Gibson Theodore Standard Electric Guitar, Ebony Gibson

The Gibson Theodore Standard embodies a 1957 design from the mind of iconic figure Ted McCarty, former president of Gibson, this instrument pays respect to his legendary tenure from 1950 to 1966, during which he birthed classics like the Les Paul, SG, ES-335, and Flying V. Developed from designs uncovered in the Gibson archive, the Theodore standard is a unique recreation of the original design, available in Antique Natural and Cherry.

The Theodore Standard features a uniquely shaped two-piece mahogany body with Florentine cutaways that allow easy access to the higher range of its 22 frets. Its neck, also made of mahogany, is carved to Gibson’s SlimTaper profile, one that’s notoriously comfortable. The neck boasts a fingerboard of Indian rosewood, topped with acrylic trapezoid inlays. The Theodores Graph Tech nut measures at 1.695 inches, and the total scale length is 24.75 inches. Atop the Scimitar headstock, Grover Mini Rotomatic tuning machines add a touch of vintage-inspired flair to complement this iconic design. 

The real highlight of the Theodore Standard, however, is its ’57 Classic Plus bridge pickup and ’57 Classic neck pickup, both hand-wired with master volume and tone controls. Since their debut in the late 1950s, Gibson’s “Patent Applied For” humbuckers have garnered a wide fanbase for their velvety sound. The ’57 Classic  and Classic Plus humbuckers mirrors the original PAF design, boasting slightly overwound coils similar to those wound in the late 1950s. Each of these ’57 humbuckers features enamel-coated wiring, Alnico II magnets, and maple spacers for a lush output whether played clean or with overdrive.

In the hardware realm, the addition of an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece adds a touch of distinction between this version and the Gibson Custom Shop Theodore models of 2022.

Each Theodore comes with a custom hardshell case.

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• Two-Piece Mahogany Body
• Mahogany Neck in a “SlimTaper” Profile
• Indian Rosewood Fingerboard with Twenty-Two Frets and Acrylic Trapezoid Inlays
• Nickel-Plated ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Bridge
• Scimitar Headstock with Grover Mini Rotomatic Tuning Machines
• ’57 Classic Plus Bridge Pickup and ’57 Classic Neck Pickup
• Hand Wired Electronics Controls with Master Volume, Master Tone