This is the Best Amp I've Ever Played - SUHR BELLA REVERB

For my Presets visit: johnnathancord...
For ArtistWorks courses: artistwork.prf...
For TrueFire courses and All Access Memberships: prf.hn/click/c...
Use the code JNC40 for a 40% discount off all courses, or JNC100 for $100 off all access membership!
On the day that my Mesa Boogie Nomad 45 and Fender 65 Pro Reverb go to get some much needed tech attention, ‪@JakeLoosemore‬ let me borrow his Suhr Bella. Advertised as a "pedal platform" - this combo has some Dumble DNA - and really sounds incredible.
/ johnnathancordy get my lesson tabs and backing tracks here
www.buymeacoff... - if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!
Get my PADs bundle here: www.paypal.com... (this folder will grow, and I'd encourage you to ask for different keys/songs and stuff that might suit this type of preset?)
I've decided to make it possible to grab both my Helix/HX Stomp bundles (the expression bundle with freeze presets has always been separate) together - www.paypal.com... - I will then email you a link to both bundles!
Try my general patches for Helix or HX Stomp in this bundle using this link - I will then send out the patches! www.paypal.com...
You can get my EXPRESSION patches in this bundle using this link - I will then send out the patches! www.paypal.com...
Try my patches for Pod GO using this link - I will then send out the patches! www.paypal.com...
/ johnnathancordy get my backing tracks here
www.buymeacoff... - if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!

[@jackprice7828]

That's probably the best clean I've ever heard. It's clean without being over glassy. Really brings out the True Tone of the K-line pickups.

[@spawn302]

That kline has lollar blondes

[@dustynuts4sale]

BAHHAHAHA @@spawn302 I love when this happens!

[@bobbyarthur8809]

Was just about to ask what pick ups these are .. so who is right ?

[@kyleswank1946]

@@bobbyarthur8809blue guitar has Lollar Dirty Blondes. Some of his others have K-Line pickups, the K-Line Signature’s are very similar to dirty blondes as well.

[@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx]

i want as glasssy as i can get, what do y9ou recomend? i was thinknig a morgan or .. im not sure.. a fender lol

[@DrProgNerd]

Cheers to Jake for dropping an EVM12L in this. When I was an amp player, the first thing I would do was to drop an EV in my cab or combo. I've never been a fan of greenbacks, V30's, Creambacks. I don't want the speaker to 'break' for me. I'll add it if I need it. The EV's sound fuller and tighter. Great speaker.

[@JakeLoosemore]

Cheers!! Just the best speaker for use in a 1x12 in my opinion!

[@compucorder64]

Such good clean playing. Amp does sound incredible. Love how the reverb drips when you really dig into the high notes with your pick. Extremely responsive to playing dynamics too, that's and the smoothness with clarity is what stand out. It's always with really good playing that the best guitars and amps really show how good they can be.

[@BradMiller007]

Great tone and playing John. This is why Andy Wood uses the Bella as his main clean amp.

[@ToneDeth.]

Well the helix and hx stomp patches were fun while they lasted guys. It's all about real amps again. We've lost him.

[@Herfinnur]

Quickly, someone get the band back together: we gotta play the funeral march! 😢

[@jayberwocky1]

Hahaha

[@johnr.b.murray3417]

Spring reverb sounds like the usual wholly unnatural ‘boing’. I’m sure its integration is only there for utility.

[@strattonsound789]

I can’t afford it and can’t lift it so I can’t gig with it. Please go back to Helix patches John 😢

[@christopherjbutler]

LOL!

[@billbfoot]

The Suhr Bella is indeed special. I prefer the non-reverb version. I always run the boost on. According to John S, it’s actually a cut when switched down. Running it boosted is actually “normal”. Switch down (or unboosted) introduces negative feedback to the very first preamp stage. Boost on, bright switch on middle, presence off, either 22 or 44 watts… absolute tone heaven!

