Suhr Guitars
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | John Suhr, Steve Smith |
| Headquarters | Lake Elsinore, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, pedals, pickups |
| Website | suhr.com |
Suhr Guitars, operating under the corporate name JS Technologies Inc, is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in electric guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, and effects units. Established in 1997 and headquartered in Lake Elsinore, California, the company was co-founded by John Suhr and Steve Smith. John Suhr is widely acknowledged for his exceptional guitar craftsmanship.
History
John Suhr began crafting guitars as early as 1974, culminating in the creation of the first Suhr Custom guitar in 1984. He later collaborated with Rudy Pensa to market instruments under the Pensa-Suhr name, which included a signature model designed for Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.
In 1991, Suhr relocated to Los Angeles to work alongside Bob Bradshaw, a specialist in guitar rig design. Together they developed amplifier products such as the Custom Audio Electronics (CAE) 3+ preamplifier and the Custom Audio Amplifiers (CAA) OD-100 head. During the period from 1991 to 1994, Suhr concentrated primarily on amplifier manufacturing while producing approximately 50 custom guitars. Between 1995 and 1997, he held the position of Senior Master Builder at Fender’s Custom Shop before launching his own enterprise with Steve Smith. Smith contributed significant expertise in management and CNC programming, facilitating precise production control through CNC routing technology for guitar necks and bodies.
Throughout the 1990s, Suhr also earned acclaim for designing custom pickups favored by musicians such as Scott Henderson and Bill Frisell.
Initially focusing on premium custom guitars with roughly one new model introduced annually, Suhr expanded its product range in 2004 to include amplifiers by reissuing the CAA OD-100 and debuting the Badger amplifier series under the Suhr brand. The following year saw the release of the Silent Single Coil system, which improved noise reduction for single-coil pickups. The product lineup later grew to encompass various pickups, mixers, and effects pedals—including collaborations like those with Doug Aldrich on high-output humbuckers tailored for heavy rock genres. The company is recognized for blending advanced technological methods within a predominantly handcrafted industry.
At the 2010 NAMM Show, Suhr unveiled Rasmus Guitars—a more budget-friendly series produced in Asia with final assembly and setup completed in California—aimed at offering a lower-cost alternative to their Pro Series models. This line was phased out in 2012 following the introduction of the Modern Satin series. Since 2013, this series has been entirely manufactured in Lake Elsinore featuring streamlined finishes and enhanced fret options.
Electric guitars
Suhr’s guitar offerings include five primary body designs available across multiple series. While most instruments are custom-built to order, the Pro Series provides limited customization options based on these foundational shapes.
- Classic (modeled after Fender Stratocaster)
- Classic T (modeled after Fender Telecaster)
- Classic JM (modeled after Fender Jazzmaster)
- Standard (Stratocaster-style body with Superstrat influences)
- Modern (24-fret Superstrat design)
- Modern T (24-fret body inspired by Telecaster)
- Aura (inspired by Gibson Les Paul)
Bass guitars
- Classic J (modeled after the Fender Jazz Bass)
- Classic P (modeled after the Fender Precision Bass)
Amplifiers
- Badger series: 18, 30, 35
- OD-100, PT-100, SH-100, ML-100, SE-100 models
- SL-67 and SL-68
- Corso and Hedgehog
- Bella and Bella Reverb
- Hombre
- Jim Kelley Amplifiers
Effects pedals
- Jack Rabbit Tremolo
- Koji Comp
- Riot and Riot Reloaded
- Shiba Drive and Shiba Drive Reloaded
- KokoBoost and KokoBoost Reloaded
- Rufus and Rufus Reloaded
- Dual Boost
- Eclipse
- ACE Analog Cabinet Emulator
- Discovery Analog Delay
- Alexa Analog Chorus (no longer in production)
Artists
Distinguished players who have performed with Suhr guitars and basses comprise:
- Reb Beach
- Scott Henderson
- Guthrie Govan (up to mid-2012)
- Mike Landau
- Ian Thornley
- Dave Kilminster
- Ben Harper
- Mateus Asato
- Mark Knopfler
- Pino Daniele
- Federico Renzulli (Litfiba)
- Ariel Posen
External links
- Official website
- John Suhr Interview at the NAMM Oral History Collection (2016)
- Bass guitar manufacturing companies
- Guitar amplifier manufacturers
- Guitar manufacturing companies of the United States
- Manufacturing companies based in Greater Los Angeles
- Manufacturing companies based in Riverside County, California
- Lake Elsinore, California
- American companies established in 1997
- Manufacturing companies established in 1997
- 1997 establishments in California
- Audio equipment manufacturers of the United States
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment