We’ve already had the and and now Gibson has announced the arrival of the ES Supreme – completing the triumvirate of the firm’s best-selling . The current Supreme range sits under Gibson’s Modern (as opposed to Traditional) Collection and stretches the classic formulas, by offering luxurious aesthetic touches, AAA maple tops and advanced electronic circuitry. As such, like its predecessors, the ES Supreme has a AAA figured maple top, a pair of USA Burstbuckers (the Rhythm Pro and Lead Pros) and the option to coil-tap each via the pair of push-pull volume pots.
Again, as on the SG and LP Supremes, Gibson has pulled out all of the stops when it comes to the upgraded aesthetics – including gold hardware, Super Split block mother of pearl inlays and the Supreme ‘chandelier’ headstock inlay (based on a 1940s design rediscovered in the Gibson archive). Similarly, there’s an array of contemporary yet seriously eye-catching finishes, most notably Seafoam Green and Blueberry Burst options, alongside the more conservative Bourbon Burst. However, the ES stands apart from its fellow Supremes by continuing that finish onto the rear of the guitar, too, marking it apart from the plain-backed SG and LP.
In terms of construction materials, the AAA figured maple is combined in a three-ply laminate with poplar and maple for the top, back and sides. Then there’s maple centerblock, spruce bracing and a mahogany neck. Meanwhile, the hardware includes an Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-.