Les Paul Junior, hands down. You can get any tone you want by using the tone control (you know, that second one you never touch). Seriously, Juniors are incredibly versatile and anything but a one-trick pony. Don't let the one pickup fool you, a slab of mahogany with a single P-90 can give you any tone you ask of it.
@@eocha24is not worse, it's just the fact of having only one pup. It push u to be more creative, also you can be very close to the neck pup sound using the tone knod.
I watched Rhett Schull talk about how single pickup guitars have more harmonic overtones with fewer magnets affecting the strings up and down the picking area...interesting concept...made sense...the simplicity of that Jr is appealing as well as the finish..that being said...I'd sign up for that Special if you need more space for the new Godin!
Absolutely right. I know this is a a year after your comment, but for anyone reading at this point, the harmonic sweet spot is nearer the center of the string where amplitude is greatest, and not having magnetic poles interfering with that is what opens up the whole tonal range. That's why you can get damn near acoustic tone with a Jr plugged in.
I discovered this channel about a month ago and it’s fast become one of my favorites. Buddy’s sense of humor hits the mark, and of course, really good content. I just bought a Epiphone LP Jr based mostly off of this video because I couldn’t decide between it and the LP Special and there was exactly ONE video on RU-vid on the topic (this one) and it answered all the questions swirling in my head. Thanks man!
I would get the Special in TV yellow. I've wanted one for a while and I happen to prefer having bridge/neck options. I'm all about the tone for one and I also really appreciate the history of the TV yellow color.
My first-ever electric guitar was an early 2000s Epiphone Les Paul Special II. I sold it before moving SK to ON and, after trying a bunch of guitars, I simply bought another Special II in 05. I still have it, still love it. I love the look of both of these 2020 editions, but choose one? I agree with you. "Less stuff and more playing," right on!
I own both and I love both. The only thing I had to do to the Junior was shim the pick up to give it more volume and Dynamics. Since I did that, it's a rock and roll machine!
Yes, single pickup, I get that. Sometimes less choice is better. I break out in a cold sweat when I have to choose what cereal to get when at the grocery store so...
The Les Paul Junior all the way. You can do a lot with one P90 , you can get a lot of different tones from just using the volume and tones knobs and of course your picking dynamics .
Actually been on a similar debate. But they sounded the same so that I don't have to worry about. But having others with 2 pickups that is a good point
I’d definitely go with the special. First reason is I like the variety of tones you get from having both a bridge and neck pickup. They’re so different, but I wouldn’t want to give up one. Second reason is color. I play a butterscotch telecaster so I love the TV yellow
Both! But uhh I personally love my older Epiphone Les Paul Jr. because of the simplicity of it. It's a rock workhorse! I would take an L.P. Special in a heartbeat though HAHA!!! Especially for the price. 🐉💀👽🎸🎶🎵🧠
I own the Junior and when set up drop the bridge and raise the pick up poles it honks and sounds amazing especially with a Germanium fuzz how ever I own a Humbucker SG. If you were to buy only one guitar between these two I would recommend the TV yellow Special its sweeter and butterier also covers more ground! Its tough cause they both rock and can be sweet of you have a Strat tele sg or Humbucker LP I would say grab the Junior