[@james.hatcher]

Bella owner for 8yrs and I still think it’s one of the most underrated amps. Certainly arguable for the praise and worship guitarists

[@sboy1955]

Modeling is all about tools, and these days such great tools they are. Amps are about feeding our senses and stoking our tonal passions. Really like’n this amp 🤙🏽

[@TomHappyapril]

Sounds great from the first chord you could tell it was special and I could easily see this holding its own alongside a two rock

[@cbsaulren]

Always love your playing, mate. Also I imagine it's no coincidence that your 69 Fender was on the fritz and this one ended up in your possession. Modelers are amazing but it's hard to deny that warm amp feel!

[@michaelgriffin5304]

I have a Rivera Clubster Royale Recording amp. Sounds absolutely magical in every way. It's a great thing finding 'that' amp. You want to kick it up a level or three? Put NOS tubes in it. Input and outputs. RCA (Blackplates if you can find quiet ones but any are OK) for American voiced amps/positions and Mullards for British. You are welcome!!

[@MrDavemiley]

I have had a Suhr Bella Non reverb head now for two years. Love it ! Excellent pedal platform amp .

[@wolfnstrings]

It sounds like the 1968 Bandmaster I owned. Man I miss that amp.

[@ChandlerBrown]

I’ve been thinking about snagging one of these. We have one locally listed on marketplace for a good price. I recently got a Suhr Hombre and I’m in LOVE with it. Can’t get enough of tubes now that I’ve forgone modelling lol

[@massimos6863]

Beautiful playing Beautiful Tone ❤🎸

[@timjohnson7919]

Amazing tone. I love Suhr guitars, but have never tried their amps. Very intrigued!

[@daveandrew7014]

Another great option is G12H30 Anniv. But only if you're happy to never switch to 44w. John Suhr's fav is 2x Greenbacks I think from what I read on the forums.

[@glyman1212]

That amp sounds great. The reverb is not too long. A lot of the recent "American" boogies give you like 3 or 4 seconds decay, but this one is like 2 - 2.5 secs which works better at not building up too much sonic competition. Impressed - great demo.

[@johnnathancordy]

That Jim Kelley knows what he's doing!!!

[@Takianagi]

Hope all is well John! Have a great weekend! 🤜🤛🔥🙏🎶🎸

[@nekkon1989]

I like the tone you get from modellers, JNC. That being said, this is the absolute BEST you have ever sounded. Such warmth and responsiveness, it's just there. There is a reason it is called the real thing

[@gashed8377]

You took the words out of my mouth. Holy crap, the articulation is so obvious...and so good.

[@bgrierofficial]

+1 to that. This is the best tone I have heard him get.

[@steviesynapse]

Absolutely agree, this is the best tone I’ve heard from John and one of the best sounding amps I’ve ever heard!

[@scottbrady4472]

Agree.

[@godbyone]

Yes waaayyyyy better than modelers

[@christopherjbutler]

Good LORD that sounds gorgeous.. And the EVM-12L is once again showing why it is my favorite guitar speaker driver. In the right contexts, it can sound so huge from top to bottom. This, of course is because of the playing going through it. Great stuff John.

[@GCKelloch]

Can be hard on the ears, though. A WGS ET65 is nice in this style amp. Softer attack and less mids, but not as deep. I'd be curious how a Weber AlNiCo 1230-55 would sound. It has a very flat clear response ribbed 55Hz cone with a gentle roll-off above 5.5kHz. The cloth surround softens the attack. The smooth cone AlNiCo California with a paper dust cover is also great, but a tad harsher.

[@nikonmikon8915]

@@GCKelloch Tell me about the cloth surround softening the attack? I never heard of that before and am very interested. I have a few EVM12S's myself!

[@jacobansari808]

I thought these amps came with a Celestion V type

[@nickh1933]

Does this have an EV12 in it? I did not hear him say that. These come with a Celestion V Type.

[@charliepin4501]

Been using a pair of EVM-15Ls as bass speakers for years and they are the bomb. Mostly clear and neutral with just a bit of warmth. Would sound great with guitar, but I never do that for some reason.

