It’s hard to describe. A Les Paul Junior is a totally unique experience. Harmonically there is something special. When you play it you surprise yourself by how good you sound. Palm mutes and single notes sing. I love my Junior!!
bought a gibson custom shop les paul junior 57 reissue in 2007. Parents told me, you get a motorcycle or a guitar. 17 years later and don't regret my decision
They sold briefly the Les Paul "Less". It was much more thinner than a regular LP. People hate them. I tried one and it is ok but seems like a parody of the LP.
I have the same guitar, I bought it new in 2019. Juniors are really liberating guitars that force you to play them on their own terms, they make you focus more on technique and getting everything you can out of that single P90…they can be quite versatile depending on the player. I’ve owned several Specials over the years, but they never sound as good or pure as the Junior…the Junior has unmatched clarity because there’s not a second pickup and magnet pulling on the strings. Plus they just feel so good to play, nice and light with great necks.
Great demo and discussion as always! About to get one of the Charlie Starr Signature LP JRs which drop later this month! Charlie is a tone king with his JRs including his #1 original '56 that used to belong to Rick Richards from The Georgia Satellites.
Thanks to Johnny Thunders I always thought a DC Junior in TV Yellow was one of the coolest guitars I had ever seen. Unfortunately the real deal is way out of my price range, epiphone doesn’t ever seem to do a DC version of their juniors, and the Harley Benton I had was painfully bright in ways I couldn’t dial out. So it will remain a dream. But that’s okay, there’s so many other cool guitars.
I've lately purchased an Epi LPJ and I'm so happy with it. It's one of a kind as instrument, for many reasons that you have explained well. I love its attac, the resonance and sustain, and I adore P90 sound. I can't get enough of it !
When I saw this thumbnail, I was tempted to say out loud, “Because John Lennon played one.” That’s a bad joke, though, because I have gotten well over getting gear because an artist I admire played it first. Besides, John’s Junior was modified with a neck pickup and a toggle switch. That made it almost like a Tele with a Gibson headstock. The year before the pandemic lockdown, I was at my local Guitar Center outlet (which unfortunately was wiped out by the lockdown), and I came upon a British couple with their son who was wailing on an LP Junior identical to this one. He was around 16 at the time, and I was impressed with how well he managed to get all the best out of the Jr, using a drive tone at full volume and getting it to clean up wen he dialed back the volume control.
i bought the Epiphone billy ray Armstrong les paul junior i couldn't be happier i love the fat neck which i thought i wouldn't end up liking, i was wrong i love it. its so amazing. I agree about the acoustic guitar thing as well.
Double cut and single cut juniors were my main stage guitars for most of my time playing out, simple basic tone monster. Especially through a black magick. I used a bluesbreaker combo live for most of my time.
At the beginning of 2023, I saw WISHBONE ASH live, and Mark Abrahams was playing a 1959 JR, and the tone was incredible. I am 70 and have a nice collection of guitars I love and play, so instead of going off and spending the money for the Gibson JR. I bought the Epiphone version and am thrilled with the control I have with just a volume and tone control. The P90 is amazing. I can only imagine how much better the Gibson model is, but for my budget, this one hit the mark! If you get a chance to play an Epiphone JR, please post your thoughts!! Thanks!!
Another less expensive alternative might be to look for one of the 'top routed' versions Gibson released a few years ago. I think they reduced costs by simply using a single large top route, and then mounting the soap-bar P90 pickup/pots onto the pickguard (like a Fender). Some people don't like the untraditional larger pickguard shape, but they sound GREAT! And I was surprised just how much 'growl' you get from a P-90!
I know what you mean when you say single pickup guitars sound more natural. I usually pull the neck pickups out of my guitars because I never use them and I like the sound better when there's only one pickup. A Les Paul Junior is third behind a Firebird and an SG Junior on the list of guitars I want to get so thank you for letting me know I am correct in thinking I need a Les Paul Junior.
I absolutely love les paul Jr's. I find myself loving the pickup yet longing for a neck and a middle option like most guitars. I enjoy the beefed up tele tone out of the jr. But I find myself resorting back to my tele and just boosting the midst to get a very close sound. I do like the way the Jr's resonate the body when played, almost like a hollow body. I have yet to own a jr, but do plan to eventually get one
If you're not that worried about staying authentic, there are humbucking options out there. I'm told they don't sound identical, but I'm not convinced you could tell in a mix or on stage. And of course there are less microphonic alternatives too. I'm building a guitar around a Seymour Duncan stacked P90.
I've been a Gibson player for 37 years and I've always made excuses for the company when I ended up with a real stinker. It got to the point where I was so happy when I got a Les Paul that didn't need fretwork or some other work done to it after buying it brand new...it was like having Stockholm Syndrome. Recently I've been in the market for a Junior and I was looking at some Gibson Custom Shop models in the $4K neighborhood when I came across a local fella looking to trade a new Eastman SB55/v. It was a beautiful instrument, very tastefully aged w/ top shelf parts. So I traded my Gibson Exclusive SG Standard 61 in Aged Cherry for the Eastman and a really cool custom Tele. After playing that SB55 for a few hours I went back to playing my Gibsons and they all felt & sounded like garbage. And I know for a fact they don't really sound like garbage but the feel of that guitar and that Lollar P90 was just so damn good... it's hard to describe. It was damn sure better than the BB 61 bridge pickup in the SG I had just traded. That thing was brittle, ice-picky to the point where turning the tone knob all the way down did nothing to EQ that unpleasant sound out of the equation (I also tried lowering the pickup and adjusting the pole screws...no luck). In fact that Eastman is so good I'll probably not buy another Gibson for a long time, if ever. I was about to pay $4K for a guitar that might or might not have been a lemon when I could've gotten much better for $1599. That amount gets you a totally handmade high-end instrument with a hand-rubbed varnish finish, all premium components, and the feel of an old Junior. The fact that it's made in China doesn't bother me, in fact it's a bit embarrassing; Gibson is supposed to represent the best of what America has to offer yet every 9 out of 10 production guitars is a stinker. So yes I partially agree; I did need a JR...just not a Gibson.
Could not agree more. I want to like them and keep buying and returning as they are have far too many imperfections for $3-4k. Even an Epiphone seems to be made with more care.
My first impression when I picked up one was how close to an acoustic sound it was and how well it would sit in with acoustic instruments. Love the single Dogear P90 that's mounted simply to the body. Turn up the volume and it can be quite rude and bring a smile.
I’m searching for the RIGHT ONE. My friend had a Gibson LPJ in the fifth grade it was red and sounded amazing. I’ve had numerous guitars over my six decades of playing. I’m searching for the Right one . Thx for your video ❤.
I have a Gibson p90 I ordered from Zzounds. What do you think about getting an Epiphone and putting the p90 in it? The Gibson Junior is like $1799. 2:11
Honestly I’d give the epiphone a shot stock first. It has the p90 pro which is not at all a bad pickup. But then the sky’s the limit - you can always upgrade.
@@JackFossettyour the man. Thank you. The Slash goldtop I have is the best guitar I ever owned including a Gibson Firebird and strat and tele by fender.
For what it’s worth, I bought the Epi TV yellow Special a few years back and it’s a fantastic guitar and its price is icing on the cake. With the flip of a switch it’s basically an Epi Jr. I also have a ‘56 Jr. and other than the mojo I can’t legitimately say the Gibson is a better guitar. They have their own sound and they each have a place in my arsenal.
Man. You have the same interests in exactly what I do just a few months earlier. I don’t know why but for some reason I want one so I searched RUclips and saw this video.
I love me a junior, I’ve got a 2018 Billie joe (slim neck), a 2008 melody maker(round neck), and a Harley Benton (50’s neck). All have different aspects that I love, try and buy the body and neck that you really like, it’s easy to upgrade the electronics to make it your favorite guitar 😊.
My junior has become my go to. I have the black one. It’s so good. Makes me a better player every time I play it. I have an lp special a 50s standard and an American pro strat, but the Junior is the one I always pick up first. 🤘🏻🤘🏻
I have always been curious about the LP Jr., but I live on the neck pickup, clean (i.e., jazz but not with the tone rolled down to mud). I don’t think I have ever heard anyone play jazz on a Jr. except Bill Frisell back in the 1980s. I am curious, but I have an LP Tribute 60s with P90s, so I can always approach that sound.
Great video again Jack and very timely for me. I've been wanting a solid body P90 for awhile and have been flipping between a Junior and a Special. I decided to pull the pin on a Junior this morning for all the reasons you have detailed very well in your video. Can't wait for it to arrive.Cheers Jack
I've always been partial to Juniors. Leslie West really showed me the magic. Phil X tends to favor single pickup guitars, and I can understand why. There's a more open sound than a multi pickup guitar. I have one with a Filtertron pickup, and one with a DiMarzio noiseless P90. Both are Tokai guitars, not Gibsons. I did have a Gibson LP Jr back in the day, but I sold it when I was running low on cash. The Tokais are easily as good playability wise, but they really cheaped out on the electronics, hence the reason I completely changed the pickup, pots and jack socket. Still comes in at a fraction of the price of a Gibson.
I changed my mind. I am getting one now. I can't wait that long. I almost bought; well, I did buy an Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 55 P90 Les Paul. It was a grand. I bought it on Friday. I woke up at 0400 Saturday morning and canceled the order. Why would I spend $1000 on a Joe Bonamassa Epiphone? I'm not even a Bonamassa fan. A few more buck, I can get the guitar I've always wanted.
