Junior lesson please

[Gold Tone]

I'm in the hunt for a junior. I know I want a single cut sunburst but know nothing about them. Could those who have owned or played them tell me about the differences from '54 to '59 (those were the years of the single cut right?). Neck size and shape, issues to be aware of, weight expectations, etc.

Any and all advice is very much appreciated!

 

[doublestop]

Hi, I have a '56 Jr.

One thing they changed in '57 is put the pickup a tiny bit further from the brigde (that is: more towards the neck), in order to make it easier to put new strings on the guitar.

My '56 has a perfect neck shape, certainly no baseball bat. I find the frets small, but I'll get used to it (and if not I might consider a refret). I believe that starting in '58 (?) they used bigger frets. I also believe that starting 1960 (?) they used thinner necks (which is bad in my book).

Good luck. You won't regret buying a vintage Junior.

Peter

 

[Gold Tone]

Hi, I have a '56 Jr.

One thing they changed in '57 is put the pickup a tiny bit further from the brigde (that is: more towards the neck), in order to make it easier to put new strings on the guitar.

My '56 has a perfect neck shape, certainly no baseball bat. I find the frets small, but I'll get used to it (and if not I might consider a refret). I believe that starting in '58 (?) they used bigger frets. I also believe that starting 1960 (?) they used thinner necks (which is bad in my book).

Good luck. You won't regret buying a vintage Junior.

Peter

Thanks for this.....something else I wasn't aware of was the pickup move. HAve you been able to A/B any later years to yours? I would think that pickup move would have a strong effect on the sound. Moving closer to the neck may "fill" out the sound a bit but lose some "bite". Also pickup placement is crucial in terms of how closey centred under a "node" of the vibrating string changing the voice of the guitar.

I'd love to hear the 2 side by side.

Anyone else?

 

[badtone]

My very first guitar was a 59 Junior, which I foolishly sold to buy a 73 Deluxe. BTW, the Deluxe is a great guitar, Norlin and all, but I do wish I still had that Junior. Anyway, I now have a 56 Special and can say that I miss the bigger frets of the 59, but I like the neck shape. Not as big, but still beefy - not like a 60. Plus, all of the vintage P-90 LP's I've played flat out scream:dude
They are great guitars, and I don't think you can go wrong if you find one you like.

 

[tomgreen]

I am on the hunt for a Jr myself, and have been posting around here. I am interested in the single cut Tobacco sunburst. Someone on the forum posted that for the Tobaccos, you want 56 - 58, because there were some bridge stability problems in 54 and 55.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Neck shapes are not the same for any given year. They vary.
The change to thin [depth, not width] necks in 1960 happened some time in the middle of the year. There are plenty of 1960 Les Pauls that don't have the thinner neck.

 

[gmann]

Thanks for this.....something else I wasn't aware of was the pickup move. HAve you been able to A/B any later years to yours? I would think that pickup move would have a strong effect on the sound. Moving closer to the neck may "fill" out the sound a bit but lose some "bite". Also pickup placement is crucial in terms of how closey centred under a "node" of the vibrating string changing the voice of the guitar.

I'd love to hear the 2 side by side.

Anyone else?

I also have a '56, the pup doesn't move significantly closer to the neck to affect a a tonal change. I've
never measured it but what could it be, an 8th or a 1/4 at the most? Neck sizes do vary, alot IMO, I also have a '59 double cut. The '56 is my fav guitar, I don't see how you could go wrong with one. Single cuts I mean. Double cuts do sound different but they also sound great. Let us know what you get.

 

[Gold Tone]

So it seems '56 to '58 are the single cuts to go for? Differences are neck size and shape, frets (when did that change?), pickup position. How does the weight vary in these?

Keep it comming..........I know a lot of you guys have thesespin

 

[Gold Tone]

I am on the hunt for a Jr myself, and have been posting around here. I am interested in the single cut Tobacco sunburst. Someone on the forum posted that for the Tobaccos, you want 56 - 58, because there were some bridge stability problems in 54 and 55.

What price range are you keeping to? I was hoping to keep it around $2800 but would like a pretty clean one if I have a choice........don't know how much that will affect the price.

 

[gmann]

What price range are you keeping to? I was hoping to keep it around $2800 but would like a pretty clean one if I have a choice........don't know how much that will affect the price.

I would think you could get a nice one in that price range. My '56, and all the ones I've seen fm that era, have had small frets. Mine were worn out however and I had it refretted. I got a great fret job done and it is now twice the guitar it was as far as playing condition goes. These are great guitars and refrets don't significantly lessen the value IMO. Especially if the orig. frets were worn out as mine were. I mean, you gotta be able to play it right? If not, WTF huh?

 

[Mike Shaw]

Does weight have anything to do with a good Jr sound? The lighter the better?

 

[Gold Tone]

Does weight have anything to do with a good Jr sound? The lighter the better?

That's what I am wondering...........I know Keef plays heavy ones for the sound they have.........I have a feeling you might not want one too light?

gmann - I'm with you on the frets........who cares if they're origional if there worn to the board?

 

[tomgreen]

What price range are you keeping to? I was hoping to keep it around $2800 but would like a pretty clean one if I have a choice........don't know how much that will affect the price.

I would spend up to $3500, it would have to be really nice for that price. On Gbase.com they have several in the 2500-3000 price range. Mine is going to be a player, but I would like something pretty clean as well. My criteria is no breaks, no mods (tuners O.K.), weather checking O.K., and some play wear O.K., pro refret O.K.

 

[AXE752]

Sorry, ignore this post.

 

[AXE752]

I have a '56 also. I have always liked the single cuts better due to the thicker body--more wood (I think it makes a positive difference in the sound--personal preference.) I also like the fact that the pickup resides closer to the bridge (the reason that on the whole I like Jr's better than specials.) I think that it tends to give the guitar more presence and for lack of a better word, "Poop," especially in combination with a good "hot" P-90.

I have also found that Jr's vary quite a bit in just how much "Poop" they have. There are a variety of factors, but IMHO it is mostly due to variance in P-90's. I also have found absolutely no positive/negative correlation in weight to tone (what I mean is whether or not it is a "good one.") I think as in all other guitars, that each guitar should be judged on it's own merit. But I have found that I have liked many more of the single cut ones than the double cut ones (no preference for any one particular year or years of single cut ones though.)

Hope this helps a little. Good Luck, and let us know what you find!!!

 

[Tom Wittrock]

I have also found that Jr's vary quite a bit in just how much "Poop" they have.

Hope this helps a little. Good Luck, and let us know what you find!!!

:rof

sorry, I couldn't help myself. spin :lol2

 

[AXE752]

That would be the technical term for it!!:lolspin