Gibson Les Paul Junior

A 1987 Les Paul Junior purchased in 1998. My first good guitar and still plays like a champ.

Single cutaway with the tobacco sunburst, 1 P-90, Grover minis (which are great - better than the cheap plastic ones they use now) and the best part: It has a Tune-O-Matic.

The neck is what you'll find on a new Les Paul Studio model.

It's so basic it's great. It's been my slide guitar ever since I bought my 1989 Gold Top.

Nothing beats the sound of a Junior. The back pickup from my SG Classic is pretty close but still can't touch the Junior. The Junior's really funky when clean and huge distorted - bigger sound than humbuckers will give you.

No flaws to comment on. Only (minor) dings were caused by me.

I used to think this guitar would be great at parties and such, but the guitar's too nice to take out anymore. And good luck finding a replacement since the new Juniors don't come with a Tune-O-Matic and cost about $2000 more.

But I haven't had to change a thing on it and nothing's fallen off.

Never had to

Been playing for 16-17 years? Other gear includes a 1989 Les Paul Goldtop, 2001 SG Classic (P-90s), 2003 Les Paul Studio (with 57 Classics) going through either an old Fender VibroChamp (silver face) or a newer Fender Deluxe amplifier.

If anything happened to the Junior - I'd seek out a late 80's one in a flash. I remember seeing a picture of Joe Walsh playing one and it looked like such a neat guitar. That's what made me want to get one.

2001 LP Junior, others have spec'd this guitar so just read someone else's specs:-)

The thing is that an LPJ is a really simple guitar...

This LPJ has a great sound, almost as good as mu 50's LPJ's. It's a lone P90 singlecoil, so of course you'll get some hum if you ask for it.

Bought it used, and the setup was flawless. There really isn't any room to adjust the P90...
No build or wood flaws that I can find, if you don't count some stuff you should really retrofit.

This guitar was bought to take care of live playing, as using original LPJ's was getting very scary. Works fine and takes a really heavy beating without complaints.

I have however fitted Gotoh tuners (the ones on the guitar are really not any good for fast on-stage tuing) and also replaced the stud/tailpeace with a Wilkinson one. The reason for this is that the compensation does not work with a spun G-string.

Been playing about 25 years.
If I lost this one, I'd just get anoter one. Hell, I'll probably get anoter one anyway:-)
I love the sound, the feel and the simplicity.
The LPJ is, in my mind, not comparable to any other guitar. You want a LPJ, you buy a LPJ. Simple.
I coult do woithout the tone control...

Simplicity at its best! (2001) re-issue tobacco-sunburst, wrap-a-round bridge, single dog-eared p-90 (would recomend trashing that piece-o-crap ABS plastic nut, and replace it with BONE, makes a world of difference! RESONENCE!

This guitar was NOT made to be played in the bedroom! So for all you young would-be critics, get a job, save your bucks, then put it through a 100 watt PLEXI-STACK. (Thats where it shines!) This thing was made to be DRIVEN! Forget all your little pedals and crap! Many of the BEST rock guitarists to ever hit the stage chose this axe....WHY???? Figure it out!!!

Again, its basic. You want to look good, (or sound great?)

Built like a tank.

Regretably. Gibson support SUCKS today. 30 years ago was a different story. If you have half a brain, you already know how to maintain your axe.

Guitars DONT play themselves, and Im really tired of all these young assholes who think a brand new PRS will make them a SUPER-STAR! Get a freakin clue! NO, YOULL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS THE ONES WHO'VE MADE HISTORY! Live with it, and quit blaming the guitar! ( its probobly been around longer than YOU! There are alot of GREAT new guitarists out there today, and I salute you!

2000 model. Made in USA. Please refer to other reviews for the exact specs.

This is my friends guitar, I borrowed it for about a month and played it intensively.

Just a beginners guitar with Gibson on the headstock, nothing more.

This guitar is almost a one trick pony. I said almost because it can do other kinds of music in a decent manner.

I really can't see any one outside the classic rock/punk demography that would use this as a main guitar.

Good p-90 sound.

My problem with this guitar is that there are alot of other p-90 guitar out there that sounded as good(or better) that cost less than this "gibson" and with better finish/feature/hardware.

You really feel like your paying for the "Gibson" logo on an otherwise mediocre guitar.

Dissapointing, in my humble opinion: nothing more than a step-up above a starter guitar. I can't really pinpoint a certain flaw(i.e. nut, bridge, or fret) but the playability is poor, can't play fast, difficult string bends.

