Suhr Pro S3

For the spec I let you see other reviews. Note a peculiarity in pickup I have a DSV, when I bought the previous owner had put a simple to a more bluesy use. So I ordered the microphone and have installed (for those who want to have fun with a soldering iron, good luck with this switch, it is a gas plant!)
Another specificity, my table is not Tiger, but finished Bengal Burst ... to be precise I was not about to have an S3 in the hands, so I emailed Suhr who answered me stating characteristics:

Body:
Pro Series S3
Right-handed
Wood Basswood Body, 2-Piece
Contours Arm, Hand & Tummy Contours
No chambering chambering
No Sound Hole
Side Input Jack Jack, Chrome
Top Flame Maple Wood, 2-Piece, 3/16 "
Curly Flame Maple
Top Color Bengal Burst
Scraped Binding Binding

Neck:
Maple
No Tint
Indian Rosewood fingerboard Fingerboard Wood
10 "- 14"
Even C Slim .800 - .880
Original Headstock
Tusq
1650 "
Frets 22 Frets, Stainless Steel, Heavy
Logo Decal, Gold


In short, it's all over, my luthier was amazed by the quality of manufacture and ease of adjusting the instrument ... very good stuff, no complaints!

9/10, you can do better on but hey, that fits me perfectly!

UTILIZATION

The handle is it enjoyable?
Clearly, yes! It is a pleasure to play with this guitar ... a little wide and well rounded, this is a reference to comfort, and makes no compromises: despite its "overweight" compared to an Ibanez RG for example, you can play just as quickly ... Very nice in hand, I also love the large, comfortable frets! Played 10/46, I have not tried to use another drawing that fits me perfectly! A negative point? I'll quibble: I hate those awful round pins ... but good, I try to criticize ...

Ergonomics is it good (in terms of shape, weight ...)? Access to acute (recent freight) is it easy?
3.47 kg on the scales, it is light, well balanced both standing than sitting. Nothing to say on this, I agree with what I said above it is very nice and comfortable to play! Chamfer to the forearm is well rounded heel for not explode hand in the last round of the boxes (freight quite accessible) ... I'm searching I found nothing to say!

Gets it easy to sound good?
Bah with a shovel in his hands like if ca not ring, it's either your fingers (and mine ...) that are not good enough or you plug in a microwave ...

9/10, I was completely conquered, I play for hours without getting tired or bored me!

SOUNDS

Are they suitable for your style of music?
Totally! I play in a more jazz / funk band, but I appreciate a good prog metal as blues, hard or else ... So we will not look in the extreme, this guitar rocks!

What kind of sound you get and with what settings ("crystalline", "bold", ....)?
Full of sound possible, it depends on what you want ...
- In clean, I use the neck position (roundness, low, wealth ...) and the position just before the round with microphones + environment (its like a typical strat, sounding a more "metallic" ideal for a funky casserole). Other positions are also usable, but I use less.
- In crunch, same positions exploited more pickup (the latter is very round, warm, "organic"). What I like especially with single coil pickups is that we hear the strings, this little side "metallic" when the fingers move on the fretboard ... I still love a short time. In the side crunch, try typing a little Andy Timmons and you will be in heaven!
- As I lead again uses the same switch positions ... the bridge pickup is very musical, singing, full body with a smooth that I love ... To say so clumsy compromise between Gibson and Split: the body, the warmth and harmonics, but with a little side stratabound more ... neck pickup, ca bubble is round, I love ... In the 4-position selector once I still love this spirit "metallic" sound that gets!
Anyway, I mainly use 3 positions 5, which have their own characteristics and are really separable (not like a guitar or you change the selector position without a glaring difference in sound ... we each position to exploit a different dimension!)


