Gibson Les Paul Junior with Matching Amplifier Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954)
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Item #12891
Gibson Les Paul Junior with Matching Amplifier Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 4-4768, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown chipboard case.
This is a seriously clean and beautifully original first-year Les Paul Junior, one of the most elegantly simple electric guitars ever designed. It shows some minor wear but remains a fantastic example of this classic '50s Gibson solid body with a solid mahogany body and one very lively P-90 pickup. The top sports a vibrant sunburst finish virtually no fade. The mahogany neck has a lovely feel, somewhat shallower in profile with a less chunky profile than many '50s Juniors.
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 works perfectly then and now. Launched in mid-1954, the model was a success right out of the gate. 823 were sold in that first year, then more than triple that number in 1955 proving to Gibson's management that solid body electric guitars were there to stay.
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. The pickup on this Junior is right up under the strings resulting in a massive singing sound when the amp is cranked.
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 very clean and an excellent player as well, just a superb early example overall.
The guitar is still in the original alligator-grained chipboard case with the original hang tag, Sonomatic string tag and a period leather strap. The package includes a matching Les Paul Junior amplifier that dates to 1956; it is possible they were purchased together if the guitar sat in stock for some time or they may have joined up further down the road. The very basic GA-5 Les Paul Junior amplifier features a single-knob layout, much like the Fender Champ. The control panel features two instrument inputs (so you and the teacher could plug in together) a single volume control, pilot light and a power switch. This 5-watt wonder really roars when pushed to the edge, and is a lovely companion to its namesake guitar.
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.)., 8.02 lbs.
While not quite near mint, this early Junior appears not too much used since the 1950's. The finish has hardly any checking showing just small dings, scratches and dents here and there but still shines like it did when Ike was in the white house. The rich color in the sunburst top has not faded at all. There are a few tiny dings along the top edge. The only really notable wear is some feelable larger chips and dings along the edges of the neck, mostly on the treble side. There are a few minor dinks and scratches along the back of the neck as well. There appears to be one small touched up scratch on the top just above the tailpiece, possibly done with lacquer melt as it blacklights clean.
All hardware is original except the crumbling buttons on the original tuners have been replaced. The nickel tailpiece and studs are still shiny with some small wear marks, while the plastic hardware shows only some light scuffing and tiny dinks. There is some very slight shrinkage to the P-90 pickup cover and light disturbance and discoloration to the body finish around the edges of it, likely from the plasticizer leaching out over the decades.
The original small frets have hardly any wear, the fingerboard looks very clean and playability is excellent. As is typical with '54-55 Stop tailpiece Gibsons the mounting studs are leaning forward slightly but there are no stress marks in the wood. The original alligator-grain chipboard case is solid and intact with some external wear but has protected the guitar well enough for 65+ years. This is an excellent playing instrument and with the strings very close to the pickup a rip-roaring P-90 monster, one of the best sounding Juniors we have had. The alligator-grain original case, hangtags and period strap just make it that much sweeter.
The amp is not quite as clean as the guitar but still in excellent condition overall, with some light wear to the rather fragile "poodle" fabric covering. The control panel is clean with virtually all the stenciled lettering intact, but someone added slim green stick-on lines to several spots along the arc of the volume control. The original white leather handle is present as well, with some cracking along the top edge but with plenty of life and use still left in it. These two have been together for a long time and make a great looking (and sounding) set, a real playable piece of Gibson history. Overall Excellent Condition.
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This is a seriously clean and beautifully original first-year Les Paul Junior, one of the most elegantly simple electric guitars ever designed. It shows some minor wear but remains a fantastic example of this classic '50s Gibson solid body with a solid mahogany body and one very lively P-90 pickup. The top sports a vibrant sunburst finish virtually no fade. The mahogany neck has a lovely feel, somewhat shallower in profile with a less chunky profile than many '50s Juniors.
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 works perfectly then and now. Launched in mid-1954, the model was a success right out of the gate. 823 were sold in that first year, then more than triple that number in 1955 proving to Gibson's management that solid body electric guitars were there to stay.
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. The pickup on this Junior is right up under the strings resulting in a massive singing sound when the amp is cranked.
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 very clean and an excellent player as well, just a superb early example overall.
The guitar is still in the original alligator-grained chipboard case with the original hang tag, Sonomatic string tag and a period leather strap. The package includes a matching Les Paul Junior amplifier that dates to 1956; it is possible they were purchased together if the guitar sat in stock for some time or they may have joined up further down the road. The very basic GA-5 Les Paul Junior amplifier features a single-knob layout, much like the Fender Champ. The control panel features two instrument inputs (so you and the teacher could plug in together) a single volume control, pilot light and a power switch. This 5-watt wonder really roars when pushed to the edge, and is a lovely companion to its namesake guitar.
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.)., 8.02 lbs.
While not quite near mint, this early Junior appears not too much used since the 1950's. The finish has hardly any checking showing just small dings, scratches and dents here and there but still shines like it did when Ike was in the white house. The rich color in the sunburst top has not faded at all. There are a few tiny dings along the top edge. The only really notable wear is some feelable larger chips and dings along the edges of the neck, mostly on the treble side. There are a few minor dinks and scratches along the back of the neck as well. There appears to be one small touched up scratch on the top just above the tailpiece, possibly done with lacquer melt as it blacklights clean.
All hardware is original except the crumbling buttons on the original tuners have been replaced. The nickel tailpiece and studs are still shiny with some small wear marks, while the plastic hardware shows only some light scuffing and tiny dinks. There is some very slight shrinkage to the P-90 pickup cover and light disturbance and discoloration to the body finish around the edges of it, likely from the plasticizer leaching out over the decades.
The original small frets have hardly any wear, the fingerboard looks very clean and playability is excellent. As is typical with '54-55 Stop tailpiece Gibsons the mounting studs are leaning forward slightly but there are no stress marks in the wood. The original alligator-grain chipboard case is solid and intact with some external wear but has protected the guitar well enough for 65+ years. This is an excellent playing instrument and with the strings very close to the pickup a rip-roaring P-90 monster, one of the best sounding Juniors we have had. The alligator-grain original case, hangtags and period strap just make it that much sweeter.
The amp is not quite as clean as the guitar but still in excellent condition overall, with some light wear to the rather fragile "poodle" fabric covering. The control panel is clean with virtually all the stenciled lettering intact, but someone added slim green stick-on lines to several spots along the arc of the volume control. The original white leather handle is present as well, with some cracking along the top edge but with plenty of life and use still left in it. These two have been together for a long time and make a great looking (and sounding) set, a real playable piece of Gibson history. Overall Excellent Condition.