[@dcboogie]

The Dumble amp is about a creamy tone that blooms after touch in the OD mode, and a great snappy sound while playing clean leads, thats what a lot of players dont get. So this amp doesnt compare imo.

[@johnnathancordy]

That's one flavour of Dumble, there are many. The Suhr Bella was built around Scott Henderson's Dumble modded Bandmaster (he actually sold the Dumble after he got his Bella)

[@nickh1933]

Best sounding review on You Tube for how the Bella Reverb Combo actually sounds. Excellent playing and thoroughly explored.

[@TCMx3]

I played several examples of this amp at AGH over the years I lived in Austin and always liked it. One of my favorite smaller amps along with the original Boogie California Tweed and the Bartel I ultimately bought. Oh as a small note John Suhr used to do TONS of amp repairs in California, and was one of the first 50 people to order a Soldano SLO back in the day. He KNOWS amps, especially Marshalls and Fenders.

[@bernie_smith]

Wow John! Would love to hear the Revstar P90 through this amp too, if you still have the amp and can spare the time. Kind regards.

[@Rgdonaire_07]

Loud hum… nice playing!

[@craiger2399]

What an incredible tone. Sounds amazing.

[@97guitarzan]

Amazing tone...amazing playing!

[@wbwright2]

I played through one of these last year in a shop while checking out a guitar…totally wanted to buy the amp too! Just a beautiful, pristine sounding amp to me. Only ever purchased two amps and they have been long gone for a few years now, went all in with the modeler thing direct to FOH and never looked back. Almost changed my mind because of the Bella, definitely on my short list if a decide I need an amp at some point 👍

[@rickclark4714]

There sure are a lot of expensive amps that are the ‘best I’ve ever played’…, in KZbin land.

[@Mr.D34]

That's a great sounding amp. Suhr doesn't ever disappoint. I agree with what you said, why label it a pedal platform amp? The thing is everything is being labeled now because unfortunately it has to, because that's what sells so everything has to be put in a box (see, you put "Dumble" in the thumbnail 😉). If they called it Dumble clone or Dumble inspired some guitar players wouldn't even take a look at it while others would be more interested. Now, back to this beautiful amp, while it has great dumble sounds it's clearly much more than that. Your playing made it really shine, that's for sure 😀

[@YMESYDT]

Highly recommend checking out the Suhr Hedgehog if you get a chance, set the volume up and use the loop volume as a master and it sounds unbelievable clean and dirty and everything in between

[@2ndshooter688]

Hearing Magnatone in the cleans rather than Fender.....a sophisticated, neutral tone without being sterile. Hints of melon and elderberry in the undertones with a sumptuous melange of jasmine and vetiver on the top. I think I need to see a psychiatrist.

[@johnnathancordy]

LOL

[@jeashleyiii]

Yeah but you’re not wrong either 😂

[@danielrodrigues3741]

perfect! This is definitely the amp that I like the most ❤ What is the model of your pickups?

[@andywoodmusic]

It’s a monster.

[@JoshPaterson]

Just got back from a guitar clinic with Andy Wood, Andy Timmons, Eric Johnson and others. I listed to both Andy's play through the Bella and it sounded spectacular.

[@monrodeo100]

Very few amps have a voice that has that unexplainable X factor. This amp does.

[@tetramusicstudio]

❤beautiful playing

[@DennyBob521]

I bought my Bella in 2016, and I love the Celestion V-Type speaker that comes stock. I always thought of it as a really clean version of a deluxe, with the option for twice the power. I admit I did buy it as a pedal platform. At the time so was using “foundation” pedals - I had five different drives - each representing a type of amp - a Catalinbread Dirty Little little secret, very Marshally, etc. and some Strymon wet effects in the loop. Now I use the effects return only, along with the effects return of another tube amp as output for L & R of my Kemper. So I using only the power amp section to enhance the Kemper’s already amazing goodness. It is an amp with a really clean character - I wouldn’t compare it to a Dumble because Dumbles will overdrive and sound amazing, the Bella only gets a touch of natural tube OD if you crank the hell out of it, and to me, it’s not a good sounding OD. Someday maybe I’ll sell it and buy a Friedman Dirty Shirley Small stack.

