The Gibson Les Paul Junior: A Short History; featuring Jeff McErlain
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Here is the often requested short history of the Gibson Les Paul Junior. I haven't covered the Specials or other two pickup models here. I had more than enough material for just the one pickup guitars and even then I couldn't fit everything in that was out there. I'll be covering some of what had to be left out in the live stream next Thursday. So if I missed your favorite Sherwood green '63 in the video, come and let me know on the stream. :)
Thanks for watching.
Keith
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Was at a swap meet in Tucson Arizona around 1986 and noticed from far away that a guitar was leaning against a table so I walked over to it thinking it's one of those Hondo knock offs that were out at the time. Nope! It was a single P/U P-90 Gibson Jr. (58) with a crack in the headstock. I noticed a little sticker on the body that said 300. I looked at the seller and asked "You want $300.00 for this guitar?" and the guy replied no, $3.00. Needless to say I didn't argue about the price and went home very happy.
I’m so glad I bought my ‘59 jr when I was a senior in high school in 82/83. Back then I got it for $500 from a guy who worked with my mom. I was bagging groceries for $3.35 an hour, so he let me make payments until I paid it off. It’s a great guitar.
Man that's awesome 👌
@Jeffry Thiele lol
That's incredible! I bet it's an awesome guitar!
Holy Hell... I remember $3.35/hr...thats what I got for pumping gas at a Hess station...my first job...thanks for the memories my man!!!
Also, back then $500 was a LOT of money. My respect to you for still owning it. Back in '78 I bought my '69 Tele for $275 - what a fantastic instrument. God I wish I still had it. Again, my respect to you
One of my favorite guitars of all time. Really interesting Hypes. As usual, I learned a lot!
🖕🏼
I used to have the same guitar as Rick. Sold it to buy a PA system for my band. :(
@@auntjenifer7774 why’d you do that?
@@zachvandiver153 She works for one of the labels that put a copyright strike against Rick 🤣
Through a Fender Amp no less...
“There’s nothing like Custom Shop prices to help me on my quest for .. the least gear” 🤣
And as if to bring that comment and the subject of this video neatly together, Gibson currently have this listed in their Reverb demo shop...reverb.com/item/40673959-gibson-1957-les-paul-junior-reissue-tv-yellow-custom-shop-demo
I love Gibson's but they are overpriced Custom shop guitar worth 5-7 k or more its wood glue electronics and paint you are buying a quality name I guess too rich for my blood I buy Epiphones !
@@patricknicolucci5073 I buy low end, unadorned Gibsons. Like my Les Paul Tribute.
You get the genuine high end guitar building from the company that created it, without the expensive extras (flame maple, custom Shop luthiery etc) that drives the already dear prices out of the stratosphere.
But ultimately, your money is safe with Gibson. It really doesn't depreciate...and many appreciate. Can't say that for Epiphone.
@@lueysixty-six7300 I may be in the market for a studio I would truly love R9 cherry sunburst
@@patricknicolucci5073 look for used classic under $1000 it's possible.
RIP Leslie West, he is why I love Jr's.
Yes brother! Monster tone
and not in the RRHOF!!!!!
@@jamesdemestihas9904 fucking shame !!!
An Esquire or a Junior, a good amp, a coily cable AND a place to play loud enough to get the tones you're looking for.
As an owner of all three of those things, you nailed it
Exactly 🤟
@@Ps3GamerVideos And me for the simple reason ot took me about 6 years to find the right left handed one.
I had a Harvard amp and a Melody Maker.
exactly, great little guitar behind a Fender Twin Reverb.
That's the way a junior should be played. Loud... A friend of mine,who died on the 27th RIP, sold his 57, on that auction show out of Atlanta, for $4600 a few years ago. I grew up with that guitar. Literally...Capt.Bob
When I think of a Les Paul jr. ,what pops right into view is the memory of Leslie West , 5 rows center stage.Buckskins and Sunn stacks ,directly in front of me .With the thunderous chords to Never in My Life still reverberating in my chest.
I could listen to Keith talk about anything. I WILL roll up to the Short History of Pocket Lint with an attentive attitude and a cup of coffee
Hilarious!
