I've done it about 50 times on semi & hollowbodies, so to me that's the "norm" & solid bodies are almost too easy. But a back cover plate would be nice, and should have almost no impact on the tone. Lucille's have a rear panel, but there is so much stuff jammed in there with the huge vari-tone, it's worse than squeezing things thru an F hole. Also, there is a lot of variety in where the 4 pot holes are drilled in relation to the F hole.
For me, the only pot I have to pull through the guitar with a wire (stiff, plastic-coated) is the neck tone pot. The other three I can do with a pair of 6" long forecepts with a curved end. I can do all four in a few minutes. I've done the Jimmy Page system to a bunch of 335's, and even the push-pulls go in fairly easy. But I'd still prefer a rear panel cover.
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