SUMNER — Chuck Thornton had looked for a house that could serve as his home and electric guitar workshop for more than a year.

“Then I was riding through Sumner one day in October with 16 other bikers from our church and I saw this house,” he said. “I called my Realtor the next day and after a tour of the house I knew it could be my new workshop.”

  He converted the 1910 barn to the main workshop and has added 46 more feet to the back of the house. The complex will include a sanding room, drying and paint booths and an area for photography to take pictures for his Web site. He sells his instrument only on the Internet.

Thornton gets quilted maple from the West Coast, ebony, Sitka spruce from Alaska, and swamp ash from Louisiana for his handmade guitars. He chooses the special woods for lightness and tone quality, he said.

His unique arc top guitars have patented traits which he has developed to issue fine tone, ease in moving down the neck of the guitar and a tremolo effect. The fine wood and unique features of his guitars bring the selling prices from $2,500 to $6,000.

While studying at Berkley Academy of music in 1992, Thornton decided he would rather learn to play a string bass, but couldn’t afford to buy one.

“Just out of the blue I decided to make one and ended up making 43 before moving on to work on violins and cellos.

He continued working for other people until 2004, when Auburn businessman John Hayden offered to set him up in his own business in Turner. In 2006 Richard Shapiro became his marketing partner.

Since 2004, Thornton has sold 235 guitars to collectors and musicians of rock, blues, country and jazz.

Thornton lives with his girlfriend, Robin Ruckman, who does interior painting and decorating, and two dogs and a cat.

For more information on Thornton’s guitars go online to: cpthorntonguitars.com.