C Fouke Combat Paul

This is a 2000 C Fouke Industrial "Les Paul" style guitar that was custom-made to my specs by Chris Fouke of http://www.industrialguitar.com .
The body is aluminum bolted onto a black phenloic resin core, like his other models. The center is hollow. It has a special 6-string tuning: B-E-A-D-F#-B using Schecter Decimator strings.
The pickups are a Gibson 498T(bridge) & a 490R(neck) with chrome covers that I sent him. The controls are: Volume, tone, 3-way switch and master "Kill" switch (for cutting signal altogether) all clustered adjacent to the bridge area for easy access.
It has a Schaller Stop tune-o-matic combo bridge/tailpiece, medium frets, sealed tuners and a rosewood neck w/maple fretboard.
The finish was a first for him. I didn't want the shiny/polished style of his early models. I was looking for something that had been dragged through hell. To accomplish this, Chris took a wire brush and drill and scratched the aluminum all up, He then rubbed black paint into the top and the end result was very cool. Check it out on his website.
The output jack is a Strat-style jack mounted on the rear of the guitar.

The low-B tuning and hollow metal body make this guitar sound outrageous for really heavy, distorted parts. The low end is MUCH tighter than any 7-string I've ever played. The sound is very akin to my '97 LP Studio, which is what I was shooting for. My main use for this guitar is pretty specialized. It's definitely a cranked-Marshall, power-chord/riff application. But the guitar seems to sound REALLY good in other contexts as well. I bet this thing would sound amazing set up as a slide guitar. The acoustic sound of it is great, sort of like a dobro.
The sustain is longer-lasting and more controlled (before feedback) than just about any guitar I've ever played. Great on one hand, and a definite polishing of the palm-mute on the other.

The guitar was set up really well. For the first time setting up this tuning, Fouke nailed it just right. The action wasn't that low, which is a must with these B-tuned instruments. I thought that the bolts would get in the way of playing, and be uncomfortable, but I was pleasantly surprised that they were barely noticable.
The strap buttons are solid, almost to the point where I don't feel I need straplocks (a must for me normally)
The only thing I don't like is the placement of the output jack. It definitely forces you to hold the guitar a certain way while standing, and doesn't allow the draping of the cable over the strap. I'm sure in other instruments, it could be moved.

I didn't expect this guitar would be so solid. I expected qulaity, but not this degree of integrity. It's neither lightweight, or painfully heavy. Just right. The metal finish leaves me no fear of smacking into a monitor or amp like a wood body might. The polymer sides feel really nice. Very smooth and silky. The edges are all filed smooth, with no sharp points to scratch yourself on. Real high-quality craftsmanship.

Chris Fouke was great to deal with. I saw the reviews here and was intrigued. I had been looking for a 6-string, B-tuned guitar but all I could find was the Schecter Scorpion, which I didn't like. I figured I'd give Fouke a shot. After all, a custom instrument at a great price couldn't be too much of a disappointment. Instead, I was blown away by the detail, and quality of the service and correspondence. Photos online (or emailed) were updated as he worked on the instrument, especially the finish. A lot of the luthier obviously went into the instrument, and I know he'd be overly helpful if I ever had any kind of problem with it.

I've been playing for 17 years and this is the most satisfying guitar I've ever played, next to my LP Studio. It looks totally unique and compelling. The sound is INCREDIBLE. I can outchunk just about anyone now. I'll probably be adding other Industrials to my arsenal as time progresses. The service and quality was so unbelievable.