhr's, Sad's etc... many of which were great basses, but at the end of it all, they are copies in my mind.
So, I have said this before in a few threads (and I get why high end builder make copies, I really do!) I would LOVE to see what creative and talented hands could do with their own designs!
I can, unfortunately only imagine what the guys at both Suhr and Sadowsky could come up with, should they be in a position to create and release an instrument of entirely their own design.
Fishheadjoe
 
Now I have a personal issue with any "copies" as I can't get my head around paying top dollar for a copy, of anything. I know many of you will find that wrong, well so be it. I have tried Suhr's, Sad's etc... many of which were great basses, but at the end of it all, they are copies in my mind.
So, I have said this before in a few threads (and I get why high end builder make copies, I really do!) I would LOVE to see what creative and talented hands could do with their own designs!
I can, unfortunately only imagine what the guys at both Suhr and Sadowsky could come up with, should they be in a position to create and release an instrument of entirely their own design.
Fishheadjoe

I don't know man, a ton of improvements have been made to the jazz bass because of guys like Suhr/Sadowsky. Leo Fender gave us a great idea and those guys have perfected it, Fender didn't notice until they started to lose market share. Double basses all look the same, violins, tubas, saxaphones, trumpets, pianos etc. Sadowsky and Suhr are not creating a new instrument.
 
When I was out looking for my next bass, A Suhr came in 2nd place behind my Roscoe... for two reasons.
Firstly, let me say that the Suhr I tried was really nice. Nice neck, build etc... except that for what ever reason, none of the knobs on the bass would stay on! OK, small detail really, but based on the price, I couldn't get myself to pull the trigger.
Now I have a personal issue with any "copies" as I can't get my head around paying top dollar for a copy, of anything. I know many of you will find that wrong, well so be it. I have tried Suhr's, Sad's etc... many of which were great basses, but at the end of it all, they are copies in my mind.
So, I have said this before in a few threads (and I get why high end builder make copies, I really do!) I would LOVE to see what creative and talented hands could do with their own designs!
I can, unfortunately only imagine what the guys at both Suhr and Sadowsky could come up with, should they be in a position to create and release an instrument of entirely their own design.
Fishheadjoe

In the end a maker will draw on his experience, what he knows. With Roger, he ran a shop for years dealing with the very best New York musicians, and the vast majority of the guitarts coming in were Fenders.

John worked for years at the Fender Custom shop, so that's what he knows.

I have no problem buying a Suhr over a Fender since I can get a Suhr for only a few hundred dollars more than it costs for a Fender '75 or '62 reissue here. Fenders are WAY overpriced for what you get in my experience.
 
When I was out looking for my next bass, A Suhr came in 2nd place behind my Roscoe... for two reasons.
Firstly, let me say that the Suhr I tried was really nice. Nice neck, build etc... except that for what ever reason, none of the knobs on the bass would stay on! OK, small detail really, but based on the price, I couldn't get myself to pull the trigger.
Now I have a personal issue with any "copies" as I can't get my head around paying top dollar for a copy, of anything. I know many of you will find that wrong, well so be it. I have tried Suhr's, Sad's etc... many of which were great basses, but at the end of it all, they are copies in my mind.
So, I have said this before in a few threads (and I get why high end builder make copies, I really do!) I would LOVE to see what creative and talented hands could do with their own designs!
I can, unfortunately only imagine what the guys at both Suhr and Sadowsky could come up with, should they be in a position to create and release an instrument of entirely their own design.
Fishheadjoe

I understand where you are coming from, but what if someone played you're Roscoe and wanted one just like it? Or maybe he wanted something like your bass but with a few modifications or improvements? Wouldn't that be a copy? The J-Bass is an incredibly successful design. The "Classic J" is John's take on it. Having said that, I would love to see an "original" bass from him.
 
I understand where you are coming from, but what if someone played you're Roscoe and wanted one just like it? Or maybe he wanted something like your bass but with a few modifications or improvements? Wouldn't that be a copy? The J-Bass is an incredibly successful design. The "Classic J" is John's take on it. Having said that, I would love to see an "original" bass from him.

I'm glad you understand where I am was coming from... should someone want a Roscoe like mine, well call Roscoe and they will make one for you!
I do appreciate the workmanship and quality materials put into making these Jazz copies and as I mentioned in my original post, I get why they make them.
I also understand that there is likely no appropriate business model that would satisfy a profitable venture, making basses of their own design... that being said, it won't stop me from hoping that some day, these talented builders will say, "the heck with it, I'm gonna build something entirely my own and see how the market reacts."
I know it's likely not going to happen, but one can wish!
BTW - I really did like the Suhr I tried... great sounding instrument, great playing etc... I just wanted something different then a Jazz bass.
Fishheadjoe
 
isn't this kind of missing the point though? john and other guys that make fender style instruments do it for a reason: it works. this is all subjective, but lots of players want a jazz bass for specific things, and Suhr makes a version of the jazz with a ton of improvements. mine are literately like perfect fenders, which is exactly why i bought them. ive had many fancy boutiques but at the end of the day they don't satisfy like a jazz bass does. i generally get hired to provide the classic tones...


I'm glad you understand where I am was coming from... should someone want a Roscoe like mine, well call Roscoe and they will make one for you!
I do appreciate the workmanship and quality materials put into making these Jazz copies and as I mentioned in my original post, I get why they make them.
I also understand that there is likely no appropriate business model that would satisfy a profitable venture, making basses of their own design... that being said, it won't stop me from hoping that some day, these talented builders will say, "the heck with it, I'm gonna build something entirely my own and see how the market reacts."
I know it's likely not going to happen, but one can wish!
BTW - I really did like the Suhr I tried... great sounding instrument, great playing etc... I just wanted something different then a Jazz bass.
Fishheadjoe