Suhr Pro M1

The Modern was invented for those looking for a 24 fret shred machine. It features a super sleek body with a great upper cutaway, special neck joint and floyd bridge. The guitar comes standard with an alder body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, 24 stainless steel frets, two humbuckers, one volume, one tone and a five way switch.

UTILIZATION

The Modern is one of the latest inventions from John Suhr. He spent a ton of time designing this, and it shows. While it take some cues from Ibanez, I find that these guitars tend to be a bit more comfortable to play. The neck joint and lower cutaway make it a breeze to play lead lines up to the 24th fret. The frets on this model are also stainless steel, so they're super smooth to play. On top of that, all these guitars are PLEK'd to ensure super smooth playability.

SOUNDS

The alder body with the maple neck and rosewood make this guitar one of the ultimate shred machines out there. This wood combination has been used successfully for years throughout the guitar community, and I find it to be a very versatile sounding wood combo. The humbuckers in this are also wonderful. The bridge is aggressive enough to where it can do metal and super fast picking lines without muddying out, but it's also able to roll back and do some more tame jazz fusion lines. The neck pickup gives that awesome, powerful, modern PAF sound without sounding overly fat or too thin.

OVERALL OPINION

The Modern series is great for those who want a 24 fret shred machine. The thinner neck, lower cutaway and neck joint help make this guitar nearly play itself. The only thing I'd change about this guitar is that I'd like to see it with a basswood body and flamed maple top. That would be about the ultimate Modern, in my opinion.

This is a USA made bolt-on superstrat. Specs as follows:

•Body: Alder
•Neck: Maple
•Fretboard: Pau Ferro
•Neck Shape: Modern Elliptical .780-.830
•Radius: 10"-14" Compound Radius
•Nut: Locking
•Frets: Jumbo Stainless Steel
•Bridge: Gotoh Double-Locking "Floyd"
•Hardware: Chrome
•Gears: Sperzel Locking
•Electronics: Volume, Tone, 5-Way
•Knobs: Chrome Metal
•Neck Pickup: SSV Humbucker
•Bridge Pickup: SSH+ Humbucker
•Finish Colors:Charcoal Web,
•Finish Option: Matching color headstock

UTILIZATION

This guitar has an all access type neck joint - similiar to a high end Ibanez and all frets are easily accessible and it's great for lead playing.
There is a nice variety of sounds available from the two humbuckers and 5-way pick up switch and it is easy to get a nice array of tones.
The guitar has perfect balance, a great, thin ergonomic neck and forearm and body cutaways.
Very comfortable standing or sitting.
I've got the action set at 1/32" all the way across the neck - it is a great and easy player!

SOUNDS

I use this guitar with custom built Peters amplifiers, which are kind of a cross between a Peavey 5150 and high gain Marshall/VHT with a little Boogie thrown in, a VHT Sig-X and an Egnater MOD 50. The amps were paired with an Avatar 4x12 that had Celestion G12h -30's and a Splawn 4x12 with Governor/ManOWar speaker combo, a Earcandy Buzzbomb 2x12 w/ Scholz speakers and a Mojotone 3x12 w/ Celestion CL-80's.

I usually go for a nice thick Jerry Cantrell AIC tone, to use with my modern rock/metal band. This guitar can get you any heavy tone you want and good cleans. Suits my style of music perfectly.

I also use this guitar in a few cover bands that I've played in which includes songs from The Rolling Stones, Kings of Leon to RHCP, Poison and System of a Down. It does well with all styles.

This guitar has very nice lead tones and nice tight rhythm tones that cut through well.


OVERALL OPINION

I love just about everything concerning this guitar. This is the second Suhr Modern I've bought, after a mahogany/maple topped more expensive Suhr Modern, which was my first. The less expensive Pro series more than holds it's own with the more expensive line.

I will rate this overall a 10 for what it is. I just wish Suhr would come out with a Les Paul type bridge or non-trem model for the Modern. The floyd type guitars are knd of a pain sometimes.

I got a really good deal on this and it was an early enough model that Suhr did not have their new padded gig bags available - so I got a hardcase at no upcharge.

For the price the competiton comes in at, USA Fenders, Charvels, Jackson, etc. - I think these are a good buy. The US Charvel SoCal's are close but - you do not get the indestructable SS frets, recessed bridge and you have to take the neck off for truss adjustments.

I have owned many guitars and had a number of years where I would buy, try and flip, which enabled me to have many guitars around to try out.
This Pro series Modern is ranked right up there with the best of them in overall satisfaction. This guitar has beat out Ibanez RG's, Charvel/Jackson's, Gibsons, TA's and PRS's that have been in my collection - and I was able to sell them off.