Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

[regan]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

I agree scale length plays a role too, don't get me wrong, but as someone who plays primarily 24.75" scale guitars these days (but owned and played a lot of 25.5" in the past too) I can tell you the difference between my Indian rosewood 24.75" and my Bocote 25.5" is very small compared to the difference between my Indian rosewood 24.75" or wenge 24.75" and my roasted maple 24.75". The roasted maple 24.75" sounds very clear, articulate and bell-like with piano-like chords compared to all the other necks I mentioned. Yes, it can sound very fat on things such as power chords or "5" chords but it never loses it's articulation.

Anyway, it has been a awhile since I have played a 25.5" maple neck but I brought my 24.75" roasted maple neck to a guy who swears by the 25.5" scale maple neck and he was very impressed with the tone coming from the 24.75". I agree the neck plays a very big role in shaping tone for sure though.

I've never felt either 25.5" or 24.75" scale is superior to the other, one's beef the other's chicken

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

I've never felt either 25.5" or 24.75" scale is superior to the other, one's beef the other's chicken

I agree

 

[regan]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

Regan, I think the only way I could possibly see participating in your band scenario would be if I were joining say, a Mountain tribute band, where I'm playing Leslie West's parts, as he was known for using a Junior. It's a situation where you're NOT looking to get past the tonal limitations of the instrument, but deliberately limiting your options. If the touring band I'm joining only needs the sound of a single bridge p-90, then I guess I'd be okay with that, though I think I'd hate playing in a tribute band--I'd get bored in a hurry! And I'd want a truckload of money, LOL! And oh...is the band buying me a guitar and a backup to use on tour?

But...here's the real problem for me...

If you're hiring me for my skills and experience as a guitarist, singer, songwriter and performer, then trust my judgment and let me choose my tools. I wouldn't want to set limitations on my auto mechanic and say he can only use a Vise-Grip plier to fix my car. As a musician with 45 years of experience, to not trust my judgment would be very insulting. And I probably would not take the gig. I like being able to play with a lot of different tones. I love the variety.

This actually happened to me. I was working with a band led by a woman who was playing some punk rock tunes with a Celtic Harp. So I'm learning all these tunes and bringing an electric guitar to band practice...and then the week of our first gig, she tells me she want's me to only use an acoustic. Ack! I did the gig, but left after that. Not going to waste my time with the drama of poor communication and passive-aggressive behavior.

I've read that when Lindsey Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac, they asked him to give up his Strat for a Les Paul. Eventually, he settled on the Turner, with its single pickup. I've been in a band where the obvious choice was to use a Strat to contrast with the other guitarist's LP, but the choice was still mine to make.

In many cover bands, I think guys can get away with using only one guitar, if it's a versatile guitar like a Paul, Strat, SG, Tele or 335--the Big Five. In my band, we do such a wide range of material that If I want to get close to those recorded tones, I HAVE to use multiple guitars. I haven't played a LP Junior for years and don't own one, but I'm sure I could get some tasty tones from it. (BTW, I did own a LP Special Reissue, and I loved that guitar.)

It is an interesting question. I have to say that the Junior is a fine guitar, and many guys use them. I'd prefer to have more versatility. But honestly, in your scenario, the issue for me is more about the trust and the politics than the guitar.

I hope this helps.

Bill

I asked the initial question because a few years ago I had to sell most of my gear, all I kept at that point was a junior, a 30watt mesa, an od & delay pedals.
far from being limited just having the one guitar I discovered just how versatile a simple guitar can be, & IMHO it's all you really need, I have however replace & added guitars since then

 

[SFW]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

Is it the only one you need? No, but I could make a Jr work for everything I do if I had to.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

No need to shout,

THIS IS INTERNET SHOUTING!

Large typeface is a sledgehammer to ram home the bleedin' obvious through even the most resistive of bone cases.

 

[regan]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

THIS IS INTERNET SHOUTING!

Large typeface is a sledgehammer to ram home the bleedin' obvious through even the most resistive of bone cases.

shouting or sledgehammer, different methods identical result.
I understand you see little milage in discussing the versatilty of a junior further & have
no issue with that.
what I fail to understand is your insistance on belittling the debate and opinions
offered.
If you find the thread pointless thats fine and not a problem but perhaps you may
prefer to offer a positve comment on one of the many other threads on this forum

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

So, shoot me!

 

[regan]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

I'd really prefer not to :beerchug::beerchug:

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

regain - the masses (and I'll speak for them) are pretty much of this decision (correct me, masses) if I am wrong:

First - No one needs a guitar period.

Second - no one needs more than one functioning one, period.

Now - moving on….The less guitar you have, the less styles and tones you will be able to generate. Technically there is no 'note' you couldn't practically play. That said, you won't sound like hHendrix did on Little Wing, you won't song this, that or many other things. And that's about the least guitar you can have short of a Melody Maker.

It isn't about the mental experiment of "Could I survive on a desert Island with an LP Jr." If you choose to play with a limited style, and a limited tonal palette, yes you can. More than Mountain covers, surely. But it isn't going to be a multi-style axe. We all know that. Except apparently the OP, who posed the question. Yes - fidgeting with amps, knobs, and stomps will get you a lot.

And if you really want certain sounds, tones, styles, it won't come remotely close to covering the bases. This is a musical question roughly equal to can 5 + 5 = everything? As long as everything is about 10, sure….and I can do a lot with 10. But it isn't 12. Close, but not really.