With what (s) amplifier (s) or effect (s) do you play?
Paragraph interesting! Before I used a Laboga Caiman and RP1000 on a sound in Repette. No worries it sounds well but I was not a fan point of wanting to get married, living with a partner and having children (yes ... good). Then, by going to my favorite store for quick adjustment, I see a Mesa Roadster and I tell myself, well why not, the more I want to change the amp is never satisfied ... The guy branch my head on an Orange cabinet, remove the standy and gave me a demo of the amp that I absolutely do not mastered ... Well, it was a revelation! I, the badger to ruin to buy everything and anything to get THE sound that I like, I was on my ass as ever, and I was able to discover the richness of the guitar (we changed shovel to compare). My search ends here, I have the perfect couple! I fall in clean, whether funky pot to clean kind The prayer The answer Timmons, everything is beautiful. Crunch, the same conclusion, Hendrix or another and this is the feast of slip ... saturated ditto, without going into extreme sound is musical, full, harmonic and responsible body ... short I rediscovered this guitar already liked me at the base, and I am finally completely crazy!

What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?
I like everything, although I do not use all its possibilities (such as switch positions 2 and 3 for example). Negative point, some may criticize his character too clean or neutral and they are not wrong! This is not a guitar vintage, not custom shop who will recognize at first listen ... but I was aware of and that's what I wanted: the quality is, it is a typical instrument fusion (jazz / funk / rock / blues) which, together with good amp will bring you the sound you have in mind. And that's all I wanted, I do not give a fuck to have a custom shop to € 10000000! I have a guitar that has finally given me everything I wanted in terms of gaming experience and sounds!

9/10, because we can not put 9.99, perfection does not exist, there are probably better elsewhere but I do not care, I'm happy for the first time in my life in terms of its (soon 15 years looking ...)

OVERALL OPINION

In conclusion of this novel, you'll understand, I love this guitar more than any I have had in the hands far ... She gave me everything I wanted!

The +:
- Comfort handle, ergonomic ...
- Sound: funk, jazz, blues, rock ...
- Good sustain (I was surprised at this point!)
- Vibrato my reference being the one on the Petrucci musicman, I finally found a pattern that I liked (bar long enough and thick, hardness and sensation in the perfect hand, good performance associated with locking tuners, and enjoyable for the right hand)

The -:
- Round pins I hate!
- To be objective can be neutrality as said before, but I knew and that is what I wanted!
- Nothing else ... really

Finally, I sold everything I have only this one and a Gibson Gary Moore for more overdriven sounds (and because I love this model but brief). Before, I liked a musicman Petrucci, a AT100, a U.S. deluxe strat ... Briefly, j'savais not where I hurt AC xD But that was before as so aptly famous pub! 1700 euros, it's nothing compared to what I paid for shovels that I sold six months after ... I'll have to decide well before me and pass the course! Out of curiosity, I may try another Suhr HH for my sounds more metal, but it would be really gadget ... I found half of the Grail, the other being the amp that goes with it!

10/10 is the only place I can afford this note. It is not perfect, everyone will not like (especially this side can be a bit too "neutral"), but for my use this is what I was looking for 15 years ... Therefore, a purchase that changed my life poor scratch foam and ended many years of wandering!

PS: do not see it the opinion of a fan boy who score well because it is HIS stuff, you can see my other reviews I strive to be as objective as possible! Try this brand if you find it, it is likely that you to leave with a template in hand

Channel slim C:
The joining sleeve / body is a "Start": flat run on flat body with four screws.
- Length of the handle (saddle-bridges): 65 cm
- Width first box: 42mm
- 12th fret width: 53 mm
- Tower alongside the first case: 66 mm
- Round butt at 12th fret: 76 mm
- Buzz Feiten tuning system (improves the accuracy of the handle)
- 22 boxes

Electronics:
- Neck pickup: single coil Suhr v60lp
- Micro Central: single coil Suhr v60lp
- Bridge pickup: humbucker Suhr SSH +

Hardware:
- Vibrato: GOTOH
- Mechanical locking Sperzel

Finish:
- Translucent color
- Gold logo Suhr
- Wooden edging around the body

I would have liked 2 / 3 odds and ends and more as a switch to have the 3 pickups in parallel or a switch to put the microphones handle and central series ... (though here not be done quite easily)

UTILIZATION

Handle extremely comfortable, fine, silky lacquer (very slippery).
Very light guitar: 2950G! (For comparison, a conventional strat weighs between 3.4 kg and 3.6 kg), is a real comfort to play a long time (5h).
I find the volume knob a bit away from the bridge pickup ...