I don't know, I only played this guitar for a month.

Never dealt, it should be good.

Don't get me wrong, overall sound of this guitar is just OK. But the pricetag is downright ridiculous, just because it's Gibson and "Made in The USA" don't give it excuse to make a mediocre sounding guitar.

Build in 1955, excellent condition down to the untouched solder joints and original 22 frets, one dog-ear P 90 pickup, rating 7.59 kOhm, mahagony body/neck, Kluson tuners, aluminium stop-tail, one volume, one tone control, large bumble bee capacitor, dark brown body with 3 color sunburst, golden Gibson script, weights around 3 kg. The neck is fat (but not as fat as that of a 55 Special Reissue from 1978 I owned), very comfortable to play with very low action (I use .11 string gauge and I tuned the axe down to D). Came with the original alligator case, which is not sufficient if you carry the axe around.

Very beefy sound, has lots of balls. Sounds dirty compared to newer P 90 equipped guitars, the first axe which enabled me to nail the Toni Iommie sound which could be heard on the first Black Sabbath record. Volume and tone controls react in a way you would never encounter in modern guitars. Roll the volume back and you'll got excellent clean sounds, roll it up this baby screams. Rolling the tonecontrol back alters the tone in a very subtle way I am not able to explain - you have to hear that. Once had a Gibson Melodymaker SG with one P 90, and it was the same story. I basically use an old (from 1971) Marshall 50 W head and a Marshall 4x12 Vintage Reissue Box with G12M Greenbacks. If you could play loud, you don't need any effects or stompboxes, this setup really rocks.

I don't know how my newer PRS, Fender, Music Man and other Gibson axes would look like in approximatly 50 years (if I become 99, I would know this), but depending on it's age it is a extraordinary guitar.

I guess, all this things have been proved over the last 49 years. Despite I have always 3 or 4 axes on stage I would also make a gig by just using the Junior.

Haven't had to deal with Gibson.

I play since 1968 and was behind a guitar which is the same age as I am (I'm born in 1955). Due to the situation, that Strats and Les Paul Standards are financially out of reach for a weekend player, I chose this fine axe and never regred it. I'll give a 9 because it has not the versatility a LP with an additional neck pickup would have, but thats a thing I could live with.

1955 American made Les Paul Junior. One tone one volume control and one P90 pickup. Sunburst finish with a single cutaway and a wrap around tailpiece. Tuners had been replaced with Grovers when I bought the guitar. The neck is fat, like a baseball bat sawed in half. I love it.

I love the sound of this guitar for Stones/Faces rock and for British blues stuff. It snarls and bites like no other guitar can. The P90 can be a bit noisy but that's to be expected. This guitar has an incredibly wide range of tones. With the tone rolled all the way of it is unbelievably bassy and with the tone all the way up it has a piercing bite. If I roll the tone back and forth it sounds like a wah wah pedal. The tonal scope is that dramatic!

I bought this guitar used. It had been trashed(broken headstock, broken neck at the heel) and the previous owner had it professionally restored. He also put HUGE frets on it so it plays like a dream now.

There isn't a lot that can go wrong with this guitar and I wouldn't hesitate to gig with it without a back up. The original strap buttons are still on this guitar and I will repalce them with strpa locks sometime.

N/A

I have been playing guitar for 26 years. I own a 1980 Gibson Heritage Elite Les Paul, a 1981 ES335 dot neck re-issue, a 1955 Guild X500, a "Strat" with a '63 Jazzmaster neck and Barden p'ups, a Tele, a Danelectro U2 re-issue, '78 Precision Bass, a Gibson acoustic(old student model) and a Yamaha classical. Amps include a '68 Super Reverb and a black face Vibro Champ. I also have an early "70's Marshall cabinet with green back Celestions(want to buy it?)

1959 Les Paul Jr.
Made in Kalamazoo,Michigan,U.S.A.
Solid mahogany body & top,rosewood fretboard,one P-90 in bridge position,wraparound bridge/tailpiece.
Nitrocelluose laquer finish,laquer chequing all over body(way cool)
Double cutaway w/three on a plate Kluson tuners,in other words,
ALL STOCK!
'59 neck round,but a little smaller than what you would expect.

You know the stories you've heard about 50's gibsons kicking ass?
THEY ARE TRUE! We played rock,blooze,punk,alternative and this guitar
delivered the tone in truckloads.
Played it through a Hiwatt 50 w/2 10"s in a converted bass bin,didn't
even need any effects, just roll off the tone or volume.

