Suhr Ian Thornley Signature Classic S Antique | Roughneck

The Stratocaster has been done a thousand times, but very few builders have genuinely improved on it. I think Suhr is one of them. John Suhr took everything people love about the classic Strat style platform and quietly fixed the little things players have been working around for decades. Fretwork, hardware, consistency, and somehow it still feels familiar the second you pick it up.

This Ian Thornley Signature takes that formula and gives it a completely different personality. The first thing that grabs me is the Roughneck finish. It looks like it's already lived a life, in the best possible way. Not because it's trying to fool anyone, but because it has the kind of honest, road worn character that makes you want to stop babying your guitars and just play the thing. Then there's Ian's signature V neck carve. It's substantial without ever feeling cumbersome, and paired with the roasted maple neck it has that broken in feel that makes your hand forget it's holding a brand new instrument.

The pickup combination is what really ties it all together. Two Aldrich humbuckers deliver all the authority you'd expect for big riffs and soaring lead work, while the V63+ single coil keeps the in between positions unmistakably Strat. Add Ian's custom parallel switching and you've got a guitar that covers far more ground than it has any right to. Heavy, clean, blues, fusion, session work... it just keeps finding another gear.

To me, this is what a signature model should be. It doesn't feel like someone else's guitar. It feels like a really, really well thought out instrument that just happens to have Ian Thornley's name on the back.

Weight: 8lbs
Body: Alder
Body Shape: Classic S
Finish: Roughneck
Pickguard: Aged Green 3 Ply
Neck: Roasted Maple
Fingerboard: Roasted Maple
Neck Profile: Ian Thornley V (.875"–.970")
Scale Length: 25.5"
Fingerboard Radius: 16"
Frets: Jumbo Stainless Steel (.057" x .110")
Nut: 1.650" Tusq
Logo: Gold Decal
Bridge Pickup: Suhr Aldrich Humbucker (Raw Nickel)
Middle Pickup: Suhr V63+ Single Coil (Parchment)
Neck Pickup: Suhr Aldrich Humbucker (Raw Nickel)
Controls: Volume, Tone 1 (Push/Push - Neck Humbucker Parallel), Tone 2 (Push/Push - Bridge Humbucker Parallel), 5 Way Blade Switch
Bridge: Suhr 2 Post Tremolo with Solid Saddles & Steel Block
Tuners: Suhr Locking
Hardware: Chrome
Case: Suhr Travel Pro Premium Softshell Case