One of my favorite Les Paul Junior players: Paul Westerberg from the Replacements. He's played both Les Paul and SG juniors, and also used a Les Paul Special pretty prominently.
Sigh. I had him in and totally botched the voice over section for him and...due to my incompetence...he was cut. I'll confess at next week's live stream. Thanks for adding it here.
Paul played some great guitars, too bad he probably destroyed them all.....😥
I found his 56 junior that he played in the I'll Be You video about 4 years ago. It's got a new neck because he smashed the original one, but the new one is a custom copy of it with the fretboard from the original. It's beat up as hell but plays great.
I was just about to say something about Paul Westerberg. He and Johnny Thunders are why I have a Junior.
If Keith was a big league pro he would be knocking it out of the park every time he showed up to swing a bat. These short history‘s are fabulous. 👍🏻
One of my favorite Junior fun facts is that Martin Barre recorded Aqualung with one after Leslie West recommended them to him!
One of the MANY cool things about your short histories... is the price comparisons from original prices in today’s dollars... wow, axes were expensive back in the day!
My first electric was a 59 Jr. I bought it in April of 1976 from an older gentleman selling it at a flea market for his son. It had been a Christmas present. I paid $50 for it, and also got the GA-5 amp as well. Still have both, still my favorite electric.
The tv yellow double cut jr really is one of the coolest looking guitars ever made
Got my first Junior in ’81 a 58 TV. Still got it. The best guitar ever. Never lets me down
Leslie West was my first introduction to the junior he made it scream ! RIP
Oh yes! Leslie’s incredible combination of hands guitar amplifier attitude attack ... god I don’t know what he all put into it ... especially that 1:50 note in Mississippi Queen, it sure changed my world back in those high school days.
RIP Leslie West ❤️
Just watched a live video of him and had to google what guitar he was playing had never even heard of a gibson jr might possibly buy one might get an epiphone for 500 bucks though any advice on these 2 guitars
Legend has it Les Paul himself owned that phone on Keith's wall.
The double-cut Junior's neck joint is perfectly stable. Breakage can only be a result of serious abuse. The unstable neck joint can be found in the early double-cut Specials where the neck pickup route is right up against the end of the fretboard, removing most of the tenon. They moved the pickup away from the fretboard to alleviate that problem.
In my experience its usually a broken headstock . Leaning a guitar against an amp , gets bumped , boom
When I think of the single-cut junior, I think of Leslie West. When I think of the double-cut junior, I think of Izzy Stradlin. I really like P-90s and seeing this makes me want to try out a Junior now. Thanks for another great video!
Whoa, a channel like five watt world mentioning Carcass!!! Love Keith's in depth research, references and solid information
Lonesome Dave crafted so many great songs in Foghat! Blues rock at it's finest!!
This video could not have come at a better time. I’m having a bad reaction to my second Covid shot and this took my mind off it for a little while anyway. For me there is one guy who I always think of first when I think of a LPJ, the great Leslie West, thanks Keith.
Hang in there, Dave. The vaccine knocked me out for a couple days, but it gets better!
Thanks
Same here. I had a very "fun" 24 hours, but that's all it lasted for me.
Yeah, my second shot put me on the couch for two days. I was so weak I could barely move
Never played around with one myself, I've converted a Squier Tele into an Esquire but even with the 3-way switching still in use it's still not as simple as a Jr. Jarod James Nichols' signature Epiphone line seems to be selling really well and as a modern day leader to the trend it's nice to see it alive today. especially with his thumb picking. P90s also seem to have stuck as the pickup of choice in Jr. models instead of fading out after humbuckers were introduced, always were my favorite pickups.
This was fun. I want that guitar back… great work as always Keith and thanks for having me!!
Great job Jeff, thank you for holding on to Robben's Junior for this - so worth it!
@@MuseMagnet you are quite welcome!
Hi Jeff, That sounded incredible. I played a Junior in the 70's when we toured with AC/DC. Can I ask, are you playing through a pedal of any kind, it sounds to me there's something else there. Amazing Sound, Wow.!
