Description
PRELOVED SUHR Classic S Antique – Sonic Blue
Weight 3.6kg
This Suhr Classic S Antique in Sonic Blue is a particularly interesting dealer-spec build, combining some seriously desirable factory options with a completely upgraded pickup configuration.
Factory specifications include a 2-piece roasted alder body, roasted flame maple neck, Indian rosewood fingerboard, stainless steel jumbo frets, Suhr 2-post tremolo and the SSCII silent single-coil system, all wrapped up in a beautifully aged Sonic Blue lacquer finish.
Since leaving the factory, the original Suhr pickup set has been replaced with a carefully chosen combination of a Bare Knuckle Crawler humbucker in the bridge, DiMarzio Virtual 2 Blues in the middle and DiMarzio Paul Gilbert Injector in the neck.
The result is considerably more muscular than a traditional vintage S-style guitar while retaining the exceptional construction, playability and classic feel that make a good Suhr Classic S so hard to put down.
Original Suhr hardshell case included.
Roasted Alder Body & Sonic Blue Antique Finish
Underneath the Sonic Blue finish is a 2-piece roasted alder body, a less common and particularly nice factory specification.
Suhr's Antique treatment gives the guitar the appearance and feel of an instrument that's already spent years being played. This example was ordered with a lacquer finish and Medium Aging, paired with an Aged Green Classic pickguard and matching aged green tremolo cavity cover.
It's unmistakably vintage-inspired, but the construction and hardware underneath are thoroughly modern.
Roasted Flame Maple Neck
The neck is another standout feature of this particular guitar.
It's made from roasted flame maple with a satin finish and Suhr's 60's C Vintage Standard .810"–.930" neck profile.
That's paired with an Indian rosewood fingerboard and Suhr's compound 10"–14" radius, giving you a comfortable vintage-inspired feel down low while flattening out further up the neck for bends and lead playing.
You also get 22 stainless steel jumbo frets, clay face and side dots, and a 1.650" Tusq nut.
It's a great example of what Suhr does so well: traditional inspiration without being restricted by vintage specifications.
Upgraded Pickup Configuration
The guitar originally left Suhr with V63 single coils in the neck and middle and a Thornbucker II in the bridge.
Those factory pickups have since been replaced with:
Bridge – Bare Knuckle Crawler
A powerful humbucker with plenty of midrange weight and authority. It gives the bridge position substantially more muscle for overdrive, rock and higher-gain playing.
Middle – DiMarzio Virtual 2 Blues
A hum-cancelling single-coil-sized pickup with a fuller response than a traditional vintage single coil while retaining the snap and definition you'd want from the middle position.
Neck – DiMarzio Paul Gilbert Injector
Another hum-cancelling design, with increased output and a thicker response that works particularly well for lead playing without losing clarity.
It's an unusual combination, but a very purposeful one.
Suhr SSCII
Importantly, the guitar retains its factory Suhr SSCII system.
SSCII was specified from new and forms part of Suhr's approach to reducing unwanted single-coil hum while maintaining the response and character players expect from an S-style instrument.
Together with the upgraded pickups, this is a particularly capable guitar when moving between clean sounds, overdrive and considerably higher gain.
Suhr 2-Post Tremolo
The factory specification includes Suhr's 2-post tremolo with bent saddles and steel block, finished in chrome.
It's another example of the vintage/modern philosophy behind this build: familiar traditional feel and appearance combined with modern precision and reliability.
Chrome Suhr locking tuners complete the hardware package.
Original Factory Specification
According to the accompanying Suhr build sheet, this guitar was originally specified with:
- Classic S Antique
- Sonic Blue
- Lacquer finish
- Medium Aging
- 2-piece roasted alder body
- Roasted flame maple neck
- Satin neck finish
- 60's C Vintage Standard neck profile, .810"–.930"
- Indian rosewood fingerboard
- 10"–14" compound radius
- 22 stainless steel jumbo frets
- Clay side dots
- Clay face dots
- 1.650" white Tusq nut
- Suhr locking tuners
- Suhr 2-post tremolo
- Bent saddles
- Steel tremolo block
- Chrome hardware
- Aged Green Classic pickguard
- 5-way blade selector
- Volume / Tone / Tone controls
- SSCII system
- Factory V63 neck pickup
- Factory V63 middle pickup
- Factory Thornbucker II bridge pickup
- Black Suhr hardshell case
- Factory .010–.046 string gauge
Current Pickup Configuration
The original pickups have been replaced with:
- Neck: DiMarzio Paul Gilbert Injector
- Middle: DiMarzio Virtual 2 Blues
- Bridge: Bare Knuckle Crawler humbucker
- SSCII: Factory fitted
- Controls: Volume / Tone / Tone
- Selector: 5-way blade
Who Is This Suhr For?
This is a particularly good Suhr for someone who loves the classic S-style platform but doesn't necessarily want traditional low-output vintage pickups.
You've got the roasted alder body, rosewood board, beautifully figured roasted maple neck and aged Sonic Blue appearance of a boutique vintage-inspired instrument, but the pickup modifications push it considerably further into modern territory.
The Crawler gives the bridge position real authority, while the DiMarzios provide powerful, low-noise alternatives to traditional single coils.
For blues, fusion, session work, modern rock and heavier playing, there's a huge amount of ground available from one guitar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the pickups original?
No. The guitar originally left Suhr with V63 neck and middle pickups and a Thornbucker II bridge humbucker. It is now fitted with a DiMarzio Injector, DiMarzio Virtual 2 Blues and Bare Knuckle Crawler.
Does the original specification sheet come with the guitar?
Yes. We have the original Suhr build/specification sheet, detailing the guitar's factory configuration.
Is the body roasted alder?
Yes. The original Suhr specification sheet identifies the body as 2-piece roasted alder.
Is the neck roasted maple?
Yes. It is a roasted flame maple neck with a satin finish. The fingerboard itself is Indian rosewood.
What neck profile does it have?
Suhr's build sheet specifies the 60's C Vintage Standard profile measuring .810" at the first fret to .930" further up the neck.
What radius is the fingerboard?
It has Suhr's 10"–14" compound radius, combining a more traditional feel in the lower register with a flatter surface as you move up the neck.
Does it have stainless steel frets?
Yes. It has 22 jumbo stainless steel frets.
Does it come with the original case?
Yes. The factory specification includes a black Suhr hardshell case, which comes with the guitar.
This PRELOVED Suhr Classic S Antique in Sonic Blue is available from Colemans Music in South Melbourne. Visit us in store to play it for yourself or shop online Australia-wide.
