Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

Yeah this whole thing reeks of pretentiousness and brand snobbery.

I haven't played a Suhr so maybe they're really fantastic, but the website's description is basically "You know how awesome my guitars are? Well now I'm having them made in China so even your pathetic broke ass can afford one."

I dunno. It's gonna have to be substantially better than a lot of other dudes' guitars to even be a drop in the bucket. Otherwise people will say, "Oh that's a weird Jackson. Oh that's not a Jackson. Hey there's a Strat!" and that will be their entire experience with Rasmus guitars.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

Richard and Xander - my thoughts exactly.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

The link says $1300+. I don't see how that fits into the "affordable" or "entry-level" bracket. I paid less than that for my Gibson. And I really have to agree with Ex-250. I don't see anything terribly exciting about it. Obviously I haven't played one, but it doesn't knock my socks off the way a PRS does.

At $500 it might be cool, at $1300+ for an import guitar you've got to be f*cking kidding me. It looks like any other superstrat on the market, it's just ridiculously overpriced. There's no way an asian built guitar is going to get the detail or time that the Suhr line gets. They should stick to being a boutique maker instead of trying to thin themselves out too much with crappy budget guitars (that aren't even affordable to their target audience... kinda kills that "budget" vibe in the first place) that will never live up to the reputation the higher end ones have. I'm calling it now... this is an "epic fail" business move.

You want an all American strat, you can get one from Fender for less than this P.O.S. John Suhr is trying to pawn off on suckers.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

As a sidenote, how do you pronounce "Suhr"?

 

[sosomething]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

"Sir"

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

I was kind of thrilled when I have seen the headline of the thread and the first page of the link. All of my GAS has gone away when I found out they are only talking about Super-Strats.

Let me know when they'll start making a more affordable T-Classic. Until then, it's pretty boring...

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

I was kind of thrilled when I have seen the headline of the thread and the first page of the link. All of my GAS has gone away when I found out they are only talking about Super-Strats.

Let me know when they'll start making a more affordable T-Classic. Until then, it's pretty boring...

Here's your T-Classic at a grand and it's all American made

http://www.music123.com/Fender-American-Standard-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar-515750-i1385921.Music123

I dig the BPSSC technology that he bought and re-marketed, but I don't get this crap.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

For the same price, you can get a Charvel Pro Mod, get it Plekked and Setup yourself, and you have an american made guitar.

You still have a Less than stellar MIK "Floyd Rose" to deal with.

Plekking ain't cheap and neither is a pro setup. So figure on $200+ for plekking plus $65 for a setup and $200 for a Top quality bridge and you've far exceeded the $1000 MAP on a Suhr import just for the "privilege" of saying it's Made in America.

 

[B2D]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

They're then assembled in South KoChinistan by skilled guitar people who actually live in the factory all week long and then shipped back to the US for a set-up by Suhr employees.

The workers get shipped back to the US, or the guitars do?

I hope they play and sound good because they look about as interesting as a peanut butter sandwich on white bread.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

I find it extremely interesting that all the haters themselves admit they've never even touched a Suhr guitar in their life.

I for one played a Pro Series Modern less than a month ago and it was an amazing instrument in absolutely every sense. I didn't even get to plug it in, I played it unplugged (mind you, I actually have a Suhr pickup in a guitar of mine and know just how much they kick @ss as well).

Let us recap:
*Genuine Gotoh trems
*Suhr pickups
*The same fret-wire their CUSTOM SHOP guitars get, which, let me tell you, they are as sleek as all heck and bends feel like skating on fresh ice!
*PLEKed
*Setup and QC by those same guys known as the ultimate nit-pickers in the guitar industry.

Now, a Gotoh Floyd costs at about 180€, I guess that translates at about 200 USD for a guy living in the US (i.e. quite a bit more if you're living on this side of the pond, ask Zerb), a SINGLE Suhr pickup costs 150€ (about TWICE what a Pro Shop SD costs), the fret-wire is the best money can buy (admittedly can't put a price to it though) a PLEK I hear goes at about 200 USD while a setup done by a Suhr tech let me assure you costs A LOT more than a measly 65 USD (actually closer to 150-200 USD as well).

