Name: Thorne Studios & SlapBack Music Production
Owner(s): Peter & Gail Thorne
Short bio: Thorne Studios brings together years of musical experience and skilled craftsmanship. Peter Thorne, a lifelong musician and seasoned woodworker, builds custom Cigar Box guitars and offers professional DJ and live music services. Alongside his wife Gail, they’ve created a homegrown business in Creston that supports local music, celebrates creativity, and helps bring great sound to special moments and events in Creston’s ever-growing arts scene.
About the Business
What they offer: SlapBack Music/Thorne Studios offers a blend of custom instrument making, music production, and performance, all rooted in a love for sound and skilled craftsmanship. Their services include:
– Hand-built custom Cigar Box guitars, created by Peter himself
– Full DJ services for weddings, parties, and special events, complete with professional sound and lighting
– Live instrumental guitar for wedding ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions
– Music production through their company, SlapBack Music, which has helped shape and support talented musicians for over 18 years
Unique approach or specialty: Peter Thorne has lived a full life in music; from touring six nights a week in the ‘70s and ‘80s, to raising a family and returning to the craft later in life. With over 30 years of woodworking experience and a lifetime of performing, his unique blend of skills led to creating custom cigar box guitars, each handcrafted and deeply personal.
Their story: Slapback Music Production was born in 2002, created by Peter and Gail Thorne out of a shared passion for supporting emerging artists and keeping the spirit of original music alive. In the early days, their main focus was on live performances, hosting concerts, and recording music.
As the years went on, Peter brought another of his lifelong talents into the fold: woodworking. With a background in cabinetry and custom furniture, it was a natural step for him to start handcrafting custom guitars. In 2014, Thorne Studios was launched under the Slapback umbrella, offering beautifully cigar box guitars.
Most recently, in 2023, they expanded again with the addition of PJ DJ, bringing full DJ services and live instrumental performances to weddings, events, and parties across the region.
Now based in Creston, BC, Peter and Gail are excited to keep growing in the Kootenays; bringing creativity, craftsmanship, and a true love for music to their new home and community.
