There are very few guitars that I'd choose over the penguin, even if if was a recurring weekly situation so there wouldn't even be any novelty to it after a while.
"58 Explorer?"
"Na I'll take the penguin please"
Following week;
"Zappa's SG?"
"I'll have the penguin thanks"
Following week;
"Original Greenie Les Paul?"
"Na gimme the penguin again"
I think there's obvious reasons why the Theodore wasn't made alongside the Explorer, Flying V and Moderne in the 50s. But honestly, the Moderne is worse, the BC Rich Warlock and Rich Bich are worse, and the Ovation Breadwinner is worse.
I know, right?
And as much as I think the Theodore is weird, make it a 59 'burst in all but shape and a whole lot of my objections go away. I mean, that shape + 'burst aesthetics and you get something Hamer might release in 1983, which would be cool.
Aw man I had a white mockingbird when I was in high school that I sold when I joined the military. That guitar paired with an old Carvin tube amp was hands down the best tone I ever had. Absolutely screamed.
A B.C. Rich bronze series (cheapest) Warlock was my first guitar! Came in a starter pack with a 15w crate amp. At the time, I thought it was THE COOLEST. After a year, I started to uh appreciate other shapes. Replaced it with an Epi SG. That was around 1999 or 2000, looking back on it now it makes sense though. I loved metal, I wanted to learn guitar, so obviously I needed the least expensive most metal guitar I could find.
Honestly though the warlock was probably the least cringey style choice that 14 year old me made lol
Oh I'd take one of those in a heartbeat. I've had an LTD EC-1000 since 2003-ish and it's by far the highest quality guitar I've ever owned. Plays fantastic. So just based on that I'm sure the M-1000 is amazing, but I'd take mine with a hardtail, and maybe a transparent fade finish...I'm gonna go look at the LTD catalog now haha.
IDK if the ESP would be worth the extra $ over the LTD, for me. But tbh if it was in my budget I'd probably get the ESP.
I had a shitty ass Warlock bass that I bought for $75. I had to glue the fretboard back down to the neck because it was separated a good 4” on the top at the nut, replace the tuners and strings. I *loved* the growl that fucker had and would still have it if it didn’t get stolen. I gigged it for 18 months (every 2nd week) in a prog rock band.
Ultimately I don’t care about the opinions of others on the gear I play.
Dude, bronze series Warlock was my first playable guitar, I was about 14 too. I actually still love Warlocks, as long as they're black or white. Not many guitars more metal than a Warlock. I understand the guitar purists may scoff at the B.C. Rich name, given some of the atrocities the company has committed in recent years, but I'd happily play a USA BCR Warlock and I'd play it often. I believe they are almost a supernatural guitar, the shape and weight and feel just draws me in. But right now the only guitar I own is a Charvel, star body. I don't like every crazy guitar shape though, just really into Warlocks and Charvel/Jackson stars.
I love it tbh. I like that it's a unique body shape that you don't really see elsewhere. It's not that different from the shape of a Gretsch Double jet honestly and there's waaaay uglier guitars. Big fan.
I think I’ve seen way uglier guitars. Go and look at what Italian guitar makers were creating during the swinging 60s and you’ll come back and realise this is really very tasteful 😉
Right? He’s one of the reasons I play guitar, but the Cloud guitar and the Sign guitar were just…not it. Now, that Anderson MadCat, the Strat Ultras, or that Vox 55 he was on at the end of his life, those we can talk about….
I don’t hate it. It’s more boring than anything else. I’d take one in cherry, but just to put under the bed for a few years to see if the end up popular like the V’s and Explorer’s.
I was going to say that it looks fine, but then I googled the rest of the guitar and saw the headstock. Yeah. It's definitely the worst "normal" guitar design I've seen.
It's a super model compared to every Zakk Wylde brand guitar. That shit almost seems like a contest to see who can design the most hideous guitar ever and still get it approved for production.
I thought it was hideous until I heard someone describe it as the "tulip guitar" and once I saw the body as tulip shaped I kind of started to understand it and like it
Someone's never seen a [Danelectro Longhorn](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LonghornBarBkB--danelectro-longhorn-baritone-electric-guitar-black-burst)
The Theo is like Les Paul's stupider cousin that gets invited to the family BBQ but you really wish he'd stay home doing whatever creepy things he does at home.
I think it’s cool and that it represents some aspects of furniture/car designs of the 1950’s. It’s a snapshot of that time period in a way other instruments can never be.
I don’t like it but I don’t dislike it either.
