Gibson Les Paul Junior Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 7-3220, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a lightly worn-in but great feeling original 1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior, one of the most elegantly simple electric guitars ever designed. It shows some moderate wear but remains a superb player's example of this classic '50s Gibson solid body with a medium weight mahogany body and very lively P-90 pickup.
The top sports a yellow/brown sunburst finish blending to an amber shade; the remainder is finished in dark mahogany. The mahogany neck has a lovely feel, with a deep, round but a slightly less chunky profile than some '50s Juniors. The pickup is moved slightly forward of the bridge compared to earlier examples to strengthen the bridge post area, as many 1954-6 Juniors had problems in this area.
As the name implies, the Les Paul Junior was the most basic of Gibson's 1950s signature line, with the 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 out of the gate. Just under 3000 of these sold in 1957, nearly five times the number of Les Paul Standards shipped. This really brought home to Gibson's management that inexpensive solid body electric guitars "for the kids" were the wave of the future.
While designed as a student guitar, the Junior has become justly renowned as one of the crunchiest and most powerful of all straight rock guitars, with fantastic natural overdrive capabilities when paired with the right amp. The combination of the thick mahogany body and neck with the solidly dog-ear mounted P-90 and bar bridge maximizes tonal response. This is a superbly resonant Junior with a massive singing sound when the amp is cranked, and quite resonant even unplugged.
Since the late 1960's many players have come to prefer this model to all others for both heavy crunch rhythm and searing leads. From Leslie West to Mick Ralphs, 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. This one is a lovely guitar in every way, just worn in enough to be a great gigger and a timeless 7.59 LB. gem of '50s Gibson greatness.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 7.59 lbs.
In an era where re-creations and relics are increasingly common this Junior is the real deal! It has been played over the 65 years but never abused. There is some typical Gibson lacquer checking most heavily to the top and some dings, scratches and dents, with light belt buckle wear on the back (into but mostly not through the finish) and some heavier scraping and dings to the lower back edges. The back of the neck is comparatively clean with small dings, dents and chips while the headstock face has general wear with some heavier hanger wear off the lower edge above the nut.
All hardware including the pickup and electronics are is complete and original. even the nearly always broken plastic jackplate has survived intact. The buttons on the original Kluson Deluxe tuners are correct style repros, as is typical by now. The nickel tailpiece is cleaner than many, while the studs show some screw wear to the adjustment slots. Unlike earlier 1950s stop tailpiece Gibsons the bridge is not leaning forward at all; by 1957 the bushings and studs had been made longer to sit deeper into the body to solve this problem. This is plenty of leeway under the bridge to enable a very low action.
The original frets are intact, crowned down a bit but fully playable; the bone nut is original as well. This Junior is a fine player, extremely resonant instrument even unplugged. This 65 year old Junior is loaded with the bad attitude these honkers are known and loved for! It resides in a recent black Tolex HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
