From his early days on 48th Street's Music Row in New York City, to the present day with Suhr Guitars, John Suhr has created guitars and amps that have helped define just what boutique instruments are all about. With a list of superstar players using his creations, Suhr has become one of the most in-demand luthiers and amp builders in the world. With the addition of a line of beautifully designed and crafted effects pedals, Suhr has become a true one-stop tone shop. In this article, we're going to take a quick look at the history of the man and the company, then dive into a sampling of what is currently available in amps and pedals from the iconic builder.

Table of Contents

A Brief History of John Suhr and Suhr Guitars
Suhr Guitars Today
A Guide to Suhr Amplifiers and Effects
   Suhr Guitar Amplifiers
       Suhr Badger Tube Guitar Amp Heads
       Suhr Bella Tube Guitar Amp
       Suhr PT100 Signature Edition Tube Guitar Amp Head
       Suhr PT15 I.R. Hybrid Guitar Amp Head
       Suhr SL67 and SL68 Tube Guitar Amp Heads
       Suhr Hombre 18W Tube Guitar Amp Head
       Suhr Hedgehog 50W Tube Guitar Amp Head
   Suhr Guitar Speaker Cabinets
       Suhr Badger 1x12 Speaker Cabinet
       Suhr PT15 2x12 Speaker Cabinet
       Suhr 2x12 Deep Speaker Cabinet
       Suhr Hombre 2x12 Cabinet Vintage Palomino
       Suhr Hedgehog 2x12 Speaker Cabinet
   Suhr Guitar Effects Pedals
       Boost Pedals
           Suhr Dual Boost Dual-Channel Clean Boost
           Suhr Koko Boost Dual-Channel Clean/Mid Boost
       Distortion Pedals
           Suhr Riot Distortion Pedal
           Suhr Eclipse Dual-Channel Overdrive/Distortion Pedal
       Overdrive Pedals
           Suhr Shiba Drive Overdrive Pedal
       Delay Pedals
           Suhr Discovery Analog Delay
       Modulation Pedals
           Suhr Jack Rabbit Analog Tremolo Ver. 2.0
       Fuzz Pedals
           Suhr Rufus Fuzz
       Compressor Pedals
           Suhr Andy Wood Signature Woodshed Comp
           Suhr Koji Comp
The Thrill of Boutique Gear

A Brief History of John Suhr and Suhr Guitars

We know you probably came here for the buying guide, but first, a little background on how Suhr Guitars came to be.

Pictured: Suhr Badger 30W Tube Guitar Amplifier Head

As a young guitar player in New Jersey, John Suhr had gone to legendary luthier Bob Benedetto to get a new neck for his Stratocaster. In hanging out at Benedetto's shop, the teenager found the inspiration that would send him on the path to becoming one of the most respected and in-demand builders of guitars and amps out there. But it would be an interesting path along the way.

The larger musical world first discovered John Suhr's talent for designing and building spectacular guitars shortly after he began working as a (or, rather, the) repair person at the legendary Rudy's Music Stop on New York City's famed 48th Street "Music Row." Beside repairing and customizing guitars for customers, he, in partnership with shop owner Rudy Pensa, began building custom guitars under the Pensa-Suhr name. One of his early customers was Mark Knopfler, and the Signature guitar he developed for the Dire Straits guitarist in 1987, along with guitars he had built for Peter Frampton and others, began to spread his name more widely throughout the community of serious players.

Pictured: Suhr Hombre Guitar Amplifier Head and matching 2x12 cab

As he was still a gigging guitarist, his interest in great, flexible guitar tone began to turn to amps as well. Digging into electronics theory and, as with so many before, just delving into the amps themselves and dissecting how they did what they did, led him to modify a Marshall head to meet his tonal needs. This amp came to the attention of Bob Bradshaw, who was designing and building switching systems and touring rigs for many of the top players of the time. Bradshaw was blown away by the amp, and he enticed Suhr to move to California and work with him. It was during this time that Suhr designed an amp that was to inspire many guitarists (and be widely emulated by other amp builders)—the CAA OD-100.

As the '90s brought an end to the craze for rack-based touring systems, Suhr returned to his first love, building and customizing guitars. As his reputation continued to grow, he came to the attention of the Fender Custom Shop and was offered the position of Senior Master Builder there. It was while at Fender that Suhr, always one to appropriately leverage new technologies in the building of quality guitars, became one of the first luthiers to lobby for the wider use of CNC milling machines to create higher levels of consistency in a guitar build.

