“It’s not art that should be hanging on a wall; it’s a performing piece of art”
Leo Scala’s fourth contribution to the Gibson Custom Master Artisan Collection consists of 10 one-of-a-kind Theodore™ Retroliner guitars with breathtaking custom-aged finishes, plastics, and hardware.
Each of Scala’s 10 new interpretations of the storied Gibson Theodore has been handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail and its own unique story and aesthetic. Scala reimagined the Theodore as if it had actually been released by Gibson in the 1950s and then evolved with different configurations, modifications, and finishes over time. He combines classic aesthetics with hot rod-inspired elements, hand-aging the nitrocellulose lacquer finish and custom hardware to give each guitar a distinctive, vintage feel.
Unique features abound, such as Bigsby® B7 tailpieces with custom spacers that allow the vibrato arm to have a wider range of travel, Leo’s own hand-wound Retrophonic pickups, custom metal parts, carefully chosen paints, and plastics with custom-infused colors—including a new pickguard design on some of the models inspired by a combination of the ES-335 and Les Paul Special.
All of the necks are hand-rolled and oil-finished, too, so each one will have its own individual personality along with a supremely comfortable, played-in feel. Check out the video below to see Leo Scala sit down with Dinesh Lekhraj and talk through all 10 of the guitars. You’ll also hear them in action.
The spirit of collaboration
The Master Artisan Collection is a unique collaboration between Gibson Custom and select luthiers, both in-house and worldwide. It showcases the craftsmanship of artisans at the pinnacle of their craft, such as Leo Scala and Rickie Hinrichsen.
For nearly three decades, Leo Scala has crafted unique instruments in his small workshop near Los Angeles, gaining a reputation for unmatched creativity and obsessive attention to detail. The partnership between Scala and Gibson began when Gibson President and CEO Cesar Gueikian visited Scala’s shop. Their shared passion for guitars and the Gibson legacy sparked the creation of these exceptional instruments.
“When I build a guitar, I am not building a guitar,” says Scala. “I’m first building a knob. Then I’m winding the pickups. I’m 100 percent dialed into each and every one of those details. I build a whole lot of different little things. The guitar is just a place where everything comes together.”
Though Scala’s guitars have the visual impact of sculpture, from his perspective, the looks are never the most important thing: “It’s always the sound,” he says. “It can be extremely flashy, but if you pick it up and it doesn’t do its own thing, then you just missed the whole point. It’s not art that should be hanging on a wall; it’s a performing piece of art.”
Allow the gallery below to further whet your appetite, and click through to each guitar for comprehensive specifications, many more images, pricing, and availability.
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – Custom 57
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – Gold Adagio
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – TV Yellow
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – Classic Black
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – Macchiato White
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – Electric Purple
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – Pink Martini
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – Bleeding Red
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – British Racing Green
Leo Scala Master Artisan Theodore Retroliner – Gold Mist Absinthe
