Introducing the Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – TV Yellow A Unique, Original Master Artisan Guitar With a Distinctive, Creative Spirit

Gibson’s legendary former president Theodore ‘Ted’ McCarty, helped develop some of the most iconic electric guitars ever during the 1950s and early 1960s, including the Les Paul™, Flying V™, and Explorer™. He enjoyed sketching new instrument ideas during meetings, and the height of his creative output was in 1957 when he sought to modernize Gibson’s electric guitar designs significantly. On March 18, 1957, Ted detailed and signed his drawing for a new solid body instrument which was never produced until the Gibson Custom shop introduced a limited run of this model, named “Theodore” in honor of Ted, which was released on March 18, 2022 - exactly 65 years from the day that Ted originally sketched out the design. Since then, Gibson has also introduced a Theodore model as part of its USA-built core lineup.

Having created a single Theodore Retroliner model as part of one of his previous Master Artisan releases in cooperation with Gibson Custom, Master Artisan Leo Scala has now created a new series of ten Master Artisan interpretations of the Gibson Theodore™. Like their Leo Scala-crafted predecessor, each one is distinctive, individual, and absolutely one-of-a-kind. Leo took the Theodore and added his own creative touches to the design and created gorgeous works of art that are designed to play and sound as good as they look. He started by imagining that the Theodore was actually released in 1957 or 1958, and like some other Gibson models, was subtly revised and changed over the years with different pickup configurations and custom colors and then subjected to the finish and playing wear that comes with the longtime use of a well-loved guitar; thus creating the non-existent past of a vintage design–a contemporary of the Flying V and Explorer–that was never made until very recently.

Leo’s approach to their aesthetic was to combine classic looks with hot rod-inspired elements, along with the thoughtful details that are a hallmark of his work. The Theodore Retroliner – TV Yellow’s nitrocellulose lacquer finish was hand-applied and meticulously hand-aged by the Master Artisan, as was the aged hardware. He used classic and custom finish colors and over-the-top relic treatments to bring a “rat rod” appearance to the guitar and added his own unique artistic elements. Leo’s custom coloration process for the plastics actually infuses the color into the parts, so the colorations won’t rub off with use. McCarty’s original drawing inspired the pickguard shape. It incorporates elements of the ES-335 and Les Paul Special pickguards. It also brings a similarly angled accent to the Theodore Retroliner’s body that the angled scimitar headstock gives to the other end of the guitar.

The hot rod ethos applies to more than just appearances. Not only did Leo bring elements of the “rat rod” aesthetic to the Theodore Retroliner – TV Yellow, but he also brought a hot rod-style performance approach to the guitar. The pickups–the engines of the Theodore Retroliners–are Leo Scala custom hand-wound “Retrophonic” models, with a Patent Applied For-style humbucker™ in the bridge position and a Soapbar P-90 in the neck. Each pickup pair was specifically made to work together; the middle position of each guitar has a unique sound, and both pickups, including the Retrophonic Soapbar P-90, are height-adjustable so that Leo could adjust their positions for optimal performance and tone. Each Theodore Retroliner is a unique guitar that won’t sound quite like any other guitar–including another Theodore or Theodore Retroliner.

Other performance enhancements include modifications to the ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and Bigsby® B7 vibrato tailpiece. The bridge has a custom dog bone base that prevents it from moving when you use the Bigsby, and the Bigsby itself has been modified so that the arm can rotate fully, allowing you to position the vibrato arm over the strings so that you can palm and manipulate it while simultaneously picking. Additionally, the Bigsby B7 is mounted so that it is pulled out and angled at the back (where it’s rounded) so that you can use the end of the Bigsby as a stand.

Playability is crucially important to performance, and Leo made sure this Theodore Retroliner handles like a dream. The comfortable C-profile neck was shaped and rounded per Leo’s customizations to give it a well-played-in feel, and Leo’s custom oiled neck finish is incredibly smooth in the hand and fast-playing. While truly a work of art, this isn’t just a show guitar that is designed to sit in a display case; it’s meant to be used to make music, and considerable care has been given to optimize its sound, feel, and playability.This very special Master Artisan-built Theodore Retroliner – TV Yellow is a one-of-a-kind example of this exciting model. As a unique work of playable art, it holds a lifetime of music and inspiration that’s just waiting to be explored and enjoyed.

THE LEO SCALA THEODORE RETROLINER – TV YELLOW

FULLY FUNCTIONAL, UNMISTAKABLY GIBSON, ONE OF A KIND. EVERY DETAIL OBSESSIVELY CONCEIVED, CUSTOMIZED, AND HANDMADE. INCLUDING THE SOUND.

▪ Alder Body with Walnut Center Strip

▪ Mahogany Neck; C-Profile with Leo Scala Custom Oiled Finish. Shaped and Rounded Per Leo’s Customizations to Give it a Well-played-in Feel

▪ Indian Rosewood Fretboard

▪ 22 Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall Frets

▪ Finish Hand Lacquered and Custom Aged by the Master Artisan

▪ Kluson® Six In-Line Tuners with White Oval Buttons

▪ Master Artisan Aged Hardware

▪ Custom Aged Pickguard, Control Cover, and Switchwasher

▪ Black Top Hat with Silver Insert Knobs with Dial Pointers

▪ Black Pickup Selector Switch Cap

▪ Raised Metal Gibson Headstock Logo

▪ Custom-infused Plastics Colors That Won’t Wear Off with Use

▪ Bigsby B7 Vibrato with Leo Scala Modifications

▪ ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Custom Dog Bone Base; Remains Steady When Using the Bigsby

▪ Leo Scala Custom Hand-wound Retrophonic “Big Ed” Patent Applied For-style Bridge Pickup with Alnico 2 Magnet, 8.7 k DC Resistance

▪ Leo Scala Custom Hand-wound Retrophonic Soapbar P-90 Neck Pickup with Alnico 3 and Unoriented Alnico 5 Magnets, 7.9 k DC Resistance

▪ 50s-style Wiring, 550k VIPots Potentiometers, and Custom Bumblebee Capacitors

▪ Custom G&G Hardshell Case with Leo Scala-Aged Hardware and Embroidered Gibson Logo Inside

▪ Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity Box from Leo Scala