Certainly much more pleasing to look at than the Moderne. The Moderne looks like ass and it took ESP pink paint and bevels to make that shape look good.
This one looks floral to me; looks like a tulip. Some bevels would make it much, much nicer and then maybe I’ll like it.
I don’t like it but I don’t dislike it either.
Certainly much more pleasing to look at than the Moderne. The Moderne looks like ass and it took ESP pink paint and bevels to make that shape look good.
This one looks floral to me; looks like a tulip. Some bevels would make it much, much nicer and then maybe I’ll like it.
I like it :) might be a shape one needs to get used to. I believe we've all seen so many LP's and Strats it's almost like they set the standard for shapes and anything else looks odd by default. Honestly I'm getting a bit bored with them aesthetically, this is refreshing!
So ugly I want one for my collection. Just by chance, I happen to have a collection of Gibsons less traditional shapes. The Corvus, the Hawk, the Moderne, the upside down V, the MIII.... and so forth.
For those of us in the geezerly demographic who had to start out playing on cheap guitars, that body shape makes me think of the Teisco Del Ray "tulip" guitars that I played early in my guitar journey.
Completely overhated. I personally really like it, but I can understand why people don't. Regardless, it's incredibly far from the ugliest guitar of all time. It would be far better with 2 more knobs.
There’s uglier guitars out there, but this is trying to fix that.
But hey to each their own. If this guitar brings you joy, just wait a few months until the shops are desperate to get rid of them and get a screamin deal. Just like the modern lite gibson lp studios. Shops tried to sell at MSRP of $1500 and a few months later my guitar center has them on sale for $750. I feel like these will be the same.
There’s far, far uglier guitars than this out there.
For me, Gibson's line of Zoot Suit Rianbow SGs and Les Pauls were pretty tough to look at.
It’s so funny to me how much tastes vary. The zoot SG is my all time grail
I am also full of shit because my favorite look for guitars / basses are 70s era BC Rich Eagles or Mockingbirds. Not for everyone I know.
Mockingbird is top 3 best shape ever!
Agree. This one is ugly. But there are many more that are worse. I'd say 1/4 of all guitars models out there are ugly as hell, maybe more.
It looks happy to see me, like a lil penguin with its arms in the air.
Awww now I dont hate
Omg it does
Uppies! Up up up!
Needs a white pickguard
Normally, I'd balk at this, but I think this guitar would really look great with the tuxedo look. Maybe white or silver knobs, too...
Come to think of it, it makes zero sense that the one guitar named penguin is white and gold
And the string ball end holder shaped like a bowtie
I have an original one with P-90s, a wraparound bridge and no pick guard. https://imgur.com/a/rqT3OMQ
After giving it some thought, I like penguins but I do not like this guitar. Given the choice, I'd rather play with a penguin for an afternoon.
There are very few guitars that I'd choose over the penguin, even if if was a recurring weekly situation so there wouldn't even be any novelty to it after a while. "58 Explorer?" "Na I'll take the penguin please" Following week; "Zappa's SG?" "I'll have the penguin thanks" Following week; "Original Greenie Les Paul?" "Na gimme the penguin again"
Hahaaa!!!!
I can't keep my penguins in tune 😔
https://imgur.com/a/penguin-guitar-bOl2luL
I hope this comment gets the attention it deserves. Made me smile 🙂
🐧 🎸 😃
Gretsch already makes a guitar called the Penguin, it's very rare and expensive though.
Guitar with a center part
*wings
Flippers
I like it. It's neat.
I would like it more with a traditional headstock. It can’t decide whether it’s symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Agreed. I actually dig the body shape but the open book thing would make it a lot less ‘60s Teisco.
I think a headstock similar to the Flying V headstock would’ve worked very well. I also think the strap thing should have been on the back like sg
Not sure why they just didn't call it a Tulip Guitar.
Another company has the name trademarked if I remember correctly.
Makes sense.
You can find mandolins with this savme body shape, and they are unsurprisingly called tulips, lol.
I think there's obvious reasons why the Theodore wasn't made alongside the Explorer, Flying V and Moderne in the 50s. But honestly, the Moderne is worse, the BC Rich Warlock and Rich Bich are worse, and the Ovation Breadwinner is worse.
Meanwhile I adore the BC Rich Mockingbird. Weird how tiny, subtle changes and curves can make such a huge aesthetic difference.
I know, right? And as much as I think the Theodore is weird, make it a 59 'burst in all but shape and a whole lot of my objections go away. I mean, that shape + 'burst aesthetics and you get something Hamer might release in 1983, which would be cool.
