Gibson Les Paul Junior Doublecut (1958)

A successor to the single-cut Sunburst Les Paul Junior that debuted in 1954, this next gen version featured a larger, rounder lower bout with two offset cutaway horns and a beautiful Cherry Red finish. These '58s also had the early style body contouring very reminiscent of a Telecaster, with a more squared off edge that would soon be abandoned for a softer, more radiused edge the following year.

This total cherry bomb of a first-year doublecut Junior is a near-perfect example of what these "student" Gibsons are all about - simple, no-frills, and packed with tone.

The full C neck is a total dream carve - slightly softer shoulders but with nice depth and a moderate taper that is noticeable but not an impediment at all. The original smaller frets were replaced with medium jumbo wire, but feel right at home on this model.

A punchy dogear P90 measuring a healthy 8.78k output has all the quintessential single-coil Gibson tone you could ever want. Paired with the wraparound bridge, you get that immediacy of attack, resonant fundamental power, and top end sizzle that has made these models so desirable.