The Improv is here!
September 19th, 2011
I’m proud to introduce the Improv, my 15″ archtop.
While I’ve kept the Cp Thornton family look for this new guitar, the Improv is a true archtop, with a wonderful acoustic tone. The single pickup version is designed as a jazz guitar, and the two-humbucker version works wonderfully for jazz or for a blues guitarist looking for a big sound.
There are pictures of the first batch of Improvs in the Gallery, along with pictures of the new custom alligator case.
Chuck
September 19th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Chuck & Rich,
I am just blown away. Chuck you nailed the color, I mean totally smoked it.
This is just everything I had hoped this instrument would be, it is more then I anticipated.
Even though I can only look at it for now, just as you told me this morning when we talked, it is awesome.
I can’t wait to put my shaking clumsy mits around this instrument of beauty.
I am psyched for both of you guys because the whole project just came together perfectly.
Rich the way you get that back panel piece to fit so perfectly with the grain and the awesome team work you put into this is just grand.
I believe you have another winner here guys. It will be a long wait until I get there to pick mine up.
I’m at a loss for words.
Congratulation Chuck & Rich, Cp Thornton Guitars
Lou D.
September 20th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Chuck & Rich
Pass the drool towels – yes, TOWELS (plural). #281 is nothing short of a masterful creation. I actually saw it unassembled last May, but could not at the time envision it being so lovely when painted & assembled. I have loved all of the models so far, leaning so slightly towards calling my HTL & Blues Queen favorites, but this one will emerge. The wait has been so long, but now seems worth it all. I cannot express enough the care taken to provide me with the perfect pickup, the perfect tonewood combinations, the perfect fretwire, and right on down to the perfect strings. A HUGE thanks for taking all that time to test string after string brand to determine the one to bring out the best tone. And the color – the thing we probably discussed the most – could not suit me more. It has that olde Gibson vintage burst look that was in my head during the first phone call, before we even knew the exact body shape, dimensions, or even the name Improv.
Only you & Rich are more aware than I am of the long hours spent with prototyping, sound testing, designing, & finishing. Well, the wonderful images prove for all the world to see that there is nothing on the planet quite like it. The level of detail in the fret inlays, the bindings, the grain match & fit of the back panel, the workmanship at every point.
Like Lou D above, I’m struggling for the right words to say about such an achievement. I’ll patiently listen to [and quietly disagree with] anyone who likes THEIR favorite guitar better than any other model you’ve built. I will NOT patiently listen to anyone who thinks their jazz guitar is even in the same league with the Improv. The hollowbody bar has not only been raised now, but there is a new league, a new Champion to be dealt with. There has been nothing like it before, so if they haven’t seen, played, & heard it….. don’t even waste my time. This is a giant step up in the guitar world. The landscape and soundscape of jazz has just been changed.
Oh, my…… my, YES!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you….
Jay
September 21st, 2011 at 10:45 am
Just a thought Rich.
You may want to add pickup descriptions in your Gallery instrument descriptions so that potential customers know what they are looking at. It may help give them some ideas to think about when considering an order.
Thanks for getting the photos up so that guys like me can drool over the photos before I get my hands on it.
Increases the drool factor you know.
They all look great. I would love to hear the ones with the double pick ups.
September 21st, 2011 at 6:28 pm
Me too! I’ve only heard them acoustically, and they sound wonderful. There’s a purity of tone to these guitars that just gives me the shivers.
You’re looking for something beyond the make and model noted in the description now. Are you looking for a phrase describing the sound Chuck or the customer is looking for with each pickup?
Rich
September 21st, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Hi Rich,
No, what I noticed in the description is that it lacked the name/model of the pickups that are installed.
As example the description for my #283 doesn’t state it has Shadow, Zollar SH-49 pups in it, that’s all.
That info is usually in the descriptions that you normally create I believe.
Just that info alone is all I meant. I just get the feeling these are going to be a really big deal.
Take care.
L.D.
September 21st, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Yet another CPT model graces us to behold, and further whets our appetites for sound and playability. When it was first mentioned, I was hoping for a double cutaway, ala 335-ish. Perhaps someday? Then realizing it was to be a true archtop, I thought it more to be a jazz box of sorts. Chuck, Rich, with every model you have introduced is nothing short of spectacular! The heel carve, neck-through, and bolt in extended tenon only serve to improve the tone and playability of these works of insightful craftsmenship. Since I got my Bluesqueen, I’ve yet to discover anything that comes close. It almost begs to question why even attempt looking at something else. Archtop neck-throughs, for me are the only way to go, CP thornton is the Holy Grail of guitars. I am in awe of the superior craft. Please continue. Ones skills only get better with time. Thank you Chuck and Rich. Dave A.
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:57 am
Ah. Got it. I’ll ask Chuck for more detailed info in the future. Thanks for pointing it out!
Boy, I hope so! This a new area for us. Chuck and I did a lot of work on Dana Bourgeois’s A-500 and A-350 archtops in the past, but it’s still a little scary.
Rich
October 21st, 2011 at 4:01 pm
I finally picked up my Improv and was able to spend some very good quality time with Chuck.
I had some work done on my BluesQueen and Professional as far as upgrades go.
To me there was a substantial tonal, sustain, and smooth operability improvements by replacing the wiring harnesses including the pots, bridge & tail piece on both guitars. I also had a new nut installed and got to watch Chuck do that artful work while I watched, very impressive to me at least.
Just as a note not all the modifications were completed in one day. Chuck finished up the mods the next morning as the balalnce of the first day was exhausted with receiving the Improv.
We went through most of the morning and afternoon redoing the two guitars before I even looked at the Improv which was in it’s case. That bewildered everyone as it was about 6 hours before we approached the Improv.
Patience grass hopper, patience.
Improv, lets start here:
I had discussed the red color I wanted with Chuck before he even had the concept of the Improv finished. I had a old 1964 Gibson ES-330 full semi-hollow and loved its transparent red, plus it had some emotional attachments for me as well.
Chuck just nailed the color and I know it took him a long time to get the blends right to create that color.
Thank you Chuck.
So to begin, the guitar for me is beautiful, the woods that were used for the headstock, tailpiece and finger rest are awesome. There is no need for me to talk about the details of fit and finish because you all know Chucks level of craftsmanship.
Lets Play:
First I must say that the weight of the instrument though larger then my Professional seemed so much lighter. I didn’t even notice the extra width or over all size of the guitar and just felt immediately at ease with it.
I was so impressed with the volume that the Improv projected unplugged that we just traded it back and forth before we did plug it in. The tone unplugged is great also, I am so impressed with that.
I had 12 Gauge strings installed and I have to say that the setup of this guitar makes the 12′s feel like 11′s. I also went with 1 -3/4″ Neck and I felt very comfortable with it immediately, I have larger hands compared to some folks but it was just great for me.
Plugging the guitar in was another experience in excellence. The tone was just what I had been hoping it would be.
Everyone has different ears and perceptions but this guitar has tone for miles, ease of playability and is so light.
We used Chucks Deluxe Reverb and it was great. The guitar tone control is excellent as it has a broad but nice & gradual range to it. Warm and swarthy sound to crisp and clear tone, just magnificent. We traded back and forth a lot just listening to what it sounded like from either in front of or being behind it playing.
When I got the guitar home I played it unplugged a lot as it sounds so good that way. The little lady really loves the tone and is also impressed with the volume unplugged.
Just the other night I plugged into my Ultrasound Acoustic solid state amp. I was very impressed with the sound I got and had such a blast playing through this amp that 2 hours flew by like minutes. I am definately going to play around with this combo some more, I love tube amps but this impressed me a bunch.
I just got back from vacation so haven’t had time to play through my other amps yet.
So look folks, I am the furthest thing from a jazz guitar player as there is but I know what I would like to sound like. This Improv is totally a Jazz Archtop Guitar. I will not be surprised to see some serious Jazz players take a good hard look at the Improv, Chuck has created a monster Jazz guitar.
I think there is a ton of flexibility in this design and there is a lot of places that this instrument can go.
Am I happy? DUH!, You bet your sweet bippy I am… Get your orders in now, you’ll be happy you did.
Congrats to all the other Improv owners.
Lou D.