HSS Looks with SSS Bite
Pete Thorn has a history of never-ending ideas to take his guitars and playing to the next level. The Suhr Pete Thorn Signature PT Traditional 90 scratches that itch with traditional refinements and fresh innovations. It starts with a balanced and resonant swamp ash body with a lacquer finish and an ultra-sturdy roasted bird’s-eye maple neck and fingerboard. The neck is carved into Pete’s ’60s Soft V profile, beginning as a super-subtle V and smoothing out to a C as you climb the neck. Next, the fingerboard boasts a 9–12-inch compound radius for a vintage feel for low-position chording while retaining bend-heavy upper-register finesse. Fans of HSS-style guitars who want an all-single-coil sound will rejoice with the PT-90, a humbucker-size P-90-style pickup in the bridge position that houses a marvelous compilation of both pickup varieties. Suhr’s 2-post tremolo and locking tuners ensure a solid playing and tuning experience and complete this highly versatile package. The Suhr Pete Thorn Signature PT Traditional 90 is ready to take on everything from country cleans to sizzling blues licks and all-out rock without breaking a sweat.
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Vintage-inspired ’60s Soft V profile
Suhr’s Pete Thorn Signature PT Traditional 90’s high-performance neck begins with a stout shaft of bird’s-eye maple that’s roasted to ensure optimal stability and to provide the neck with a lighter, more resonant edge. It’s then carved into Pete’s ’60s Soft V profile, beginning as a subtle V and slowly rounding out to a traditional C the higher you climb. Topside, you get a matching roasted bird’s-eye maple fingerboard with a highly playable 9–12-inch compound radius. The result is comfortable chording down low with a flatter, slicker feel the higher you climb the neck’s 22 bend-friendly jumbo frets. Plus, in standard Suhr fashion, the Pete Thorn Signature PT Traditional 90’s ultra-heavy-duty stainless steel frets are incredibly resistant to wear, no matter how many shows, tours, or sessions you’re tasked with.
Noise-free single-coils
While HSS guitars of all styles and brands are revered at Sweetwater as one of the most versatile 6-string configurations in the book, the Suhr Pete Thorn Signature PT Traditional 90 turns the HSS concept on its head to offer a fresh take on the platform. Two of Suhr’s V63 pickups in the neck and middle positions start this 6-string off with a decidedly old-school single-coil flavor, as the V63 is essentially John Suhr’s sonic tribute to the pickups in one of his favorite vintage S-style instruments.
A first for Suhr guitars, the third pickup designed for Pete, the PT-90, sits perfectly between the realms of humbucking punch and power and single-coil clarity and chime. This P-90-style pickup in a humbucker-size housing provides warmth and clarity with its Alnico V magnet yet retains clarity and open dynamics. Sweetwater’s P-90 fans praise this highly articulate pickup as a wonderful choice for both P-90 fans and the P-90 curious. Lastly, Suhr’s SSCII system ensures hum-free operation without compromising on natural single-coil sound, making the Pete Thorn Signature PT Traditional 90 a quick mainstay in Suhr’s catalog of exquisite instruments.
Suhr: the pinnacle of craftsmanship, playability, and tone
Suhr doesn’t just build handcrafted, boutique-quality instruments and amplifiers — the company creates exceptional tools that fuel musical dreams and artistic passions. John Suhr began crafting custom guitars in the mid-1970s, and by the dawn of the 1980s, he was building made-to-order Pensa-Suhr instruments for a who’s who of top musicians. In the 1990s, John collaborated with celebrated rig builder Bob Bradshaw to design the now-legendary CAA 3+ and 3+SE preamps and the CAA OD-100 amplifier. In 1997, after a stint as senior master builder for Fender’s Custom Shop, John founded his own company, a decision that enabled him to bring to fruition products of unrivaled quality, detail, and craftsmanship. Today, the Suhr name is synonymous with prestige; a guitar, bass, or amplifier with the Suhr marque garners instant respect. With elite players such as Mateus Asato, Reb Beach, Scott Henderson, James Norbert Ivanyi, Andre Nieri, Pete Thorn, Ian Thornley, Doug Aldrich, and Andy Wood on the company’s roster, you can be certain that your Suhr places you in esteemed company.
Suhr Pete Thorn Signature PT Traditional 90 Features:
- Swamp ash body with a transparent lacquer finish offers vintage-inspired styling and a highly resonant tonal base
- Oiled AAA roasted bird’s-eye maple neck and fingerboard provide an effortless playing experience
- 9–12-in. compound radius facilitates both open-position chording and high-register bends
- 22 stainless-steel jumbo frets are all but impervious to typical playwear
- 2 Suhr V63 pickups capture the shimmering single-coil sounds of a vintage S-style 6-string
- PT-90 pickup delivers chime, grit, and power in a humbucker-size housing
- Suhr’s SSCII keeps your single-coil pickups clear and hum-free without compromising on tone
- Suhr locking tuners make for quick and painless string swaps
- Suhr 2-post tremolo promotes a slick, smooth action with superb tuning stability