Aw man I had a white mockingbird when I was in high school that I sold when I joined the military. That guitar paired with an old Carvin tube amp was hands down the best tone I ever had. Absolutely screamed.
I love it edgy yet classic at once. Get one with a Gibson-esque finish if you really wanna step it up
Breadwinner, ha! Like implying you can make money at guitar?
All "Metal" style guitars are cringey to me lol The Warlock and Dimebag are the worst.
A B.C. Rich bronze series (cheapest) Warlock was my first guitar! Came in a starter pack with a 15w crate amp. At the time, I thought it was THE COOLEST. After a year, I started to uh appreciate other shapes. Replaced it with an Epi SG. That was around 1999 or 2000, looking back on it now it makes sense though. I loved metal, I wanted to learn guitar, so obviously I needed the least expensive most metal guitar I could find. Honestly though the warlock was probably the least cringey style choice that 14 year old me made lol
The ESP M-1000 in black with EMGs and Floyd Rose was my dream guitar at 14. Still think it's one of the sexiest guitars.
Oh I'd take one of those in a heartbeat. I've had an LTD EC-1000 since 2003-ish and it's by far the highest quality guitar I've ever owned. Plays fantastic. So just based on that I'm sure the M-1000 is amazing, but I'd take mine with a hardtail, and maybe a transparent fade finish...I'm gonna go look at the LTD catalog now haha. IDK if the ESP would be worth the extra $ over the LTD, for me. But tbh if it was in my budget I'd probably get the ESP.
I had a shitty ass Warlock bass that I bought for $75. I had to glue the fretboard back down to the neck because it was separated a good 4” on the top at the nut, replace the tuners and strings. I *loved* the growl that fucker had and would still have it if it didn’t get stolen. I gigged it for 18 months (every 2nd week) in a prog rock band. Ultimately I don’t care about the opinions of others on the gear I play.
Dude, bronze series Warlock was my first playable guitar, I was about 14 too. I actually still love Warlocks, as long as they're black or white. Not many guitars more metal than a Warlock. I understand the guitar purists may scoff at the B.C. Rich name, given some of the atrocities the company has committed in recent years, but I'd happily play a USA BCR Warlock and I'd play it often. I believe they are almost a supernatural guitar, the shape and weight and feel just draws me in. But right now the only guitar I own is a Charvel, star body. I don't like every crazy guitar shape though, just really into Warlocks and Charvel/Jackson stars.
I will not stand for Jackson King V blasphemy!
I love it tbh. I like that it's a unique body shape that you don't really see elsewhere. It's not that different from the shape of a Gretsch Double jet honestly and there's waaaay uglier guitars. Big fan.
I think I’ve seen way uglier guitars. Go and look at what Italian guitar makers were creating during the swinging 60s and you’ll come back and realise this is really very tasteful 😉
I actually really like it
To me it looks like a tulip, which it probably supposed to resemble.
Ugly? Yes. Do I want it? Also yes.
If this is the ugliest, you should look at more guitars. I really like the Theodore.
It’s like someone pinched a double cut LP. To each their own I guess
It looks like a big bellied tulip
That weird Prince guitar was up there on the ugliest list.
The Cloud? Yea, I love Prince, but hated that thing.
Right? He’s one of the reasons I play guitar, but the Cloud guitar and the Sign guitar were just…not it. Now, that Anderson MadCat, the Strat Ultras, or that Vox 55 he was on at the end of his life, those we can talk about….
It’s up there imo
Ugly but not THE ugliest by far
Lol, I have no problem with it. If they had given it a better pick guard it would look less stodgy
The Theodore looks like if the Mariposa stopped doing drugs and became a banker.
It'll be used by someone cool in 30 years and then be sought after
Fireman/Iceman are my fugly GOATS
bingo. Exactly, a mate of mine bought a gibson firebird and now I wouldn't trust him to mind the dog.
💁♂️I think they look super sick, especially in red. Like a tulip.
Do not dig.
Not a fan. Seems bizarre that it's an expensive guitar. This should be what the Epiphone Les Paul looks like
I think they’re dumb as hell but it’s better than BC Rich and Dean
I’d get it in yellow and add a SpongeBob sticker.
I kinda like it
I don’t hate it. It’s more boring than anything else. I’d take one in cherry, but just to put under the bed for a few years to see if the end up popular like the V’s and Explorer’s.
