Ron Thorn makes some truly jaw-dropping guitars as a Principal Master Builder for the Fender Custom Shop. But with his experience, that’s no surprise. Before joining the brand in his current role, his inlay business, Thorn Inlay, was the sole inlay provider for the Custom Shop since the mid-‘90s. What’s more, he’s also built over 800 custom guitars with his own brand Thorn Guitars. Right now, Thorn’s first guitar built as Fender Custom Shop Master Builder is on sale at Guitar Center, and it’s truly stunning.
The Fender Custom Shop Black Moon Telecaster features a 5a quilted maple top that’s carved to a 50-inch radius. The instrument — finished with transparent black nitrocellulose lacquer — features a 2-piece ash body with a carved neck heel, a quartersawn 22-fret maple neck with a modern C profile and a compound-radius ebony fingerboard with sterling silver “hollow dot” position inlays. Unlike traditional Teles, this guitar has two EVH Wolfgang humbuckers (the neck pickup has a push/pull coil split), a vintage-style Strat hardtail bridge and Schaller NOS tuners.
Originally listed for $8,000, this one-of-a-kind guitar is now 25 percent off and costs $6,000. If you’re looking for a truly unique Tele from a world-class builder, this is definitely worth considering — and if you’re in New York City and are contemplating the purchase, you can stop by Guitar Center and play it yourself.
Read More
Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.