FIRST LOOK - Fender Suona Jazz Bass Thinline // EMPIRE MUSIC

[@AllanHirt]

I got a chance to play a Suona in NYC last Christmas at, shall we say, a big box store. I am a P bass guy who has historically hated the sound and feel of Jazz basses. There are only two J basses I've ever liked: a friend's all original '66 with lollipop tuners and this. The pickups on the Suona are not typical J; they have a different voice. You can hear some of that in the video. I mainly play jazz (and some rock), and this sounded fantastic on the neck pickup with some tone rolled off. It has a much more natural, organic sound. To my ears, the bridge was not as hot/barky. You get some of the traditional Jazz thing with both pickups on but much less so to my ears. I'm squarely more of a 1 5/8" person and a Jazz neck usually feels too thin both at the nut as well as the thickness and feel of the neck. I also generally hate Ps or Tele basses with 1.70"+ necks, so the older style ones don't feel right in my hands. The neck on the Suona felt great to me whereas I want to put down most J basses in about two seconds. It felt somewhat chunky. Don't discount the 7.25 - 9.5 radius. I have a fretless Rob Allen with this radius and it is the most comfortable playing bass I own. The neck on the Suona worked for me which shocked me. Overall I would say the Suona is not a typical Jazz. I can see why some may not like it (or the price) but as a P bass guy, it was a Jazz I would be happy playing. I may eventually get one but not in the cards at the moment.

[@MrSparks54]

Beautiful bass Anthony! I need to play one, sure sounds good. Thanks

[@stockholm1752]

“Absolutely beautiful.” Oh my word, it is. Saw Trogly’s review of the Stratocaster this morning, but the pic of this is what caught my eye.

[@steveweiskopf2129]

The "problem" is that everything Anthony plays sounds great, so we never know if it's the guitar or Anthony!

[@MainelyW212]

In the mid 1990’s Fender Japan did a semi-hollow P-Bass called the PBAC-100, both fretted and fretless. It had what this bass is missing; a wood bridge with a Piezo pickup. This would have easily been a contender if it had the wood bridge and Piezo pickup. Why make a semi-hollow bass and not use the additional character hollow bodies bring?

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks for sharing Anthony 🎸🎵

[@Hiphopdabop]

Is that bridge optional. Thru body only or top load also.

[@wh1910_]

Tortoise shell guard would be lovely on that

[@MsRich118]

sounds sick with reverb man

[@robertkerr9738]

Ah, the Tobias Growlers, especially the early ones, were so good. I wish more builders would make the asymmetric necks like those had!

[@jrbass62]

Thats a sweetie! Anthony why don't you review a acoustic bass from Emerald guitars carbon fiber and huge loud bass

[@nsmy808]

That's a sexy guitar

[@bertsger]

Good for reggae dubbs....

[@AndreaAustoni]

Suona means "he/she/it plays" in Italian. It's pronounced "soo-AWE-nah", more or less.

[@1okanaganguy]

Dude, buy a blindfold. Learn your neck.

[@christopherstorrier5560]

Wow...in the UK it's £2600 at all big guitar shops...nice ebony fretboard but over £1100 to route out some wood...Fender have gone Gibson...FSR's....used to be a good price...in shock £2600...no thanks...shame