So, 200 for the bridge, about 300 for the pickups, 200 for the plek and, what the hell, let's be generous, 100 for the setup. That's 800 USD right there.
Oh, and the only thing you'll ever need to do to it after-market is change strings.

And BTW, the MSRP is @ 1332, now I don't live in the US but isn't that supposed to mean that the street price will be at about 800-900 USD?

Yeah, sure, it's a cr@ppy deal compared to a guitar to which, most guys swap out almost everything not made out of wood.
Yeah, the replacement hardware and electronics are free and so is the time spent for the mods and subsequent fret work and setup.

But hey, at least the Charvels have a nice sticker saying that it was Made in the USA.
That's GOTTA be more worth it than Made in Asia (it is of no consequence that the higher end and custom shop ESPs and Ibanezs for instance are built in Japan which, last time I checked was in Asia).


Suhr was adamant when they said they picked the factory not based on cost but on quality. Have no reason not to believe it too.
They also hammered in the fact that they'll be produced in extremely limited quantities i.e. they are aimed at a very limited market (guys lusting for a Suhr and cant' afford it) and there isn't supposed to be even a single dog among them.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

The workers get shipped back to the US, or the guitars do?

I hope they play and sound good because they look about as interesting as a peanut butter sandwich on white bread.

The guitars, as the established subject of my sentence, are the things being shipped.

Though I suspect there could be some kind of corporate shuttle system going as well.

 

[Chad]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

Kinda old topic on the internet, but here's what I posted on another forum a couple weeks ago:

1. The Rasmus name just plain sucks. When I read it, I think of a silly name my grandpa used to give to a person who was acting idiotic, "Rastas".

2. Aside from the name itself, the font/logo design is bad. I think of the old cartoon Thundercats when I see it.

3. I'll agree with everybody that it is lame how they clearly spelled out the parts origin for frets and so forth, but for construction they just say "Asia" instead of coming out and saying China.

4. $1K street price for a made in China guitar is an absolute joke. Maybe in 50 years things will be different and China will have a good reputation for quality, fair treatment of workers, etc., but NOT NOW.

5. As others have said, why not just buy a competing product that is less expensive and spend some bucks on a top rate fret leveling/Plek job and upgrade a few parts (like electronics) if needed. As a bonus, you could have a guitar with a name on the headstock that makes you proud.

6. Whoever designed the Rasmus website should be fired. That left-right navigation is just plain irritating and stupid. A good example of being different just to be different and resulting in FAIL.

I read the entire thread on the Suhr forum. Quite interesting. Some support these guitars, but there are also some rather upset folks.

I could be proven wrong, but I predict a fail and slight tarnish to the Suhr name.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

Here's your T-Classic at a grand and it's all American made

http://www.music123.com/Fender-American-Standard-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar-515750-i1385921.Music123

I dig the BPSSC technology that he bought and re-marketed, but I don't get this crap.

Well, while Fender has focused on staying as true as possible to their vintage specs and colors - Suhr went into the market niche of the same vintage designs with a few enhancement - like the BPSSC indeed. That's kind of what I prefer as a player - classic Strats and Teles but with the improvements that the last few decades can give you.

I'm not really into humbucker equipped Super Strats, I admit, so maybe that's why I have troubles getting what the Rasmus models are offering that Jackson, Charvel, ESP and Ibanez don't.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

^^ That's what I'm sayin... I don't think they'll be bad guitars per se...I just don't see them as drastically different than the majority of what a LOT of other companies are doing...

Ibanez, Jackson, Schecter, PRS, Fender, ESP / LTD and several other guys are doing the "super strat humbucker import guitar thing" too but with a bigger share of the market and more loyal fans. I think the dudes who love Suhr so much that they have to have a Suhr would be happier saving up for the real thing than being offered a Chinese version for less money.

I dunno. Guitars are cool and I'm all about more guitars for more people but this just seems kinda superfluous.

