For most players, there’s nothing better than acquiring a new guitar. Except, perhaps, getting a new guitar that you can crank through a new, powerhouse amp. This holiday season, Suhr has you covered for both, with two pieces of hot and fresh gear: the Classic S Vintage Limited Edition electric and the SL68 MkII amplifier.
True to its name, the Classic S Vintage is a limited-edition model that, as Guitar World Tech Editor Paul Riario so nicely puts it, “tips its hat to the golden era of vintage guitar builds.” The new guitar boasts a classic combination of a three-piece alder body, a roasted maple neck and a 9-12” compound radius rosewood fingerboard with nickel frets. You also get a TUSQ nut and Gotoh Kluson vintage-style tuners, and, what Paul identifies as a particularly nice touch: “The refined body carve in the back that is sculpted to help you reach the upper frets.”
Pickups-wise, the Classic S Vintage pairs a Suhr V63+ single-coil in the neck and middle positions with a Suhr SSV humbucker in the bridge, offering the best of both worlds in tone and versatility.
As for how the guitar sounds? Great – especially when roaring through Suhr’s SL68 MkII amp. The latest evolution of the company’s popular SL series of handwired amplifiers, the 100-watt head offers, Paul says, “a no-compromise recreation of classic British tones with much needed flexibility,” with everything from sparkling cleans to roaring high-gain Variac-style overdrive.
The single-channel head boasts an expanded tonal range, with four inputs, the addition of three switches and Suhr’s new transparent master volume circuit.
You also get a Variac Low Power Mode that allows players to lower the amount of voltage available to the amp, a classic mod that results in a more “spongy” feel with a smoother attack, and will provide you instant access to “brown sound” heaven.
As for those three new switches? First up is a Fat-Cap Switch, which adds low-end punch and bass and, unlike in original SL series amps, can be removed from the circuit in the SL68 MkII to get closer to a more “true” stock vintage amp. There’s also a Mid-Boost Switch for dialing in the ideal amount of midrange to cut through a mix, and a 3-Way Bright Switch to add brilliance and sparkle to your tone.
Finally, the redesigned Master Volume circuit offers total control over the amp’s output - at 10, the control is completely transparent and out of the circuit, but as you start turning it down, the amp’s volume can be reduced all the way to whisper levels.
“Both the Classic S Vintage Limited Edition and the SL68 MkII amplifier provide authentic, warm tones of the past but come with all the flexibility and modern upgrades top players desire,” Paul says. “From unparalleled craftsmanship to effortless playability, these two new guitar and amp additions prove Suhr delivers without compromise.”
You can head here for more information on the Classic S Vintage Limited Edition guitar, and here for the SL68 MkII amp. And to pick one up, reach out to a Suhr dealer near you.
