One of a kind: Thorn-o-caster!

[Leonc]

*updated clip below*
A few years ago, I did some favors for Ron Thorn and he offered to do me a favor in return: to build me a one-of-a-kind guitar. Okay...so he already did that a couple times, heheh, but I asked for something really different this time--I asked Ron if he could build me "my idea" of a Tele. I believe his exact words were, "Piece-o-cake". But that was before he heard what I had in mind :p .

I wanted a Tele with an old vibe but modern electronics and niceties. As we got into it, I came up with an idea for a sort of "southwestern desert" theme too. So...a couple years later, and with a lot of blood, sweat and tears (and some absolutely astonishingly detailed work) on Ron's part, I present you with this one-off guitar.

- Lacewood top on Alder body (with some spalting)
- Tummy carve, dropped top and smoothed upper neck access
- 25 1/2" scale
- 1 piece maple neck w/skunk stripe
- 10" - 14" compound radius
- New American Tele style bridge, w/LR Baggs piezos
- Fender American standard Tele pickups
- 4 way switch (n, n+b (serial), n+b (parallel), b)
- Custom desert theme inlays
- Desert Canyon Red finish

The guitar plays like a million bucks and sound like a billion. Exactly how a Tele should sound IMO. And looks?? Crap...they don't make a number that big.

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-caster/top.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-caster/TopControls.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-caster/toplower.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-caster/neckback.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-caster/topupperleft.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-Caster/nut.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-Caster/back.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-Caster/inlay1a.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-Caster/Inlay2a.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-Caster/Inlay3.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-Caster/inlay4.jpg

http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/LeonsGear/Thorn-o-Caster/fretEdges.jpg

And to top it off, I have a clip of a new song that this axe inspired me to come up with.

* updated clip (http://www.MusicianMatcher.com/uploads/storm%20in%20the%20canyon.mp3)*

The T-caster was used for all the guitar-parts. I used a variety fo amps...

Finally, let me try to head this off at the pass: please don't ask Ron to produce another Tele or Fender knock-off type guitar. This one has been in the works for a long time and he certainly wouldn't build another.

[Teleman]

Now that is a very nice guitar!

[flicker180]

can i say that "i hate you" and still be your friend?

:)

nice kick-ass git there, Leon.

dave

[flicker180]

double stap buttons = easier to just lean against a wall. :)

Anderson does that.

dave

[Leonc]

Thanks fellers! Knew you'd dig it.

Brew - Ya, flicker's got it. Two butt-end strap buttons is an old Anderson trick, makes the guitar more stable if you want to lean it up against something for a sec. Couse, the lower button also feels better after a big meal... :cool:

[Barefoot]

That looks like a BIG C neck...

Whats the nut made out of?

Very nice indeed...

[Leonc]

It's a wee bit chunky. But not real fat like a Louisville Slugger. If you've played an Anderson Cobra...it's about like that.

The nut is made out of red bone.

Here come the Leon Redbone jokes :rolleyes: :p

[aleclee]

That's just sick. Color me impressed.

[cSuttle]

That's pretty cool. I really like the gillomonster (bad spelling) inlay. With Ron's guitar growing in popularity by leaps and bounds you might have a real collector's item on your hands there.

[hemlock]

Wow!

[John Hurtt]

Leon,

You and Ron are a pair of sick, twisted individuals to have come up with something like this....

And I like that! :D

[cr8z4life]

Now thats a knockout!!

[PlexiBreath]

Leon,

Your list of features doesn't quite explain the knob with what looks like an LED next to it, what is it?

[Chun13]

Waow Leon !

That's an AWESOME one !

[niersbach]

the button that looks like an led is the piezo button to turn it from steroe to mono.

Leon can we get a picture of the headstock???

[Mark Kane]

Leon, those inlays are badass!!

[fretnot]

I am NOT a fan of inlays, but those are really cool! :D

[TNJ]

Beautiful Tele, Leon!
Once again, Ron is da Man!

S.
j

[artandink]

Absolutely incredible! W O W

[Scott Peterson]

As noted on the Thorn Forum, damn fine guitar!

The inlays are utterly killer. Too cool with that nut.

[BattleAngel]

Is there nothing Thorn can do wrong? Man... if looks could kill, you would have just slaughtered all of us, 'The Ring' style.

[Leonc]

Originally posted by PlexiBreath
Leon,

Your list of features doesn't quite explain the knob with what looks like an LED next to it, what is it?

When you use the LR Baggs pre-amp, you get a little push-push switch that goes between stereo aand mono. In stereo, the piezos come out one side and the electro mags, the other. So when playing live, I send the piezos to a SWR Cali Blonde and the electro mags to my regular amp.

Mark - very glad to see that you're online and doing okay, I guess. You make it through allright?

Thanks everybody!

[Mike]

Wow Leon, that's over the top! Great clip too! You captured that Tele rock thang to a tee! I wish someone like that owed me a favor!


Mike

[Leonc]

Hey Mike, thanks a bunch for listening bud! If you get a chance, check it out again; I re-recorded it after getting a couple other ideas together. I think it sounds a lot better now...

[trucks]

That is incredible. The neck is beyond any I have ever seen! I may have just become a Tele convert. :dude

[george4908]

>>Leon can we get a picture of the headstock???

I'll bet the answer to that is a polite "no." ;)

[Eddie Bognovic]

What does the headstock look like? Is it Thorn shape?

[stringgears]

Stunning!!! Its my opinion that Ron simply makes the best looking guitars I have ever seen.
LS

[DonW]

Wow! That's an inspirational axe. The clip is killer too.

[Leonc]

Yeah, Ron is a master and simply incredibly detail-oriented.

The headstock is a 6-in-line shape, inspired by fender, much like Suhr, Anderson, Grosh, et al...

[bluesdoc]

Wow!!!!!!

Congrats Leon!!

jon

[garyrogue]

That is awesome fiddle with some cool combinations. Congrads,
Gary

[cswolfe]

Magnificent guitar. Great clip!

[Leonc]

Jon, Gary, cswolfe - thanks very much! And I'm sure Ron appreciates your compliments too!

[tonefreak]

:eek:

I absolutely love the inlays!! Awesome guitar and concept!!!!

[2x6L6]

Wow! That is really well thought out, and the parts add up to an amazing sum! Your vision and creativity really shine through.

Leon, have you ever considered becoming a custom guitar designer? Or perhaps a consultant to folks who are putting together a custom order? I believe you posted a document some time back, of things to consider when making the leap to a custom guitar - very helpful... but really, I suspect you could sell your services to help people get the exact right guitar, and to help see their vision through to fruition.
You've got the touch, man!

[Leonc]

Originally posted by 2x6L6
Wow! That is really well thought out, and the parts add up to an amazing sum! Your vision and creativity really shine through.

Leon, have you ever considered becoming a custom guitar designer? Or perhaps a consultant to folks who are putting together a custom order? I believe you posted a document some time back, of things to consider when making the leap to a custom guitar - very helpful... but really, I suspect you could sell your services to help people get the exact right guitar, and to help see their vision through to fruition.
You've got the touch, man!

Why didn't I think of that?

Now, all this time I shoulda been chargin...and I ain't cheap :p

hhehehe. Thanks for the kind words man!

[Teleplayer]

Leon - as a guy that has played a Tele or two in his lifetime, I must say - that is one beautiful fiddle.

[graydane]

Leon, Dig the clip, and when you start answering yourself about 00:59 very cool! Glad you are digging that bad boy!

[royd]

I keep looking at this thread... drooling... and wondering... why would Ron refuse to build any more guitars along this line? It certainly is very different from his standard line of guitars but this instrument certainly shows off his competence as a builder.

inquiring minds want to know ;)

[Leonc]

Hey Roy - I think if you understand the nature or Ron's business, you'd understand why. I'm not gonna 'splain it...but if you really want to know, you should probably just write him.

And BTW, Thanks Teleplayer and Dane!

Got another clip of this guitar (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=101201) up in the Member Soundclips too.

[Johnny Raz]

WOW Leon -- THAT is a keeper!!!!!

And that Teleplayer guy on the forum is a great resource too!

[George Johnson]

Man oh man... Ron's stuff has really been knockin' me out for a long time now.

(note to self: call Mr. Thorn and get something going please)

Major congrats Leon... stunning! :AOK

[Leonc]

Yeah, thanks John and George. Ron's work does not cease to amaze. I was at his shop yesterday and he's got a series of 3 koa-topped guitars that are all going to his Japanese dealer that are going to be real show stoppers. Unbelievably beautiful...and incredible workmanship.

[graydane]

Leon, I didn't see that set of three either. Everything about them something that just doesn't happen!:cool:

[AnthonyL]

That is simply the coolest guitar ever!!!!!!!!

[Leonc]

Dane, go over to Ron's and check out that triumverate man, before they head off to Japan!

Anthony - thanks! I think it's certainly one of 'em!

[graydane]

I've seen the Trio!!!!!!! un believable.

[OldSchool]

Dang..........I don't know what kind of favors you did Ron but I'd say your paid in full bro.................:dude

Sweet axe .................I can see that guitar paired up with a nice Twin..........what are you playing her through?

[The Violet Iris]

where are the pics!?!?!? i cant see them...

[Srini]

Hmmmm...why is it that I can't see the picture?

Srini

[KKauffman]

Here's a link to the gallery on Ron's website...

http://thornguitars.com/galleryhtm/thornoca.htm

[JMintzer]

Here's a link to the gallery on Ron's website...

http://thornguitars.com/galleryhtm/thornoca.htm
I don't think you'll find that particular guitar on Ron's site...


Jamie, who is still trying to convince Ron to make another of those...

[enharmonic]

those inlays make the guitar! :)

How cool are they!? I love it :BEER

[JMintzer]

Guys, I know it may seem that we're playing "we know something you don't!" here, but in all honesty, that guitar was a one time, special project for a dear friend of Ron's and isn't exactly made in the traditional Thorn body shape (wink, wink, nudge, nudge...).

So rather than get any 'special' letters from and other manufacturers, let's let sleeping guitars lie...


Jamie

[GuitarGuy510]

Yeah but the inlays ARE superb! I too wish Ron could make them, but hey, I prefer his production body style any day! :cool:

[JMintzer]

Yeah but the inlays ARE superb! I too wish Ron could make them, but hey, I prefer his production body style any day! :cool:
Oh, most definitely so!

I'd love to see a 'Headstockless' pick of those! ;)


Jamie

[FredW]

Now that's my kind of Thorn!! Congrats Leon!