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Post by jcv on May 28, 2007 22:04:35 GMT -7
I am in the early stages of a new guitar purchase. I want a Strat style guitar with a maple board and a humbucker at the bridge. I don't want a Fender (I have a few of those already). The Suhr Pro Series looks really good to me but I was perusing the Grosh site and found this pic: That guitar with a master volume and tone knob and HSS config would be my dream! Wow! I usually don't go for flashy looking guitars and normally I would want a pickguard but I just love the looks of this one. I have a feeling that quilted top would put it out of my price range though I would like some advice on which guitars to look at. What do you guys recommend? Thanks
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 28, 2007 22:10:42 GMT -7
I own three Groshes, but here's the deal. You want to pick a guitar that really does it for you sonically, as well as feel. You can't do much better than Grosh guitars, but you CAN pick a Grosh guitar that is wrong for you. You gots to play 'em and know what you're looking for. If all you're looking for is pretty, you cannot go wrong with a Grosh, but it is very possible to get one that you won't play. So play them, and know what you're wanting. The other thing I need to say about Grosh though, if you definitely know what sounds you want to make with it, and you are willing to wait, you can call Don and describe to him the sound in your head, and by gawd he'll build you a guitar that will do pretty much exactly that. He is really good at his craft, and can tune an instrument better than most others. So if you know what you want, you can have it custom made for you. I love all three of mine.
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Post by zdogma on May 29, 2007 4:45:05 GMT -7
The Suhr pro series guitars are very nice, also.
I've often thought of trading in my Les Paul to get one. They have on here at the local dealer in Ottawa, an S1 sunburst, I think, that is almost perfect. Great sound and pickups, flawless fit and finish, and the best setup of any guitar I have tried.
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Post by jcv on Jun 1, 2007 6:57:25 GMT -7
Well, I have a Suhr Pro Series S2 on the way. I just couldn't pass it up. I'm still very interested in Grosh guitars too. So many guitars....
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Post by ke4unr on Jun 1, 2007 9:17:07 GMT -7
I couldn't agree more with Steve about this. I know all to well from personal experience. I bought a new Grosh Bent Top Custom back in January. Same controls as the one you're looking at (5-way, Master Vol, Master Tone w/ pull to add Bridge and Blender). Man, the thing felt great in my hands. Sounded great acoustically. Probably the most resonant electric I'd played up to then. The fretwork and feel of the neck was to die for. Well balanced guitar, etc. I think you get the idea. Now, the not so good news, in my case. Mine was HSS configured with Fralin's. Blues Special singles and an Unbucker. The Blues Specials sounded really good. But, I could not get the Unbucker to work for me no matter what. I talked with both Don Grosh and Lindy Fralin by phone. I did a few exchanges with Lindy, but I just could not get my lead tones out of the guitar. Also, I found I was missing the tones of a splittable humbucker in the neck position - that's just my personal taste, of course. I wasn't about to route the guitar, and I didn't want to do any more pickup swaps, even to other brands. To make a long story even longer, I finally decided it was time to part ways with my Grosh, which was a painful/tough decision to make. But I did it. The happy ending to this story is within a day of selling my Grosh I found an absolute Mint used Tom Anderson Hollow Drop Top configured exactly the way I wanted it. I love it! Even better, the flame and color are almost identical to the Grosh I sold. The proverbial "icing on the cake!" I'm not in anyway trying to steer you from that Grosh, or any of his models. I still think the world of Don Grosh guitars. Again, just keep Steve's advice in mind. Good luck! Ray K.
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Post by jcv on Jun 8, 2007 5:20:08 GMT -7
Well, my new Suhr Pro Series showed up yesterday... wow, wow, wow! I first learned of Suhr guitars from this forum and I'm really glad I did! This is everything I've ever wanted in a guitar, I love it. I'll get some pics up soon.
Sadly, I've sold my Z. I think the Dr. makes a fantastic amp but I've found something that just suits me better. I hope you guys don't mind me still coming around!
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Post by jcv on Jun 8, 2007 14:41:47 GMT -7
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Post by jcv on Jun 10, 2007 9:34:30 GMT -7
Wow, are you guys seriously upset with me because I don't have my Z anymore? I can't believe noone has commented on my new axe!
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 10, 2007 10:34:24 GMT -7
Looks like an excellent instrument to me. I've never played a Suhr, so I can't really relate all that well to it, but I have three Groshes, and those I know and trust who have played both tell me they are in the same class - world class, to be exact. Congrats - I'm sure you'll have a long and prosperous relationship with it.
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Post by jcv on Jun 10, 2007 14:57:37 GMT -7
Thank you benttop. I'm really loving this guitar. I'm still dying to try a Grosh but that will have to wait a little while now
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 10, 2007 19:35:28 GMT -7
Suhr's, Grosh, Tom Anderson, hard to fault any of them. To me the greatest difference is in the pickups. Anderson uses their own and they are very bright.