And while we appreciate the sentiment, I think 22 posts is a bit premature to be calling out the well established members on internet etiquette. Might have been a better move to try a PM. This is an internet forum. You aren't my mom, you aren't the grammar police, and you certainly are not a mod. I'll use any typeface/font I choose. And so can you.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

I asked, because I'm around half a dozen or so guitars in now & they're not going anywhere soon, but I got thinking if I had to start from scratch again what would be the bare minimum I could effectively get away.
I understand some of the more esoteric tones would be unavailable but I reckon I could have a 15-20 watt amp w/reverb, a half decent acoustic (mid level yamaha/takamine type thing) & a gibson junior & I'd have everything I'd ever 'need' for practice,rehearsing gigging & recording, (wanting is a different matter.)
So I'd lose the neck pickup but I can get a good approximation by rolling all the treble off & playing with my right hand as far from the bridge as I can get away with.

I understand the trickle down effect, in a nutshell if you let the 1 in 10,000 billionaire be grossly rich, his extravagant lifestyle & purchases will create an industry & economy to support the other 9,999, however unless he(or she) buys 10,000 cars, TV's, fridges, dishwashers etc it's not really gonna work out is it? Maybe I'm being a little slow but I didn't get the trickle down guitar playing joke/comment & still don't but I guess if someone explains it in simple language to me the rhetoric will be lost on me .

I get the 'strat is the only guitar you need' narrative too, but I think you can go even simpler & go with a LP (or SG) junior

This was much better stated. So you answered your own question. Sure - why not then.

But as many have said - they WANT more tonal flexibility. Need vs want are different things to different people. Like I said above - no one NEEDS a guitar. And you don't NEED and electric for that matter. Yet even you suddenlyy come out with the "well, and electric AND an acoustic." You CAN practice, gig, rehearse, and record with an acoustic. SO why the electric???

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

No, the LP junior is not the end all.

I'd have to say something with at least 2 pickups and a vibrato will do it..

but no high gain pickups. those are icky.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

I asked the initial question because a few years ago I had to sell most of my gear, all I kept at that point was a junior, a 30watt mesa, an od & delay pedals.
far from being limited just having the one guitar I discovered just how versatile a simple guitar can be, & IMHO it's all you really need, I have however replace & added guitars since then

I have been in this situation. When push came to shove, I sold my vintage Fender Strat...kept the Music Man Sabre. Another time I had to create funds to survive, I kept the two Mesa amps and sold all of my vintage Fender and Marshall amps.

My choice was to keep the most versatile guitars and amps...they were the ones I was most comfortable with, and they were the ones I could make money with.

It's always a tough choice, and there's never a good answer. I'm glad you found success with your decision.

Bill

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

If I really had to pick one electric guitar to use to make music for the rest of my life, there'd really be no contest – no tortured decision making process for me on this question. The answer is easy: my Jr., or possibly my Esquire with the Eldred wiring. What I have discovered over the years is that if I can't do it with one of those, then I really can't do it, period; it's my own lack of a certain ability or two, not the guitar's lack of features.

It's really not hard for me to get either one of these guitars to sound as needed in pretty much any musical situation. With these guitars, you really learn to just play in the way needed for your use. You learn to do what you need to manipulate the tone as needed. You learn that 90% of what you get out of a guitar depends on YOU, not the guitar. I might WANT other guitars for various reasons at other times, but that's really just comes down to the looks or style of those guitars, and/or the desire for some variety from time to time, or the desire to get a certain special-purpose something that that guitar offers, and to get it more quickly and easily. But for general purposes, all I NEED is a Jr.

 

[regan]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

regain - the masses (and I'll speak for them) are pretty much of this decision (correct me, masses) if I am wrong:

First - No one needs a guitar period.

Second - no one needs more than one functioning one, period.

Now - moving on….The less guitar you have, the less styles and tones you will be able to generate. Technically there is no 'note' you couldn't practically play. That said, you won't sound like hHendrix did on Little Wing, you won't song this, that or many other things. And that's about the least guitar you can have short of a Melody Maker.

It isn't about the mental experiment of "Could I survive on a desert Island with an LP Jr." If you choose to play with a limited style, and a limited tonal palette, yes you can. More than Mountain covers, surely. But it isn't going to be a multi-style axe. We all know that. Except appnarently the OP, who posed the question. Yes - fidgeting with amps, knobs, and stomps will get you a lot.

And if you really want certain sounds, tones, styles, it won't come remotely close to covering the bases. This is a musical question roughly equal to can 5 + 5 = everything? As long as everything is about 10, sure….and I can do a lot with 10. But it isn't 12. Close, but not really.

And while we appreciate the sentiment, I think 22 posts is a bit premature to be calling out the well established members on internet etiquette. Might have been a better move to try a PM. This is an internet forum. You aren't my mom, you aren't the grammar police, and you certainly are not a mod. I'll use any typeface/font I choose. And so can you.

I dont understand why you feel my reply was innapproriate considering the abrasive
tone of the comment it was a response to.
But whatever, I'm sorry you feel that way.

 

[regan]

Re: Is a LP junior the only electric guitar you ever really need?

If I really had to pick one electric guitar to use to make music for the rest of my life, there'd really be no contest – no tortured decision making process for me on this question. The answer is easy: my Jr., or possibly my Esquire with the Eldred wiring. What I have discovered over the years is that if I can't do it with one of those, then I really can't do it, period; it's my own lack of a certain ability or two, not the guitar's lack of features.

It's really not hard for me to get either one of these guitars to sound as needed in pretty much any musical situation. With these guitars, you really learn to just play in the way needed for your use. You learn to do what you need to manipulate the tone as needed. You learn that 90% of what you get out of a guitar depends on YOU, not the guitar. I might WANT other guitars for various reasons at other times, but that's really just comes down to the looks or style of those guitars, and/or the desire for some variety from time to time, or the desire to get a certain special-purpose something that that guitar offers, and to get it more quickly and easily. But for general purposes, all I NEED is a Jr.

My point exactly. thanks for posting