This guitar was in excellent condition when I bought it (1981) and
there was no action adjustment needed. Ditto for the pickup.

This guitar was built to last and I would not hesitate to use it on a
gig without a backup,the strap buttons are best assisted w/1" washers.

Been playing for 25 years,had 4 Les Pauls, 1 SG,1 Firebird & 1 J-200
This was the best Les Paul I have ever owned,if Gibson could get their
shit together they might be able to make them this good again.

I usually don't comment on guitars that I don't own, but I felt the need to share my experience with this one.

21 frets, rosewood fretboard, ebony finish, one p-90 single coil pickup, gibson tuners (almost looked like klusons), one volume, one tone control.

when I walked into the music store about a week ago, I saw a nice Gibson LP Junior sitting in the corner. Ebony in color, just sitting there, untouched. I couldn't resist. I picked it up, plugged it in, .....and I was severely disappointed. The guitar had almost no clarity in its sound and the p-90 at the bridge sounded too dark. I messed with the volume and tone knobs on the guitar, and the eq on the amp (Marshall Valvestate), and still no luck. Perhaps p-90s aren't my cup of tea? I have never played a Gibson that sounded this bad.

well the neck felt like tree bark, and the strings were as stiff as a three day old bologna sandwich. Bending the strings was more of a task than an enjoyment. The gloss on the back of the neck was nice and smooth, but that just doesn't make up for the poor playability on this instrument. I also found the instrument was out of tune when I plugged it in, and it took me a good minute or minute and a half to tune it back up again. The tuning keys are not bad, and the nut seemed sturdy. Intonation was not a problem, but if you're thinking about playing this instrument often, you should take some pain reliever for your wrists and fingers.

looked and felt sturdy. I would definately trust it at a gig, should I ever throw myself to the mercy of this instrument. Reliable? I'd say so.

I had heard so many good things about Gibson Les Paul Juniors...I had never tried one, and when I finally saw one for the first time in my life, I thought I'd die. Finally I'd get to try out this alleged "king of all tone and mojo" guitar. Never have I been so disappointed in a "higher end" instrument. I never thought a $700 guitar could play and sound as poor as this one did. Boy was I wrong. Just because it says "Gibson" on the headstock it doesn't mean that it's going to be a miracle worker.

Heck, I picked up a Samick Les Paul COPY sitting right next to it and it played and sounded twice as good for half the price. And here's a little secret on Gibson's economy-based "Epiphone" series : Epiphone is manufactured in the same factory as Samick, Essex, Agile, Silvertone, Johnson, Rondo Music, Squier, and Aria and built with the same parts from the same people but marketed at double, sometimes triple the price of the other guitars. So when you're buying Epiphone (not the Elite series, those are different) you're actually buying a Samick or Johnson guitar for 2x or 3x the price! Wow, did you get ripped. Epiphone DOES market different and more advanced guitars than those other companies though, but you're still getting the same craftsmanship and the same parts for more moola. what a surprise.

However, I wouldn't doubt that this Gibson was made by some factory worker who had to take a pee so he hurried up and produced this instrument at mach speeds so he didn't go wee wee in his pants.

just kidding.

however, maybe it was only a dud. maybe all hope is not lost for the Les Paul Junior series. All I know is that I would not pay seven hundred crisp bills for something that played and sounded as poor as that did. I'd be better off with a kazoo.

2001 Les Paul Junior, Sunburst finish- (The darker areas look more like a dark chocolate than black.) Single P-90 Mahog body and neck with rosewood fingerboard, Wraparound tailpiece. Gibson Klusion style tuners (made by Grover) 24 3/4" scale. 60's taper neck. yadda yadda yadda. Very nice looking guitar with very balanced feel. Not much features But I'll give it a 10 for what it does.

Sounds very balanced and warm. I'm using it through a Marshall Jubilee (no effects) This guitar is great for Blues, Rock, jazz, Punk. Can get a great crunch tone with the P-90, but it's weaker sounding (but not in a bad way) than a modern Humbucker. I'm used to hot pick ups a-la Gibson 498T. My 498T Les Paul guitars are the core of my sound for borderline Metallica style crunch, so I don't know how I'll incorporate this guitar to my current rig. However, It's a great guitar and it's a keeper. It's good though for Guns N Roses/ Black Crowes style rock, and the P-90 reminds me of Gibsons '57 classic pups. It's agreat guitar, for some reason strings seem more slinkier than my other pauls...easier to bend...maybe it has something to do with thw wraparound bridge and the eliination of the Stop bar. Intonation is great and equal to my other pauls(despite the limited adjustment available on the bridge). The P-90 surprisingly wasn't as noisy as I expected for being a single coil.....

