Suhr Guitars introduced the Classic J in 2003 and this first Suhr bass model has been very well received by the bass community. Based on the classic electric bass designs of the 60's and the 70's, our Classic J provides superb craftsmanship that made our guitars famous with excellent playability, warm punchy tone, and exceptional versatility offered by our own pickups wound in-house and the 2-band preamp designed by John Suhr.

Our basses get the same attention to detail of our master builders as our guitars do and John's experience in working with some of the top bassists in the industry assures that you get the very best basses possible. Some of the bassists we have worked with or are currently working with are: Reggie McBride, Wayman Tisdale, Victor Bailey, Will Lee, Khari Simmons, and Mark Egan.

The sound of the Suhr bass is warm yet exceptionally clear with strong punchy lows and a very well defined midrange. Whether you are seeking a vintage type of tone with our Vintage J pickups or a modern sound with our noise-canceling Humphrey pickups and the active 2-band preamp, the Classic J can cover a wide range of bass sonic territory with conviction and musicality. Choose the Alder body with Maple neck and Indian Rosewood for a warm growling bass sound with a pleasing high-end presence or the Swamp Ash body with Maple neck and Birdseye Maple fingerboard for strong midrange punch and focused clarity.

Khari Simmons, bassist for Grammy Award winning R&B artist India Arie had these comments about his Suhr Classic J: "I have had this bass for quite a while now. Obviously I have taken it to all my gigs – local and abroad. It is so great to play such a well-made JB-style bass that still sounds like a passive J when the active preamp is not engaged. Great Instrument! I get compliments from non-bass players when I'm playing it! That says a lot. Thanks for the great bass. I'll call soon and say this in person. Hope you dug the Bass Player article!"

We will slowly add more bass models such as a 5-string version of the Classic J as well as the Classic P. In the years ahead, we also expect to develop a line of "modern" basses with a longer upper horn for better balance, extended fingerboard range and new pickups and electronics. In the meantime, look into the Classic J as it has the time-proven sound and playability that will perform admirably in a variety of musical situations. Also look for us to eventually develop tube bass amplification as we expand our amp line in the future. We're only getting started here and our best years are clearly ahead of us to provide you with some of the finest bass gear on the planet!

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