►►Support the channel and get all the best guitar deals here: ► Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/X6OrM ► Thomann: bit.ly/3opdh5w -------------------------------------------------------- ►Support the channel by becoming a member: ru-vid.com/show-UC8xsdxRvwRvNyl74kLDaOnwjoin ------------------------------ ► Try GuitarTricks for really great online guitar lessons: www.guitartricks.com/?a_aid=5f7fe527e8aba An unknown number of people have asked me, if you could only buy one of these two guitars; Epiphone Les Paul Junior & Epiphone Les Paul Special, which one would you buy? Or maybe it’s called the Epiphone Les Paul Senior?!?! Anyways in this video I’ll talk about which one I would buy and why it’s the one I would buy, which I already said and you are still reading this?? Go watch it already. Les Paul Junior: Sweetwater imp.i114863.net/q1ZXN Amazon (US) amzn.to/3jADECL Amazon (CA) amzn.to/30xVvmo Amazon (UK) amzn.to/34wDBSp Thomann bit.ly/3jAnaL3 Les Paul Special: Sweetwater imp.i114863.net/jP7W6 Amazon (US) amzn.to/2GdFhI6 Amazon (CA) amzn.to/2THnPyY Amazon (UK) amzn.to/2Jl90jz Thomann bit.ly/2HQzb1e 0:10 - THey asked me 0:28 - Ignore the shirt 0:50 - What are these guitars? 1:19 - the question 1:28 - How can I help the channel? 1:59 - Let’s have a close look again 2:11 - the main differences 3:40 - the Answer of the question 6:08 - A SPECIAL message Some of the audio/video gear used in this video
@@landonbailey It is the Godin Summit Classic SG P90 it is really lightweight, nicely balanced, and sounds awesome with the "Kingpin" p90 godinguitars.com/product/summit-classic-sg-vintage-burst-p90-rn
I use mine for playing slide on. I’d previously used a SG Special but got really fed up with the neck dive. I had a Les Paul junior 58 SC made for me, l wanted a simple back up option and the Tobacco burst lit my candle. It cost me a fifth of the price of my SC but I now prefer it as my main go to option.
1 pickup was fine for EVH and Malcom Young. You also have more freedom to pick the string at different distances from 1 pickup for tone changes like on an acoustic. You can be more dynamic as a player with one. I go 2 pickups on my single coil Tele and built my own guitar with a single pickup on a humbucker. Never played a p90 ,can’t comment on that. I’d go jr on the Gibson.
I just picked up a 2007 Pelham blue Special ii GT off a neighbor. It was just sitting in his garage. It's a cool guitar, and has a factory kill switch feature on one of the knobs and a trem system. If you see one at a decent price it's worth picking up. I like the TV yellow speciall out of these 2, and was planning on buying one before I got this GT today. It looks awesome and has decent pickups.
I'm looking at the Junior myself. I think the reason people do that is the why people like Esquires too. The only thing I'd change on the Jr is that when the volume is dialed in at 10 that is would bypass the tone circuit.
I respect your decision, but disagree. For me it would be the special..."better to be looking at it, than looking for it" as we say here in ireland 🇮🇪 😉
Uhoh, the Fender 2021 guitars are out and there the new MIM Noventa series has P-90s. With 25.5" scales, Tele with 1, Strat with 2 and Jazzmaster with 3 P-90s! So will Epi P-90s measure up now, I wonder?
@@landonbailey Some reviews say they use the MP-90 Fender pickup but you're right, the Fender website only says they are "Fender Noventa Single-Coil" not specifically a P-90. But since Noventa means "Ninety" that's indicative for this being a true P-90 variant.
I prefer the Special, especially in TV yellow. But I bought the Junior because so much of the music I listen to involves someone playing a Junior. I don't think you can go wrong with either.
I was torn between the Gibson Les Paul Jr and the Special. (Gibson not Epiphone) I went with the Special in TV Yellow and have absolutely no regrets! The pickup selection is really pretty easy. Neck for rhythm, bridge for lead. I don’t really use the middle position because to me the bridge overpowers the neck. I think the soap bar pickups are more adjustable than the dogeard pickups. You can really dial in the pickup height.
The Danny Johnson LP S. Derringer. Always wanted a Les Paul Jr. Specials are sweet, but went thru the preorder bit during the dark times. Jr's amazing. Landon nailed it,,,more tones wanting out than any guitar i ever played (a few imports here). Plus its played great, right out of the box. I think i checked the truss rod once. Really didn't need anything.
To be fair, it’s down to what YOU!!!! want as both are great value for your money, my choice 🤔 I went for the Les Paul Junior BUT, I replaced the P90 with a BARE KNUCKLE P90, changed out the vintage wiring, capacitors & pots etc. The guitar is deadly.