Bought it used....Fit and finish were great. Great Low action with virtually no buzz. Feels like butter....

There are still tons of 1950's les paul juniors in existence, I don't see a reason why this one won't last as long as the originals. Gibson Quality= Very dependable....Do carry some extra stings though.

Limited Lifetime warranty

Been playing 15 years. I have used nothing but Les Pauls and Marshalls. This is my fifth Les Paul, and just as gourgeous as the others-just not as expensive :-) It's a great guitar, But I don't think I'd buy it again...I'd probably buy a 498T equipped Les Paul Faded Special instead. I wish they made 498T dogear style pick ups. The P-90 is great, but a little weak for my Style. For what it is and what it does, it's a great guitar.

2002 Les Paul Junior Black, 24 3/4" neck scale, 22 frets, dot inlays, compensated wrap around bridge, Mahogany body and neck, Rosewood fretboard, Single P-90 pickup, one volume and one tone control, black finish, Made in the USA, single cutaway, came with a gig bag. Well made guitar with a 60's slim taper neck that has a U shape. Not very many sound options, however, because of the one pickup. Does have a good functional tone pot, but it tends to accentuate the corresponding strings that it is set to too much making them too loud, you might have to use an equalizer with it.

Good guitar for rock and roll, rockabilly, country, some blues, old school punk, and some forms of alternative rock. It has a very high pitch. This is great for that old rock sound, like the early Beatles or Chuck Berry. It has a great sound for light overdrive, but is too high and distorts in a thin way for heavy rockers to be happy with it for too long. It has the 60 cycle hum of all single coils, but is relatively silent. Wants to feed back very high pitched at high volumes with a lot of gain. O.k. sustain. Overall, a little too high sounding for a lot of todays music, but it sounds great as a guitar that brings back the sound of yesteryear or with a lot of effects. Very unique sound can always tell a P-90 pickup. Especially shines when using a mildly overdriven tube amp, think "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry, early Clash, or Johnny Thunders from the New York Dolls.

The action of the guitar from the factory was decent, a little on the high side if you really want to play fast. Shredders will not like this guitars action. It is best a little higher than most guitars of today, similar to the action of other Les Pauls I have seen, but a little higher. Probably not the best guitar for a low action because it is not that adjustable. The pickup seems pretty good from the factory good job there. Great quality on this guitar as you would expect from Gibson. The tuners are kinda cheap with small plastic tuning heads and the strap buttons are too small to do any good. The finish is nice and seems to be really applied in a liberal coating, not breating for the wood though.

This guitar is extremely reliable!!! It is so simple that nothing can go wrong with it and the quality is so good that there should never be any problems with the potentiometers. The input jack can screw loose from time to time which could be a problem live, but if you tighten it real good as soon as you get it from the factory you should have no problems. I'm sure that if you banged it or dropped it that it might get banged up, but this guitar is so simple and built so tough that I think it would take a lot more than most guitars to stop it. The strap buttons suck. They are the worst strap buttons that I have ever seen on a new guitar. The finish again is very thick. I would definitely gig without a backup if I had to, with this guitar.

I have not dealt with the Gibson company.

Overall, this is a good guitar for someone that is looking for a very simple and durable guitar and wants to play 50's and 60's rock and blues-rock. It would also suit country quite nicley. I do not like the tone that much personally, a little to treblely, and I wish that it was a little more versatile. I like the neck alright, but I hate the frets, they are too small and too sharp not smooth, hard to slide a lot kinda surprising for a Gibson. I don't like the action and intonation adjustability, too limited. The guitar only plays medium fast to just medium paced compared to other guitars. I really like the quality of tone that this pickup has when overdriven, but not distorted fully. If the pickup was in the neck position I would like it more. I wish that it had another pickup in the neck position, but that guitar is called the Les Paul Jr Special. I wish that it had better tuners, but the ones it has a ok, not horrible. The fret work is consistent but could be filed down a bit. Being that this is one of the (if not the) lowest price for an American made guitar I have to say that it is a good value, but make sure that you try one before you buy it because it really has a unmistable albeit high tone, that many modern guitarist will not like. Plus it is very limited. If you only want a tough well made guitar that is not too expensive and you intend on playing a musical style that needs a treble heavy lead sound then this is a good value. Otherwise, check out something else like perhaps a Strat.