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NGD: 2019 Les Paul Junior Single Cut

mustachio

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2015
Messages
178

<a href="http://s1325.photobucket.com/user/mustachio0/media/B36D4475-0278-45CA-A10A-2A6C91B2CCF0_zpsemtimjy9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u622/mustachio0/B36D4475-0278-45CA-A10A-2A6C91B2CCF0_zpsemtimjy9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo B36D4475-0278-45CA-A10A-2A6C91B2CCF0_zpsemtimjy9.jpg"></a>
Freshly made in March, a 2019 Les Paul ‘57 Junior Single Cut, hide glue, PIO and audio taper electronics. P90 is awesome. Feels great. Intonates perfectly for a wraparound (wonder if these are the compensated ones TonePros used to make?). Sustains for days. So much so, I am selling my ‘63 SG “Les Paul” Junior. I did have to replace the knobs with Retrospec aged top hats. The factory ones did not have the indentations their tops and one was split inside on the spline. Awesome though. Super comfortable neck. Has the newer decal color.
 

RandyGoldtop

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2011
Messages
70
Beautiful guitar, but I may be a little biased. 56 Les Paul Ft.jpg

If you don't mind me asking, what drove you to buy the new one vs. vintage? Price points seem close enough to me that it would push me to vintage.
 

mustachio

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2015
Messages
178
Beautiful guitar, but I may be a little biased. View attachment 9666

If you don't mind me asking, what drove you to buy the new one vs. vintage? Price points seem close enough to me that it would push me to vintage.

Don’t mind at all! Well, first, I’m keeping the vintage SG Jr. It has a different voice and feel.

I have an opinion about why I like Juniors so much and why they are a best kept secret. First off, I learned to play on a dreadnought, played solo acoustic FOREVER before playing in professional bands and recording.

A dreadnought vs. a Tele is a totally different feel to master.

First, Juniors (and esquires for that matter), because of their wraparounds, feel and reacts a lot like an acoustic guitar. My personal wheel house. Transfer of energy is more efficient.

Second, I love P90s.

Third, and I really believe this, the single pickup near the bridge (the configuration where the pickup is in the middle position or neck is NOT the same as in the treble position) is key to the strings reaction to the magnet and feel of the guitar itself.

So, my ‘63 SG Jr. has a beefy neck, wide nut, “Les Paul” decal—probably one of the last runs with his logo—and the lightning bolt and even studs, plus the lightweight body shape, adds a snap and bite.

The new one has more low end growl, articulate but a little more around the chords and notes and it edges out the sustain by a c-hair.

Here’s the big thing why I was even toying letting the SG go—who knows what it’s going to worth in 10 years, I’m young-ish and I’ll have it and play it a lot, I digress—is the way the SG sits while standing is super comfortable for my right forearm, but the slight neck dive forces me to extend the strap more than I like. Therefore, my strumming hand is a little more extended, as the neck is now more or less in the same position as say a Les Paul or Tele shaped body. Makes a difference in the long run. However, first world problems, it’s a damn vintage Les Paul Jr.

Why I kept the SG? The P90 seems to stay a little tighter. But, I don’t know if it’s because of the body shape or because of the age of the pickup? But, it’s more precise. And sitting down and playing the SG is so comfortable. And it’s come in hand on studio sessions. It’s so light. Literally stood (and sat a little) for 8 hours.

The 2019 Les Paul Jr.’s P90 is almost identical in tone, but again, the body shape, slightly more deep neck shape and more body mass makes the P90 see what’s there. But the electronics are great. The P90’s are identical. I like the new aging that is now qualified as “VOS”. Feels good. Sounds good. Looks tarnished from age not from wool pads. The boards are dark and feel good to the touch too. Frets are awesome.

So, since I like Juniors, I just said fuck it. But, I’m also going to keep it because I don’t ever want to bring out the vintage SG to bar ever again. I couldn’t relax. It’s not worth much, but it is to me.

Anyway. Sorry I droned. Hopefully it made sense and there isn’t too many typos.

Sidebar: I’m from Utica, where Joe B is from. We’re the same age. I saw him play at FX Matt Brewery in 1988. I picked up guitar two years later. But, Joe’s a good dude. Kind of fun to see him talk about where he’s from. I bought my first Les Paul from Lenny, his dad at Bank Place Guitars in Clinton, NY. Anyway. Fun stuff.
 

DANELECTRO

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2003
Messages
6,318
I really like the Historic Juniors. I have a 2010 Historic Junior and an original 1955 Junior and I'd have to say that I like them both equally. The 2010 has a very beefy R8 style neck profile, and with a Wolfetone "Meaner" P90 in it, it which really growls. Actually, it sounded great with the stock pickup, but I grabbed the Wolfetone from the forum classifieds, installed it, and I like it so much its there to stay. The '55 has a smaller and very comfortable '59 style neck profile. Its P90 is slightly cleaner and snappier than the Reissue pup, yet it still has a sweet sizzlle to it. I enjoy playing Juniors because the shorter overall string length gives them a slinkier feel, the tuning is very stable, and I since often rest my palm on the bridge for muting strings while playing solos, I find it to be a little more comfortable than an ABR-equipped guitar.

Juniors%202010%20and%201955_zpstbourprd.jpg
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Nice!

I love Juniors.

I need a single cut Junior.

That is a fine guitar there...

Wrap tails get me going.
 

garywright

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,583
I really like the Historic Juniors. I have a 2010 Historic Junior and an original 1955 Junior and I'd have to say that I like them both equally. The 2010 has a very beefy R8 style neck profile, and with a Wolfetone "Meaner" P90 in it, it which really growls. Actually, it sounded great with the stock pickup, but I grabbed the Wolfetone from the forum classifieds, installed it, and I like it so much its there to stay. The '55 has a smaller and very comfortable '59 style neck profile. Its P90 is slightly cleaner and snappier than the Reissue pup, yet it still has a sweet sizzlle to it. I enjoy playing Juniors because the shorter overall string length gives them a slinkier feel, the tuning is very stable, and I since often rest my palm on the bridge for muting strings while playing solos, I find it to be a little more comfortable than an ABR-equipped guitar.

Juniors%202010%20and%201955_zpstbourprd.jpg
Those bridges don’t look stock ..did you get them for MojoAxe ?
:)
 
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