Mick Jones is definitely my inspiration for all things P90. Those early Clash lead tones led to me building a P90 fitted Squier 51. Part necessity, part desire. I had a 51 that needed building, and I desired those P90 tones. But now I get why it sounds good for Joan Jett numbers now, too!
Thanks for an awesome video, as always!
Every time I see a Junior I think "I need a neck pickup!" but every time I hear one I think "I need to get me one!"
Yep, lol! Everytime!😆😅
I have a "faded double cut" from 02. So it's a double cut special. Not quite the same thing at all, but my point is, I've never switched away from that bridge......
Just bought one!
I've read that Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner both played Juniors on Lou Reed's live "Rock 'n Roll" album. Every song features brilliant tandem guitar work, nasty licks, perfect tone!
I need to know more about the Gibson Melody Maker series, please!
Love the 38 Special mention!!!
I grew up on a steady diet of Green Day, Bad Religion, Blink 182, and The Clash. And I've always wanted a jr, but never managed to get one. Well, Late 2019 I played one of the new ones Gibson is making through an AC30. It was THE sound that has been in my head since I picked up the guitar in '02. I wish I could have snagged that Junior :(
I own a 63 LP jr. that I bought back in 1973 after losing my Les Paul Standard in a fire. Then had to get a 'real' job and the guitar was put under the bed for the next 45 years. Now that I'm retired, and I have succumbed to GAS, it's still my favorite guitar.
This guitar is an icon, I would say the one that most identifies with the essence of this channel! What a great video Keith! Thank you very much!
Another great LP Junior artist I would add is Lukas Nelson. He's got his own Gibson signature model. Great Video as always!
Anyone that's been playing for any length of time is probably had a Junior go through their hands. Cheap but workable, It stayed in tune great 4 gigging after you learned its secrets here I am 60 years on and I'm still looking for that great P90 sound again
Had a ‘60, sold it about 10 years ago, and regretted it ever since. So bought another one a couple years ago. Keeping this one! Great video as always :-).
I just got the body of a Maestro by Gibson Les Paul Junior, I plan on fixing it up soon for playing. Love the series, Keith!
Howdy Kieth. I so appreciate the attention to detail in your short histories. Could have listened to Jeff's intro jam all the way through. This was a great one. Thanks.
Junior's teles simple is the beast no glitz n glam just perfection and both sound amazing and out of this world 👌
I love your stuff and music history. I’m not surprised you are friends with Rick Beato and Tim Pierce.. I love all of these stories and information... also techniques. I feel during the pandemic etc. you guys helped me feel less alone and part of a music community again. So this is a quick note of thanks
Glad to be there with you Brian
I love that all this holy grail stuff that we seek out was just cost cutting measure in the 50s and 60s, or variations due to availability or consistency in manufacturing. We’re trying to get that magic tone now, but back then they were just trying to satisfy demand.
I love Pete Townsends tone with the SG special. I watched an interview where he said he started playing that guitar because it was easier to smash than the telecaster, and they could afford to smash more equipment and throw it away back then; whereas the telecaster was easier to put back together when they didn’t have as much money lol. Then it was easier to smash and/or fix, and now it’s unobtainium
Being a huge Green Day fan, I always wanted a Les Paul junior. In 2013, I bought a 2012 Satin Les Paul junior. It was one of the lower end models Gibson had at the time. It's still the main guitar I play today. The main modification I made to it was swapping out the lighting bar wraparound bridge to a Tonepros adjustable wraparound. Still tempted to get a 50s reissue Junior at some point, but for now my 2012 will do just fine. Loved the video, learned a bit more about the junior which is always cool!
As always Keith a wonderfully done history lesson on a guitar everyone wants!
The Bill Steer mention made my entire day.
Been waiting for this one! Love this series, keep it up!
How do you get the most guitar information out of the least amount of TH-cam sites? 5 watt world!
Thanks Paul
The only Gibson guitar I'd like to own. Thanks for this great video!
Waited for this one a long time. This series is excellent, we really do appreciate all your hard work!
