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The Suhr Modern T in figured Koa feels like a moment when nature and craft meet in quiet reverence, as if the forests of Hawaii and the workshop lights of Lake Elsinore were always destined to speak the same language. At the center of this instrument is the long arc of John Suhr’s legacy, a story that has shaped the modern electric guitar with a rare blend of deep musical empathy and exacting precision. Suhr began his work in the earliest days of boutique electric craftsmanship, long before the phrase had become common, guided by an instinct for tone and playability that artists immediately recognized. His years at Rudy’s in New York, his time building for Pensa Suhr, and his later tenure as Senior Master Builder at Fender all contributed to a mastery that continues to influence players and builders across the world. A Suhr guitar carries that history within it. It speaks softly at first, but with a confidence born of decades spent listening to musicians, solving problems, refining details and chasing a voice that feels alive in the hands.
The Modern T crafted from solid figured Koa stands as one of the rarest expressions of that voice. Koa is a wood of shimmering depth, its color shifting gently between amber and honey and copper, its grain curling in patterns that feel almost like wind tracing across water. To build an entire body from Koa is uncommon, not simply because the wood is precious but because true figured sets of this quality are increasingly scarce. This two piece figured Koa top paired with a matching two piece Koa body creates a visual harmony that is both earthy and radiant. The contours along the arm, hand and tummy are carved with an understanding of movement, allowing the guitar to settle against the player as naturally as breath.
A gloss finish preserves the luminous surface of the body while the neck is shaped from roasted flame maple, its satin surface offering a subtle warmth that welcomes the touch. The Modern Elliptical profile ranges from .800 to .850 and is paired with an 11 to 16 inch fretboard radius, a combination that creates a sensation of effortless glide along the Macassar ebony fretboard. The nut width sits at 1.687 inches, wide enough for clarity yet never cumbersome, and the standard roll along the fretboard edges offers that familiar, broken in comfort. Twenty four stainless steel jumbo frets stretch across the board, promising longevity and a smooth, singing vibrato that responds instantly to intention.
At the heart of the sound lies the pairing of a Thornbucker in the neck and a Thornbucker Plus in the bridge, both covered in nickel chrome. These pickups were designed to echo the sweetness and dimension of late fifties humbuckers while also giving modern players the articulation and dynamic range they often seek. The bridge pickup can be split through the push pull configuration, adding bright single coil textures to the palette. The five way blade, paired with the simple elegance of one volume and one tone control, ensures that the full breadth of the instrument’s voice is easily reached without ever feeling cluttered.
The hardware remains faithful to the unmistakable Suhr blend of beauty and engineering. A Suhr two post bridge with solid saddles and a steel block provides resonance, tuning stability and a familiar elasticity beneath the picking hand. Suhr locking tuners work seamlessly alongside the Tusq nut and chrome hardware to keep the instrument steady under the most expressive bends. Abalone adorns the headstock logo, clay dots guide the path along the fingerboard and brass side dots glow softly at the edge of sight. The guitar arrives in a hard case, weighing a comfortable eight pounds and one ounce, ready to travel or to live in the studio.
The Suhr Modern T in figured Koa is more than a high performance instrument. It is a quiet tribute to the relationship between human craft and the natural world, a reflection of John Suhr’s lifelong devotion to building guitars that breathe, respond and invite the player into a deeper conversation. It stands as a rare piece of artistry, shaped by decades of insight and a forest’s worth of light and color, waiting for the hands that will continue its story.
Other specifications include:
For more information about the Suhr Modern T, please contact us.
The Suhr Modern T in figured Koa feels like a moment when nature and craft meet in quiet reverence, as if the forests of Hawaii and the workshop lights of Lake Elsinore were always destined to speak the same language. At the center of this instrument is the long arc of John Suhr’s legacy, a story that has shaped the modern electric guitar with a rare blend of deep musical empathy and exacting precision. Suhr began his work in the earliest days of boutique electric craftsmanship, long before the phrase had become common, guided by an instinct for tone and playability that artists immediately recognized. His years at Rudy’s in New York, his time building for Pensa Suhr, and his later tenure as Senior Master Builder at Fender all contributed to a mastery that continues to influence players and builders across the world. A Suhr guitar carries that history within it. It speaks softly at first, but with a confidence born of decades spent listening to musicians, solving problems, refining details and chasing a voice that feels alive in the hands.
The Modern T crafted from solid figured Koa stands as one of the rarest expressions of that voice. Koa is a wood of shimmering depth, its color shifting gently between amber and honey and copper, its grain curling in patterns that feel almost like wind tracing across water. To build an entire body from Koa is uncommon, not simply because the wood is precious but because true figured sets of this quality are increasingly scarce. This two piece figured Koa top paired with a matching two piece Koa body creates a visual harmony that is both earthy and radiant. The contours along the arm, hand and tummy are carved with an understanding of movement, allowing the guitar to settle against the player as naturally as breath.
A gloss finish preserves the luminous surface of the body while the neck is shaped from roasted flame maple, its satin surface offering a subtle warmth that welcomes the touch. The Modern Elliptical profile ranges from .800 to .850 and is paired with an 11 to 16 inch fretboard radius, a combination that creates a sensation of effortless glide along the Macassar ebony fretboard. The nut width sits at 1.687 inches, wide enough for clarity yet never cumbersome, and the standard roll along the fretboard edges offers that familiar, broken in comfort. Twenty four stainless steel jumbo frets stretch across the board, promising longevity and a smooth, singing vibrato that responds instantly to intention.
At the heart of the sound lies the pairing of a Thornbucker in the neck and a Thornbucker Plus in the bridge, both covered in nickel chrome. These pickups were designed to echo the sweetness and dimension of late fifties humbuckers while also giving modern players the articulation and dynamic range they often seek. The bridge pickup can be split through the push pull configuration, adding bright single coil textures to the palette. The five way blade, paired with the simple elegance of one volume and one tone control, ensures that the full breadth of the instrument’s voice is easily reached without ever feeling cluttered.
The hardware remains faithful to the unmistakable Suhr blend of beauty and engineering. A Suhr two post bridge with solid saddles and a steel block provides resonance, tuning stability and a familiar elasticity beneath the picking hand. Suhr locking tuners work seamlessly alongside the Tusq nut and chrome hardware to keep the instrument steady under the most expressive bends. Abalone adorns the headstock logo, clay dots guide the path along the fingerboard and brass side dots glow softly at the edge of sight. The guitar arrives in a hard case, weighing a comfortable eight pounds and one ounce, ready to travel or to live in the studio.
The Suhr Modern T in figured Koa is more than a high performance instrument. It is a quiet tribute to the relationship between human craft and the natural world, a reflection of John Suhr’s lifelong devotion to building guitars that breathe, respond and invite the player into a deeper conversation. It stands as a rare piece of artistry, shaped by decades of insight and a forest’s worth of light and color, waiting for the hands that will continue its story.
Other specifications include:
For more information about the Suhr Modern T, please contact us.
Yes, this is the actual guitar you’re looking at – not a generic stock photo! We take the time to individually photograph each and every guitar we sell so that you know exactly what you’re getting. From the grain of the wood to the unique finish and subtle character marks, what you see in the photo is the very guitar that will be shipped to your door. No surprises, no guesswork – just full transparency and confidence in your purchase.
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