I bought a 2016 propiterary model made for sale in the Japanese Market off ebay about 4 years ago...ive always fancied one after owning a Gordon Smith Gypsy 1 in the late 80s which was a British version...i foolishly px it for a Gibson les Paul standard in about 1996 only to find that as cool as a sunburst flametop les Paul looks ..im not a les paul standard guy...i made the same error with Rickenbacker 330...love the looks...but after years of playing fender strats and the odd telecaster im a fender guy....that said the junior has not been in its case since i owned it and i had non of the notoriously poor QC issues Gibson are apparently famed for...(probably as it was made for the notoriously picky Japanese Market and didn't want to damage the brands reputation!!!).....it was flawless when i got it...although as its been played a lot and is neverin its case aways ready for action...its starting to "relic"....it just sings....it resonates unplugged you can just feel the entire thing vibrant...and the P90...well its sounds great...in fact the USA P90 is kinda making me dissatisfied with the P90s on my 2006 Korean epiphone casino with a factory fitted bigsby...theyre ok but lacking the USA one in my Gibson...in fact the only fault it has is whilst its vintage spec...the back it all black rather than brown like the originals...and its got strangely PCB wiring...that said its volume and tone work much the same as a mates "handwired " one...i.e set to distortion and roll the volume for anything from clean to crunchy clean to solo tones......its such an honest guitar...i still feel like im home with a strat....but i wish id bought one in my 20s. Rather than wait until im in my 50s....btw...the les Paul junior player who i always admired was Adam and the ants guitar hero..the highl underrated Marco Pirroni...if in doubt listen to kings of the wild frontier..especially. "Physical (you're so)... his use of feedback in a musical and exciting way could even teach Pete a thing or two!!!
Down in Australia these are "expensive", and actually cost more than some other LPs. They are also "rare" but you can get them. But for just one pickup? Why when you can buy two pickups? Yes it does look and sound great though.
I wish Gibson could just lower the price on these. Sure, I could buy the epiphone, but I would just go crazy for not buying the Gibson. I’ve wanted a single pickup guitar for a while. However, it seems like you could get a vintage fender music master with a single pickup for around the same money? Have you tried one of those? Plus being short scale too?
What happened to the resale price of those 'top routed' models Gibson released a few years ago? They did a Special & Junior with everything mounted to the pickguard (like Fender) to save on manufacturing costs, and I got mine for around $700 CAD! Some people don't like the larger non-traditional pickguard, but I'm not sure it effects the tone much compared to the more historic 'rear routed' versions with backplates?
The original melody maker from which this is derived from has always had a nasty hum, at least with the single coil model. Does this have the same problem or is it quiet?
I had an Lpj with the 50s fat neck. It was about 8.1 pounds. As a strat guy/ x Les Paul guy, I traded it in a week. Went to guitar center today to buy strings and picks, picked up a jr. that was used. 100% different guitar. Light weight, 60s neck. For whatever reason, this guitar sounded great but played so much better. That jr. Is my bitch now.
I bought a Harley Benton SC Junior. The neck was attached at the wrong angle. The action couldn't be set up in any way to make it play well. When I got it I only played it for a little while. I thought that I would adjust it later. It was put away and later turned into two months later. Only then, when all of the adjustments that were possible to get the action right failed, it was clear that the neck was on the wrong angle. Thomann guitars come with a three year warranty. Tomann first asked for photos. Then they wanted a video. Then they asked me to take it to a local shop to get an estimate for the repair. After they received the estimate that was more than the price of the guitar, they didn't ask for me to return it. They magically decided, with no new information, that the guitar neck had warped and that it was my fault. So THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY! The guitar hadn't left my bedroom since it arrived at my house. The room was climate controlled. The guitar was fully painted from top to bottom except for the fingerboard. So no moisture got into it or left it in three months time. The problem existed on arrival. So Thomann shipped me a $235 paperweight. NEVER BUY FROM THEM! THEY HAVE NO INTEGRITY! I intend to buy another single pickup guitar someday, but not an expensive Gibson or even an Epiphone. I did have a single P90 Grote jazz hollow body guitar that I liked. It was sold when I needed some money. I liked it. The P90 sound is one of my favorites.
Can you still get those 'top routed' versions they released a few years ago for a decent price? I picked up a mint practically new example for around $700 CAD, which seemed to be a great deal if you don't mind having all the electronics mounted to the 'weird' larger pickguard.
Yeah I agree - it’s definitely steep. But again, that’s across the board for guitar gear nowadays. Many Epiphone’s and MIM fenders are over $1k which I used to think would be unimaginable
When epis are 1000 bucks, tributes are 1,300, their modern lite replacement is 1,500 bucks and standards are 3,000, I think the LP Junior is best value for money in the Gibson line.
When you said the neck was "warped" I'm going to assume you meant it was bowed with too much relief and needed a truss rod adjustment. If it was truly warped that's not a keeper.
I bought an ebony 2022 Gibson LP Junior in April. I have a 2007 Epiphone '59 Reissue Junior (P-100) that I bought a few years ago and it's a good guitar, but I really wanted a Gibson. I have five single pickup guitars so far: LP Junior dog ear P-90 LP Junior Tribute DC soapbar P-90 '59 reissue Melody Maker with a lipstick tube Epi '59 Reissue Junior dog ear P-100 Aaaand a 2004 Squier Bullet (Strat) with a soapbar P-90 😁 I need a guitar with a single neck pickup. Maybe convert the DC to a neck mini hum? Or a Fender reissue CuNiFe WRHB?
Single pick-up electric guitars ... such as the LPJ here is a raw, more 'personal' sound IMO. One hears the guitarist with the instrument and how they meld. You hear the guitarist and how he plays and it exposes his or her organic .. stripped down sound and style. This sort of thing isn't as possible with double or triple pick-up guitars that I've heard. The sound is a no BS ..true sound of just the artist and his instrument. You hear the intricacies of their playing and it is a straightforward .. yet sort of 'rich' type of sonic palette. Though it's very bare-bones sound and bare-bones instrument it is anything but sterile. One has to hear a LPJ to know. In two words ... = no frills.
There are several of this type of guitar on the market that are not Gibson, are less expensive, are excellent values and sound great. You can be swayed by he name on the headstock or you can get the most bang for your buck. It's your choice.
Picked up epi billy Joe Armstrong for 300$ put a lollar pu through a pro jr it's the smallest nastiest rock n roll machine for the least amount of money I've ever owned payed for the whole thing in 2 gigs if your on a budget look into this the amps and guitars are used every where I don't think you will regret it
Oddly enough I think the middle only pickup is a killer idea for a one pickup guitar - they used to make Epiphone Casino models like that. But they look strange. Kind of a weird cyclops thing going on.
I have a 1958 Gibson ES-225T that I got relatively cheap because everything that wasn't glued on had been stripped off and it originally had just one pickup which was in the middle. I've been planning on building a pickup for it and mounting it where a bridge pickup would usually be but I wouldn't be opposed to putting it back to its original configuration because it seems like an interesting sound.
Well, i am just flabbergasted. Why would anyone buy a Gibson today? Why would anybody want a guitar with just a bridge pickup? Why would anyone think that what you played just now sounds better than how you sound on a regular vintage coil neck pickup? My vague memory is that no one can find that magnets affect string sustain, and certainly not with a p90 with a magnet is on the bottom of the coil so far from the string. If people are actually concerned about this they could always reduce the magnetic strength of their pickups and turn up the volume on their amps. The relationship between magnetic strength and inductance is not one to one (inductance is more a factor of the materials that make up the magnet rather than its strength).
It’s hard to describe. A Les Paul Junior is a totally unique experience. Harmonically there is something special. When you play it you surprise yourself by how good you sound. Palm mutes and single notes sing. I love my Junior!!
Well said!
Muted powerchords sound insanely better on a junior. Must be the p90s combined with the wraparound bridge
I look forward to get mine in a couple of weeks!😊
I love my Les Paul Junior. It’s such a straightforward no-nonsense guitar which sounds so great.
bought a gibson custom shop les paul junior 57 reissue in 2007. Parents told me, you get a motorcycle or a guitar. 17 years later and don't regret my decision
With only one pickup magnet they should call it the Less Pull!
Might as well just go all the way and call it the Less Pickup
They sold briefly the Les Paul "Less". It was much more thinner than a regular LP. People hate them. I tried one and it is ok but seems like a parody of the LP.
@@biohazard8295 I just looked them up it makes me think of a shortsighted attempt to turn a regular Les Paul into a shredder.
Just bought one 3 days ago - looking forward to digging in!
Using the tone knob is key to all the different sounds you can get out of that rock machine...I love mine
I have Ephihone LP Junior....bought 25 years ago! exactly the same color.
After showing the clip to my wife she told me that i dont need a Gibson Les Laul junior. 🤷🏻
I mean - who do you trust on these matters though? I'm very trustworthy. And charismatic. People like me. I'm just saying.
The Epiphone version is now a set neck. Wish they had rosewood fingerboards instead of whatever that super porous wood they been using.
Proof perhaps you need a new wife?
@@voxpathfinder15r and a sympathy card too, lol
You tell her what you need, not the other way around
I have the same guitar, I bought it new in 2019. Juniors are really liberating guitars that force you to play them on their own terms, they make you focus more on technique and getting everything you can out of that single P90…they can be quite versatile depending on the player. I’ve owned several Specials over the years, but they never sound as good or pure as the Junior…the Junior has unmatched clarity because there’s not a second pickup and magnet pulling on the strings. Plus they just feel so good to play, nice and light with great necks.
Great demo and discussion as always! About to get one of the Charlie Starr Signature LP JRs which drop later this month! Charlie is a tone king with his JRs including his #1 original '56 that used to belong to Rick Richards from The Georgia Satellites.
Nobody better with a Jr.!
Came to see the Junior and stayed for the playing🎉
Had a Les Paul Junior since 1996. A rough, well played ‘55. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Thanks to Johnny Thunders I always thought a DC Junior in TV Yellow was one of the coolest guitars I had ever seen. Unfortunately the real deal is way out of my price range, epiphone doesn’t ever seem to do a DC version of their juniors, and the Harley Benton I had was painfully bright in ways I couldn’t dial out. So it will remain a dream. But that’s okay, there’s so many other cool guitars.
Great playing!
I have an Epiphone Jr and it is incredible feeling to play and great with gain
I've lately purchased an Epi LPJ and I'm so happy with it. It's one of a kind as instrument, for many reasons that you have explained well. I love its attac, the resonance and sustain, and I adore P90 sound. I can't get enough of it !
I’ve never been a single coil guy. I’ve tried many times. I simply love my junior. Definitely my favourite guitar these days.
