Suhr Modern GG Light Bengal Burst Electric #24819 - Used  From John Suhr

Guthrie Govan's extreme virtuosity and stunning versatility require an instrument that excels at many different things. Whether Guthrie is alternate-picking shred lines at breakneck speeds, comping with jazz chord melodies, tapping with 8 fingers for fusion legato runs or strumming hard on a techno-funk tune, he needs a guitar that feels comfortable and sounds great for each style and every type of technique employed. Drawing from the features of his main Suhr guitar of the past 4 years (the Cherry Burst Mahogany body and neck Standard) and the 24-fret Modern which he had been playing almost exclusively through 2008, we worked with Guthrie in developing the one ultimate axe that can cover all of his stylistic bases and do so without any compromises whatsoever. The result is the new Guthrie Govan Signature Model - tricked out for maximum versatility, exceptional playability, and amazing sounds that are warm and full yet clear and punchy.

Having been a Mahogany body/neck guitar player for many years before picking up his first Suhr (Basswood body Standard) in 2004, it was a given that the new GG Signature Model would feature Mahogany body and neck. Mahogany's mid-midrange emphasis and its ability to cut through the mix with a distinctive honk while retaining its trademark warmth and clarity is one reason why Guthrie favors Mahogany for his main axe. The Flame Maple top adds a bit of brilliance on the body side while the Pau Ferro fingerboard adds tightness and punch on the neck side. This combination results in a warm yet articulate and punchy tone that has an ideal balance between slinkiness and tightness. It gives way when you hold a sustaining note during a string bend while being cutting and defined during fast runs.

Other features of this remarkable instrument are the versatile HSH pickup configuration of the SSH+ humbucker in the bridge, ML single-coil in the middle position and the SSV humbucker in the neck position. The 4-pole Mega 5-way switch gives you auto-split of the humbuckers in the 2nd, 3rd (middle) and 4th positions for great single-coil sounds that are ideal for funk rhythm to country twang. A push-pull tone pot gives you another option of splitting the neck humbucker alone, providing yet another superb single-coil sound (outside coil of the SSV) for both articulate lead work and a jangly rhythm sound. The SSV humbucker on its own is ideal for warm clean jazz sounds to a fat overdriven "woman tone" sound while the SSH+ in the bridge position is great for screaming leads and chugging hard rock riffing.

But wait - on top of all these great sounds, the GG Signature Model has a push-button "Blower" switch which allows you to go to a full-on bridge humbucker sound with a simple push of the button from whatever volume, tone, 5-way setting you're at. For instance, you can have an overdriven sound on the amp but with the volume and tone pots rolled back with the neck humbucker split for a clean rhythm sound. Instead of flipping the 5-way switch to the bridge position and turning up the volume and tone pots for a searing distorted lead sound, you can just push the button in a split-second for a fully open bridge humbucker that actually bypasses all circuits inside the guitar. You get yet another humbucker sound that is louder, brighter and raunchier than it going through the normal circuitry (the volume and tone pots as well as the 5-way switch). The Blower switch not only adds convenience when you need to make quick sound changes on the guitar, but yet another very useful and righteous sound at your fingertips.

And we're not finished yet: the GG Signature Model comes stock with the Tremol-No trem-locking device to convert the floating trem to a hardtail in a few seconds. This is ideal to use when you have to play a tune that has drop-D tuning or other tunings during a gig. There is no need to bring along another guitar tuned differently to a gig for just one or few tunes.

Expertly installed and set up at the Suhr factory, the Tremol-No equipped GG Signature Modern can instantly become a hardtail guitar, further expanding the versatility of an already very versatile instrument. Ever wish you can just take one guitar to the gig and be able to play all of the tunes and not deal with the hassle of carrying two or more guitars around and changing them during the show? Guthrie certainly wished he could and his wish has now been granted!

To round it off, other standard features include jumbo stainless steel frets for silky string bends and easier tapping while providing exceptionally long fret life, the 16" fingerboard radius for low action and big string bends without the strings choking out, recessed Gotoh 510 tremolo with steel block for radical trem pull-ups and a big punchy tone, the new Elliptical GG neck shape (.800-.850) that feels fast yet has good girth for comfort during string bends, and Mother of Pearl dots and logo for a classy touch to complement the new Light Bengal Burst finish that really highlights the beauty of the Flame Maple top and matching figured headstock. Each GG Signature Model also comes stock with the Rotosound strings installed and set up at the Suhr factory. From the beauty of the premium woods and the flawless finish to superb easy playability and a stunning array of exceptional guitar sounds, the Guthrie Govan Signature Model sets a whole new benchmark for the modern solid-body electric guitar.