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

This is just amazing. Everyone (well not EVERYONE) is basically saying that the guitar sucks and can't be good since it might be made in China or Korea (last time I checked the LTD 1000's were quite good, they're made in Korea or Indonesia, can remember right now), and even though Suhr says that they will have quality parts and an inspection in their own factory, you guys would rather buy some other model and upgrade the parts.
And BTW, has Epiphone or Squier lowered the status of a Gibson or a Fender ? I think not. PRS has probably done pretty well with their cheapo line, too.
You should always remember that these kind of guitars also generate more interest in Suhrs, too. A kid who goes to shop and buys a Rasmus and later wants to buy a new guitar is more probably going to buy a Suhr than a kid who hasn't heard of Suhr or Rasmus.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

^^ i'm not saying they will be crap. i'm saying they might be great...

but i don't know nearly as many dudes who want to drop $900 on some brand name they've never heard of as i do dudes who are saving their pennies for...well...any given specific model from any of the big names.

I'm not saying "They won't be good." I'm asking, "How good could they possibly be?" When you consider for $800 you can get a USA Special Strat or a -1000 level LTD or a Worn-finish Gibson or a lower-level Ibanez Prestige...who's got time for a Suhr that Suhr won't even put his real name on?

I just don't believe the hype. Every guitar company's website says "We use only the best materials made in (this place) crafted in the best factory in (this country) by the best (this nationality) builders in the industry." I would put my money towards a trusted name before one of these any day, if only so that i could find parts or warranted shops easily.

Every other guitar shop is a Fender, Ibanez, Gibson or ESP dealer...i can't think of a store in Atlanta with Suhrs in it, but i don't really get out much.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

Hmm, interesting. When I saw the name I first thought it had something to do with Erasmus of Rotterdam, a humanist philosopher of the Renaissance .

+1 on the fact that the competition is stiff. It'll probably be people who already have a Suhr getting these as a backup or a 'beater'. The main things that seem to be offered in competition is an alder body unlike most other superstrats in the price range, which are basswood; and more detailed qc. I'm discounting pickups because people chop and change depending on taste. I don't understand why the trem rear cover isn't recessed like that of the electrics. The colours besides the white and candy apple red are kind of meh.

Still, I'd give one a shot before dealing out death and judgement; not fussed about the name on the headstock.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

You still have a Less than stellar MIK "Floyd Rose" to deal with.

Plekking ain't cheap and neither is a pro setup. So figure on $200+ for plekking plus $65 for a setup and $200 for a Top quality bridge and you've far exceeded the $1000 MAP on a Suhr import just for the "privilege" of saying it's Made in America.

I have a Charvel Pro Mod, and the MIK Floyd Rose appears every bit as good as the Gotoh Floyd Rose on my EBMM Axis that Suhr uses on his Floyd Equipped guitars. Matter of fact I like the feel better than a german made OFR as it feels closer to an Ibanez Edge. Plus I have a place that quoted me $120 for a Plek setup.

Charvel also gives you a quartersawn maple neck- you can tell from the pics that the import Suhr does not.

That's just my preference. I feel many guitar companies have been hit in this economy, and to survive they must find ways to offer more economical guitars for the public which doesn't have the money to spend on guitars that they did 3 years ago

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

I am suprised to find so many opposed to this line of guitars without even trying it, if they truly get the attention at the Suhr factory they are talking about, and their pickups as well, these have the potential to be some great guitars IMO.

I agree with Keeper on this one, every Suhr I have played has been exceptional, in fact otherworldly in some ways. I expect excellence from John, and I hope to see that in this line...

If they suck, then they suck and I will make that judgement AFTER they come out, I get to play one, and read some other reviews by people that have played or own one, not before anyone has laid eyes or hands on one...

 

[Senor Skanky]

Re: Rasmus guitars by John Suhr.

They don't look bad to me, just a little plain. I'd like to try one out.

I've never played a Suhr guitar, and until I figure out how to predict lottery numbers or racetrack winners, my only option to own a Suhr is this import line.

I can't help but wonder if the boutique guitar market isn't in dire straits in the current economic times. I heard that PRS has gone through some huge challenges and has had to cut employees and drop models.

Maybe Suhr is finding this to be their situation as well, and they are starting an import line to support the domestic line. That is to say, they are looking to infuse some cash into their company with lower cost models because the market for $3000+ guitars isn't what it used to be.

Just a thought.