[@bluesmanable]

Nice very nice

[@Donfleebie1]

I should have bought one when it first came out, but I bought a Tone King Metropolitan instead, which I’ve since sold anyway.

[@VitaleDiVirgilio]

Great playing!

[@neal_laugman]

If Suhr amps and guitars are good enough for Pete Thorn then they are probably good enough for me 😊 It DOES soumd nice!

[@christopherduvall7094]

Are you liking this even more than Two Rock's you've had?

[@johnnathancordy]

To me, and I guess price might be a factor here, I'd be MUCH more likely to purchase a Bella than a Two Rock

[@blackstratblues]

The Bella is my favourite Fender style amp. If you get to turn the volume to around 6-8, keep the treble high and bass low. You get some beautiful crunch tones that are super responsive. Also try the HX preamp models (outs set to line level) into the Bella FX return, lots of fun!

[@vivekteega]

Hey Warren! :)

[@paramedicpete7502]

John, this sounds stunning! Always wanted one 😢 Lovely playing too. Your technique is cleaner than a surgeons forearm 👌

[@philby8]

Smooth tone indeed ! And great articulated licks. How would you compare it with the Lonestar Special ?

[@DylanODonnell]

Hey dumb question for someone who just entered the room, do you have any released music? Like can I just listen to your chill guitar on Spotify or something?

[@alejandrorio1976]

It's good that you play man,I loved

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

hi, i'm a tube guy. my recommendation for this amp based on it's tone, the settings and your description as being bright and direct (which makes sense with the ev speaker)...is...a vintage mullard i63 preamp tube at v1. it will smooth out the amp and make it more like a bassman or an overdrive special. you will still have enough highs and the bright switch will become usable, it works especially well with strats single coils and drive, it's what i use on my 1974x .enjoy!

[@MrGibsn1960]

This actually sounds like a lot of my favorite dumble tones. Amazing sounding.

[@derekchapman5167]

No two dumble's were the same, so that could mean 1 of 500/600 amps that Alexander made. He tuned his mods to the player, their playing style, the amp, the type of guitar, the strings they used, the pedals they used etc., etc. Every Steel Slinger was different, for example, so when people say "I like that dumble tone" most people just face-palm...

[@MrGibsn1960]

@@derekchapman5167 100%, but of the ones I've heard, played, or otherwise this amp sits in that sweet spot. Robben Ford's tone with his tele is one of my favorites and that's what this really reminds me of.

[@BoomerBends]

As amazing as it sounds, I'm sure it "feels" even better to play through.

[@DizzyKrissi]

Great sounding amp - some day when I am rich I will afford myself one.

[@MoreMeRecording]

Sounds so good its dangerous. Dangerous in that it can evoke an impulse buy :) Well done, Laddy...well done

[@mmatthewias280]

Modeling is great until you play real tube amps. Then it STNKS

[@Earthstein]

Flavor of the month, very nice guitar amplifier. Been done before. I'm glad there is at least one person who appreciates this type of amp. Thank you, John, for the presentation. What came through the KZbin video was beautiful. Your wonderful playing helps. :-)

[@CaptainErn]

I think pedal platform turns off a lot of guitarists. Like when I hear an amp is a pedal platform it makes me think “well I already have my preamp and ir loader” but this amp definitely has some amazing tonal response. Way outshines the description

[@hegodamask3213]

you're a fabulous guitarist and i really enjoy your phrasing and instincts but your tone in most videos sounds like enya's guitarist (if she has one- i have no idea). this intro tone was beautiful. of course it was a bella which sounds incredible with a strat. keep playing that amp.