Pictured: Suhr PT15 I.R. Hybrid Guitar Amp Head

Seeking greater freedom to build his own designs and work on his own ideas, in 1997, Suhr, along with business partner Steve Smith, a talented CNC programmer and "software guy," founded Suhr Guitars/JS Technology and began developing new products in earnest. One thing that has always set Suhr apart is the combination of a wide range of products combined with an almost obsessive attention to detail and quality, and this is shown by what the company has grown to be today.

Suhr Guitars Today

Over the years, Suhr Guitars has grown and blossomed into a company with over 100 employees, adding effects pedals, and expanding the range of guitars and amplifiers they produce. One key element has been the emergence of Kevin Suhr (John’s son) as a creative design partner, especially on the pedal front. Kevin Suhr is behind many of the current pedals, like the Andy Wood Signature Woodshed Compressor, which we'll talk more about in one of the following sections. This must mean it's time to start digging into the amazing range of Suhr products.

A Guide to Suhr Amplifiers and Effects

One of the things that really sets Suhr apart is the amp and pedal designs that are as stunningly great as the guitars he first gained a reputation for building. Whether you prefer American-style clean, British-style crunch or smooth, high-gain sounds, Suhr builds amps and pedals that show your playing at its best.

Suhr Guitar Amplifiers

Suhr has been designing amps almost as long as he's been building guitars, gaining a serious reputation with the design of the legendary Custom Audio Electronics OD-100 when he was partnering with the legendary Bob Bradshaw. Today, Suhr produces a full range of tube guitar amps, from 15W amps aimed at recording and small stages to 100W fire-breathing monsters.

Suhr Badger Tube Guitar Amp Heads

Why You Want to Buy It: These cathode-biased amps are ideal for fans of EL84-driven, early British Invasion sounds, with the added versatility of extra gain and built-in boost.

 

Pictured: Suhr Badger 30W Tube Guitar Amplifier Head

Embodying the classic chime of cathode-biased (frequently referred to as Class-A) amplifiers that are built around the venerable EL84 power tube, the Badger is available in three wattages: Badger 18 (EL84) and Badger 30 (EL34) and Badger 35 (EL84), offering three different wattages. However, the adjustable Power knob acts like a master volume on steroids, enabling you to adjust the voltage to the power section, and hence the wattage, on the fly. So, you can dial in your tone, and then adjust the power to suit the stage and the venue. Add in a MOSFET boost circuit and an all-tube effects loop, and you've got a highly portable tone machine that sounds great plugged straight in or as a pedal platform. The Badger matches beautifully with the Suhr 1x12 cabinet (see below).

Suhr Bella Tube Guitar Amp

Why You Want to Buy It: The Suhr Bella is a superb choice for fans of classic American-voiced, all-tube, clean pedal platform amps, and features a three-way bright switch and built-in boost.

Pictured: Suhr Bella 120V Tube Guitar Amplifier Head

The Suhr Bella, available in combo or head versions, with or without built-in reverb, is inspired by classic dual-6L6GC American amps. Switchable between 22W and 44W, this hand-wired all-tube amp delivers a clean sparkle that puts your tone to the fore and is your pedalboard's best friend. A special Suhr touch—the bass tone knob is designed not to mud out at higher settings, unlike many traditional designs. The transparent, tube-buffered, series effects loop has independent send and return levels, so whether you run line-level or instrument level effects, it's simple to set up and sounds spectacular. Match the head with the Suhr 1x12 or 2x12 Deep cabinets. The combo versions expand nicely with the 1x12.

Suhr PT100 Signature Edition Tube Guitar Amp Head

Why You Want to Buy It: The PT100, Pete Thorn's Signature multi-channel tube head, rocks out like nobody's business, and is for those who crave the power while keeping all the playing dynamics.

