Suhr Basses Are Coming Back To Rocket!

RocketMusic

RocketMusic

Gold Supporting Member
Commercial User
Oct 31, 2007
10,431
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5,463
Blacksburg, VA
www.rocketmusic.net
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Owner, Rocket Music
#1
After the crapfest that was 2016, I'm finally ready to start making some moves in a growth direction! Here's my first move: I've ordered one of every color of the Suhr Classic J Pro models. There are only 3 colors, so it's not a HUGE move... but it's a move, dang it!! LOL

The "Pro" version is the non-distressed version of Suhr's Classic J jazz-style bass. The options are few to keep the price down (just $2495 shipped!). The bass is a passive 4-string with an Alder body, Rosewood board and tortoiseshell pickguard. The nut is 1.5", the fretboard radius is 7.25", and the string spacing at the bridge is 3/4". It comes in your choice of 3 Tone Burst, Olympic White or Black.

I'll do my best to have one of each color on hand at all times. There is about a 4-5 month lead time on these, though, so it'll be February or March 2018 before these start to arrive.

Thanks to TB'er Joshua for getting me all excited about Suhr basses again! He was asking various questions about them, and I started GAS'ing pretty hard myself. Josh has a 3 Tone Burst one on order now, so thanks and congrats about that!

Check out how awesome these things look and sound in the video below. And you can browse my current and future Suhr bass inventory on my website here.

 
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#2
Oh, and I'll throw this out there also. Suhr makes a distressed version of this bass called the Classic J Antique. It costs a bit more ($2964 shipped), and it comes in a true lacquer finish with light aging.

It comes in the same three colors (3 Tone Burst, Oly White & Black), and I imagine I might eventually get around to stocking these, as well. Is there any interest in that, given the price point?

FWIW - I am able to discount these basses slightly, and I will do so - especially for TB members.
 
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#3
RocketMusic said:
Thanks to TB'er Joshua for getting me all excited about Suhr basses again! He was asking various questions about them, and I started GAS'ing pretty hard myself. Josh has a 3 Tone Burst one on order now, so thanks and congrats about that!
Click to expand...

4266c634657917c478869b4ad421c378b91162ac16d15aaa901621f201692a7d.jpg


Thanks back atcha for carrying such boss bass gear!
 
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#6
gebass6 said:
Fender copies.
Don't we don't have enough?:rollno:

A man walks into a music store.
Sees a wall full of basses made by different makers that all look like Fender P's and J's.
Man walks out.:mad:
Click to expand...


15 other customers come in, *wanting* Fender based instruments and spend lots of cash. Manufacturers would not be making so many of them if they weren't selling.
 
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#7
Pacman said:
15 other customers come in, *wanting* Fender based instruments and spend lots of cash. Manufacturers would not be making so many of them if they weren't selling.
Click to expand...

This. To the majority of the planet, TVs are big flat rectangles. Stereo components are stackable rectangles in black or silver. And guitars and basses look like Fender designs. Some are better than Fender. Some not so much.

@RocketMusic just added (or returned) a well-respected line of instruments to its lineup. Good for them. Good for us.
 
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#8
gebass6 said:
Fender copies.
Don't we don't have enough?:rollno:

A man walks into a music store.
Sees a wall full of basses made by different makers that all look like Fender P's and J's.
Man walks out.:mad:
Click to expand...

I feel ya. I wish people were beating a path to my door for non-traditional boutique basses. They used to, but G&L and the new Roscoe Classics are most of what's moving through my store these days. I'd like to get Mike Lull's instruments moving through here again, too. But looking at John Suhr's price point (advertised at $2495 w/ gigbag included), I think he may just have the most bang for the buck at this point. His basses are phenomenal, and he's priced himself either just or well underneath everyone else.

And his stuff is the real deal if you're after a '60's style j bass. The woods are right, the electronics are right (John's pickups are his own, and they are fantastic), and then he brings to bear the most modern technology (CNC, Plek, etc.) and the best people (John is a former Fender Custom Shop guy, and he also employs several other ex-Fender Custom Shop guys) to make a bass that practically plays itself. If he made a P style bass, I'd own one in a heartbeat.

Anyway - I don't want to discount your feelings, I'm sure you're not alone. I'm always on the lookout for new brands to carry, but finding a good fit is really tough. I need to find that magic intersection of great quality, a price people are willing to pay, and sufficient brand awareness to move some meaningful number of basses over time. At that same time, the brand can't be over saturated in the market such that you can get one anywhere. I play in the niches, I can't compete with the MF's and GC's of the world. PM me if you have any brands in mind that might be a good fit for Rocket!
 
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#11
gebass6 said:
Fender copies.
Don't we don't have enough?:rollno:

A man walks into a music store.
Sees a wall full of basses made by different makers that all look like Fender P's and J's.
Man walks out.:mad:
Click to expand...

Someone's never been to Rocket Music. While Greg might offer some much higher quality variations on the P and J theme (all of which have more in common with Leo than FMIC's current lineup), he also offers high quality models that bear no resemblance. A man walks into Rocket Music with any reasonable budget and he's walking out with a pro level axe, end of story.

Also, posting this tired old argument in the Rocket Music PAID forum is tres school in the summer.
 
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#12
Joshua said:
Someone's never been to Rocket Music. While Greg might offer some much higher quality variations on the P and J theme (all of which have more in common with Leo than FMIC's current lineup), he also offers high quality models that bear no resemblance. A man walks into Rocket Music with any reasonable budget and he's walking out with a pro level axe, end of story.

Also, posting this tired old argument in the Rocket Music PAID forum is tres school in the summer.
Click to expand...

I've never had the privilege of walking into Rocket Music, but I have purchased two of their pro level axes and two amp rigs! Wish I was closer to the east coast...

Mark
 
#13
mwbonsall said:
I've never had the privilege of walking into Rocket Music, but I have purchased two of their pro level axes and two amp rigs! Wish I was closer to the east coast...

Mark
Click to expand...

Heh - I don't mean to mislead anyone. I, too, have never had the pleasure of visiting in person. I was simply riffing off the post I quoted and his reference to "man walks into music store".

And on that note, I should also clarify that any bassist who walks into Rocket Music with a reasonable budget is walking out with a pro axe (heck, whole rig!). Ain't nobody left out on any list I create!
 
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#14
dedpool1052 said:
I really don't need another bass, but I'm a creature of habit and just can't help myself from asking,
Lefty?
Matching headstock?
Click to expand...

Do you want the bad news or the bad news? LOL

Bad new #1:
Sadly... lefty is not an option, Pro or Custom. Serious bummer.

Bad news #2:
It's a definite no on the matching headstock, at least on these "Pro" ones. The only option on the Pros is literally the body color. And even that is limited to just 3 colors (3 Tone Burst, Oly White and Black).

If you move into a "Custom", then all sorts of options become available (body woods, fretboard woods, fretboard radius, active electronics, matching headstock, etc.)... but the price also jumps quite a bit. Depending on the options you choose, it's pretty easy to get into the mid 3K's and higher.

I've registered my disappointment at the lack of left handed basses with my Suhr guy. We'll see if that leads anywhere, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Suhr is very deliberate and careful (in other words, slow) about new product development.
 
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#16
That's awesome dude. They are beautiful instruments.
I by chance messaged Suhr last week, in regard to why they don't offer a 5 string. It's really a bad business move not offering one!
A generalization, but I would bet, most bassists going to a boutique luthier for a Jazz are looking looking for a Swiss Army knife, workhorse of an instrument.
Jazz bass sales for Sadowsky, Coppolo, Nordstrand, BassMods, Lakland, etc I would bet are mostly 5's based on what I see in the marketplace as well as what pros are using.
It would be one thing if Suhr was a purist like Moollon, but they even offer a 5.
 
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#18
Joshua said:
I, too, have never had the pleasure of visiting in person.
Click to expand...

Fortunately I live less than an hour from Blacksburg and Rocket is the best source for bass gear for many, many miles in any direction. The last two times I visited the "showroom" was still under construction and I would be surprised if they ever finished it. Greg, I hope I'm wrong here!! But they do have a lot of great gear (which is all in the back), I bought two Berg cabs there and have been very happy with the gear and the service.
 
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