Gibson Les Paul Jr.

Gibson Les Paul Junior
Manufacturer	Gibson
Period	1954–1961 (1961–1963 in SG shape) 1985–1992, 1995–1996 2001–2002, 2008–2012 2015–2016 (for details, see #Timeline)
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Set
Scale	24.75"
Body	Mahogany
Neck	Mahogany
Fretboard	Rosewood, Ebony
Bridge	Wraparound
Pickup(s)	1 P-90
Sunburst, Ebony, TV Yellow, White, Red

1954–1961
(1961–1963 in SG shape)
1985–1992, 1995–1996
2001–2002, 2008–2012
2015–2016

The Gibson Les Paul Jr. is a solid body electric guitar introduced in 1954 as an affordable, entry-level Les Paul. It was first released with a single cut body style; models with a double cut body style were later introduced in 1958. The Jr. continued through the first three years of the Les Paul/SG body redesign. It was discontinued in 1963, and was not re-released until 2001.

The goal for the Les Paul Jr. was to have a high-quality guitar that was still affordable. This was achieved by stripping the Gibson Les Paul down to the basics: no binding, no carved top, one pickup, one volume knob and tone knob. The Junior was equipped with one P-90 dog ear pickup in the bridge. It was originally released in sunburst, but Gibson also introduced the TV version (a kind of yellow, also known as TV Yellow) for professional musicians, who would be featured playing the guitar on television; the yellow would look white on black and white television, without the glare of an actual white finish.

In the 1960s and 1970s the Les Paul Jr. became very popular because of its simplicity and distinguishable tone when played through a high gain amplifier. The P-90 pickup gave the guitar a distinct crunch that was desired by rock and blues players of the time, including Leslie West of Mountain, Luther Grosvenor (a.k.a. Ariel Bender) of Spooky Tooth and Mott the Hoople, Johnny Thunders of The New York Dolls and The Heartbreakers, and Glenn Frey of The Eagles. A Les Paul Junior also became John Lennon's main guitar during his post-Beatles years.