Pictured: Suhr PT100 Pete Thorn Signature Edition Tube Guitar Amp Head

The Suhr PT100 Signature Edition tube guitar head, designed for studio and touring pro, tone-guru Pete Thorn, is an evolution of the CAA OD-100 head John Suhr originally designed for Bob Bradshaw's Custom Audio Electronics. This latest version of the 100W powerhouse adds MIDI switching capability to this already versatile 3-channel amp. Capable of going all the way from crystalline cleans to serious high-gain tones, this amp was designed for the wide range of tones required when your next gig could be with anyone. Special callouts to the extremely versatile solid-state effects loop, which can run series or parallel, and the ability to adjust the negative feedback of the amp, enabling you to tweak the way it feels from vintage spongey to modern tight.

Suhr PT15 I.R. Hybrid Guitar Amp Head

Why You Want to Buy It: If you need an amp that ranges from American-style cleans to raging British-voiced high gain, can run in a silent-stage environment, kills at recording and is a no-compromise practice amp, the PT15 I.R. this is the solution you crave.

Pictured: Suhr PT15 I.R. Hybrid Guitar Amp Head

Scaling back the Pete Thorn Signature PT100 to 15W, and adding in Suhr's amazing reactive load box and a D.I. with an IR (impulse response) loader, the Suhr PT15 I.R. may just be the most versatile amp out there. Keeping the three-channel configuration of the PT100 and enabling the IR cabinet to switch with the channel, creates the ability to carry a truckload of great amplifier tone in a tiny package. Because of the built-in reactive load, you can run this amp without a speaker cabinet for direct recording or silent stage situations. When you do add a cabinet, like the Suhr PT15 I.R. 2x12, you'll be astounded by how loud 15W can be.

Suhr SL67 and SL68 Tube Guitar Amp Heads

Why You Want to Buy It: The Suhr SL68/67 tube heads are squarely aimed at fans of classic late-‘60s British Crunch who want a no-compromise, hand-wired amp with a few modern twists.

Pictured: Suhr SL68 100W Tube Guitar Amp Head

When John Suhr designed the SL68 (100W) and SL67 (50W) tube guitar heads, he took inspiration from the legendary Marshall Super Lead head of the late 1960s. One of the most iconic touchstones of tone, these were the amps that drove (or overdrove) the evolution of rock 'n' roll. The hand-wired Suhr SL68 and SL67 take that heritage and add on features like a transparent Master Volume control, three-way bright switch, mid-boost switch and the Fat-Cap circuit Suhr developed for the first generation of his SL series amps. Plus, we have to make a special callout to the Low Power switch, designed to deliver the "Variac-style" tones made famous in the early ‘80s.w

Suhr Hombre 18W Tube Guitar Amp Head

Why You Want to Buy It: Perfect for the player who seeks the look and sound of the early-‘60s "brown-panel" amps that bridged the tweed to black-panel eras—especially notable for their mid-forward tones and  rich, organic tube-bias tremolo circuit.

Pictured: Suhr Hombre 18W Tube Guitar Amp Head

For many players, the early 1960s brown-panel amps have long been one of the "grail" tones—rich in mids, with a compelling natural saturation when turned up, and the uniquely liquid warble of a tube-bias tremolo circuit. John Suhr's development of the Suhr Hombre, available in both 1x12 combo and head versions, was reportedly a long-term labor of love for the amp designer. Anecdotally, the brown-panel Deluxe was used on a number of some of the most recognizable early ZZ Top tracks. Whether it was or not (as Billy Gibbons has historically been reticent to give away his tone secrets, we don't know for sure), the Hombre nails that vibe. Especially in combination with the vibrato circuit, this is a great amp for Texas blues and similar styles. The head version is designed to mate perfectly with the Suhr Hombre 2x12 cab.

Suhr Hedgehog 50W Tube Guitar Amp Head

Why You Want to Buy It: This one's for the fans of the hot-rodded American-style amps of the '80s and '90s, with a smooth, high-gain bite and a huge amount of programmability.

Pictured: Suhr Hedgehog 50W Tube Guitar Amp Head

The Suhr Hedgehog is a highly versatile take on the custom hot-rodded head. Brimming over with possibilities for stacked gain stages and featuring an aggressive 50W power amp that leverages the brute force of 5881 power tubes, John Suhr also loaded up this one with programmable voicings on recallable presets (via optional 4-button footswitch or third-party MIDI controller) that make this single-channel amp seem more like a four-channel one. It easily transitions from glassy cleans to deeply heavy driven tones, and the switchable series/parallel effects loop makes it easy to incorporate with both instrument-level pedals and studio rack gear for a sound that can be as simple or as complex as you desire. Designed to match with the Suhr Hedgehog 2x12 speaker cabinet.