[@Furriee]

Beautiful playing. Forget about modellers. This time wasted for endless tweaking, then you take any (almost any) tube amp, and got almost instantly amazing tone. Sold my Kemper. No regrets. While typing this I am looking on Positive GRID Bias sitting alone in the rack while my guitar is connected to Ceriatone OTS from which I can dial any tone in 5 seconds. To repeat that on any modeler I'd had to spend .... hours .... Just saying. Again, amazing playing. You have the talent my friend. Keep playing, keep sharing ...

[@58lp2002]

Great amp! 51 pounds doesn’t work for me though, too heavy at my age. If you don’t have to carry it around, fine. Too much competition that is lighter and sounds great.

[@johnnathancordy]

Too heavy for me too, I'd go for the head rather than the combo

[@mattz1686]

That Two Rock you had was I think your best tone ever

[@nedludd3641]

I got a Suhr S-type, and that plays like zen on silk.

[@srubel59]

"Pedal Platform", in this case, really just means it has a higher clean headroom than comparable circuits. But if you want to overdrive the outputs you still can, given you have forgiving neighbors. I'd set it up for just at the verge of break up and smack the crap out of the front end with my favorite OD pedal and ride the volume controls of the guitar. But I'm and old man and if it doesn't have glowing tubes it's not an amp, so my advice is as dated as I am.

[@samty54]

Great playing. You can make that amp sound amazing!

[@K1C2]

I wonder if you could put a jumper from the effects send to the return and use the return level as a master volume.

[@williambaumert7726]

As a huge digital fan, i have to admit this is the best tone i've heard in a long time. Sensational playing!

[@pieve5516]

I have a milkman creamer and bella. The milkman is clear and stunning, the Bella harmonically rich and just pleasing. I play the Bella more than the milkman.

[@yuri-guitarist]

Problem is always how to record it. For someone living in an apartment, Suhr Bella is 1)too loud even at 22w 2)can’t record it via micing . But the amp itself is marvellous

[@Dream-Academy]

9:25 to hear the amp. I played one once and it was extremely underwhelming although the owner thought it was great. Maybe his sucked. EV 12L would have made it sound better I don't like speaker distortion. Here with the EV sounds great and your playing is stellar m8.

[@barrysebastian9584]

Great amp! Nothing like the “feel” of a good tube amp. Encourages exploration of touch - and that’s coming through here, in spades👏🔥😀! Well done👍

[@aryencas]

Hello John thank you for your wonderful playing. I am about to buy it, please tell me, is it a stupid idea using it home? Even at low volume? Thank you.

[@mikemalone9404]

Good amp, Great playing! I believe you could make a broom stick, wash tub and string sound good!

[@patrickevelyn8028]

I wonder how it would sound for jazz.... great no doubt. When you have an amp that sounds like that, you can play cheap guitars and will sound very good.

[@andyread5363]

That’s some of the best playing I’ve heard for a very long time. That amp is doing well to have you play it. It sounds lovely the reverb is beautiful

[@tonedowne]

That strat has never sounded so thick and juicy. Not even close.

[@aryencas]

Amazing amp. I was very close to buy it but it was extremely loud for home using. Sad!

[@Returnality]

To me, when I think of "pedal platform" it means "not good enough on its own." It's about the most negative thing you can say about an amp!

[@Adventuresingearland]

7:52 - All I can hear is Mick from TPS doing his Geordie impression. 😅

[@Keplerf-vn2ld]

Pedal platform means the same to me. Basically the return of a loop into a power amp. And this is not what this amp is.

[@Newnodrogbob]

Ima write a children’s story called “The Emperor’s new Amp.” Guitar players crack me up. Hundreds of dudes listening to the sound of an amp filtered by a microphone, processed by a DAW, uploaded and compressed by KZbin, then sent through the 1/8” speakers on their phone. “Oh yeah, wow. That’s way better than the other amp! Totally different world than those digital modelers!” Two words, gentlemen: blind test. You can’t tell the difference unless you’re told in advance. It’s been repeatedly proven. Note: I’m sure this amp is fantastic. No sarcasm; I really mean it. I just get tired of people spouting nonsense.

