CP Thornton Guitars Owners Club

One of the most unique Tele style guitars I've seen is the CP Thornton Classic. The body silhouette is traditional Tele, and it has a Wilkinson Tele style bridgeplate and pickup, but throws a few curve balls after that. Unique to this guitar are the following:

Distinctive body routing to allow your arm to rest comfortably, and to allow for a neck/body angle.
The neck is bolted to the body at an angle
There is a headstock angle
The neck is bolted on from the front, under the pickguard, allowing a much sleeker heel
25" scale
16" radius (10" and 12" are available now, but were not when I got mine. The 16" radius was easy to get used to)
Satin...no, make that flat...finish on neck and body

These are photos of my guitar, from the CP Thornton website:
http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/cache/recently-sold/0202%20Classic%20Butterscotch/Image_2709c.jpg_600.jpg
http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/cache/recently-sold/0202%20Classic%20Butterscotch/Image_2734.jpg_600.jpg http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/cache/recently-sold/0202%20Classic%20Butterscotch/Image_2709.jpg_600.jpg

Mine is a great playing guitar with a wonderful tone. The pickups are Fralin, though newer models usually get Lollers. Anyone else had a chance to play these great guitars?

John

I had to post a followup to my own thread to show Chuck's other designs. Chuck also makes archtops and strat style guitars:

http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/main-elite.jpg
http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/main-profacou.jpg
http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/main-fusion.jpg

I will be going to Maine while on Christmas vacation and will be picking up my first Tele style guitar a CpThornton Classic. I'm going to Chucks new shop and am really stoked on getting this new axe. I also own one of his arch top guitars, #207.

I played a Classic when I picked up my Professional from him and it was a hugely versatile guitar, played great, neck was wonderful and I loved the Lollar pups he uses in them. Can't wait to get mine in my hands. Makes for two Christmases for me and a good start to the New Year. Here is a link to the photos of the Classic.


http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/latest-batch/0223%20Honey%20Burst%20Classic/

That's a beauty - I love that Honeyburst finish, and sometimes wish I had gotten that instead of blonde. Report back after you pick up the guitar.

John

That's a beauty - I love that Honeyburst finish, and sometimes wish I had gotten that instead of blonde. Report back after you pick up the guitar.

John

Ok, I picked up this little beauty from Chuck on New Years eve day.


http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gal...rst%20Classic/ (http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/latest-batch/0223%20Honey%20Burst%20Classic/)

This guitar just is amazing. The range of tones it gets is truly wide ranging. With the neck pickup selected and the tone pot just cracked open the jazz tones are simply luscious. Go to the bridge position open up the tone control and the chicken picken is there for the taking.

This guitar is very touch sensitive, with the Lollar pickups it is very inter active, what I would describe as a live instrument, you can make it sound so many different ways by the players input.

I was playing the guitar through a 1967 Deluxe Reverb with that great black face tone and it was just popping, from clean to rowdy this guitar just worked so well with this amp.

This guitar ended up being a one piece body, the wood grain is wonderful.
The pictures are good but just don't do it justice. The same can be said for the CpThornton Professional I have also.

The finish that Chuck is now using on the guitars is superb. I like the non overly glossy look that Chuck gets with the Nitro finish. This finish for the lack of better words seems light and satiny. The stain on the birds eye maple neck looks so good, it also matches the body stain so well and makes the guitar look rich. These are the great details that are not missed by Chuck.

I also love the small dark fret board inlay dots that Chuck uses instead of those big dots used normally.

The neck is just as slick as a tung oiled neck I have on another guitar, it is really really fast. The way Chuck rounds off the neck and fret board edges is so comfortable and the fret dressing is second to none.

Of course Chucks hand made builds are flawless.
Chucks neck heel design is just so innovative and incredible, it is the proverbial icing on the cake. You can play chords with ease right up to the last frets, left hand placement with that neck heel is a snap in the upper neck/fret board registers.

Yes yes I am very happy with this guitar. I can't wait to really play it in over the next few weeks. As far as I'm concerned what Chuck offers in a custom made guitar is a steal in comparison to what the majors are offering which in many cases are for way more dollars.

To really understand what he is offering with his model the Classic, go to the video he created and see all the details that are in his builds.
http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/multimedia/video/

Lastly, I already ordered one of his Blues Queens models. I had a chance to play one while my girl friend sat and listened (she said it gave her goose bumps) and it impressed her so much she told me to order one right then and there, now that my friends is impressive...the little lady saying you need to order another guitar NOW :shock:. So as all men do I immediately obeyed:lol:

That's it. I am a happy happy camper... great start to 2010 for me.
I hope you all have a good year to.

Great review, Blueslou. Chuck's Classics run about $2,600, which is actually less than a lot of more traditional Telecaster style guitars (including Fender Custom Shop). I don't doubt that the quality of those can be excellent, but Chuck's quality is superb and you get a lot of true innovation included.

John

Great review, Blueslou. Chuck's Classics run about $2,600, which is actually less than a lot of more traditional Telecaster style guitars (including Fender Custom Shop). I don't doubt that the quality of those can be excellent, but Chuck's quality is superb and you get a lot of true innovation included.

John

first post for me but had to show you guys my new tele by Chuck.

swamp ash - 6 1/2 lb - 10" radii - birds eye rock maple lollars and sustains like a les paul with its special neck design

http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/for-sale/0224%20Butterscotch%20Blonde%20Classic/Image_2843c.jpg.php

http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/latest-batch/0224%20Butterscotch%20Blonde%20Classic/image/600/Image_2843.jpg

I couldn't follow your link, so I found it on Chuck's site. Is this right one?

Your's is really light, whereas mine is about seven and a half lbs. Not too heavy, but not a featherweight either.

John

first post for me but had to show you guys my new tele by Chuck.

swamp ash - 6 1/2 lb - 10" radii - birds eye rock maple lollars and sustains like a les paul with its special neck design

http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/for-sale/0224%20Butterscotch%20Blonde%20Classic/Image_2843c.jpg.php


If your is the butterscotch and I believe it is also as Thigpen linked to. That is a great piece. First time I saw one of the Classics I liked that a lot.

Chucks guitars are just great. I also like the way they just seem to fit me well, they are easy to play standing and sitting. If yours is the #224 then here is the link to it's photos.

http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/latest-batch/0224%20Butterscotch%20Blonde%20Classic/

I hope you are enjoying your as much as I do mine.
Take care.

If your is the butterscotch and I believe it is also as Thigpen linked to. That is a great piece. First time I saw one of the Classics I liked that a lot.

Chucks guitars are just great. I also like the way they just seem to fit me well, they are easy to play standing and sitting. If yours is the #224 then here is the link to it's photos.

http://www.cpthorntonguitars.com/gallery/latest-batch/0224%20Butterscotch%20Blonde%20Classic/

I hope you are enjoying your as much as I do mine.
Take care.


ya thats mine #0224

I love this guitar!

do you know about my particular guitar ?

I read a recent very good/thorough review of the Classic in ToneQuest.

Very impressive-- but at a 25 inch scale, it is not in the Tele-tory.
I am surprised at this, esp with his thoughtful construction and design features


/

I read a recent very good/thorough review of the Classic in ToneQuest.

Very impressive-- but at a 25 inch scale, it is not in the Tele-tory.
I am surprised at this, esp with his thoughtful construction and design features


/

I thought that was strange as well, but after playing it, I think the scale length works very well...it still gets a very traditional Tele tone, and I've had no issues with playability because of the scale length. In fact, all playability issues are favorable ones.

John