Suhr Guitar Speaker Cabinets

Suhr Badger 1x12 Speaker Cabinet

Why You Want to Buy It: A versatile 1x12 closed-back cab for the player who wants a simple, compact, lightweight setup

Pictured: Suhr Badger 1x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet

The Suhr Badger 1x12 guitar speaker cabinet is a closed-back cabinet available with a choice of Warehouse 12 or Celestion Greenback 12, both of which are rated at 60W of power handling. Solid and punchy, it's a great choice with the Badger or Bella heads, or as an extension cabinet for the combo versions of both.

Suhr PT15 2x12 Speaker Cabinet

Why You Want to Buy It: Stylistically and sonically a perfect match for the PT15 I.R., with the punch and impact of a 4x12 in a more compact package.

Pictured: Suhr PT15 2x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet

When John Suhr and Pete Thorn sat down to design the Suhr PT15 signature edition 2x12 cabinet, the goal was to pack all the punch and thump of a 4x12 into a smaller box. This 2x12 uses dissimilar speakers—a Celestion Greenback and Vintage 30 mounted on an angled baffle—to make this magic happen. For those seeking a smaller footprint, there is also a PT15 1x12 cabinet variation that employs a Celestion Creamback speaker.

Suhr 2x12 Deep Speaker Cabinet

Why You Want to Buy It: For the player who wants huge sound in a 2x12 cabinet—great with the Suhr SL68 and SL67 tube heads.

Pictured: Suhr 2x12 Deep Speaker Cabinet

With added depth for added punch and low end, the Suhr 2x12 Deep Speaker cabinet is loaded with a choice of Warehouse or Celestion speakers, and is rated for 120W. Great for both low- and high-power amplifiers, it's especially good for punchy rock tones from Plexi-style amps like the Suhr SL68 and SL67.

Suhr Hombre 2x12 Cabinet Vintage Palomino

Why You Want to Buy It: A perfect match for the Suhr Hombre tube amp head, both sonically and stylistically.

Pictured: Suhr Hombre 2x12 Speaker Cabinet Vintage Palomino

Loaded with Celestion V-type speakers and oversized to match the original brown-panel cabinets, the Suhr Hombre 2x12 closed-back cab provides the punch and deep lows you need to fill the room. The Celestion V speakers are a great complement to the slightly mid-forward sound of the Suhr Hombre head.

Suhr Hedgehog 2x12 Speaker Cabinet

Why You Want to Buy It: A perfect match for the aesthetics and sonics of the hot-rodded sounds of the Suhr Hedgehog.

Pictured: Suhr Hedgehog 2x12 Vertical Speaker Cabinet

The Suhr Hedgehog 2x12 cabinet's semi-closed back and Celestion Heritage G-12 speakers are a great match for the wide range of tones available from the Suhr Hedgehog tube head. The semi-closed back of the cabinet opens up the presence of the amp, which some feel offers a more three-dimensional sound, overall.

Suhr Guitar Effects Pedals

While Suhr effects pedals may not be quite the household name of other pedals, players in the know, well, just know. Suhr's pedal designs follow along with the design philosophy of leveraging new technology where it makes sense, tonally and manufacturing-wise (as we mentioned earlier, John Suhr was one of the early pioneers in integrating the precision of CNC milling in the building of boutique guitars).

Pictured: Suhr Koko Boost Reloaded

Boost Pedals

Suhr Dual Boost Dual-Channel Clean Boost

Why You Want to Buy It: For the player who likes to stack boost pedals—clean, transparent and punchy.

Pictured: Suhr Dual Boost Dual-Channel Clean Boost Pedal

The Suhr Dual Boost Dual-Channel Clean Boost (and that's a mouthful) provides tremendous versatility, thanks to Suhr's Multi-Function Technology aka mf(x), which enables you to switch between Boost 1, Boost 2 or a stacked combination of them with a single footswitch. The pedal is internally switchable between true-bypass and buffered-bypass modes, so pick your preferred bypass and get boosted.

Suhr Koko Boost Dual-Channel Clean/Mid Boost

Why You Want to Buy It: When you want your boost to add a little extra punch through the mix, the Suhr Koko Boost is the one.

