One Pickup, Zero Compromises
You know what's great about a Les Paul Junior? It's the guitar you grab when you just want to play. No toggle switches, no complicated routing schemes, no "which pickup am I on?" moments mid-song. Just volume, tone, and a dogear P-90 that does everything from shimmering cleans to full-throated garage rock snarl. First introduced in 1954 as an affordable student model, the Les Paul Junior has earned a reputation among seasoned pros for its raw, unfiltered tone delivered through a single-cutaway slab mahogany body and single dogear P-90 pickup. This Ebony finish with tortoise shell pickguard gives it a look that's equal parts vintage cool and modern edge.
What makes the Junior special isn't what it has—it's what it doesn't. The minimalist design is a reminder that less really can be more, with lightweight construction providing a comfortable playing experience whether you're jamming at home or hitting the stage. With nothing between you and the amp except wood, wire, and one very opinionated pickup, you feel everything your hands do. Roll back the volume knob and it cleans up beautifully. Crank it and dig in, and you get that midrange punch and bite that P-90s are famous for.
This is the working musician's Gibson—the one that shows up, does the job, and never asks for special treatment. Perfect for players who value tone and feel over feature lists, whether you're playing blues, punk, rock, or anything in between.
That P-90 Bark
The single dogear P-90 delivers biting, articulate sound that responds dynamically to your playing style. If you've never played a good P-90, it sits somewhere between a single-coil Strat pickup and a humbucker—more output and midrange growl than a Telecaster bridge pickup, but with more clarity and top-end sparkle than a Les Paul Standard's neck humbucker. This setup delivers tones ranging from warm cleans to crunchy overdrive with just a twist of the volume knob.
The beauty of a single bridge pickup is its consistency. You always know exactly what you're getting, and your amp settings stay dialed in. The P-90's naturally high output means it pushes your amp harder without pedals, but it cleans up remarkably well when you back off your guitar's volume control. The hand-wired controls with Orange Drop capacitors give you a responsive tone knob that actually makes a difference—rolling it back tames the highs without turning your tone to mud.
Whether you're ripping through power chords, working a volume-knob-and-picking-hand dynamic approach, or dialing in just-breaking-up tones, this pickup has the grit and clarity to keep every note defined. It's a one-trick pony that happens to know a whole lot of tricks.
Built for Playing, Not Posing
The mahogany neck with a fat '50s Vintage profile gives players a substantial yet comfortable feel perfect for everything from big chordal strums to intricate lead work. That '50s profile is chunkier than modern slim-taper necks—you'll feel the wood in your hand, which some players find gives them better grip and control, especially for rhythm work and barre chords. The 22-fret rosewood fingerboard has a 12-inch radius, making string bends smooth and fretting easy at every position.
At 24.75 inches, the scale length is classic Gibson, with a nut width of 1.695 inches. The slightly shorter scale compared to Fender's 25.5 inches gives the strings a looser, more elastic feel that makes bending easier and adds warmth to the tone. A wraparound bridge anchors the strings, ensuring rock-solid intonation and sustain despite its no-frills aesthetic. The Graph Tech nut and Vintage Deluxe tuners with white buttons keep you in tune through hard playing and big bends.
The gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish lets the wood breathe and will age beautifully over time—expect natural wear patterns where your picking hand rests and your forearm contacts the body. It's not a guitar you need to baby. It's built to be played, and it gets better with age.
Product Features:
- Single-cutaway slab mahogany body delivers punchy midrange and sustain
- Dogear P-90 bridge pickup with raw, dynamic tone from clean to overdriven
- Mahogany neck with fat '50s Vintage profile for substantial, comfortable feel
- Rosewood fingerboard with 12-inch radius and 22 medium jumbo frets
- 24.75-inch scale length with 1.695-inch nut width
- Hand-wired volume and tone controls with Orange Drop capacitors
- Wraparound bridge for maximum sustain and simplified setup
- Graph Tech nut and Vintage Deluxe tuners for tuning stability
- Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Ebony with tortoise shell pickguard
- Includes hardshell case
Brand: Gibson
Model: Les Paul Junior
SKU: LPJR00EBNH1
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
