Les Paul Supreme

[tfarny]

So my guitarist buys one of these in cherry burst and surprises us all at practice. It is a really different model than a standard or custom. They are over 3k new, appparently. And beautiful, beautiful. His weighs about 6 lb and sounds a lot more like a full hollow than a les. Kind of odd, I notice there is no back plate - all flame maple all over. How do they assemble it I wonder - not even any F holes to get things through. Then I read this:
http://www.lespaulforum.com/slubarticle/supreme/supreme.html

They put all the electronics in through the jack plate! It's the only access to the control cavities. Can you imagine the PITA if your toggle switch goes bad! Or if you want to install Jimmy Page switching. Wow.

 

[line6man]

Looks incredible tough to shield!

 

[DangerousR6]

That would be a freaking nightmare........ :doh:

 

[-CB-]

"The 3-way switch needed access to the CPA pocket for wiring. We designed the internal cavity routings to provide wiring access to the pickups and pots. After the chamber was drawn in, it was time to tackle the wiring. By routing the 3-way switch channel a bit wider and going the full depth of the mahogany blank, it allowed us to run the wire through the rhythm pickup cavity."

"The pickups have longer wires, allowing you to solder the pots outside of the body. Ground wires were also insulated and attached to the pots using a slightly heavier gauge wire to help stabilize the assembly while installing. These insulated grounds from each pickup/pot assembly, along with the bridge ground, were gathered outside the body and connected together to be soldered to the jack ground. Everything slides into body, with the jack plate mounted last.”

 

[Volitions Advocate]

very cool.
still

1 gibby LP supreme = 2 Warmoth LPs

 

[stubhead]

Doesn't sound much weirder than a 335, really. If I wanted to change my wiring a lot I wouldn't buy one. If I wanted to spend $3,000 wisely, I wouldn't buy one. If I wanted a nice wall decoration that's sure not to appreciate cause Gibson has built a trillion discofied Les Pauls in the last few decades, I'd snap 'em up. If it sounds and plays great, it's a great guitar. If it doesn't....

 

[OzziePete]

If you bought one of these you'd have to hope the pots, switch & cap lasts longer than however long you want to keep the guitar!

Pulling everything through the output jack cavity would have some repairers refusing to do the job I reckon - or charging a fortune for what is usually a simple swap out.. Why not wooden plates, properly matched and finished in the same finish, they'd almost look invisible  :dontknow:

 

[MUYFUE]

Those ARE really beautiful you gotta admit!  :icon_thumright:

But yeah, Stubby's right about the wiring not being TOO bigg of a pain. Just like a 335 I think too.

It's a bit above my skill/patience level, but I'm sure a good tech can handle swaps and service.