Jennifer Batten : - “My current Suhr relic looks totally beat up»

“My Suhr looks like it was dragged behind a school bus across lava rocks — and I love it that way,” says Jennifer Batten, reflecting on her gear journey, including the emotional process of parting with guitars she once used on tour with Jeff Beck and Michael Jackson.

In this month’s Bought & Sold, Batten discusses the guitars that shaped her playing, the ones she’s let go, and what truly matters when choosing new gear.

First serious guitar

“My first real guitar was a sunburst Les Paul. I took out a loan from my dad and spent years paying it back. I’d been inspired by photos of Duane Allman.”

Her latest purchase

“The most recent guitar I bought is a Suhr Modern Antique. I needed a strong bridge/middle tone for live shows, and I was never fully happy with my 24-fret Washburn. Then I tried a friend’s Suhr — and everything clicked. The neck feels perfect.”

She had long used Floyd Rose systems, but now appreciates the Wilkinson WVS130, which stays in tune without a locking nut. She also uses Big Bends Nut Sauce for smoother operation.

Best deal

“Suhrs are expensive — $3.5k to $5k usually — but I found mine used from Japan on Reverb for about $2,600.”

Biggest regret purchase

She describes a failed switch to a MIDI controller model that repeatedly malfunctioned with no manufacturer support. She’s since moved to the Morningstar MC8, which has been reliable and intuitive.

Guitars she parted with

“I’m only mildly sad about selling the Washburn from the HIStory and Jeff Beck tours — it had history and personality. My Suhr is better in every way, but that Washburn had memories. It now sits in a museum in China.

Same with my Ibanez King Tut. Gorgeous gold-leaf artwork, but harsh tone. Now it’s displayed in a pyramid-shaped Hard Rock Cafe, which suits it perfectly.”

On her current main guitar

“My current Suhr relic looks totally beat up — and that’s exactly how I like it.”

Her advice for buying guitars

“If you can spend time with the guitar before buying it, do that. But sometimes you just trust the builder’s reputation. Suhr supports customization and offers great service.”

Guitar vs. Amp

“I will always choose a great guitar with a cheap amp over the reverse. Your hands come first, the instrument second, and the amp third.”

Our review: Suhr Custom Modern