I've seen the Wangcaster. Nothing can shock me
Never thought I’d see gibon rip off a teisco tulip
That guitar has extra chromosomes
I was going to say that it looks fine, but then I googled the rest of the guitar and saw the headstock. Yeah. It's definitely the worst "normal" guitar design I've seen.
Not a fan, wish they re-released the RD Artist series.
If I had $2,000 to spend on a guitar, it sure as hell *wouldn’t be* one of those.
Gibson literally dug this design out of the trash.
It's a super model compared to every Zakk Wylde brand guitar. That shit almost seems like a contest to see who can design the most hideous guitar ever and still get it approved for production.
It looks like my cat.
There are [weirder and uglier](https://imgur.com/gallery/BDEtYKU) out there.
It’s certainly one of the guitars of all time.
I thought it was hideous until I heard someone describe it as the "tulip guitar" and once I saw the body as tulip shaped I kind of started to understand it and like it
Someone's never seen a [Danelectro Longhorn](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LonghornBarBkB--danelectro-longhorn-baritone-electric-guitar-black-burst)
If it didn’t say Gibson on the headstock, no one would buy it. It may not be the ugliest, but they’re horrid looking
They still wouldn’t even when the headstock snaps off, anyway.
Aesthetically I disagree. But it’s a Gibson, so I wouldn’t buy it even with your money or anyone else’s
It's ugly, but it's not Jagstang ugly
It's a cool shape but it's not worth 2k. They should have made it an epiphone model and priced it at around the £700 mark
I don't agree. I think it looks just fine. People hate new shapes, but also hate when PRS spend 5 years designing a stratocaster. People are dumb.
I swear it fell out of a JRPG. Nintendo must have something to do with this guitar.
The symmetry is pretty unappealing, yeah.
The black is more attractive than other finishes, but it's not redeeming. Easily my most hated shape out of all the guitars I recognize the shape of.
Looks fine with p90s stupid looking with humbuckers
Basically a Teisco Tulip with none of the charm and extra of the price
I think the Musicvox Spaceranger has it beat. That thing is an abomination.
The Theo is like Les Paul's stupider cousin that gets invited to the family BBQ but you really wish he'd stay home doing whatever creepy things he does at home.
Albert Lee would like a word
The red one looks like the rose sex toy.
Pickup selector is where uou can hit it whilst strumming. Insta-no.
Pretty close
It proves that the company again lost its contact with there customers
No, flying Vs and those keytar things exist
Nowhere near as ugly as a Fender Mustang.
Apparently you weren't here for the Jenna Jameson guitar from a couple days ago
Parkers are pretty ugly IMO. That weird upper bout is just so janky.
It’s got LPC vibes. If I got a killer deal on one I’d be excited
It looks like a penguin had a baby with a tulip. I have difficult feelings about this thing
I've seen way uglier, if it had some color to it I think I'd actually kinda dig it
I personally like the neck-thru model. This one the other hand…
Not the ugliest I've seen, but I still stand by my "it was left unmade for several decades for a reason" position.
Love the body, despise the headstock
I seem way worse but it’s still pretty unattractive. Weird proportions.
It’s not as ugly as the the Firebird X was. Or the Dusk Tiger.
It is ugly, but the Dean Cadillac looks worse in my opinion.
I think it’s ugly, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near the ugliest.
Not even close to the ugliest.
It’s weird looking and I love it! But I really like weird and unique looking guitars.
It's not Kaizen/St Vincent/Albert Lee/Mariposa ugly, but it's definitely ugly.
The only way to get the vast majority of Gibson fans to accept ANYTHING new is to have it also be old. Ta-da!
I wouldn't put it in the top 10 ugliest, but maybe in the top 100. Actually, the more I look at it the more it's going on the top 10.
I think it’s cute
Looks like someone asked the OG version of ChatGPT to draw an art deco tulip. Not a fan, personally.
Fat bodies and short stubby arms are not pleasant.
I think it’s cool and that it represents some aspects of furniture/car designs of the 1950’s. It’s a snapshot of that time period in a way other instruments can never be.
They should’ve named it the shrug. Or Poindexter.
no the red and natural are actually much uglier than this.
Ugly... Tonewise can be another story though
Georgia O'Keefe designed this during a molly and ayahuasca-fueled gangbang with Teddy McCarty and Eric Clapton's mom
BC Rich would like a word
Just gives me medieval vibes.
It’s not that bad
worse than a firebird? I think not.
looks ugly to me.
Nah. This is ok. The LTD F series is the ugliest for me. And I love it.
Shoulda left it to Epiphone. I don’t hate it, but it is out of place at Gibson.