Love the LP junior, but opted for a Special and bought it. What an amazing guitar
When I saw this thumbnail, I was tempted to say out loud, “Because John Lennon played one.” That’s a bad joke, though, because I have gotten well over getting gear because an artist I admire played it first. Besides, John’s Junior was modified with a neck pickup and a toggle switch. That made it almost like a Tele with a Gibson headstock.
The year before the pandemic lockdown, I was at my local Guitar Center outlet (which unfortunately was wiped out by the lockdown), and I came upon a British couple with their son who was wailing on an LP Junior identical to this one. He was around 16 at the time, and I was impressed with how well he managed to get all the best out of the Jr, using a drive tone at full volume and getting it to clean up wen he dialed back the volume control.
i bought the Epiphone billy ray Armstrong les paul junior i couldn't be happier i love the fat neck which i thought i wouldn't end up liking, i was wrong i love it. its so amazing. I agree about the acoustic guitar thing as well.
Double cut and single cut juniors were my main stage guitars for most of my time playing out, simple basic tone monster. Especially through a black magick. I used a bluesbreaker combo live for most of my time.
At the beginning of 2023, I saw WISHBONE ASH live, and Mark Abrahams was playing a 1959 JR, and the tone was incredible. I am 70 and have a nice collection of guitars I love and play, so instead of going off and spending the money for the Gibson JR. I bought the Epiphone version and am thrilled with the control I have with just a volume and tone control. The P90 is amazing. I can only imagine how much better the Gibson model is, but for my budget, this one hit the mark! If you get a chance to play an Epiphone JR, please post your thoughts!! Thanks!!
I bought one used and I absolutely love it. Put some spacers under the dog ears and it jams!!!
Another less expensive alternative might be to look for one of the 'top routed' versions Gibson released a few years ago. I think they reduced costs by simply using a single large top route, and then mounting the soap-bar P90 pickup/pots onto the pickguard (like a Fender). Some people don't like the untraditional larger pickguard shape, but they sound GREAT! And I was surprised just how much 'growl' you get from a P-90!
Picked one up last Christmas, and it is my favorite to pick up and play on for sure. I only wish I got the tobacco instead of the ebony!
I picked one up a couple of years ago. I love it as a beginner.
I know what you mean when you say single pickup guitars sound more natural. I usually pull the neck pickups out of my guitars because I never use them and I like the sound better when there's only one pickup. A Les Paul Junior is third behind a Firebird and an SG Junior on the list of guitars I want to get so thank you for letting me know I am correct in thinking I need a Les Paul Junior.
I absolutely love les paul Jr's. I find myself loving the pickup yet longing for a neck and a middle option like most guitars. I enjoy the beefed up tele tone out of the jr. But I find myself resorting back to my tele and just boosting the midst to get a very close sound. I do like the way the Jr's resonate the body when played, almost like a hollow body. I have yet to own a jr, but do plan to eventually get one
P90s are more microphonic than single coils... more output but equally more hum ⚡⚡
If you're not that worried about staying authentic, there are humbucking options out there. I'm told they don't sound identical, but I'm not convinced you could tell in a mix or on stage.
And of course there are less microphonic alternatives too.
I'm building a guitar around a Seymour Duncan stacked P90.
Lindy Fralin noiseless p 90 @@vincentl.9469
My LP Standard weighs 10 lbs. My LP Junior weighs less than 8. No further questions, your honor.
thats a dumb reason.
No, that's very good reason. The ten pounders end up collecting dust.
I've been a Gibson player for 37 years and I've always made excuses for the company when I ended up with a real stinker. It got to the point where I was so happy when I got a Les Paul that didn't need fretwork or some other work done to it after buying it brand new...it was like having Stockholm Syndrome. Recently I've been in the market for a Junior and I was looking at some Gibson Custom Shop models in the $4K neighborhood when I came across a local fella looking to trade a new Eastman SB55/v. It was a beautiful instrument, very tastefully aged w/ top shelf parts. So I traded my Gibson Exclusive SG Standard 61 in Aged Cherry for the Eastman and a really cool custom Tele. After playing that SB55 for a few hours I went back to playing my Gibsons and they all felt & sounded like garbage. And I know for a fact they don't really sound like garbage but the feel of that guitar and that Lollar P90 was just so damn good... it's hard to describe. It was damn sure better than the BB 61 bridge pickup in the SG I had just traded. That thing was brittle, ice-picky to the point where turning the tone knob all the way down did nothing to EQ that unpleasant sound out of the equation (I also tried lowering the pickup and adjusting the pole screws...no luck).
In fact that Eastman is so good I'll probably not buy another Gibson for a long time, if ever. I was about to pay $4K for a guitar that might or might not have been a lemon when I could've gotten much better for $1599. That amount gets you a totally handmade high-end instrument with a hand-rubbed varnish finish, all premium components, and the feel of an old Junior. The fact that it's made in China doesn't bother me, in fact it's a bit embarrassing; Gibson is supposed to represent the best of what America has to offer yet every 9 out of 10 production guitars is a stinker.
So yes I partially agree; I did need a JR...just not a Gibson.
Could not agree more. I want to like them and keep buying and returning as they are have far too many imperfections for $3-4k. Even an Epiphone seems to be made with more care.
I have an Les paul jr copy.
My first impression when I picked up one was how close to an acoustic sound it was and how well it would sit in with acoustic instruments. Love the single Dogear P90 that's mounted simply to the body. Turn up the volume and it can be quite rude and bring a smile.
I don't have a Les Jr., but I do have an SG jr, and that thing is like playing a Ferrari. So damn fast.
I went to a guitar shop to try out some standards decided to give the jr a go and oh my when I have enough a Gibson Les Paul junior will be mine
I’m searching for the RIGHT ONE. My friend had a Gibson LPJ in the fifth grade it was red and sounded amazing. I’ve had numerous guitars over my six decades of playing. I’m searching for the Right one . Thx for your video ❤.
I’ll be getting a DC JR for my 60th.
Just picked up an Epiphone LP Junior. Great value
Once again Jack thanks for your video 🙏🏻 very knowledgeable bud 🙏🏻 People …… do not underestimate these Junior Les Pauls, they are deadly 🙏🏻
Heritage makes a great version... they use Lollar P90s. Fantastic!
I have a Gibson p90 I ordered from Zzounds. What do you think about getting an Epiphone and putting the p90 in it? The Gibson Junior is like $1799. 2:11
Honestly I’d give the epiphone a shot stock first. It has the p90 pro which is not at all a bad pickup. But then the sky’s the limit - you can always upgrade.
@@JackFossettyour the man. Thank you. The Slash goldtop I have is the best guitar I ever owned including a Gibson Firebird and strat and tele by fender.
For what it’s worth, I bought the Epi TV yellow Special a few years back and it’s a fantastic guitar and its price is icing on the cake. With the flip of a switch it’s basically an Epi Jr. I also have a ‘56 Jr. and other than the mojo I can’t legitimately say the Gibson is a better guitar. They have their own sound and they each have a place in my arsenal.
I bought the epi junior when it first came out, and what a piece of junk.
@@johnsmith-ug5tp was it a bolt on or set neck?
Man. You have the same interests in exactly what I do just a few months earlier. I don’t know why but for some reason I want one so I searched RUclips and saw this video.
My Special is my goto guitar ....Thanks Jack
man that thing is beautiful!
I've my mind made up and I want one! Poor colour choices I know but the burst is probably the way to go.
I have a Epi LP special 2. £150. Absolutely brilliant.
I love me a junior, I’ve got a 2018 Billie joe (slim neck), a 2008 melody maker(round neck), and a Harley Benton (50’s neck). All have different aspects that I love, try and buy the body and neck that you really like, it’s easy to upgrade the electronics to make it your favorite guitar 😊.
My junior has become my go to. I have the black one. It’s so good. Makes me a better player every time I play it. I have an lp special a 50s standard and an American pro strat, but the Junior is the one I always pick up first. 🤘🏻🤘🏻
Always fancied an LP Junior, but next one for me is an SG Special.
I have always been curious about the LP Jr., but I live on the neck pickup, clean (i.e., jazz but not with the tone rolled down to mud). I don’t think I have ever heard anyone play jazz on a Jr. except Bill Frisell back in the 1980s. I am curious, but I have an LP Tribute 60s with P90s, so I can always approach that sound.
Great video again Jack and very timely for me. I've been wanting a solid body P90 for awhile and have been flipping between a Junior and a Special. I decided to pull the pin on a Junior this morning for all the reasons you have detailed very well in your video. Can't wait for it to arrive.Cheers Jack
Just bought one 3 days ago
I've always been partial to Juniors. Leslie West really showed me the magic. Phil X tends to favor single pickup guitars, and I can understand why. There's a more open sound than a multi pickup guitar. I have one with a Filtertron pickup, and one with a DiMarzio noiseless P90. Both are Tokai guitars, not Gibsons. I did have a Gibson LP Jr back in the day, but I sold it when I was running low on cash. The Tokais are easily as good playability wise, but they really cheaped out on the electronics, hence the reason I completely changed the pickup, pots and jack socket. Still comes in at a fraction of the price of a Gibson.
I changed my mind. I am getting one now. I can't wait that long. I almost bought; well, I did buy an Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 55 P90 Les Paul. It was a grand. I bought it on Friday. I woke up at 0400 Saturday morning and canceled the order. Why would I spend $1000 on a Joe Bonamassa Epiphone? I'm not even a Bonamassa fan. A few more buck, I can get the guitar I've always wanted.
Seems to have the tone of a strat going into an SD-1
This is not the video I needed right now😂 Been looking at Juniors for about a year now. Getting harder and harder to not pull the trigger on one😅
Good…. goooooooood. Join me. You don’t know the power of the dark side..
Great explanation, getting one asap thx
I like the Eastman sb55 and maybach albatroz 65
Custom shop quality at standard Gibson prices
Have a DC Junior in Tvy and i love it❤ but also want to buy the singlecut
I have one. Black with an old Peavy amp.
I bought a 2016 propiterary model made for sale in the Japanese Market off ebay about 4 years ago...ive always fancied one after owning a Gordon Smith Gypsy 1 in the late 80s which was a British version...i foolishly px it for a Gibson les Paul standard in about 1996 only to find that as cool as a sunburst flametop les Paul looks ..im not a les paul standard guy...i made the same error with Rickenbacker 330...love the looks...but after years of playing fender strats and the odd telecaster im a fender guy....that said the junior has not been in its case since i owned it and i had non of the notoriously poor QC issues Gibson are apparently famed for...(probably as it was made for the notoriously picky Japanese Market and didn't want to damage the brands reputation!!!).....it was flawless when i got it...although as its been played a lot and is neverin its case aways ready for action...its starting to "relic"....it just sings....it resonates unplugged you can just feel the entire thing vibrant...and the P90...well its sounds great...in fact the USA P90 is kinda making me dissatisfied with the P90s on my 2006 Korean epiphone casino with a factory fitted bigsby...theyre ok but lacking the USA one in my Gibson...in fact the only fault it has is whilst its vintage spec...the back it all black rather than brown like the originals...and its got strangely PCB wiring...that said its volume and tone work much the same as a mates "handwired " one...i.e set to distortion and roll the volume for anything from clean to crunchy clean to solo tones......its such an honest guitar...i still feel like im home with a strat....but i wish id bought one in my 20s. Rather than wait until im in my 50s....btw...the les Paul junior player who i always admired was Adam and the ants guitar hero..the highl underrated Marco Pirroni...if in doubt listen to kings of the wild frontier..especially. "Physical (you're so)... his use of feedback in a musical and exciting way could even teach Pete a thing or two!!!
Down in Australia these are "expensive", and actually cost more than some other LPs. They are also "rare" but you can get them. But for just one pickup? Why when you can buy two pickups? Yes it does look and sound great though.
Intonation? Great video
How bad is the 60 cycle hum on when youre playing "clean"
Since they both use single pickups, how does the Les Paul Junior compare to a Telecaster?
Thanks,
I wish Gibson could just lower the price on these. Sure, I could buy the epiphone, but I would just go crazy for not buying the Gibson. I’ve wanted a single pickup guitar for a while. However, it seems like you could get a vintage fender music master with a single pickup for around the same money? Have you tried one of those? Plus being short scale too?
What happened to the resale price of those 'top routed' models Gibson released a few years ago? They did a Special & Junior with everything mounted to the pickguard (like Fender) to save on manufacturing costs, and I got mine for around $700 CAD! Some people don't like the larger non-traditional pickguard, but I'm not sure it effects the tone much compared to the more historic 'rear routed' versions with backplates?
The original melody maker from which this is derived from has always had a nasty hum, at least with the single coil model. Does this have the same problem or is it quiet?
I have an SG Junior. Fantastic guitars!
I love um.
I had an Lpj with the 50s fat neck. It was about 8.1 pounds.
As a strat guy/ x Les Paul guy, I traded it in a week.
Went to guitar center today to buy strings and picks, picked up a jr. that was used. 100% different guitar.
Light weight, 60s neck. For whatever reason, this guitar sounded great but played so much better.
That jr. Is my bitch now.
I bought a Harley Benton SC Junior. The neck was attached at the wrong angle. The action couldn't be set up in any way to make it play well. When I got it I only played it for a little while. I thought that I would adjust it later. It was put away and later turned into two months later. Only then, when all of the adjustments that were possible to get the action right failed, it was clear that the neck was on the wrong angle.
Thomann guitars come with a three year warranty. Tomann first asked for photos. Then they wanted a video. Then they asked me to take it to a local shop to get an estimate for the repair. After they received the estimate that was more than the price of the guitar, they didn't ask for me to return it. They magically decided, with no new information, that the guitar neck had warped and that it was my fault. So THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY!
The guitar hadn't left my bedroom since it arrived at my house. The room was climate controlled. The guitar was fully painted from top to bottom except for the fingerboard. So no moisture got into it or left it in three months time. The problem existed on arrival. So Thomann shipped me a $235 paperweight. NEVER BUY FROM THEM! THEY HAVE NO INTEGRITY!
I intend to buy another single pickup guitar someday, but not an expensive Gibson or even an Epiphone. I did have a single P90 Grote jazz hollow body guitar that I liked. It was sold when I needed some money. I liked it. The P90 sound is one of my favorites.
Wish they made them with the 60's neck...
I just bought a 2005 Gibson Les Paul Jr.
I'd like one but, the most affordable one is $1,600. FOR A LES PAUL JR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you still get those 'top routed' versions they released a few years ago for a decent price? I picked up a mint practically new example for around $700 CAD, which seemed to be a great deal if you don't mind having all the electronics mounted to the 'weird' larger pickguard.
Yes, that’s what it is…
The ep phone Billie Joe Armstrong junior does the job incredibly well for a more affordable price.
Love my Gibson SG Junior plus don’t like fat necks, so I am good!
They have the same neck profiles… 🤣 🤦♂️
I cut my teeth on that tone. 59 Les Paul Jr. & a 1951 Fender Bassman cranked, unsurpassed tone!
