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Gibson Custom Theodore
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
VS
Playability
77
Sound
75
Build
72
Value
60
Score
75
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Playability
80
Sound
79
Build
68
Value
81
Score
76
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Gibson Custom Theodore vs Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition

Reasons to Get
Gibson Custom Theodore over Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs South Korea
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
P90P90 vs HH
Vintage tone with decent versatility
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster

Reasons to Get
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition over Gibson Custom Theodore

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
HH vs P90P90
High output without hum
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Value Score
81 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Custom Theodore vs Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition

Bridge Pickup
Custom Soapbar P90 vs Schecter USA Sunset Strip
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Custom Soapbar P90 vs Schecter USA Pasadena
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Nylon vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Custom Theodore vs Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition

Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gibson Custom Theodore Prices

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Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Gibson Custom Theodore's 75 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gibson Custom Theodore has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition is the better choice.

The Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Custom Theodore meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Custom Theodore
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Gibson Custom Theodore Overview

  • From Gibson Custom's 2022 Historic Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Custom Soapbar P90 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Wraparound bridge
  • C-profile Set neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Kluson Six In-Line with Cream Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition Overview

  • From Schecter's 2020 Custom series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany 3-pc neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Sunset Strip (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin C Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Schecter Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Gibson Custom Theodore

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Gibson Custom Theodore has an P90P90 configuration while the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition has HH pickups.

P90P90 gives you two P90s for a crunchy vintage tone. The tone sits somewhere in the middle between typical single-coils and humbuckers. They also produce less hum than single-coils, but they don't cancel it completely like humbuckers.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Gibson Custom Theodore has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Gibson Custom Theodore.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Gibson Custom Theodore pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Custom Theodore's switch options
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Custom Theodore
Pickups 100
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 79

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson Custom Theodore compares to the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson Custom Theodore is built in United States while the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition is made in South Korea.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

Winner: Gibson Custom Theodore

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Gibson Custom Theodore has a Nylon nut. It used to be one of the highest quality materials for nuts (and still is), but it's rare to find nowadays because it's hard to work with. It's a very resistant material with very low friction, so it will keep the guitar in tune and will last for a long time

On the other hand, the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Custom Theodore
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Nylon Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Custom Theodore
Quality of materials 66
Features 50
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 72
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
Quality of materials 60
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 68

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson Custom Theodore Nut Width
Gibson Custom Theodore Nut Width
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition Nut Width
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Custom Theodore has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson Custom Theodore, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Custom Theodore and Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Gibson Custom Theodore Neck Profile
Gibson Custom Theodore's neck profile
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition Neck Profile
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Gibson Custom Theodore and the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Custom Theodore Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Custom Theodore's Fingerboard radius
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition's Compound Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Custom Theodore favors large hands more than the Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Gibson Custom Theodore:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Custom Theodore Frets Size
Gibson Custom Theodore's Frets Size
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition Frets Size
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition's Frets Size

The Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Custom Theodore's Narrow Tall frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson Custom Theodore
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77
Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Custom Theodore vs Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
General Gibson Custom Theodore Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
Brand: Gibson Custom Schecter
Year: 2022 2020
Configuration: P90P90 HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States South Korea
Series: Historic Collection Custom
Colors: Black, Red, Natural Orange Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Wraparound TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Kluson Six In-Line with Cream Buttons Schecter Locking
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany 3-pc
Decoration: Pearloid Dot Mother of Pearl Blocks
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: C-profile Thin C
Frets: 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Nylon Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Custom Soapbar P90 (Single Coil / Passive) Schecter USA Sunset Strip (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Custom Soapbar P90 (Single Coil / Passive) Schecter USA Pasadena (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 1