Description
Gibson Les Paul Junior Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 7-3167, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck …
This is a rocked hard, but great playing and stunning sounding Gibson Les Paul Junior. A delightful example of this classic ’50s Gibson solid body. The top sports a vibrant black-yellow sunburst finish showing a huge amount of wear from play and use. The mahogany neck has a lovely feel, a bit shallower with a slightly less chunky profile than some ’50s Gibsons. The P-90 is rip-roaring sounding, the wiring rig contains the now-revered “Bublebee” tone cap. As the name implies, the Les Paul Junior was the most basic of Gibson’s 1950s signature line, with a single P-90 pickup at the bridge and simple bar bridge/tailpiece.
This was an exercise in superbly effective minimalist design and the Junior’s very lack of complexity worked perfectly then and now. Launched in mid-1954, the model was a success right from the start. A total of 2959 of these were sold in 1957, compared to less than 600 Les Paul Standards. This showed Gibson’s management that solid body electric guitars were the wave of the future, but still more popular in the amateur market than to the company’s established professional users. While designed as a student guitar, the Junior has become justly renowned as one of the most powerful of all straight rock guitars, with fantastic natural overdrive capabilities when paired with the right amp. The combination of the solid, thick mahogany body and neck with the single dog-ear mounted P-90 and bar bridge maximizes tonal response. Many prefer this model to all others for both crunch rhythm and searing lead. From Leslie West to Mick Ralphs, and Johnny Thunders to Paul Westerberg to Billie Joe Armstrong, Gibson’s original 1950s Les Paul Junior has proven itself over and over to be the most basic of rock machines, as simple and effective as they come.
The scale length is 22 3/4 inch (578 mm) and the width of nut is 1 11/16 in (43 mm).
This nearly 65 year old Junior has been rode hard and shows all kind of wear from play and use. It has received a repair to the neck, which is solid. The front of the headstock has been refinished in black, but the logo has been kept original. All the rest of the finish is original too. The tuners has been exchanged for Grovers (the original tuners, without tuning knobs and in rough shape, are included). The bridge is a newer one too – original in case.
Electronics and all parts are original except some of the wires which have been renewed. The case is a newer one.
If you are searching a original 50’s Gibson players guitar – this is your guitar to go. Available for a fraction of the price of a clean example.