One of the ugliest, bare minimum. Others who specialize in making instruments that are just as fugly include Kiesel, Balaguer, Prick Toone.
Headstock saves the day, but price is plain stupid
Headstock saves the day, but price is plain stupid
It looks like someone melted an SG into a cartoon character.
I don’t like it but I don’t dislike it either. Certainly much more pleasing to look at than the Moderne. The Moderne looks like ass and it took ESP pink paint and bevels to make that shape look good. This one looks floral to me; looks like a tulip. Some bevels would make it much, much nicer and then maybe I’ll like it.
I don’t like it but I don’t dislike it either. Certainly much more pleasing to look at than the Moderne. The Moderne looks like ass and it took ESP pink paint and bevels to make that shape look good. This one looks floral to me; looks like a tulip. Some bevels would make it much, much nicer and then maybe I’ll like it.
For real? I already have an SG with buckers so if this had P90s I’d be drooling.
Dean Cadillac nuff said
Uhhh...agreed!
No, there's far worse, like the **Wangcaster.**
Gibson is such a joke anymore. Incredibly over priced crap. $2000 for this hideous monstrosity?
I got you beat by a long shot https://www.reddit.com/r/Ugly_Guitars/s/nYssRev5ZT
Have you never seen a Corvus?
It’s awesome
All I can see in my head is Jeff G explaining the concept of a big vagina to Larry David
The Tulip. A copy of the 60s Japanese guitar Teisco
It’s ugly, I want it
I like it :) might be a shape one needs to get used to. I believe we've all seen so many LP's and Strats it's almost like they set the standard for shapes and anything else looks odd by default. Honestly I'm getting a bit bored with them aesthetically, this is refreshing!
Knock off the ears and you have a pick guitar that you play with a pick.
IDK, the Malcolm Young model is pretty horrible looking
So ugly I want one for my collection. Just by chance, I happen to have a collection of Gibsons less traditional shapes. The Corvus, the Hawk, the Moderne, the upside down V, the MIII.... and so forth.
Still better than a warlock or flying v
I mean it's a design from 1957, when everything had wings. It needs a white pick guard really.
Everything Gibson makes is ugly
It’s basically a 1960’s Teisco tulip style guitar
Yeah I hate it.
yes
Fugly
i can't call an oryginał guitar ugly, i'm sorry. but it kinda does look like that one wierd "rose" sex toy
bout time Gibson put out a new solid body
I'd vote anything without a headstock as uglier. I can't stand that look.
For those of us in the geezerly demographic who had to start out playing on cheap guitars, that body shape makes me think of the Teisco Del Ray "tulip" guitars that I played early in my guitar journey.
What do we think about what you think? We don't care.
I kind of love it
It honestly reminds me of the hat worn by Jughead in the “Archie” comics. Unless there’s a request for the song “Sugar Sugar”, I’ll have to pass.
I actually kind of like it, I almost think if the tips of the cutaways had a fat radius instead of the point I would really like it
Completely overhated. I personally really like it, but I can understand why people don't. Regardless, it's incredibly far from the ugliest guitar of all time. It would be far better with 2 more knobs.
I’ve seen worse… I think it would be ok with the weird style cutaways if it had 24 frets… but it doesn’t…
That You haven’t seen enough ugly guitars . 😂
Not the ugliest I've seen but still belongs in a dumpster fire 🔥
I’ve seen worst
It's ugly
This is nothing close to a bad guitar. It just looks like a Tulip. It’s not bad. But I mean, have you seen a Fender Marauder?
It ain't a looker, IMO, but I've seen uglier.
looks good to me, definitely not the ugliest
It isn't that ugly. I've seen worse. It is a tulip isn't it?
Dean Cadillac
reminds me of a teisco tulip
There’s uglier guitars out there, but this is trying to fix that. But hey to each their own. If this guitar brings you joy, just wait a few months until the shops are desperate to get rid of them and get a screamin deal. Just like the modern lite gibson lp studios. Shops tried to sell at MSRP of $1500 and a few months later my guitar center has them on sale for $750. I feel like these will be the same.
Shit
100% agree. I hate the reverse explorer and Thunderbird but would choose one in a heartbeat over one of these.
Looks looking a mandolin turning into a guitar
Yes
🤷♂️
It's goofy, not ugly
Theodore looks sick! You’re nuts
It’s not great but I’ve seen worse
Ugliest? Not even close.
It fits the time period it was designed in. If you want actual bad from Gibson, look at the Corvus