opinions on les paul JUNIORS ??

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metalj

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Ive heard good things and bad things. can anyone testify to them being true or false.

good...

- the p-90's are a good split between a hummer and single coil. nice clean tone, and still a bite, while holding enough body for disortion.
- nice easy no nonsense guitar for any kind of music.
- work well with just about any amp.

bad.....

-tuning problems
-inferior tuners
- balance problem, neck does a nose dive.
- neck is too wide.
- production is inconsistant. you really have to check and pick through each guitar before yo buy to find a good one ??

I have no idea if any of this is true. comments ?? real life opinioins. Ill check it out soon at a local guitar shop, but just wanted some input.

thanks
 
metalj said:
Ive heard good things and bad things. can anyone testify to them being true or false.

- balance problem, neck does a nose dive.
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That's more of a prob with Melody Maker guitars, which have the same body style but half as thick. The Juniors I have played have been pretty well balanced.
 
I can't speak to the new LP Jrs.

But I own a LP Special ("72,I think) that is a reissue of a '57 LP Junior...anyway, it's essentially the same. Flat top (not carved), equipped with P-90s.

Excellent guitar. Great tone, although not as aggressive as alnico humbuckers. The P-90's are a bit noisy at idle.

As far as the other issues go.....I have owned the instrument for almost 30 years and it has been stable as a rock. Never any neck problems. The neck is wide but shallow, so even my tiny hands can get around it with no problem.

Since I hate the standard Gibson tuners, regardless of what guitar they are on, I immediately replaced them with sealed Grovers. I also replaced the non-adjustable bridge/tailpiece with a Shaller bridge with adjustable saddles and microtuners. I also installed a brass nut. (Regretfully, I also replaced the bridge P-90 with a DiMarzio Super Distortion - hey, I was playing Southern rock at the time ;) - and I would like to undo that mistake one of these days.)

Anyhow, I like mine and I've always thought they are fine guitars. :)
 
If you ever get tired of that

Zaphod B said:
I can't speak to the new LP Jrs.

But I own a LP Special ("72,I think) that is a reissue of a '57 LP Junior...anyway, it's essentially the same. Flat top (not carved), equipped with P-90s.

Excellent guitar. Great tone, although not as aggressive as alnico humbuckers. The P-90's are a bit noisy at idle.

As far as the other issues go.....I have owned the instrument for almost 30 years and it has been stable as a rock. Never any neck problems. The neck is wide but shallow, so even my tiny hands can get around it with no problem.

Since I hate the standard Gibson tuners, regardless of what guitar they are on, I immediately replaced them with sealed Grovers. I also replaced the non-adjustable bridge/tailpiece with a Shaller bridge with adjustable saddles and microtuners. I also installed a brass nut. (Regretfully, I also replaced the bridge P-90 with a DiMarzio Super Distortion - hey, I was playing Southern rock at the time ;) - and I would like to undo that mistake one of these days.)

Anyhow, I like mine and I've always thought they are fine guitars. :)
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just let me know. I think I could force myself to take it off your hands. :D

What finish is it?
 
Armistice said:
you forgot:


bad...
double ugly :)
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says YOU!

I love 'em except for the TV yellow ones. Just can't stand TV yellow anything!

Glen Frey plays one a lot. And they make great slide guitars.

And let's not forget Leslie West: duh duh duh duh duh Mississippi Queen!
 
specials!

So I love Juniors too. No frills, just a big slab of woof with a killer p90. If you'd like a touch more versatility look at a Les Paul Special, which is the same concept, just with a second p90 (unless you get stuck with one with p100s which I personally dislike very much) and a tune a matic bridge which is very nice. You can get them relatively cheap because no one besides a few kooks such as myself love them. Ifyou run the dheap way of things, Epiphone made a double cutaway set neck les paul special that just rules for like $300. Change the tuners and you're in business.

cheers,
scott
 
Ok, so now i have wrench for you.

i went to the store and checked out some PRS guitars with the soapbar pickups. pretty nice.

any comparisons out there ?? to the Junior ??

thanks
 
Cardioidpotent said:
says YOU!

I love 'em except for the TV yellow ones. Just can't stand TV yellow anything!

Glen Frey plays one a lot. And they make great slide guitars.

And let's not forget Leslie West: duh duh duh duh duh Mississippi Queen!
Click to expand...

Actually, West played a Melody Maker. Same body profile, but half as thick and different pups (stock).
 
Cardioidpotent said:
says YOU!

I love 'em except for the TV yellow ones. Just can't stand TV yellow anything!

Glen Frey plays one a lot. And they make great slide guitars.

