Thorn Artisan Master #073
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Ron Thorn |
Introducing: Thorn Artisan Master #073 |
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Finally completing the birth-date trifecta, here is Eric's new beauty #073.
Our man has been unselfish enough to step aside for a couple years allowing me to work on other's guitars, all the while knowing these 2 pieces of wood
would eventually meet and become one spectacular instrument....yes, 2 pieces of wood. One piece of super dark Brazilian Rosewood for the neck and fretboard
and a single slab of golden koa for the body. Surround it all in 14K Gold and here's what you get:
Thorn Artisan Master #073
Body: 1-pc. Golden Koa
Neck & Fretboard: Old-growth Brazilian Rosewood
Pickups: Koa covered Lollar P-90s
Bridge: Thorn 1-pc. tremolo
Nut: Koa with brass "string inserts"....cool.
Purfling and 12th Firesun: 14K Gold
Color: Natural
I'll cut right to the chase, this guitar is breathtakingly beautiful to look at. The chatoyance of the body rolls and flutters like a kite in the wind.
As you slowly shift it the curl flashes on and off catching your eye in random places across the carve. The neck is pitch black, smooth as silk and the extra
rolled frets and fretboard edge make it feel like a well used 50's Strat. Bling time...14K purfling, side dots, 12th fret, even the trem-claw is gold
plated. The frets are the same golden-colored alloy as Dane' and Mike's, a nice detail.
Tone. I think I've used the "grand piano" reference more than once in describing a tone report. This fits it to a tee. The lows are very
present, not boomy, but rather tight and solid. The rosewood neck provides the midrange spike and the Lollar's vintage clarity adds the perfect amount of
definition and articulation on the high-end. Strumming a 6-string chord is like listening to a string-quartet. It's very full, rich, clear, and BIG.
Eric, you've done so much for me and for all the guys on TNDP, here's to everything...I hope you love it, your good friend -
Ron
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WayneM |
Koa Killer | ||
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Real Purty E.
Besides the Koa, the headstock and nut combo looks great. You need to explain the swiching for us.
Wayne
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mikef1331 |
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HOLY CRAP!
Big congrats to Ron and E on the completion of this amazing instrument.
SFC #13
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Rusmurf |
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Spectacular, I'm glad that the wood isn't covered anywhere! Love the nut also!
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eric seffinga |
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Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
OK first off to answer Wayne, on the push pull with the tone knob down you get LP Special switching. Bridge, Both (humcancelling), Neck. With the knob pulled up you get Bridge/Middle, All Three, Neck/Middle for those Stratty inbetweens. Ron says the all three position sounds absolutely huge. So, just my .02ยข here... Ron is the King! A lot of things went into this guitar, and much of it was thought. Mine, his. Most of you have met me at some point and a lot of you know I'm not a trophy guitar kinda guy. Well most of the time. Once this hunk of koa was destined to be mine (a heart warming story in and of itself), I knew whatever I did needed to live up to it. I mean how rare is a piece of wood like this? How many come around in a lifetime? The neck, Ron set aside for me at my request a very LONG time ago and after some talks about mating the two, the whole thing clicked. A few of you are aware of my love afair with the IRW McSoapy Std PRS made and that I had two of them at one point (Shreve has one of them now, or did) and I really dug the huge gigantic sounds of the Rosewood/P90/Slab mahogany formula. I wasn't a fan of the Duncan PUs though and I sold them off before the aftermarket P-90 explosion happened. Well, this guitar is that and then some. For all the glamor and over the top nature of having the gold purfling, this is a very simple guitar at it's core. 2 big hunks of the best of the best in timber, with the best of the best in purfling. Built by one of the coolest guys I've ever met in my life who just happens to build my favorite sounding guitars. I honestly won't know exactly how she sounds until I've got her plugged into my rig here at home, but from our discussions back and forth it sounds like it ended up landing right on the sweet spot. That's where the real Thorn magic happens. Ron knocks you out with the looks and then kicks you in the teeth with tones. I'm expecting nothing less than really good things. So there you have it. A lot of thinking, a lot of care and love pured into her. I'm sure she'll give it all back and then some. Oh, and for those of you that are keeping score, along with the 1 of a kind nut with the brass inserts, there's a BRW collar around the electrosocket jack. You can sorta see it in the last series of images. This is right up my alley. As far as I'd ever want to go with flash, but such a fine fine example of what a great builder can do. Wahoo! -e. p.s. We decided NO backplate on the trem, so you could really get a look at the fact that this body is one slab, through and through.
Last Edited By: eric seffinga
02/29/08 14:10:51.
Edited 3 times.
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Ron Thorn |
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Thanks -e.!!!
"knocks you out with the looks and then kicks you in the teeth with tones"... I think we've got our new ad slogan |
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jmintzer5 |
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Y'know, when I first saw that body when I was out there for the NAMM show (was it two years ago?), I was amazed. But, now? I'm in awe! WOW... just WOW!
Jamie
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Chapman1 |
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Congrats Eric, beautiful vision on the simplicity in letting the wood speak. Insane details from the grain flowing through the p90 covers, to the nut. I'd
love to hear a tone clip of that thing.
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snoopy0001 |
WOW | ||
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I have to stop looking at guitars over here, I just cant sleep some times. That nut is just Killer with the brass inserts and all the other details. (MAN- O - MAN) |
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daoinnyc |
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Thats what i'm talking about..or at least was
Congrats e, killer koa, killer braz, killer everything. |
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MickYoumans |
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-e this is by far my favorite of your guitars! I would love to own it myself. It is just simply awesome. I don't see how you could ever beat that koa
body with the Brazilian neck combination. I am really drooling over this one in a bad way. Enjoy that baby!!! Typically when I see other guitars there will
be something about the guitar I might not care for. Not this guitar! I love EVERYTHING about it. It is just pure elegance to me.
AM073 in the gallery
Last Edited By: MickYoumans
02/29/08 15:26:40.
Edited 2 times.
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eric seffinga |
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Thanks guys. You'll have to give it a go next time you're up this way Mick!
-e. |
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Carl Werkmeister |
Introducing: Thorn Artisan Master #073 | ||
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Another "Master" from the master!!!
Congrats e- ...just puts a smile on your face.. Ron and team..you've done it again..WOW! Guess we won't have to worry about any knots in that piece of Braz.. |
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MickYoumans |
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eric seffinga wrote: Thanks -e, I would love to. Congrats again! I know she is in good hands and you will enjoy her. |
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johnr 57 |
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Really awesome looking guitar - The details are what really make this a standout - the nut inserts, gold purfling, and that top is just over the top. Congrats
on yet another killer guitar !
John R. - SFC#25
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Big Mike Blues |
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Wow.Just.wow.
______________________
18-140-149*-Jr90-Koi90 www.phatdaddyguitarworks.com <- Now Open |
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Chiba27 |
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Betcha that idea for the nut gets stolen in a year or less.
What an amazing looking guitar Eric. Can't wait to see it - AND PLAY IT - in person!! --chiba
--
#027 #045 is next! |
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Dave B |
Master | ||
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Now thats one incredible guitar. Man........
#90
#222 On order |
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thorn15 |
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Spectacular!
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theFaf |
Wow! | ||
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Absolutely stunning! I think that this guitar is probably my favorite as well. Congratulations Eric!
Scott |
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Mark Ray |
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HOLY MOLY!
The combination of Eric's vision, Ron's creativity, and mother nature is unreal! Congrats on another showstopper! Mark |
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