You Need a Gibson Les Paul Junior | Here's why... 

After showing the clip to my wife she told me that i dont need a Gibson Les Laul junior. 🤷🏻

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!!

I love my Les Paul Junior. It’s such a straightforward no-nonsense guitar which sounds so great.

My LP Standard weighs 10 lbs. My LP Junior weighs less than 8. No further questions, your honor.

With only one pickup magnet they should call it the Less Pull!

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

I have an Epiphone Jr and it is incredible feeling to play and great with gain

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.

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

Came to see the Junior and stayed for the playing🎉

I’ve never been a single coil guy. I’ve tried many times. I simply love my junior. Definitely my favourite guitar these days.

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 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.

Once again Jack thanks for your video 🙏🏻 very knowledgeable bud 🙏🏻 People …… do not underestimate these Junior Les Pauls, they are deadly 🙏🏻

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!!

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.

I have Ephihone LP Junior....bought 25 years ago! exactly the same color.

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 picked one up a couple of years ago. I love it as a beginner.

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 RU-vid and saw this video.

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.

Love the LP junior, but opted for a Special and bought it. What an amazing guitar

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.

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😅

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!

Heritage makes a great version... they use Lollar P90s. Fantastic!

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 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

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.

Had a Les Paul Junior since 1996. A rough, well played ‘55. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Just picked up an Epiphone LP Junior. Great value

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 don't have a Les Jr., but I do have an SG jr, and that thing is like playing a Ferrari. So damn fast.

My Special is my goto guitar ....Thanks Jack

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. 🤘🏻🤘🏻

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 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 😊.

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'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'd like one but, the most affordable one is $1,600. FOR A LES PAUL JR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't it be amazing if they were still an affordable guitar . Let's say 1000 bucks

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 cut my teeth on that tone. 59 Les Paul Jr. & a 1951 Fender Bassman cranked, unsurpassed tone!

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.

I like the Eastman sb55 and maybach albatroz 65 Custom shop quality at standard Gibson prices

Always fancied an LP Junior, but next one for me is an SG Special.

I just bought a 2005 Gibson Les Paul Jr.

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?

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!!!

I have an Les paul jr copy.

I love um.

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

Seems to have the tone of a strat going into an SD-1

I have an SG Junior. Fantastic guitars!

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.

Love my Gibson SG Junior plus don’t like fat necks, so I am good!

Have a DC Junior in Tvy and i love it❤ but also want to buy the singlecut

The ep phone Billie Joe Armstrong junior does the job incredibly well for a more affordable price.

I have one. Black with an old Peavy amp.

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?

Wish they made them with the 60's neck...

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,

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

Intonation? Great video

I don't. I have my lovely Epiphone Coronet

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?

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.

I can live with one pickup. But i dont love p90s. Too gnarly. Good for the right occasion. Not all occasions.

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.

I want to see a jazzmaster with just a middle pickup. I think that could be a gnarly beast

But your right. The Gibson has been used in a LOT of recording. Buy once, cry once.

Does a Gibson melody maker count? Same body, two P-90s. This guitar is so primitive it’s interesting.

I've got two words for someone wondering about a LES PAUL JR.: LESLIE WEST.

2:12 slender neck….seems they are baseball bat now?

For the $1500 that Junior costs, I’d rather add a couple hundred more and just buy a regular Les Paul.

cant get over how ugly that pickguard is.

Then send me one with all haste and stop making excuses about why you haven’t yet done so!

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).

The combination of my Les Paul junior and my Supro Black Magick Reverb has inspired me to ditch my pedals lol

The Gibson p90 is amazing.

Seems to have the tone of a strat going into an SD-1