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Post by skydog958 on Jun 10, 2007 20:02:41 GMT -7
mmmm seafoam.......
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Post by propellr on Jun 10, 2007 21:24:55 GMT -7
FWIW, I played an Anderson, months back, and recognized the quality of the craftsmanship instantly. I cradled it like a newborn. It wasn't for me, but that didn't mean I wouldn't tell guys to check them out. The thing that Anderson and Grosh do well, IMO, is to offer their own take on classic styles, with custom shop precision, to rival the work of the major label custom shops. I'm Suhr, heh, that Suhr is tapping into the same market, as is Lentz, for that matter, and each maker offers a little something different by way of appointments or design aesthetics. If I wanted a harem of guitars and had to choose in order, I'd go: Grosh, Lentz, Anderson, Suhr based on aesthetic preference, knowledge of brand, happiness of satisfied customers I've emailed about, and configurations offered that meet my needs, wants, and desires. Then there's Bill Nash. By saying that I have a list of makers jockeying for position in my head, I only am saying that I believe guitar purchases are personal decisions and that discernment on this issue is a process. If I were to choose from among them for real, I would configure the sweetest guitar I could from each maker (dream each one of them up from scratch, using available resources) and then weigh the variables against my needs: pickups, color, options, lead time, price, visual impact, style, yadda, yadda, yadda, I'd have a suh-weet guitar to pass on to my son, one day.
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Post by jcv on Jun 19, 2007 16:56:45 GMT -7
Well, I've had this Suhr for a little while now and I'm amazed by it each time I pick it up. It is an absolutely fantastic guitar. I've now seen the light and I want to play a Grosh, an Anderson, a Lentz... I just know that they're all great!
The really good thing is that now that I have my Suhr, I'm done for now... it's like a little shot of 'gas-be-gone' - LOL. I'm almost ready to sell everything except my Suhr and my American Deluxe Tele. That's all I need.
I have also found love with a Budda amp. My good friend (the guy who got me into Z's) still has the greates tone I've ever heard but I just don't get that tone through the Z - it's me, not the amp. My Budda is really doing the trick for me right now... I WILL try a Galaxy as soon as I get a chance though ;-)
I still love this forum - there are a lot of great people here and I've been treated so great. I think I'll stick around.
Thanks Jay
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Post by Jan on Jun 19, 2007 20:28:21 GMT -7
it's like a little shot of 'gas-be-gone' I (almost) know exactly what you mean, Jay. I just got a CS-336 and lots of recent guitar lust feels like ancient history. Not that I want to sell anything else mind you... no point in that. Hey, I will always need a spare to loan my brother when he comes over without a guitar, right? Your new baby blue is a thing of beauty.
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Post by real oldster on Jun 24, 2007 21:24:59 GMT -7
Sorry, but the Suhr headstock looks ugly to me. I doubt I could get past it. I have no doubt they're wonderful guitars, I just don't need one.
Yes, I'm narrow-minded about headstocks.
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Post by Jan on Jun 24, 2007 23:53:51 GMT -7
Really? Whose head stock does it for you? I am a doodler, always have been. Long before I heard of Suhr, we are talking back in high school, the one thing I doodled constantly was guitar shapes. My dream "strat'ish" guitar had pretty much the Suhr headstock. I think I like it better than the orginals. I especially do not like the G&L take on it.
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Post by jcv on Jun 25, 2007 20:17:12 GMT -7
I actually like the Suhr headstock. I admit, I like VERY few others... and one in particular I hate. But, I'd buy any of them... I could always get past a headstock shape. It's just not that important to me.
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 26, 2007 6:22:45 GMT -7
The best headstock by far is the James Tyler! Kidding, it's the worst! I like the Lentz headstock better than Grosh, TA or Suhr. Probably because it's more Fender like.
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Post by Curt on Jun 26, 2007 9:00:41 GMT -7
I'm stuck as a nostalgic traditionalist, after owning the others I now know...quality be damned, I'll play through thousands of new and used to find an authentic Fender and/or Gibson that suits me.
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Post by Joey Beverages on Jun 26, 2007 9:41:31 GMT -7
call me crazy (and many people have) but I dig some of the Ernie Ball Musicman guitars for a non-traditional approach - like the Silhouette (hum-single-hum) or Silhouette Special (h-s-s or s-s-s) .... not as flashy as Grosh, Suhr or others, but still a good bang for the buck. I like the weight, balance, sound, neck size, etc. etc. and, some of the models come with nice maple tops - that's why I got my Super Sport. ;D cheers, eh! ;D Joel
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