Thorn Florentine "Empirial"
Ron Thorn's flagship Art Deco-inspired semi-hollow archtop with a carved curly maple or spruce top over a mahogany, Korina or Black Limba body, built to order.
About this guitar
The Empirial is Thorn’s top-tier Florentine-body semi-hollow, pairing a carved curly maple or spruce top with a mahogany, Korina or Black Limba semi-hollow body and set neck. Full Art Deco cosmetic treatment includes Art Deco-shaped F-holes, mother-of-pearl crown fretboard and headstock inlays, multi-ply binding, and a hand-cut sterling silver truss rod cover. Electronics are a pair of Ron Ellis humbuckers or Thorn P90s wired to dual volume/tone controls and a 3-way switch through premium Bourns, Alco and Switchcraft components. Finished in ultra-thin nitrocellulose lacquer with aging options, and shipped in a hardshell case. Build-to-order — wood, hardware and finish choices are priced individually beyond the base price.
Specs
| Body | Mahogany, Korina or Black Limba, semi-hollow with set-neck |
|---|---|
| Top | Carved Curly Maple or Spruce |
| Body Dimensions | 2-1/4" thick x 14-1/4" wide lower bout |
| Scale Length | 24.658" |
| Fretboard | Ebony, 12" radius |
| Headcap | Ebony |
| Frets | 22, choice of Jescar including stainless steel |
| Nut | Tusq, 1.687" wide |
| Neck Carve | Customer's spec |
| Pickups | 2x Ron Ellis humbuckers or 2x Thorn P90s |
| Controls | 2x Volume, Tone, 3-way switch (Bourns, Alco, Switchcraft) |
| Tone Capacitor | NOS vintage Soviet P.I.O. .033 |
| Bridge | Faber ABR-1 |
| Tailpiece | Stoptail, Trapeze or Art-Deco Ebony |
| Tuners | Grover Imperials |
| F-holes | Art Deco style |
| Inlays | Art Deco crowns and mother-of-pearl fretboard/headstock inlay |
| Binding | Multi-ply on body, fretboard and headstock |
| Plating | Chrome/Nickel |
| Finish | Ultra-thin nitrocellulose lacquer, aging options available |
| Case | Hardshell included |
| Custom Options | Build-to-order — wood, hardware, pickup and finish choices priced individually, see maker for a full quote |
Quick answers
- How much does the Thorn Florentine "Empirial" cost?
- Thorn Guitars lists it at $12,950 (USD). Dealer and used prices vary.
- Is the Thorn Florentine "Empirial" still available?
- Yes. Thorn Guitars lists it as a current model that's available to order.
- Who makes the Thorn Florentine "Empirial"?
- Thorn Guitars, building gear since 1999. Where it's built: Master built by Ron Thorn in the Los Angeles area. It's listed here as a semi hollow guitar.
- How long is the wait for Thorn Guitars gear?
- No finished guitars currently available. New guitars are built to the customer's specifications by order through thorninlay@gmail.com.