I put 10, despite everything, for comfort on top!

SOUNDS

Split automatic pickup in position 4.
All sounds are beautiful. Positions 2 and 4 are particularly successful.
The Suhr has a personality (it does not sound exactly like a Start, even if it has the config).
This guitar pierces beautifully in a mix. It has a brighter sound than a traditional strat Man (his point of view) in the presence and accuracy compared to a Fender Jeff Beck, for example ...
Great success of the lead position for a little saturated! it's very smooth and round.
The bridge pickup sounds very good also royally and mix with the middle pickup.

OVERALL OPINION

I use this guitar only since March 2008 concert, also with a Yamaha AES-FG and a Tom Anderson hollow drop top classic.
The Suhr S3 (for my taste) handle the most comfortable of the three and is most comfortable to wear (light).
The Yamaha is made for the saturation and the clear lead (which, incidentally, very remarkable for those who know this guitar).

This Suhr and Tom have a lot of similarities in their violin: handle with Buzz Feiten tuning system, edging around the body, translucent finish, shape of the head close enough ... Mr Suhr inspired?
What is certain is that John Suhr is a sacred sign series of guitars! : 0)

See previous ones opinions or brand site for dtails
I bengal finishing burst that I find beautiful
Book with a rigid box

The "Buzz Feiten tuning system" Relva IMHO superfluous, in fact I think I read somewhere that they remove the coming MODELS

Accustomed to play without vibrato, I prfr harden (3 springs of origin)
Note that there is no strap locks.

UTILIZATION

Channel trs enjoyable, plutt RaPD
Varnish silky, see how it will age

Weight level, I saw (must say that my "standard" silent my les paul standard, no comment)
When I carry the FIRST TIME in his box, I thought the box was empty ...
So Impec for concerts and my back marathons

SOUNDS

guitar versatile enough thanks the SSH config
Position 4 splits the double

I play rock / pop rock sound has nothing to say.
It feels good sr influence strat but much better than a standard SSH eg. (Including double)

In distortion is when not even as fat as my les paul, but three months of use APRS and some good rglages amp, I left the closet to gibson (Obviously, there is the novelty effect

OVERALL OPINION

APRS three months, I am always satisfied with TRS.
I was looking for something complmentaire my gibson, and certainly more versatile
I would do without this choice problem

Let's say that prices in France nine practices, the report quality / price is lower.
But in 1700 (I brought the new United States), the a is the cot.
So if you find a good opportunity, go for it!

SSH configuration
Wilkinson bridge, Sperzel locking mechanical, nothing happens even when using the vibrato (a little is not a Floyd!)
1 volume, 1 tone (which begins to sputter after 4 months of use)
A 5-way switching
Very easy to use then.

UTILIZATION

What can I say? Basically, it's still far from what we can imagine better!
The handle is very nice (the frets are medium), I was afraid to return to a handle with a profile of strato (I began to swear by the handle of my JS-1200), finally, once we took him in hand, one does not want to let go!
Access to Acute pretty good with a little heel planed. The guitar is very light (basswood + maple table)
One branch, and was sound in all config microphones.

SOUNDS

It is perfect for what I was looking for a versatile guitar, with sounds clear slap to the rhythmic funk (position 2 and 4) and a big popping sound (position 1) (careful, it does not sound very metal anyway!) For the chorus. I play jazz fusion, and it should be fine.
After, of course, everything depends on the amp and effects used. For my part, a Fender Supersonic and a rack of effects including excellent results in the following key features:
- TC Electronic Booster (clean sound) + TS-9 (soft saturation) or DS-1 (it sends the wood) for the chorus. With the chorus in Jacques, it sounds so beautifully.
I hardly see how this guitar may disappoint on directories funk, rock, fusion.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 months and I should buy this guitar before. Yes it's expensive, but what comfort, and what sound.
I regret (just) than the absence of a Floyd to reap a little overboard (there can only grow, it remains a Start!). There is also a pity that we did right at this price level than a simple 3-ply white pickguard (they do not offer more wonders on order) and plastic knobs (volume and tone) It's been a little cheap, as the neckplate not engraved.
However my best guitar to date (and I've had and tried a few!).