I almost bought the Jr (used at L&M for like $370 or something) but I held off and somebody else swiped it. Should’ve pulled the trigger! That said, I’m renting the special right now and it’s awesome!
I might go for the Junior. Not only does it catch my eye, I passed on on Esquire recently wanting to have the neck pickup on my Tele. But man, that Esquire was on fire! I don’t know if the Juniors also have a direct wiring that ups the clarity and ferocity of the bridge PU? But one day I’ll have one in my arsenal… single PU guitars are definitely their own unique beast with distinct winning attributes ,… not an instrument that’s lacking something.
I was thinking maybe it'd be cool if you showed the serial numbers. Maybe it'd increase the value of the guitar in resale value. Maybe not for you unless you're really jerkin' your own chain, but for the next guy, who can say, 'yeah, you can check it out in this youtube video, "here's a link"' as for which one I'd choose? that's tough. I already have an SG with a p90 in the neck position. just like the Rhett Shull video that came out today was talking about regarding the single pickup. There's something of a science to a pickup having an impact on the resonation of the string, so in theory having two pickups should have a small impact on tone. i'd go for the Jr. because it's a legend.
I’m leaning towards the Jr. I agree the special is a great bargain for all it offers. That said, I prefer a stray or tele style for my go to electric and love the simplicity of the jr! And never owned land Paul style guitar. Looks like a lot of fun for the money. Both are cool colors, but the jr is so warm looking ✌️🎸
Some people forget that some guitar players cannot just mess around the tone or volume pickup mid-song. Cause they play the chords or riff or sing also while doing that. Its just impossible sometimes..
Still, one of the unsolved hardest questions of humanity... 😂 I'd day junior, but honestly, I dont know why (I would preffer 2 pickups too, but that bite and color... ) 😝
The Special has real neck P90 sound from it, the Junior is a faux approximation that's close, but like anything, if the neck P90 isn't there, it's just not there. And the bonus with the Special, the middle toggle selection gives you both neck & bridge that the Junior is always going to be the real bridge P90 or the faux neck P90. Either is a limitation, these are Epiphones around $ 800, the Gibsons are closer to +/- $ 1,700ish out of pocket. Spending that much, might as well have all the options & parts present & professionally installed. It's even that way with the sub $ 200 Guitar Center Special vs Junior and that's where the real value is, for sub $ 200 the only differences are the bound set neck vs unbound bolt on neck, pickguard vs no pickguard & number of knobs 4 vs 2 really. How tough is it to switch to Treble for the same bridge pickup features & sounds. The GC version has 1 volume & 1 Tone knob, just like the Junior, so in the bridge position it's a Junior, regardless of being an Epiphone bolt on vs set neck version or Gibson set neck. The Epiphone IBG (Inspired by Gibson) is the set neck Epiphone versions of each.
I’ve seen the Rhett Shull video mentioned and many like it...I don’t get it...in my simple brain if you want the jr. put the bridge pickup on on the special...when you get thirsty for more tonal variety move the pickup selector switch...aka Special!
That tobacco burst looks pretty sharp,. But not as sharp as my honeyburst American standard tele I just picked up... I saw the picture online and was "OK" with the finish.. when it came in tho I fell in love
@@landonbailey yeah, I forgot they re named the Mexican standard and American standard to player and performer series. It plays like a dream and has a beautiful finish. Well worth the value.
Pssst these are the new headstocks Landon. Both nice guitars and the new headstocks are much nicer. I'm not liking the yellow colour but prefer the P90's sound. The tobacco burst looks sooo much nicer!
I got the special, and I kind of regretted I did not get the Junior for a while. By the way the Gibson Junior and Special are the same price, which doesn't make much sense. Actually I checked the Epiphone are also the same price. But Epiphone does not do the Junior in Yellow, so that's a deal killer for me. I love the yellow Special I got. Don't ask me why... LOL.
I bought the special. I like mustard on my Steamies. Lol. Takes some getting used to with that chunky neck. The jr does look nicer tho. Add a neck pick up and pretend it’s John Lennon’s guitar.
