Offered for sale is my, as new, Masterbuilt 1960 Strat by Ron Thorn.
It's a beautiful, meticulous example of the classic electric guitar. Entirely handmade by Ron Thorn with a 2 piece ash body, flamed & quarter-sawn maple neck, African blackwood fretboard & a set of Josefina Campos Tomatillo pickups. Finished in a superb translucent surf green nitro with lush closet classic ageing - so no dents, dings or wear, just some subtle checking. Weight is just 7lbs 2oz.
The quality of the craftsmanship is what you would expect from Ron Thorn, it's flawless, and there's been no scrimping or saving at any point in the creation of the guitar. It is the best it could possibly be & it serves to reinforce Ron's reputation - this is why he became Fender's first Premier Master Builder.
The guitar comes with the original brown tolex case & all the case candy. It is exactly as it came to me & offered at a price that some team-built guitars are currently going for - and a good £3000 less than new.
There's lots of noise on the guitar forums about Fender Custom Shop guitars being worth the money & the Master Builds come in for some severe stick. Is a Strat worth £10k plus? Most people seem to have decided no Strat is worth more than £x, without ever playing the very models they are valuing. I never set out to buy a MB guitar, I went hunting for a team-built Strat. I tried out half a dozen Strats at Coda & each one was a great guitar but this one was clearly head & shoulders above the rest. It had more definition and a detailed 3-dimensional quality, it was richer & sweeter & it was the first Strat I'd played in 40 years where the bridge pickup sounded as good as the neck. I knew I was buying it instantly.......then I discovered it was a master built and several grand more than the team-builts I'd tried. I still bought it & I've never regretted it. Are MB guitars worth the extra? It depends on the specific guitar I'd argue, but this one was a no-brainer.
I'm only selling as I have completely fallen out of love with playing so it's just sat in its case. If you want the very best Fender has to offer here's your chance to get it for way less than new. Plus of course, there will be no more Ron Thorn master builds now he has left Fender.
Local try out is more than welcome as is local collection for the winning bidder. I can deliver/meet up within an hour of the TS9 postcode too. Shipping is possible, if you can find a carrier that will insure the guitar to its full value - happy to work with you to find a delivery option if you're happy to meet the cost/risk. If you want more info or pictures just drop me a message.