New 2024 Gibson Theodore Standard Deep Dive + Sound Test. How’s it compare to the Custom Shop Model?

[@EttoreMenguzzo]

As owner of the Custom Shop Theodore, I think Gibson made a wise choice in making a very diverse instrument in a different price range. I do like the neck, with binding and squared inlays.

[@CompanyGrip]

I too like the binding and inlays as well. Cheers!

[@standingbadger]

Best demo of this on YT. I can't believe I am liking this design, in that finish especially.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you for the very kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video! 🤘🏽

[@LPManic]

It looks so different (in a very good way) when played standing up with a strap on. The tulip ears are not as noticeable and dare I say it even cool. Would love to see a standard p90 version.

[@Siggy_Sour]

feels like an old guitar is a new production. really cool, i kinda want one for sure!

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you for checking out the video! Cheers!

[@Chris-yq7xv]

Ben, I think your reviews are one of the best, if not the best, on KZbin! You do a thorough deep dive mentioning and pointing out things that I would never even considered. Your SG review has educated me so much that I know exactly what to look for when I move up to a Gibson. Thank you, Chris

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you for the very kind words! I appreciate them. And thank you for checking out the videos too! Cheers!

[@gavrilopricip11]

are we sure Theodor was making a design sketch for a guitar and not drawing tulips on a mothers day card he never sent?

[@CompanyGrip]

😂

[@msaintpc]

🤣Lol, that was funny! My kids say it looks like one of those goldfish shaped cheese crackers. But in person it's really a very, very beautiful guitar that grows on one the longer one stares at it -- and did I mention the fact that it plays like a wet dream?

[@gavrilopricip11]

@@msaintpc i think your brats are right "Golden Cheddar Dust " is an official finish option (the guys at murphy labs spend 3 days straingt eating cheetos to hand smear the color and realy bring out the grain)

[@gavrilopricip11]

@@msaintpc ..."plays like a wet dream"?...and like a wet dream you dont want anyone to know and ridiccule you for having one -!(obvioulsy i jest in good fun)

[@TheJeffcurran]

Excellent review. I'm happy that they chose the 57s over the burstbuckers.

[@CompanyGrip]

Me too! Burstbuckers are nice, but 57s are nice and missed!

[@TheJeffcurran]

@@CompanyGrip 57s just have a smoother tone. A little less highs than the burstbuckers. And for this guitar I think they're a great fit. I really expected this guitar to sound like an SG. But it's a little different, and it's the pickups. This guitar begs to get the Junior treatment. A single P90, no pickguard, wrap tail bridge. I'd buy in a second.

[@CompanyGrip]

I’d bet something like that will come - IF it sells.

[@olganesterowicz2112]

I love the tulip shape, has an easy access to frets. Reminds me of a Telecaster. It should be less expensive...

[@papasmamas1]

The model have grown in me. I like it, it remembers me to a Tele (a model that I love). Yeah, the tulip shape looks kinda funny, but I would play that, looks very comfortable.

[@CompanyGrip]

It’s growing on me! Thanks for watching the video!

[@jorgelanzas6159]

Man! I really like the control graphics you add! The best I’ve seen! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 love you see people come up with new ways of doing things! Keep it up brother!

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you for checking it out! I’m glad you appreciate those graphics - they are a bit time consuming to make! Haha! Cheers!

[@stockholm1752]

As a fan of early Rickenbackers, I’m drawn to this shape. The only Gibson I have is an SG, which I like very much but for one thing: the way everything feels shifted to the left. Seeing this guitar on your lap, it seems more like sitting with a Telecaster. I wish I could swap the trapezoid inlays for the dots on the CS version, though (and add the walnut stripe). It sounded really good. Nice demo.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thanks for checking it out! SG is my guitar weakness. Absolutely love them! Thanks for checking out the video! Cheers!

[@jfiery]

Nice Job Grip, I was really hoping you'd chose one of these to review. I'm not an SG guy but these intrigue me.

[@CompanyGrip]

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@linkinparkfan415]

If they come out with one in Pelham blue, I think I’d bite. Sweet playing btw 🤝

[@msaintpc]

I love this video, and the guitar playing is beautiful.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you very much for the kind words and for checking out the video!!

[@BoojayDeeth]

Enjoy your style, relaxed and informed with great playing and well presented. The guitar sounds good (gotta love those 57's), I like the finish and detailing too. Sadly, I just don't think I can grow to love the tulip shape.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you for the kind words and for checking out the video! I hear ya on the Tulip shape. It’s a love it or hate it for sure. Cheers!

[@jayclark725]

Also binding verses no binding. I tried to edit my last post but it wouldn't let me.

[@CompanyGrip]

You’re right. I noticed that I excluded that detail when I recorded the video. I actually recorded it twice because the first time I didn’t have the audio mic on. 🙄 then I redid the whole video and left that detail out. 😂 just can’t win sometimes!

[@barrymiller2272]

Damn, great demo..now i want one! To me, the USA is spec'd out more to my liking than the CS. Heck, a USA Gibson with a really nice case for 2 grand..good deal. Also..long neck tenon & 57's..hell yes...

[@CompanyGrip]

I tend to agree! I haven’t played a set of 57s since this old SG Future Tribute I had a few years ago. Didn’t like the guitar much, but it sounded monster… loved those 57s. Only reason I regretted selling it. 😆

[@keithlightizer156]

Thanks buddy, you did a really great review. I've been looking at this new issue as it is a good price point. I love that early 60's Supro that's in the display case behind you when you're playing. I'm going to dive into your previous posts... New sub from an old man in Northern Canada.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you for checking out my video! Yes, please, dive in! Hope you enjoy the channel. Thank you, the Supro is not as old as it might look, but it’s a limited edition that has meaning to me. Cheers!

[@harbonip]

I had a cheap version of that back in the 70s. I think it was a Tesco ? Ugly isn't bad if you buy it .Once again, great research on guitars . 😎👍🏽

[@CompanyGrip]

True! Ugly can sometimes be fun. Like those old Vox teardrops. 😂 thanks for checking it out! Cheers!

[@daveshamir729]

So, if I understand correctly, navigating your "location" along the the fretboard (for lack of a better term), is far more similar to a Les Paul or a 335 and quite different from an SG where the headstock seems farther away. This would present a major advantage in comfort in my view if you're debating between the Theodore and the SG

[@CompanyGrip]

Thanks for your comment, and sorry for the delay! For me, it’s all about where the pickups sit between the strap buttons, right? For example, the Iommi SG button, being at the end of the horn is closer to the Theodore than a DC LP, so they hang similarly. But when lapped, the Theodore’s body cut has it sitting closer to LP, but with the neck feeling and sitting closer to how an SG neck is with the abundance of access. I hope that makes sense. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@buzzycoyote2573]

I like it! There are so many boring/ cookie cutter guitars today. Thank you Gibson! Thank you as well for the great video and review!

[@CompanyGrip]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@msaintpc]

Any mixed feelings between the Theodore and Satan's Guitar is best resolved by buying both models!🙂 My son has both and says the Theodore is so smooth that it almost plays itself.

[@CompanyGrip]

Haha! I do enjoy the Theodore! I haven’t played it in a bit though… perhaps it’s time..? 🤔

[@msaintpc]

@@CompanyGrip Dogs need love and good guitars do too. So take it out and play it, give it some love my brother.👍

[@CompanyGrip]

Too true!

[@mikeyohe4750]

Very good and thorough review! Thanks.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you for checking it out!

[@lost_in_gravy]

Looking forward to buying a barely used one on Reverb dirt cheap in 2 to 3 years from now

[@stop736]

I like them personally. I like simple guitars, like the Tele. Or the Les Paul Jr. Guitars like that. They’re easy to work on and less to go wrong with them. And this is just a unique shape that you don’t see often. That’s cool to me.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thanks for checking it out! Cheers!

[@jrhguitarbassdrums]

Damn, i hated this at first. Im falling in love with it now. I want one. I might buy

[@CompanyGrip]

I like it quite a bit actually, but I understand the styling being a turn off for some. But it’s got killer pickups and a nice neck. Also - I like oddball Gibson’s… 😜

[@GeoffN.]

Great in depth review 👍🏼

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you for checking out my video and the kind words. Cheers!

[@justincodyfox]

They are using the same necks that they make for the current run of Explorers. Thats why the heel is different from the Custom Shop version. That way all they have to do is push start on the CNC with no new programming.

[@CompanyGrip]

Makes sense! Thanks for checking out the video. Cheers!

[@bryancollins6796]

Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't. If you're Gibson, this is you. Try something new, and everyone hates it. Don't, and they accuse you of resting on past successes. I like it.

[@CompanyGrip]

That is too true!

[@LPCustom3]

Thanks, but I’ll stick with my 3 Melody Makers (2- singles from 1960 & my dbl cut from 1961). I’ve got a Firebird VII & a Flying V & 3 Murphy Lab’s.

[@tjh780]

I liked it as soon as I saw it. Ordered one from Sweetwater.

[@CompanyGrip]

Nice! I got mine from there as well! 🤘🏽

[@telecasteredtodeath]

Great review, keep the weird guitars coming! This looks much like the 1983 Tokai Talbo 100d-blazing fire (Japanese made cast aluminium).

[@CompanyGrip]

I agree! Keep the weird coming! Thanks for watching.

[@sinakaedwards2009]

Your model looks better than the cherry one. I think it would benefit from losing the horns and have it follow the pickguard to create a tear drop looking body. It might still look bad/weird but I think it would be more intriguing.

[@CompanyGrip]

I tend to agree! Cheers!

[@chriscromelin413]

Idk, I'm kinda a fan of "Ugly" guitars. Especially being a lefty. If they ever made or make a lefty version, I'd rock it!!

[@CompanyGrip]

This seems like a guitar that would be easy to make Lefty, it’s just a slab, they could do the routing on the backside to keep the round horn on the same side… but what do I know. Cheers!

[@ywtcc]

I'd like to see Gibson try a different approach to headstock design. I like the inline peg placement, but the styling doesn't work for me. What Gibson really has going for them is they can do a traditional, oversize headstock with all the inlays and artistic touches. Modern and minimal are fine, but Gibson's one of the only companies that can do the opposite without being corny. With this particular headstock, I think if it was a little longer, and the side panels were more like a slanted rectangle... So it looks like a traditional headstock, just longer, narrower, and slanted a little. With plenty of room for the Gibson brand and all the trimmings! There's similar retro/modern hybrid approaches to designing trapezoidal, staggered trapezoidal, 4+2, 2+4 headstocks that are a little oversized, with Gibson curves and colors. Just my 2 cents. It seems to me Gibson never really nailed the modern headstock design. I say just use a modern peg placement, and go with a traditional Gibson look and feel.

[@CompanyGrip]

Agreed! Wouldn’t mind some new headstocks. Thanks for checking it out!

[@slave_planet]

Dang, they had to put a thin neck on it . . . Sounds and looks great though.

[@CompanyGrip]

Agreed!! Thanks for checking it out!

[@TheRange7]

Yeah, I'm in the are you kidding me camp. It looks like an unfinished wood shop project from a very unmotivated high school stoner to me. The fact that Gibson has the balls to charge 2K for this is unsurprising. Then again, it costs money to play authentic,< LOL< I'm just so used to traditional shapes, new stuff rarely excites me. I love LP's, SG's, 335's, and even the Explorer. Also, like most, I'm a sucker for Strats and Tele's. The one impressive thing about this Theo is the 57 Classics. You can never go wrong with a set of those babies. I also much prefer the Grovers over any other tuners. I've always had great luck with them. The only thing I'd add to your video is this. I rarely suffer from tuning instability with any Gibson or Epiphone. The key for me has always been just a tiny but of nut sauce or even pencil lead dust in the nut slots in a pinch. Enjoy your new baby and thanks for the thorough review.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thanks for checking it out! Yes - if people spend the time to set up their rigs and properly lube the friction points and wind strings correctly, stability can become a non-issue. Cheers!

[@skye7690]

P90s would have really been a plus.

[@CompanyGrip]

Agreed!

[@user-er3lp9pc5e]

Damn I want one in antique natural!!!

[@CompanyGrip]

It’s the best looking I think. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@skye7690]

It looks like a big tulip, why did Gibson design this?

[@davidvaught7762]

Sooooo. A Les Paul /S.G. Hybrid…. At least Gibson didn’t make another High End Les Paul model…. Oh wait!!!! The first was. And I love my Gibsons. Looks like someone at Gibson found an old Rickenbacker catalog and went “ Hmmmmm, didn’t do too well as a “Rick”, let’s try it a a Gibson.

[@CompanyGrip]

😂 Maybe they did! Cheers!

[@jophdfy]

This guitar would make a good edition to a camp fire.

[@SanDiegoHarry1]

not a fan.

[@brandonlefton1346]

How much money did they save by only have two pots?

[@CompanyGrip]

Hard to quantify with labor costs factored in. But probably not a whole bunch.

[@brandonlefton1346]

@@CompanyGrip I mean you can get a Ric for $2000 and artisanal care was put into it throughout the manufacturing process

[@brandonlefton1346]

You get 5 pots and a through neck

[@CompanyGrip]

Through neck is always nice to me!

[@sinakaedwards2009]

Honestly just cut the bottom horn off and it may look a whole lot better.

[@CompanyGrip]

It might….

[@samsara-topic186]

All the videos of this guitar I’ve seen, I just feel as though it sounds outa tune in every video, sounds very unstable.

[@CompanyGrip]

Interesting. Thanks for checking it out!

[@samsara-topic186]

@@CompanyGrip enjoy your videos though!

[@CompanyGrip]

Thank you!

[@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1]

👍

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

#79_comment_WhyDidMakeThisEven_

[@kingcormack8004]

The dog guitar of the 21st Century. Gibson better hope this disappears down the memory hole asap!

[@CompanyGrip]

😜 Who know! Only time will tell. Will it be the next 1980s Futura? 😂

[@Turboy65]

Sorry, it's just too fugly. Almost Telecaster level of fugly. It's one Gibson I don't want.

[@CompanyGrip]

Thanks for checking it out! Funny you say that, Telecaster is about the only Fender I like! 😂 take care!

[@sammyrothrock6981]

To me its just another ugly design just weird looking ? 🤔

[@CompanyGrip]

That’s fair enough!

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

⚠️lost their weigh buy there choice stupid company, v v very lost🥀

[@DaddyWarbucksunlimited]

Meh.