Two Different 50's Junior's

[mbowen]

Hi guys went to see my{and TW's} old friend Joe S. a few days ago .Joe has been getting back into Vintage guitars after being out of them for a while.He has picked up a few cool guitars.A 1957 LP JR that was made for the Trade Show {1950's version of the Namm show i guess}with a factory White Guard and cool White knobs.I have seen a few of these before in books and online but never in hand.The other Jr is a 1959 TV in Banana Yellow with a Black Guard rather than standard tortoiseshell guard.I have had one of these before years ago but i do not think they are all that common.Anyway here are a few shots of them,i will post others in the Neverending Burst That Got Away Thread.Mike B.

 

[mbowen]

Here are 2 more Jr's with White Guards one from Rob Lawrence's Book The Les Paul Legacy page 185, a 1958 and one TW posted ,A 1956 TV with a white guard.Mike B.

 

[mbowen]

Here is a shot of the knobs on the 1957 Jr and a 57 Century lap steel with the same knobs.Joe S got this 1957 white guard Jr from our friend Gil S.Mike B.

 

[mbowen]

The white pickguard is painted white the backside is black like a normal JR pickguard.The question is WHY did Gibson Paint them White for The Trade Shows??We have a 1956-57-58 all shown here with the painted White guards so they did it for at least those 3 years.Joe S. thinks it was done since Fender was showing Strats and Teli's with mostly white guards at 179.00-219.00 or so price wise ---Here Gibson has a White Guard guitar for only 99.00.Was it done just to accent that Gibson had a guitar that looked a lot like the Fenders for a lot less money??Please give us your thoughts as to why Gibson did this and as far as i know only to Trade Show Guitars.Thanks Joe S and TW who told me where the knobs came from.I knew i had seen them but being half senile i could not remember.I e-mailed my friend Tom W.and he knew right away that they came from certain colored Century Lap steels.I also thank Tw for the use of his picture of the 56 TV JR with white guard.Mike B.

 

[MapleFlame]

Neatoooooooooo

 

[Stoj]

They are very cool, especially the TV Yellow Junior, Thanks Mike :salude

 

[buyusfear]

I like this thread, so I will comment in it so that I can see the little volume knob indicating my participation, when combing this section later on.

Carry-on good sir's.

 

[Ulli]

Thanks for posting, Mike.
The '57 looks awesome; hadn't seen those white knobs before. Very cool! :dude:

 

[garywright]

Here is a shot of the knobs on the 1957 Jr and a 57 Century lap steel with the same knobs.Joe S got this 1957 white guard Jr from our friend Gil S.Mike B.

Mike ...does the back of the guard show any white along the edges ? ...just curious how neat a paint job

 

[mbowen]

Mike ...does the back of the guard show any white along the edges ? ...just curious how neat a paint job

Yes there are a few small small white paint spots or runs on the black back of the guard near the edges.Mike B.

 

[garywright]

thanks for that info

 

[mbowen]

More of the Different JR's,Mike B.
1959-Black guard TV JR

1957 White Guard-Trade Show Guitar

 

[JJ Blair]

Wow. The 57 is both the coolest and ugliest Jr I've ever seen, at the same time!

 

[mbowen]

Wow. The 57 is both the coolest and ugliest Jr I've ever seen, at the same time!

I know what you mean at first i thought it looked cheap but the more i looked at it the more i loved it.Now i think it is one of the best looking JR variants but i am a little bias toward the guitar.To me it is as you said THE COOLEST JR.Thanks Mike B.

 

[mbowen]

More 1957-1959 JR's from the Joe S. collection,Mike B.

 

[mbowen]

I am surprised more guys are not into JR's i found these guitar really interesting even though they are JR's.OH Well on we go,Mike B.s

 

[585960]

those Maestro GA 2 RT are the shit too!

 

[mbowen]

those Maestro GA 2 RT are the shit too!

Not a lot of guys know about these amps.Joe has 3 of them and they do sound killer.Mike B.

 

[thin sissy]

I am surprised more guys are not into JR's i found these guitar really interesting even though they are JR's.OH Well on we go,Mike B.s

I think we are many Jr. fans on this site :salude

 

[Tom Wittrock]

I think we are many Jr. fans on this site :salude

And around the vintage guitar world! :dude: