Since 1954, the Gibson Les Paul Junior has added a cool, straightforward vibe to the world of rock music. Over half a century later, the Jr. is still a favorite among players everywhere. It’s no coincidence that leagues of players got their start with this guitar — and come back to it time and time again. Made from solid mahogany and finished in classic nitrocellulose lacquer, this Junior gives you an impressively rich and detailed tone. Its vintage ’50s neck is a pleasure to play, and you just can’t beat the sound of a P-90 pickup. Under the hood, the control assembly is handwired with matched potentiometers and Orange Drop capacitors. Get back to basics with the Gibson Les Paul Junior.

P-90 pickups: dare to sound different

We have many fiercely loyal P-90 fans here at Music Experience. These guitarists know that the P-90 offers a unique tonal palette that is distinct from — and complements — humbuckers and traditional single-coils. Gibson’s first successful single-coil pickup, the P-90 can be heard on countless classic recordings. With its biting treble and high output, the P-90 cleans up nicely when you roll back your guitar’s volume pot. It’s an amazingly versatile pickup with its own brand of grit — a bit brighter, leaner, and less refined than a humbucker and almost as hot. Hit your amp hard, and the P-90 really wails. Plugged into a proper high-gain tube amp, you can elicit grind, sizzle, and bark that would be impossible with humbuckers — or with other single-coils, for that matter. To hear P-90s brilliantly deployed in historical context, check out Santana’s fiery Woodstock performance or the Who’s masterful Live at Leeds album.

Vintage ’50s neck and Plek’d frets for optimized playability

Comfort and playability were two of Gibson’s primary concerns when they were designing the Les Paul Junior. You’ll be delighted by how this guitar’s vintage ’50s neck profile comfortably fills your hand in just the right way. For your playing pleasure, the rosewood fingerboard is buffed to silky smoothness and the frets are dressed to perfection using a Plek Pro machine for optimized playability. Typically reserved for top-dollar custom guitars, this process levels the frets with pinpoint precision, providing you with the most playable fretboard you’re likely to own.

Nitro finish for the look and feel of a classic

Gibson gave the Les Paul Junior a gorgeous nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Nitro finishes — standard back in the day — are significantly thinner than today’s polyurethane finishes, allowing the guitar to “breathe.” Nitro finishes not only look amazing, but they also enhance the instrument’s tonal qualities. The Les Paul Junior has the look and feel of a lovingly cared-for classic — one that will only improve with age.

What Gibson Says...

The Les Paul Junior returns to the classic design that made it relevant, played and loved -- shaping sound across generations and genres of music. It pays tribute to Gibson's Golden Era of innovation and brings authenticity back to life. Introduced as an affordable option for students and beginners in 1954, the Les Paul Junior has been embraced by musicians for over 60 years. The single cutaway slab mahogany body, single dogear P-90 pickup, single volume and tone controls all add up to a whole lot of guitar which is greater than the sum of its parts. The fat 50's-style neck profile and wraparound bridge add to the equation for rock solid tone. Available in Tobacco Burst and the new Ebony finish with tortoise shell pickguard.