Gibson Les Paul Junior (USED, 1955)
Vintage
Vintage Guitar Quiz Time!
What's from the 1950s, has only one pickup, two knobs, and lots of attitude?!
There are very few answers that will give you the results many of us have had swimming around in our collective heads as guitarists and tone chasers since we learned how to pluck a string. One of them hails from Southern California. The other?
Check out this insane sounding "student" model electric from Kalamazoo, Michigan - a 1955 Gibson Les Paul Junior in its original Sunburst finish, and maybe the lightest Junior we've ever held in our hands.
If we've learned anything about 20th Century electric guitar design, it's that keeping it simple can really pay off. Just ask rock and roll pioneers Keith Richards and Leslie West, or modern-day Junior slingers Billie Joe Armstrong and Keith Urban. The Les Paul Junior is one of the purest and most unabashedly basic electric guitars ever made, with anything-but-basic tone. Nothing screams "plug in and GO" quite like a Junior. There's nothing to get in the way here, folks. The power, the versatility, the dynamics, the nuance...it's all revealed in the player by way of this powerhouse slab-bodied slice of tonal heaven.
With no more than a slight twist of your volume and/or tone knob, you're afforded tones ranging from pseudo-acoustic breadth and resonator-like zing to searing and harmonically explosive upper midrange and top end crackle. We're not saying one guitar can do it all, but this superb mid 50s example of what has become legendary in electric guitar lore is sure to show even the most discerning and critical players that less most definitely is more.
Condition: Very Good+. This guitar has seen some playing time over its 67 year history, but remains in overall great cosmetic condition. Original frets still show plenty of useable wire for nice playability up and down the neck. This Junior does exhibit some history of bridge post lean that was prevalent in earlier Juniors, although it proves to be quite stable by way of some very old repair/touch-up work. The original P90 puts out a nice medium output that isn't too aggressive. The electronics harness is also original to the guitar. Tuners were replaced with a period correct aged set of Gotohs.
Price includes non-original brown Gibson LP hardshell case.
Please note: online checkout is not available for this instrument. Please contact us to discuss purchase details. Payment via check or wire transfer only.
- Solid Honduran Mahogany body
- Honduran Mahogany neck
- Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard
- 24 3/4" scale length
- 1 11/16" nut width
- Mid 50s soft V to C carve - .91" @ 1st fret / .98" @ 12th
- Aged Gotoh 3-on-a-plate tuners
- Original dogear P90 pickup - measures 8.4k
- Volume, Tone
- Original wraparound tailpiece
- Weight: 6lb 10oz
Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.
Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.
Pricing
We price vintage instruments using current market trends and our extensive in-house sales history, ensuring each piece is accurately valued and fairly positioned.
Tasteful Restoration
When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.
Accurate Listings
Every vintage guitar we list is authenticated by our seasoned team and photographed in high detail, with clear, honest descriptions that show exactly what you’re buying - no surprises.
Shipping
With decades of experience shipping high-value guitars, we know how to pack and protect vintage instruments so they arrive exactly as they should: safe, sound, and ready to play.