When a builder of Ron Thorn's caliber swings for the fences, the results tend to be extraordinary. This Florentine Empirial is, to our ears and eyes, extraordinary, and, a future classic - the kind of guitar that'll be chased fifty years from now the way players chase vintage D'Angelicos and D'Aquistos today.
A quick primer if Ron's name is new: he started Thorn Custom Inlay in 1996, which became the exclusive inlay supplier to the Fender Custom Shop. Thorn Guitars followed in 2000, earning a reputation for electrics that pair traditional elegance with serious attention to detail - CNC used as a craftsman's tool, not a shortcut. After a run as Masterbuilder and eventually head of the Fender Custom Shop, Ron came back to his own bench, and the Empirial shows him at the top of his game.
The inspiration for this build, in his words, taken from a featured review by our friend Dave Hunter/Guitar Player Magazine (a copy of the magazine is included in the sale):
"That came from my first trip to New York, a few years back. The vibe, the people… the pizzas. It was all incredible. But what really struck me was the architecture. The heavy use of art deco had me enthralled. I was taking pictures of doorways and window details, lamps and even an elevator's floor-indicator frame. Deco was everywhere - sometimes subtle, sometimes very apparent, such as in the Chrysler and Empire State buildings - but always beautiful.
Couple that with spending a few hours in Rudy's Music checking out their collection of guitars built by the masters, and saying I was inspired is putting it lightly. I felt compelled to design a model representing this experience. The following day, I spent the entire five-hour flight back to Los Angeles drawing and detailing the Empirial."
~ Ron Thorn, [Guitar Player / Dave Hunter]
You can see that story in every detail: custom Brazilian rosewood knobs, pickup surrounds, tailpiece, fingerboard, and pickguard, all set against a dirty lemon drop sunburst in thin/relic'd nitro, hand-aged to sit comfortably within the era it draws from.
Stunning to look at, but that's just the first impression.
In the hands, the Florentine is all player. The Fat '59 neck (.89–.98") has a satisfying handful to it, paired with a clean fret job and rolled edges that disappear under your fingers (this is as easy playing as it gets).
Plugged in, the mahogany body, carved curly maple top, and short scale add up to a voice that's punchy, fat, and articulate - ES-335 territory with more refinement and range. Ron Ellis "Signature" humbuckers do what they always do, which is sound terrific. And while the dressed-up exterior might suggest restraint, this guitar opens up through a cranked tube amp - sustaining, singing, and staying clear right at the edge of breakup. Anything you want to throw at it, it'll handle with ease.
A masterpiece? We sure think so.
