SOLD!
Click here for a YouTube video of professional guitarist Paul Asbell playing this Thorell flattop, recorded live at the Summer ’10 Montreal Guitar Show!
James Romeyn proudly introduces a new, fresh, and modern interpretation of the “Orchestra Model” theme. Carefully compare this finely handcrafted one of kind wonder to any plain old OM replica. Why buy another “same old” when you can rather own this unique future family heirloom? This guitar cries out for its own custom artisan display case (see if you disagree). Ryan’s artistic taste that won him the 2002 Park City Arts Festival First Place Award (first and only non-pure art form to achieve this distinction) is exemplified in this beautiful creation.
Thorell “Corina” Flattop S/N 010-069, smallest Thorell flattop, optional upward-firing “side port”
$4995 USD
Of the pictures I shot, this one best and most accurately captures the rare and lovely "Bagstone" (bah-ste-OHN) walnut binding. The contrast and blending of the Bagstone, Wild Olive Wood from Zambia side/back set, and fine purfling are...well, let's let the image speak for itself.
Maximize this to portray the magnificent one of a kind rosette inlay of walnut, cherry, ebony and maple. Thorell was age 31 when this guitar was completed. Beyond my bias...is it a stretch to predict he will one day be considered among the world's elite luthiers (if he is not already)? It is extremely rare to "learn" or "develop" his sense of understatement. God willing, we will enjoy his progress for many decades to come.
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A stunning yet tasteful laminate of figured eucalyptus, ebony, and maple over the mahogany neck
Side port fires toward the guitarist. The side port is bound with Bagstone (bah-ste-OHN) and adorned with ebony/maple/ebony purfling.
Another good shot of the head stock back laminate: figured eucalyptus, ebony, and figured maple over the mahogany neck
A good shot of the Bagstone (bah-ste-OHN) walnut binding (and purfling, see text) on the body and side port
Classic "frog eye" position markers...an appreciated artistic restraint. Also notice the maple purfling on the ebony neck binding.
Original signature of the late, great Rick Danko of "The Band"
Signature of the poster artist Randy Tuten, a personal friend of my brother in law/percussionist Gil Hernandez, the lithographer for many of the era's rock art posters
A reasonable facsimile of the colors and grain
Apologies for not getting a better image of the fine maple purfling on the fretboard side of the ebony binding; look closely for a glimpse here.
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Dimensions
1. Width, Nut: 1.75″
2. Length, Scale: 25.4
3. Length, Body: 19.5″
4. Length, Total: 40.75”
5. Width, Waist: 9.125”
6. Depth, Body @ Neck: 3.5″
7. Width, Bout, Lower: 15.125″
8. Width, Bout, Upper: 11.125”
9. Depth, Body @ Butt: 3.8125”
10. Spacing, String @ Saddle: 2.125″
Materials and Construction Details
1. Saddle: bone
2. Binding, Neck: ebony
3. Bridge: ebony, tapered
4. Pick Guard: clear plastic
5. Top: red/Adirondack spruce
6. Headstock Inlay: “Thorell” mother-of-pearl
7. Purfling, Side: ebony, figured maple, ebony
8. Neck: one-piece mahogany, not book matched
9. String Pins: bone with pearl dot inlay, slim diameter
10. Finish: Nitrocellulose, standard on all Thorell guitars
11. Tuners: Gold Waverly classic open gear, ebony knobs
12. Purfling, Back/Neck/Fret Board: figured maple, ebony
13. Sides/Back/Fret Board: Wild Olive Wood from Zambia
14. Purfling, Top/Body: figured maple, ebony, figured maple, ebony
15. Rosette: Cherry, walnut, maple, ebony; one of kind design
16. Markers, Position: figured maple “frog eyes” on edge binding only
17. Headstock Face, Crown: ebony laminate, Thorell’s modern signature multi-radius crown for all flattops
18. Headstock Back: figured eucalyptus, ebony, maple; three-layer laminate increases strength at this point
19. Port, Side, Binding/Purfling: Bagstone (bah-ste-OHN)/ebony, maple, ebony. Contributes significantly to audible performance
20. Fret board: Wild Olive Wood from Zambia. The builder states it is plenty hard for this application, adding that it contributes to audible performance. Beautiful scalloped end for 22-fret access on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings
21. Binding, Body/Side Port/Center Back: Bagstone (bah-ste-OHN) walnut, a rare exotic wood occurring about 1% of the time from the Claro and English walnut hybrid. 99% of the time the offspring is one of the parent woods. Gorgeous hue with petite black accents; one of the most beautiful woods you will ever see. “…magnificent figure and contrast” per this website
Case
Cedar Creek American made, stitched leather cover, lockable, cream exterior, blue satin lining, brown textile “Thorell Fine Guitars” top embroidery
Narrative
When I lived within a few minutes drive of their respective shops, it was my great pleasure to play two of the world’s best flattops. In the town of Sonoma I played an L-series jumbo hand built by Steve Klein (not an inferior Asian sourced Klein); in Tiburon I played a lovely OM by Eric Schoenberg, who started the OM renaissance.
This particular “Corina” by Ryan Thorell is one of the most outstanding flattops regardless of price. It compares favorably in wood selection, attention to detail, build quality, artistic merit, playability and audible performance to the best money can buy. I am that confident of its virtues. This size/shape guitar is renowned for superlative nuance, delicacy, dynamic shading, and mid/treble/harmonic excellence. In all these parameters this guitar is exceptional. In effect, this guitar really does make you a better player by conveying the most delicate differences in fingering technique. I estimate a Schoenberg with this level of detail and performance to be approximately $18k. This guitar represents exceptional value for those familiar with the difference between very good and the best new guitar money can buy regardless of cost.
Every professional and amateur who has played this guitar pines to own it, including me. It has elicited lustful looks to the point that one particular professional guitarist/visitor refuses to pick it up and play it any more. I jokingly told Thorell a juju curse struck this guitar, such is its alluring beauty and sound. This guitar makes a broker wish he had the money to just be a collector and forsake the selling part of his job.
I will return the full purchase price minus shipping/insurance/billing fees (credit card, PayPal fees) if the guitar returns in the same condition as received after a maximum seven-day trial period.
Yes, those are the original signatures of the late, great, Rick Danko, and poster artist Randy Tuten, in “The Band” poster pictured above. Sorry, the poster is not for sale!