And let's not forget Leslie West: duh duh duh duh duh Mississippi Queen!
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's a personal taste thing alright - I've never liked the look of them. I am definitely with you on the yellow, however... :)
 
I'm up to my neck in guitars and my LP Junior has the best rock sound of all of them, by far. I personally love the enormous neck but I'm 6'5" and can see how it might cause others problems. That said, the tuners, nut, action and intonation are a nightmare. I replaced the stock wraparound bridge with a Leo Quann Badass intonatable bridge and had the best local luthier set it up ... still rubbish. That sound, though. It's worth perservering.
 
biffhardon said:
I'm up to my neck in guitars and my LP Junior has the best rock sound of all of them, by far. I personally love the enormous neck but I'm 6'5" and can see how it might cause others problems. That said, the tuners, nut, action and intonation are a nightmare. I replaced the stock wraparound bridge with a Leo Quann Badass intonatable bridge and had the best local luthier set it up ... still rubbish. That sound, though. It's worth perservering.
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do you have any prs guitars in your pile?? the ones with the soapbar pickups? I tried those out and had no tuning problems and sounded alot like the juniors, and way lighter too. Just wondering, looking for an A/B comparison.
 
Cardioidpotent said:
just let me know. I think I could force myself to take it off your hands. :D

What finish is it?
Click to expand...
Ha! Not letting this baby go. ;)

It's a dark tobacco sunburst.
 
Junior?

Great sound, easy to play. Straight into a 4 x 10" bassman with everything on 10.

Oh yeah!
 
hungovermorning said:
So I love Juniors too. No frills, just a big slab of woof with a killer p90. If you'd like a touch more versatility look at a Les Paul Special, which is the same concept, just with a second p90 (unless you get stuck with one with p100s which I personally dislike very much) and a tune a matic bridge which is very nice. You can get them relatively cheap because no one besides a few kooks such as myself love them. Ifyou run the dheap way of things, Epiphone made a double cutaway set neck les paul special that just rules for like $300. Change the tuners and you're in business.

cheers,
scott
Click to expand...
My wife bought me a Gibson Les Paul Special for christmas a couple years ago.Wouldn't have been my first choice.Had P-100s,which sounded OK,but my superficial mind said"soapbars just aint a Lp to me!I bought a set of mini humbuckers,to get more of the look I wanted(yes,I'm a very shallow man).I really like how they sound alot!I've really grown to love this guitar If I had it to do over,I'd spend a little extra dough and get a LP Studio,or a used Classic,though!I like a carved top,and binding!
 
metalj said:
do you have any prs guitars in your pile?? the ones with the soapbar pickups? I tried those out and had no tuning problems and sounded alot like the juniors, and way lighter too. Just wondering, looking for an A/B comparison.
Click to expand...

No, don't have a PRS and I've only ever briefly played one of the imports (SE?) which had a couple of humbuckers in it. They may or may not be great guitars but I just can't stand the way they look, too fancy-pants for mine.
 
Not every P90 guitar will sound like a Jr. There are lots of things different about the Jr, than something like a PRS with soapbars. First is the body wood. Jrs are almost always mahogany, Most USA PRSs are mahogany with a maple cap, or ash. Very different sounds from those different woods.

IMHO, the secret to the Jr sound is from two different sources that are not found on many guitars.

1. The lack of a neck pup gives you more contact between the neck and the body. My Jrs are some of the best sustaining guitars I own, and that includes some guitars that run about 6K.
2. The wraparound bridge. A lot of people underestimate the importance a bridge has on the tone of a guitar. The bridge on the Jr is a major part of their distinctive sound.

I own/have owned original Gibby Jrs, Historics, and Hamer USA Jrs. The vintage ones are simply magic, but can run you several thousand dollars. IMHO the best made of the current Jrs are the Hamer USA. You can pick up a Mahogany or Korina Jr from Hamer USA on the used market for around $1200. New, they are $1500-1700. The Gibson Historics simply cannot hang with the Hamer USA stuff. I can't comment on any of the import stuff because I have no experience with any of it.

FWIW, the finest guitar I have ever owned was a 1963 Gibson SG Jr with a wraparound bridge and one P90. It sounded like *god*...unfortunately, it was stolen at a gig in 1992 while I was getting some luvin in the parking lot. :confused: :mad:
 
My first solid body was a 1968 or so LP junior, and I loved it. And P90's are not a split between humbuckes and single coils. As far as I understand it, they *are* single coil pickups. And among my personal favorites. I think you mean they don't sound like a Fender, and that's true. They seem a little less metallic (jangly) to me. They are an excellent coice when you want a solid body to impersonate an acoustic. I used to play The Who a lot, during the "Tommy" period, and P90's are very good for getting that sound.-Richie
 
thanks guys. lots of good info to consider. This really helps.

keep it coming.

Rep points for all !!!!!!!
 
not sure if it was mentioned but i LOVE my LP faded Double Cut I got new last year in yellow. I had a pro set it up and its one of my favorite guitars along with some very high end ones. i only paid $599 for it and it sounds and plays super. looks great too.
 
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