What if Gibson did this? I suppose they could.

[Archie]

As you guys know, I’ve been building an archtop manufacturing facility, whilst learning cutting edge digital techniques, in the hope of addressing the problem people are noticing here. The suspicion I had several years ago, is that without some sort of streamlining, archtops will become harder to make and sell (aside from far east imports).
Facilitating brands in ’testing the water’ allows them to indulge the market with less risk. A supplier that can do the work better and at a more affordable rate, would be the perfect solution and this is what I’ve been working on for the last 3 years.
Gibson are more difficult to see entering this type of situation but I will contact them with some proposals shortly. It’s not to say that I have earned the right to do so but I have acquired a unique set of digital skills and designed some custom manufacturing operations, that could lead to an interesting opportunity.

This problem in archtop manufacturing has been coming for some time.

On a side note, I haven’t posted an update on my journey for 7 months. In Dec last year I was told I had to leave the workshop I’d spent 6 months building and find a new one. This will now be my 3rd workshop build in 3 years. I have now secured my own unit and things will be more stable.

Here's the new workshop!

[Doctor Jeff]

Les designed the tailpiece of the original Les Paul model. After one year, IIRC, his tailpiece was replaced with the TOM and stop tailpiece. And at the time this model was inroduced, Gibson thought jazz guitarists would embrace it. That never really happened. In fact, nobody really embraced it and the model was a failure, sales wise and it was discontinued in 1961.

I wish we could all have failures like that…

[Hammertone]

Yes, but maybe, Les Paul originally designed his guitars for playing Jazz?

Les Paul didn't design the Gibson Les Paul. He simply signed an endorsement deal with Gibson for a new guitar model. Jazz had nothing to do with any of it.

Les designed the tailpiece of the original Les Paul model. After one year, IIRC, his tailpiece was replaced with the TOM and stop tailpiece. And at the time this model was inroduced, Gibson thought jazz guitarists would embrace it. That never really happened. In fact, nobody really embraced it and the model was a failure, sales wise and it was discontinued in 1961.

I disagree. Gibson sold plenty of Les Pauls from '52 to 61. Way more than several of its archtop models, which were not discontinued.

I think Les didn't renew his deal with Gibson because he was getting divorced at the time and didn't want to share future royalties with Mary Ford. I don't think he was upset at the changes in the design of the Les Paul model. Gibson didn't stop making solid guitars, they just changed the design to feed the market with a "new & improved!" message (just like the auto makers), and also to be able to make solid guitars for less money (and higher margins), IMO.

Les Paul Standard 1952-1961 - 9,557
Les Paul Custom 1954-1961 - 1,912
arched-top Les Pauls, combined - 11,469
Les Paul Special, Jr., TV, Jr. 3/4, 1954-1961 - 28,041 (mostly Juniors)

ES-5/300/350 - 1954-1961 - 2,532
Byrdland - 1955-1961 - 537
S-300/400 - 1954-1961 - 619
L-5 - 1952-1961 - 876
L-7/12 - 1952-1961 - 1,331

ES-175/295 - 1952-1961 - 11,052
ES-125/135/150 -1952-1961 - 36,076

ES-140 - 1954-1961 - 2,993
ES-3x5 - 1958-1961 - 4,623
ES-330 - 1959-1961 - 4,856
Melody Maker - 1959-1961 - 11,232
SG-LP & SG - 1959-1961 - 7,672

[Stringswinger]

Gibson shipped a total of 11,469 Les Paul Standards and Customs from 1952 through 1961 when the original model was discontinued. They shipped 2175 SG Standards and SG Customs (all of which were called Les Pauls in that year) in 1961 alone. That was more guitars shipped in 1961 than in any year of the original model. I would say that Gibson management was pretty happy with the change even if Les Paul was not.

Jazzers never went for the Les Paul in a big way, but when Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, Peter Green and a few others discovered how excellent the sustain of a Les Paul is, the guitar took off and became Gibson's best seller ever.

I wonder how many of those original Les Pauls are still extant and also how many fakes have been created. I had a guitar teacher in 1973 who offered me his 1953 Gold Top Lester (bone stock) for $600. Too bad for me that I was 15 and didn't have the $600.