Not many either remember or talk about another Jr. player, from Toronto Pat Travers, some great guitar work from his early days.
Amazing guitarist, unrivalled fluidity. Saw him at Stafford Top of the World ballroom in the late 70's. Mars Cowling on bass, Nico McBrain on drums, not Pat Thrall on second guitar, though.
Pat Travers also played a John Birch guitar, much like a twin-cut Junior or Melody Maker. It's the one on the cover of "Putting It Straight".
These short history videos are amazing. Thank you for sharing your research and passion. It is truly appreciated.
Always have to wait until the evening to sit down and enjoy another “A Short History.” Excellent work, Keith!
I have a Gibson Les Paul Special, but my favorite guitar has always been the Junior. Bought a Collings 290 DC S, and it’s by far my favorite and best guitar I own. It’s my desert island guitar. I inherited a 1959 Fender tweed Deluxe and just plugging the Collings into it, is my favorite sound ever. So simple yet so good. Thanks so much for this show, Keith. I’ve been waiting and looking forward to it. You’re the best.
thank you for continuously making interesting content, i have watched all the short histories at least 10 times each. youre a great person, thank you
I really look forward to these Keith. Thanks for putting in the hard work. Opened a few windows for me here.
I saved this one for the holiday weekend and it did not disappoint! Excellent short history Keith! Thank you!
I'm patiently waiting for a Yamaha SG and Peavey T-60 episode. 😂
Both historically relevant in their own right!
Artist series
I learned to play on my dad's T-60 through a '79 Fender Princeton Reverb. Looking back, I was spoiled. 😅
I've always wanted one since Billie Joe dropped his Fernandes Strat for P-90 mahogany bodied guitars during the recording of Warning. You could audibly hear the switch in tone. The guitar got much fatter sounding, less biting. A character very distinct but still completely punk rock in application. I have yamaha pacifica 510v myself and I really dont think a guitarists needs anything more than a single hot P-90 in the bridge. The volume knob can change overall tone quite a bit. Low volume can totally sound very acoustic. Topped out its definetly electric. Slide off just a little from the top and you got room to bust out more but you're in a sweet spot to cook. It's no wonder Billie got stuck on them. He never much used distortion pedals but would just run his amp overdriven and any clean was him rolling off tremendously. The P-90s are some of the most usable and tweakable pickups or at least they seem that. I wonder if they sound as flexible as they do cause they are so awesome or if guitarists literally couldn't do nothing else when configured with just the one pickup.
Epiphone just dropped a New Billy Joe Les Paul Jr. In TV white with cheetah print hard case or you can get the package deal with guitar, amp and tuner with strap for!$399 but the signature hard case alone model is like $549 !
@@auntjenifer7774 I saw that. It looks alot better than that ugly one that was his first signature guitar that came out a year or two ago
@@legatomodi3522 If you are referring to the run of Jr's that had the sonic blue guitar, then I don't know why you think they are ugly. Also that wasn't his first Gibson signature guitar. He had a signature tv doublecut, a signature series of Juniors with p90s that had slim taper necks, as well as his white Junior with the ebony fretboard that you can see on the live recording of "Jesus of Suburbia" in England, and I believe he had one more signature series but I honestly can't remember what the guitar model was, I know it wasn't a junior like all the others.
Kix was a local band here in the 80’s and I would go see them all the time...guitarist Brian Forsythe would play a ‘61 melody maker and it was the greatest sounding and coolest looking guitar I thought I would ever see...that started my love for simple, one pick-up guitars ...great stuff as always KW...rock on!!!!
Brian is a super cool guy! I sent him a message on Facebook a few years ago asking about the sound on the Blow My Fuse album (I NEVER expected a reply). To my surprise he was very open about it and we talked off and on for weeks working on a tone for a record that I was recording at the time.
Excellent video, Keith!! One of my favorites so far
The Les Paul Special is especially underappreciated, not punk enough for the Junior enthusiasts, not fancy enough for the Standard-bearers. I just can't do without a neck pickup, and try as I may to prefer a P90 Goldtop (as I do prefer the looks), that simple slab of mahogany always sounds better to my ears for the P90 platform.
