Played a CP Thornton "Tele" AMAZING!

[keepitblue]

Went to the CP Thornton shop the other day and played a prototype of a Tele style guitar he is building. Thing absolutely blew my mind! It has the most amazing bolt on neck design you could ever imagine. You can reach all 22 frets with ease and since the neck goes into the body the whole guitar vibrates like it's one piece. Just enough design to make it more playable and beautiful but yet you could still tell it's a Telecaster from the back row. Plugged it into an old Vibrolux on about 5 and had killer Tele tone! I litteraly woke up that night thinking about that tone and which of my guitars or amps I can sell to fund my latest bout of GAS. Welldone Chuck!

[fullerplast]

Originally Posted by keepitblue

the neck goes into the body the whole guitar vibrates like it's one piece.

I was wondering if he would do something similar to the Fusion with the new tele implementation.....extending the neck into the body. IMHO, it tends to add a bit of snap and bite to the Fusion due to the extra maple. I'd be real curious to see, hear, and play his take on a tele. Any photos or more descriptions- like body wood, bridge, and pickups?

[keepitblue]

Also has a very large and very tight neck pocket which I'm sure adds to the transfer and sustain. Neck is similar to the Fusion model. Maple with a Birds Eye board. Body was Swamp Ash and the profile was exactly like a Tele but the bridge and pickups are raised up to create the proper neck angle. Really looks great too! Super nice ash tray bridge with large brass saddles. Chrome plate and two barrel knobs right where the belong. 3 Custom wound Fralins on the one I played. Also the Pickguards are interchangeable and have a plug in connection. If I'm not mistaken, you will be able to change by just unscrewing the guard and plugging in the next one. Be kinda neat to be able to change pickups as easily as changing strings. Could get expensive for me though! :NUTS

[jaystrings]

SO glad to read this post. Chuck is making #001 of this new model for me. He has been in constant touch, raving about how he loves this new Tele-style guitar - so I'm glad to hear another rave review. It doesn't surprise me. I think Chuck builds the finest guitars on the planet. I own 5 of his archtops and 2 Fusions already. I cannot wait to get my hands on this new baby!! By the way, there is yet another great review of his Fusion model in May's edition of Vintage Guitar mag. Keep posting, bruthah!!

[gi doc]

Good to here the Tele is almost complete. I'm close to pulling the trigger on a Fusion HSS, Blues Queen, and/or this Tele.

[B Vance]

This thread is a sick tease. I'd love to see the guitar you're talking about. I've loved every Thornton I've seen.

[fugot]

chuck is still underrated....

[NBTB]

What a treat! I got to play the new CPThornton Tele prototype today and it's to die for! The sound is in line with the famous Tele sound but with twice the sustain. With the patented CPThornton neck design it plays great and it “Just Feels right”. Chuck’s new Tele style seems to weigh quite a bit less than I remember a normal Fender Tele weighing. I got a look at the first batch in finish and I’m already convinced that I will own one of these very soon; I just need to convince my wife.

[jads57]

Pic`s please!

[gbc151]

I have a wonderful Elite and had and sold (idiot) a Fusion. I got back in touch with Chuck to buy a new Fusion, and found out about the Classic. Bought #3 without seeing any pics. This is someone you can trust with no hesitation. Chuck even put my initials in the serial #; don't know how many of those he will do, might be very limited. Just FYI if you were on the fence.

[jaystrings]

Originally Posted by gbc151

found out about the Classic. Bought #3 without seeing any pics. This is someone you can trust with no hesitation.

I am glad to know that you, my friend John, and I will get the first 3 that roll out of the shop. I have a feeling that this is going to be the one that puts Chuck's name around the world. He can't stop raving about it. I have 2 Fusions, and he never raved this much about any of his models like he has this one. There's a good chance you will get yours before I do mine. John & I are flying up to get ours the first week of May. The round trip tickets were hundreds cheaper than when he plans to have it ready in the latter part of April. PLUS, I didn't want to chance getting there before it is totally finished..... even though I'm getting very little sleep just imagining all it will be. I'm really a Tele/ASAT lover at heart, so this is going to be the one that I'll probably log the most time with. No more Christmas' without a Classic......

[jaystrings]

Hey folks, if you really dig Chuck's work, grab a copy of May's Vintage Guitar magazine and write a letter to the editor in support of the review. Send to vguitar@vguitar.com. I'm sure Chuck would appreciate it.

[gbc151]

I always read how a particular maker and some new guitar model is the new gold standard, so it's hard to describe how Chuck's work is truly superior to anyone who hasn't held and played one. There is a beauty and an intelligence built into each one that is a game-changer. I hope you are right about the Classic being the one that puts Chuck on the map beyond the believers! I am lucky to have seen this thread, so #3 is a very lucky find. I have a son at UofMaine nearby, so I might make a surprise visit to see him with an important stop along the way!

[Cobra]

I asked about pix & clips of the "Classic" proto over on the Thornton blog, & Rich replied none will be forthcoming until the first batch are finished product & completed, same as they did with the "Fusion".
The good news is the first small batch is in finish now, so it won't be too much longer! They are also working out wiring options for the plug in pickguards for quick change pickup swapping...
Soon....
Here's some pix of my fully caramelized Blues Queen:

[Mainesails]

Thank you everybody!!! Pics will be coming in a few weeks, just as soon as we get the guitars out of finish.

I'll post a heads up to this thread when the pics are done.