L5CES and ES-175 are designed from the get-go as electric guitars. The ES has a laminated top, the L5 has a top carved thick to resist feedback. Neither are, in my view, good acoustic guitars. I think the first thing I would do is take the pickup out to see if they cut the braces to install it. If they did, the guitar is compromised. But to the point - any pickup installed into the top will have a dramatic and bad effect on tone. It might still sound OK, but it won't sound as good as it might have.
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Brian Evans
Around 15 archtops, electrics, resonators, a lap steel, a uke, a mandolin, some I made, some I bought, some kinda showed up and wouldn't leave. Tatamagouche Nova Scotia.
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