[@johnnathancordy]

On the flipside, even as a heavy heavy modeling user, I do find it to pretty striking when you do get to plug into a nice amp and just play clean in the room.

[@Newnodrogbob]

@@johnnathancordy I have no doubt. I’ve experienced the same thing. I wasn’t so much arguing your preference as I was tilting at windmills in the comments section. How much of the difference do you suppose is just the speaker cabinet? Do you feel the same divide when running the direct out to a PA?

[@maniphaces]

You got a really nice smooth sound to your playing bro. Good stuff. What pickups you got in there?

[@jonahmis]

Probably the best guitar tone Ive ever heard. And Im a high gain kinda guy. Amazing.

[@10sassafras]

Love a good tube amp. Modellers always sound a bit compressed by comparison.

[@fusionfan6883]

Larry Carlton would be proud of your playing here, well done🎸🤘🏻

[@jbbourbon178]

This amp sounds like Suhr took the blanket off of a Two Rock…

[@billgreen3629]

"Pedal platform" is a BS marketing term that sells amps like the Bella short. If the Bella is just a pedal platofrm amp, so is a Dumble SSS, or Two Rock Traditional Clean or SSS. Let's just call them high headroom, which is what they are. The greatest "I AM A GUITAR GOD!" moment I've had was a Les Paul into a cranked JCM 800, but aside from that one gig, I tend to gravitate to warm, cleanish amps where you can hear harmonics bloom around the note. The Bella does that so well. Another "pedal platform" amp that did the same thing at lowish volumes was the original Rivera Venus Deux. That amp made me rethink what I want from an amp and the Bella has a similar vibe with more power and clarity.

[@johnnathancordy]

Yeh - but I don't think Pedal Platform even works as a sexy marketing term? It kinda just sounds....boring - which this amp is NOT!!

[@guitarplayer5932]

according to youtube theres now 1257 different amps that are the greatest 😂

[@godbyone]

With no pedal s you were so close to Eric Johnson sound

[@StephaneBergeronPixelyzed]

Incredible sounding amp! Reminds me of my own Revv Dynamis 7-40 head which is a two channel amp but it's clean is also a Fenderish clean like this and is seen as a great "pedal platform" (and it is) but it definitely has character. I love that amp. Your playing sounds incredible through the Bella!

[@masasikaak]

Whatever gear, your playing at the end, just amazing!

[@cunjoz]

9:50 the lick

[@peterbrokas8801]

Great amp sounds incredible as does your playing kudos

[@roscius6204]

beautiful tones but I found the reverb a little spiky for me. My first thought there being, if you're buying this level of amp as a pedal platform you probably have a reverb you already prefer. So the non reverb version I guess.

[@johnnathancordy]

Ah man I love the reverb on this thing

[@middle_pickup]

I wish it had a mid control. I suppose it would be an easy mod though.

[@hybridjohn1]

Oooo, that sounds great. The reverb is nice and gooey.

[@DreidMusicalX]

I'm really liking Matchless, Two Rock amps lately as well. Ive played Marshalls, Crates, Fenders most of my lifetime over 39 years. And some of these amps are incredible for their clean tones and they do allow the use of pedals great! some amps you can put a pedal in and the pedal is dull as mud and doesn't translate very well in the mix. Then some are just incredible. I'm not a big reverb guy, I like it lightly and not sounding like a church hall. But I do want my amps to translate the pedals sounds nicely when I want them.

[@Wingman52]

Nice sounding amp, but I have a sense that you could make almost anything sound good.. very tasty playing, very nice!

[@johnnathancordy]

In the room this sounds even better!

[@billholder1330]

Wow chimey shimmery sweetness from the very first notes on!

[@andrewblue8509]

1:34-1:54 took me out, threw a funeral for me.

[@WeareNeurotic]

Hi there, already paid through paypal for the hx stomp full pack. How long till i got the email? Thank you