Wouldn't it be amazing if they were still an affordable guitar . Let's say 1000 bucks
Yeah I agree - it’s definitely steep. But again, that’s across the board for guitar gear nowadays. Many Epiphone’s and MIM fenders are over $1k which I used to think would be unimaginable
Agreed , nothing is cheap these days even the " cheap " stuff lol. I will say I rather Love my Epiphone Billy Joe Junior
When epis are 1000 bucks, tributes are 1,300, their modern lite replacement is 1,500 bucks and standards are 3,000, I think the LP Junior is best value for money in the Gibson line.
Thats just it - have to look at it in context.
Jack u are the best 👍🏻keep up the great videos and you just cost me $1599…..lololol
I think there's a YT vid of Keef playing Gimme Shelter on one. I could be wrong
When you said the neck was "warped" I'm going to assume you meant it was bowed with too much relief and needed a truss rod adjustment. If it was truly warped that's not a keeper.
I bought an ebony 2022 Gibson LP Junior in April. I have a 2007 Epiphone '59 Reissue Junior (P-100) that I bought a few years ago and it's a good guitar, but I really wanted a Gibson.
I have five single pickup guitars so far:
LP Junior dog ear P-90
LP Junior Tribute DC soapbar P-90
'59 reissue Melody Maker with a lipstick tube
Epi '59 Reissue Junior dog ear P-100
Aaaand a 2004 Squier Bullet (Strat) with a soapbar P-90 😁
I need a guitar with a single neck pickup. Maybe convert the DC to a neck mini hum? Or a Fender reissue CuNiFe WRHB?
Or you could try branching out 🤔
Single pick-up electric guitars ... such as the LPJ here is a raw, more 'personal' sound IMO. One hears the guitarist with the instrument and how they meld. You hear the guitarist and how he plays and it exposes his or her organic .. stripped down sound and style. This sort of thing isn't as possible with double or triple pick-up guitars that I've heard. The sound is a no BS ..true sound of just the artist and his instrument. You hear the intricacies of their playing and it is a straightforward .. yet sort of 'rich' type of sonic palette. Though it's very bare-bones sound and bare-bones instrument it is anything but sterile. One has to hear a LPJ to know. In two words ... = no frills.
Jack u are the best 👍🏻keep up the great videos and you just cost me $1599…..lololol
Best $1600 you could ever spend
aesthetics are of vital importance when it comes to gat imo- and the one in this vid looks bad, compare it to a standard but there is no comparison.
I can live with one pickup. But i dont love p90s. Too gnarly. Good for the right occasion. Not all occasions.
But epiphone version
They look like something you'd get at a lumber yard. Like a Tele. I like a bit more beauty in my guitars. Just my $0.02.
2:12 slender neck….seems they are baseball bat now?
Yes they have a fat neck now
I don't. I have my lovely Epiphone Coronet
There are several of this type of guitar on the market that are not Gibson, are less expensive, are excellent values and sound great. You can be swayed by he name on the headstock or you can get the most bang for your buck. It's your choice.
Does a Gibson melody maker count? Same body, two P-90s. This guitar is so primitive it’s interesting.
not the same body at all.
@@johnharrington2400 ‘at all’ Really? Oh, the quarter inch difference in width makes a big difference? Right.
Charlie Starr.
Picked up epi billy Joe Armstrong for 300$ put a lollar pu through a pro jr it's the smallest nastiest rock n roll machine for the least amount of money I've ever owned payed for the whole thing in 2 gigs if your on a budget look into this the amps and guitars are used every where I don't think you will regret it
I want to see a jazzmaster with just a middle pickup. I think that could be a gnarly beast
Oddly enough I think the middle only pickup is a killer idea for a one pickup guitar - they used to make Epiphone Casino models like that. But they look strange. Kind of a weird cyclops thing going on.
I have a 1958 Gibson ES-225T that I got relatively cheap because everything that wasn't glued on had been stripped off and it originally had just one pickup which was in the middle. I've been planning on building a pickup for it and mounting it where a bridge pickup would usually be but I wouldn't be opposed to putting it back to its original configuration because it seems like an interesting sound.
But your right. The Gibson has been used in a LOT of recording. Buy once, cry once.
For the $1500 that Junior costs, I’d rather add a couple hundred more and just buy a regular Les Paul.
I've got two words for someone wondering about a LES PAUL JR.: LESLIE WEST.
Poorly setup in a box guitar but very expensive guitar....all advantages
Then send me one with all haste and stop making excuses about why you haven’t yet done so!
cant get over how ugly that pickguard is.
It at first appears to be a primitive design that has no merit in today's world. You're wrong. Play one, and you'll think it's all you need.
Well, i am just flabbergasted. Why would anyone buy a Gibson today? Why would anybody want a guitar with just a bridge pickup? Why would anyone think that what you played just now sounds better than how you sound on a regular vintage coil neck pickup?
My vague memory is that no one can find that magnets affect string sustain, and certainly not with a p90 with a magnet is on the bottom of the coil so far from the string.
If people are actually concerned about this they could always reduce the magnetic strength of their pickups and turn up the volume on their amps. The relationship between magnetic strength and inductance is not one to one (inductance is more a factor of the materials that make up the magnet rather than its strength).
Because Gibson are making high end guitars again; and because of the reasons I laid out in the video. Thanks though.
The combination of my Les Paul junior and my Supro Black Magick Reverb has inspired me to ditch my pedals lol