Thorn GT Spalted Alder

I hold a special place in my heart for zebrawood. Sounds a bit strange…. right? Here is the reason.

In the early '70s, when I started doing session work in Philadelphia, I wanted a custom built electric guitar to compliment my '56 Strat. I had a particular sound I wanted to capture. So I commissioned a local luthier, Eric Schulte, with the task. I wanted a bolt on neck, but I also wanted something hat would give me a nice beefy tone. Eric suggested zebrawood. I was charged with finding the material. So off I went on my quest to find a suitable piece. Finally, after finding a perfect piece from a cabinet maker, the guitar was built and I loved it. Unfortunately it came to an unhappy ending. That guitar ended up in a bad accident and...perished.

So you can imagine the thoughts that came rushing back when when Ron Thorn told me he was making a guitar out of Spalted alder with a Zebrawood neck.

I just knew I had to have it at CR Guitars.

It's here. And I am truly impressed. First off, it is just stunning! The spalted maple top with the tortoise shell pickguard and staple top P90 is just incredibly unique and cool looking.

Top it off with this wild zebrawood neck and you are screaming custom, one-of-a-kind, wonderful guitar. Ron Thorn seems to have a very secret and stellar source of fine and exotic woods. He continually impresses me with his inspired combinations of elements and materials when he puts a guitar together. Impeccable materials with impeccable workmanship and design should be his brand slogan.

Sound-wise, the guitar has plenty of growl and authority mixed with a hint of twang. It is not shy. The guitar makes a statement visually as well as sonically. Of course, as with all of Ron's guitars, the fit and finish is totally off the charts.

Mr Thorn...you just continue to amaze!

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.

ABOUT THORN CUSTOM GUITARS
Raised in a family of carpenters, Ron Thorn had access to a home wood shop for as long as he can remember. Repairing, modifying and building guitars since age 13, his specialty became precision inlay work and by the mid '90s he became the sole inlay artist for the Fender Custom Shop, a position he is still proud to retain today. In 2000 Ron began putting the Thorn name on the headstocks of some of the many guitars he was building and today, with his father and the rest of “team Thorn” - John Gaudesi, Nick Viglienzoni, Tony Ramirez, Glenn Matejzel and Martin Bravo, Thorn’s Glendale, CA operation builds approximately 50 custom guitars a year. Those who know, know Ron as one of the most brilliantly talented luthiers and inlay artists of the 21st century. It is a reputation that has earned him a following that is best described as "near fanatical."