DestroyAllGuitars Thorell Guitars

visit us on Facebook

Lance Keltner
Mystic Redneck

~ Thorell Guitars ~

Thorell guitars are a commitment to the idealistic vision of what a guitar can be. Each guitar is crafted with an individual intent, that the whole process of building this particular guitar will be a unique experience. This plays across directly to the guitarist; their experience of this instrument is as personal as their own expression.

Ryan has strong vision of what plays into making the finest guitars, which has been honed strongly by eight years of apprenticeship. Ryan built his first guitar at the age of 13. He studied privately with famed guitar maker Tom Ribbecke and has also apprenticed under three great talents, “Fine Woodworking” columnist Chris Gouchnour acoustic guitar builder Joel Nowland and repair technician Tim D. Gonzalez. Ryan was also previously known as a jazz guitarist and private instructor, which he finds as an invaluable experience to understanding the instrument and peoples unique relationship to it. Ryan won "Best in Show" at the 2006 Park City Arts Festival.

Ryan’s building style relies heavily upon his knowledge and training in hand tools. He finds this to be the best way to gain an intuitive relationship with each guitar that he creates. His shop is also fully equipped to make instruments efficiently within the parameters of individual perfection for each and every guitar. And of course the wood choices, craftsmanship, buttery smooth playability, and over all aesthetic will make you foam at the mouth!

DAG REPRESENTS CUSTOM COMMISSIONS FOR THIS BUILDER!

DAG represents custom commissions for Ryan Thorell. We can only handle a limited amount per year and they are on a first come-first served basis with typical wait times ranging from 6 to 10 months. If interested please call for a preliminary discussion in regard to the guitar you'd like to have Ryan build for you. If scheduling permits and it's an instrument that Ryan is interested in building, we will proceed to the next step and have you consulting directly with Ryan to work out all the fine details, as well as pricing and deposits, before the build commences.

"A true artist… Ryan builds one of the finest guitars that I have ever played" - J.D. Moffat, Guitarist with Ray Charles, Lou Rawls

"He puts everything he is into his guitars. To own one is to be forever grateful." - Bill Inverso (solo jazz player and guitar instructor)

THORELL MODELS--ARCHTOPS:

Thorell FV Premier - $8300

Originally commissioned by Frank Vignola, the FV Premier model is the perfect instrument for guitarists seeking versatile and clear acoustic tone not offered elsewhere in the market...

Thorell FV Studio - $6900

This groundbreaking guitar brings the beautiful clarity and immediacy of the Viennese guitar tradition into contemporary archtop design. This guitar was designed in collaboration with guitarist Frank Vignola to showcase the unique vision and style he is renowned for...

Thorell Gianina - $8300

This beautiful model was originally commissioned by a client and born of a desire to create a guitar that would combine the drive and thump of an archtop, the warmth and depth of a nylon, and the breathy-throaty sustain of a Selmer-Maccaferri...

Thorell Legato - $8300

Walnut and cedar bring their warmth and depth as a starting place for this fresh take on the traditional archtop guitar. This guitar encompasses both the full bodied, open sound of an acoustic guitar and the meaty, thumpy tones of an archtop...

Thorell Sweet E - $8300

This is a traditional archtop guitar, descended from the great makers of the genre. The Sweet E has a traditional x-brace, is fully acoustic, and has a floating pickup. Built to withstand feedback issues, each guitar is voiced around an individual’s particular needs and desires...

Thorell Wysteria - $6900

The Wysteria has a dark elegance, powerful in its simplicity and stripped of unnecessary embellishments. Aesthetically, this guitar pays homage to the great lineage of the archtop jazz guitar. From its hand-crafted sunburst finish (inspired by the Loyd Loar era), to its contemporary bocote and ebony natural wood appointments...

THORELL MODELS--ELECTRICS:

Thorell Sexy Sadie- $3900

This guitar is built for the guitarist that wants to traverse genres as varied as jazz, rock, funk, and country, with full bodied killer tone. With the fattest sounding blade pickup known to man in the neck position and a hot-wired, ultimate Tele tone pickup in the bridge...

THORELL MODELS--FLAT TOPS:

Thorell Corina - $4900

The Corina is one of Thorell's most popular and comfortable acoustic guitars. It has a dry, open, tone but very clearly voiced. Its unique take on the traditional x-brace allows the Corina to respond more fully with remarkable sustain and tone quality...

Thorell Dreadnaught - $4900

Dry with a decisive sparkle, clean with a touch of grit, this Dreadnaught is fully balanced. With driving, open rhythms and cuttingly articulate melody lines, it’s a powerhouse both sonically and aesthetically...

Thorell The Grand - $4800

This is a larger sized guitar (though smaller slightly than dreadnaughts) built from the same tonal and aesthetic aspirations as the Corina. It retains an immediacy of response that is very difficult to find in larger bodied guitars...

THORELL MODELS--OTHER:

Thorell Concert Classical - $7000

This powerful classical guitar has its roots in Jose Romanillos' beautiful sounding instruments. Built in the Spanish style, in a very traditional fashion, this guitar yields a well aged and balanced tone to the most discriminating ear...

Thorell Grand Custom Arch - call for price

This fun guitar was built to showcase Thorell's building style at the Montreal Guitar Show. The guitar is currently owned and played by a man who has been one of Thorell's favorite guitarists since he was 13 years old, Mr. Josh Payne...