Great post - I tend to agree...Bought a 2020 Epi LP Special and swapped out the Epi P90s for Gibsons and it sounds pretty great, and like yourself I do feel the need for a neck pickup...
Having said that I have a mid-50s ES-125 that has a single dog-ear P90, one volume, one tone and I get a lot of great sounds out of it...amazing guitar...
Interesting observation re: the LP Standard Gold Top with P90s...been eyeballing them for ages but maybe the mahogany slab is the perfect platform for P90s, like you say...maybe I'll sell the Epi and go for the Gibson LP Special - it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the Goldtop, especially used...
I have a LP special DC with 2 P90s. I think it is a very good instrument. It is the unappreciated 2015 and the fretboard is a bit wide and flat, which reminds me of a classical guitar. The pickups are better than the p90s in my Fender and it has a great build quality with nice nitro lacquer. On neck you can play blues well and the bridge really rocks.
@@BizarrePudding I've also got the new Epiphone Les Paul special TV single cut and the new Gibson Les Paul special double cut T cherry model both have a set of 2 P90'S and the Epiphone has the better clear sounding pickups !
I'm thinking if hunting for the a set of the new Epiphone Les Paul special P90'S to put in my old Gibson Les Paul studio 50's to get that clear sound like the new 2020 inspired by Gibson Epiphone Les Paul special has !
@@auntjenifer7774 Thanks Aunt J...I sat with the original Epi P90s for about 3 months when I first got the guitar...I liked them okay but found them a little tepid, didn't have the bite I was looking for...hence the Gibbys... I'll probably keep the Epi's to put back in the guitar should I decide to sell it, but if I do unload the Epi P90s separately, I'll let you know first...(you could also check with Trogly)...
Btw, how do you like the Epi now that you've had it for a while?
The Junior doesn't look right with two humbuckers but I have an Epiphone Junior that's going to get a nice unobtrusive Tele neck pickup. I don't need a switch, I always play both.
Leslie West is definitely why I like jrs im a doom fan for sure and heavy obscure 70s heavy rock or as my freind calls it oh no you went down the rabbit hole again when he hears my stereo lol this is another great history video again thank you
Awesome as ever Keith! Another great and informative video!! As a Gibson lover my entire life, these videos bring me a crazy amount of joy!
Great work, as always. Everytime I watch a video of yours, I instantly get inspired to pick up a guitar and explore its sounds. Thanks!!
Gary Moore at times played a Junior on his solo outings and with Thin Lizzy.
He reportedly bought it from Steve Jones when they were both in the Greedies. 1979 ish
I started playing in 2009 but I'll always think of Leslie West when I think of a single pickup guitar
I know that I absolutely love my SG junior that I got off the demo shop and I can’t imagine playing anything else RN, it just pushes everything to the absolute limit and is absolutely HEAVENLY
Got a SG junior too. And it really is an amazing tone. Its my number one. Such an underrated guitar.
@@patrickanarchy-official5662 I KNOW, they are such magical guitars, especially those older ones with bigsbys, I’m considering getting a Floyd rose FRX put on mine it a Seymour Duncan Custom shop pickup so I can turn it into a tone MACHINE that fits my playing perfectly
Les Paul Jr is my all time favourite guitar ever. Can’t explain it. Just love them so much
Hey Keith! I would love it if you contacted Mark at Missing Link Audio to talk about Duane Allman. Mark is an authority on the Allman Bros. and has really done the home work on Duane and the gear he used over his short and amazing career. A Five Watt short history on Duane would be great to see. You could talk to Mark about JBL120s for hours.
A big part of the Black Sabbath sound is the P90. Obviously Iommi used an SG, not a Junior. But I'd wager you could get closer to his tone with a Junior than with a humbucker-loaded SG. Also, I believe Keith Richards sometimes plays a Junior (I don't recall your mentioning him). And lastly, there are weird old Eddie Van Halen photos circa Van Halen's first album in which Eddie is playing a Junior. They look like they were part of the photo shoot for the first album.
EVH played a junior with a humbucker in the bridge.
Paul Westerberg -Replacements
Why I love the Jr.
Thanks for another great episode about another great guitar.
I've been in love with a double cut LP junior for sooooo long now. ❤️
Custom shop prices force me to build in my own "Custom Shop" at home.
I'm a simple man. I see a short history, I watch.
Love your productions! So well researched and presented. academically rich yet never boring . The P90 info was particularly of interest. Bravo 5 Watt
Not much better in the world than a new short history episode!
I joined Truefire because of your ads and am loving it so far, thanks Keith!
Lol, the picture of Billie Joe Armstrong with the yellow Les Paul Junior was taken right before he smashed it.
Would have loved to have seen Minor Threat/Bad Religion/Dag Nasty/Junkyard etc guitarist Brian Baker on the list. Great guitarist and he’s the one who got me into Juniors back in the day. Great stuff otherwise and as usual.
Great series! Wonderfully produced and informative videos. Keep up the good work!
Another fascinating and informative one from the master of them. Thanks, Keith!
If you want to see a Melody Maker being given the treatment by Gary Moore, watch Thin Lizzy live in Sydney.
I'm a bass player by trade. Got myself a guitar, a single pickup les paul Jr. Having so much fun playing punk tunes on it. The p90 is such a magical pickup. Simplicity really is the key.
Love it. Thank you. Getting my Junior out again. Shally
Well done once again Keith. And there’s nothing like hearing Jeff McErlain play a Les Paul!
And just like that, LP Jr's were sold out all over the world!
let 'em. this gives smaller builders/brands a chance to back fill the market with prices that match quality and not the headstock
Just did my part and bought one!
Johnny Thunders all the way!
AMEN to that!!!
Didn’t Keith Richards own a junior before his telecaster? I’m guessing he saw Keith with his
Kudos for including Carcass' Bill Steer!
Once again, the Teacher schools us about Gibsons Jr LP. and SG Inners. The little things we never knew. GREAT JOB KEITH. Thanks man!
Thanks John
Bold of you to assume we wouldn’t spot that Melody Maker at the 12 minute mark...! ;)
As much as I love Rock music, I've always had a soft spot for Keith Urban.
Lol
Oh, he's got the chops. Anyone that will step on stage and go with Paisley has my respect.
Great job as always! This is a very special piece on a very special piece - thanks Keith.
You did a great job!!! Loved all the guitarist you mentioned and their use of the junior. I have a ‘58 TV double cut away. That P90 is heavenly.
I remember reading an interview with Marco Pirroni from Adam and the Ants: He said that during his punk days he would use his LP Junior to fight off the audience and it would still be in tune to finish the gig.
What more do you need from a guitar?!?!
The demonstration of the tone and volume knobs reminded me of those old demo videos with Phil X :') What a guy
Truly excellent presentation, as always!
I do not know if better “content” is available out there.
Amazing, as always, thank you...and Jeff’s part. I appreciate his playing so much. Going to log back onto Trufire soon, and continue some of his courses.
My favorite Junior players are Johnny Thunders and Bob Marley!
I think Marley played a Special no?
@@fivewattworld oh my, you’re absolutely right. I feel embarrassed now! hahah
Keef is the one i think of when seeing a junior
Your material is above all and you are right you deserve a tip from everyone who uses this educational videos. Thanks again
Great demo from Jeff! This is a great video, in honor to this great guitar
Single cut juniors were reissued in the 80’s. I believe that was the first time reissued. That said, the 80’s reissues did not have a wrap tailpiece. I believe they had ABR-1’s.
I stopped in Wayne Charvel’s shop years ago to see about getting my Junior refretted and spoke to his son. They were gearing up for production and weren’t taking any repairs, but we talked for a couple of hours about how great Juniors were and he dug his ‘80’s reissue double cut out to show me. It had an ABR. Great guitar.
This is correct and I was going to make the same comment. I have an ‘87 single cut. They are excellent guitars but do have thin 80s style necks and the two piece bridge and tailpiece. Paul Westerberg can be seen using both a sunburst single cut and double cut TV in the final years of The Replacements.