Pictured: Suhr Koko Boost Dual-Channel Clean/Mid Boost Pedal

The Suhr Koko Boost combines a full-range clean boost with a selectable frequency mid-boost in a double-width pedal so you can bump things up a little, or you can seriously alter the punch through the mix equation. A three-way switch gives you a choice of whether you want to boost high mids to help a solo cut through the mix; low mids for fatter, creamier rhythm parts; or mids in general, which helps accentuate your guitar's natural harmonic qualities. In a way, it's almost like having four boost pedals in one package. It's great on its own, but cascaded into your overdrive pedal, it really sends your sound over the top.

If you've only got room for a standard-size pedal on your board, don't worry. The Suhr Koko Boost Reloaded packs almost all the features (you lose the separate clean boost) into a smaller box and adds a Mid-Q (resonance) control so you can dial in how wide you want the boost to be.

Distortion Pedals

Suhr Riot Distortion Pedal

Why You Want to Buy It: For the player who normally runs a clean, pedal-platform amp, but still wants access to serious high-gain tones.

Pictured: Suhr Riot Distortion Pedal

Suhr's original effects pedal, the Riot distortion was designed to deliver ferocious high-gain tones to players who prefer pedal platform-style amps. This true-bypass pedal features a three-position mini toggle switch that enables you to select between a slightly lower-gain setting with a more organic, dynamic response, a vintage high-gain setting and a modern high-gain setting with a tight low end and solid mids. The Suhr Riot distortion also features the FX Link connection for easy use with an external switcher or effects controller and a Low Battery Indicator that can flip the pedal to bypass if there's not enough available power to run the effect.

Still need more gain? The Riot Reloaded takes that original Riot feature set and provides a whole new level of scream. And, if you're starting to run out of space on your pedalboard but still want over-the-top high-gain tones, you'll want to look into the Riot Mini, a 9V DC power-supply-only mini pedal without the FX Link or battery indicator functions.

Suhr Eclipse Dual-Channel Overdrive/Distortion Pedal

Why You Want to Buy It: If you need a dual overdrive and distortion pedal that can be variably voiced to match your amp, this is where you get off.

Pictured: Suhr Riot Distortion Pedal

The Suhr Eclipse Dual-Channel overdrive/distortion pedal provides fully independent overdrive and distortion sections, each with its own gain and level controls, plus amp-like three-band passive EQ. A unique feature of the true-bypass Eclipse is the global voicing control that allows you to tune the high-frequency spectrum of the pedal to match the response of your amp, from dark to bright. With Suhr's FX Link connection, it's easy to integrate with advanced pedalboards with separate switchers or MIDI controllers. Kick on one, kick on both, it's great tone either way.

Overdrive Pedals

Suhr Shiba Drive Overdrive Pedal

Why You Want to Buy It: If you're seeking a smooth overdrive that's as good with your clean sound as your overdrive sounds, the Suhr Shiba is as silky as they come.

Pictured: Suhr Shiba Drive Overdrive Pedal

The Suhr Shiba Overdrive pedal was conceived to be as easy and smooth to use as it is to hear. Designed for guitarists who generally switch between a clean and overdriven sound, the Shiba adds that extra drive to your signal, coaxing an organic response from the amp. With three different modes on the Smooth switch—one with a mild high-frequency rolloff, one with a more pronounced HF rolloff, and one voiced for a more open and natural overdrive—the Suhr Shiba easily goes from warming up your single-coil sounds to rich, violin-like lead sounds.

If you crave a little more gain with a tighter low end and more pronounced mids, check the Shiba Drive Reloaded. Plus, there's the Shiba Drive Mini if your pedalboard is getting a little crowded.

Delay Pedals

Suhr Discovery Analog Delay

Why You Want to Buy It: If you're one of those who loves the sound of classic analog delays, but want the precision and accuracy of digital control, the Suhr Discovery Analog Delay is worth repeating.

Pictured: Suhr Discovery Analog Delay Pedal

The Suhr Discovery Analog Delay, designed by Kevin Suhr, takes a classic analog delay, created by a quartet of MN3005 bucket-brigade devices, and adds on all the control features you would expect from a modern digital unit. With 127 user-editable presets, tap tempo, selectable note-based delay settings, MIDI control, expression pedal control, modulation and more, it's the best of both worlds.

Modulation Pedals

Suhr Jack Rabbit Analog Tremolo Ver. 2.0

Why You Want to Buy It: If you want a trippy analog tremolo that retains ease of use while providing massive flexibility, you'll want to hop in to pick up a Suhr Jack Rabbit Analog Tremolo.

Pictured: Suhr Jack Rabbit Analog Tremolo Ver. 2.0 Pedal

Imagine a tremolo pedal that packs a ton of punch, and you've got the Suhr Jack Rabbit. This analog wonder goes from subtle shimmers to wild, warbly throbs, letting you dial in precisely the vibe you need. It's simple to set the tremolo speed by simply tapping your foot or using the unique Suhr feature of just strumming your strings. Further timing precision is available with the ability to set note value subdivisions. Finely sculpt your sound with five trippy waveforms. Want a smooth sine wave? A choppy square? The Jack Rabbit has you covered. Plus, it can double as a clean boost if you need a little extra oomph. Relay-switched true bypass keeps your guitar's original tone shining through.

Fuzz Pedals

Suhr Rufus Fuzz

Why You Want to Buy It: This one is the fuzz for players who want maximum versatility while getting a huge variety of fuzz tones.

Pictured: Suhr Rufus Fuzz Pedal

The Suhr Rufus Fuzz boasts versatility for guitarists seeking a wide range of fuzz tones, from classic psychedelia to growling grunge. Its 3-band EQ allows precise sculpting, while two distinct modes—Normal and Fat—ensure access to absolute sonic mayhem. Suhr's mf(x) technology even enables you to easily switch between those modes mid-song. A big plus for the Rufus is that it functions well with both guitars and basses, and its true-bypass design, combined with Suhr's FX Link technology ensures seamless integration into pedalboards while maintaining a sensitive response to your playing dynamics.

If you're a fan of octave fuzz effects—and we'd find it hard to believe that you aren't—the Suhr Rufus Reloaded swaps out the Fat mode for Octave mode. As with the original Rufus, the octave is available at any time, thanks to the mf(x) capability.

Compressor Pedals

Suhr Andy Wood Signature Woodshed Comp

Why You Want to Buy It: Clean, transparent compression that doubles as a boost? Yes, please!

Pictured: Suhr Andy Wood Signature Woodshed Compressor Pedal

The Suhr Woodshed Comp compressor is a unique option for guitarists seeking transparent and musical compression. Unlike "feed-back" compressors that react to the overall output of your signal, the Woodshed uses a "feed-forward" design. This means the compression is based on the incoming signal itself, resulting in a more transparent and natural-sounding effect that retains your pick attack and note definition. This design also allows for a wider range of compression with less pumping or artifacts, making it ideal for players who want subtle sustain and evenness without sacrificing their tone's character. With an exceptional amount of headroom, this studio-quality VCA compressor can also act as a clean boost. Plus, its compact size and rugged build make it easy to fit only any gigging pedalboard.

Suhr Koji Comp Compressor Pedal

Why You Want to Buy It: Ideal for guitarists who want transparent compression that enhances their playing, without hiding its dynamic aspects.

Pictured: Suhr Koji Comp Compressor Pedal

The Suhr Koji Comp compressor ditches the typical "squash" for a more transparent, even-handed approach to your tone. Unlike many compressors that affect your entire signal, the Koji has to ability to provide parallel compression. Think of this like splitting your signal with one path staying clean while the other gets compressed, then blending them back together using the Mix knob. This gives you subtle control over sustain and level without sacrificing your natural pick attack and dynamics. It's like having a built-in studio engineer subtly smoothing things out without changing your sound.

The Thrill of Boutique Gear

There's nothing quite like getting a new guitar or amp, and that feeling of satisfaction is amplified by knowing that your new gear is built by a company founded on the vision that players deserve hand-built attention to detail and versatility. This is one reason why so-called "boutique" guitars and amps are so valued. They transcend the typical, moving into a rarefied world of exemplary fit, finish and support.

Suhr Guitars is an excellent example of how and why the boutique approach pays off for the player. To find the Suhr product that works best for you, please stop by your local Guitar Center store or dial up our Call Center so that one of our knowledgeable Gear Advisers can help you discover the guitar, amp or pedal that will fit you like a glove.