School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

[Lucid_Lunatic]

I like my 86 Kramer, but I just can't get used to a wide thin style shred neck. I've been jonsing lately for something with P-90's and have been checking the Gibson Les Paul Specials and Jrs.. I am wanting a single cut with 2 P-90's instead of a single. I have both Juniors and pecials built like this. Also I have seen both with double cuts, 1 pup and sometimes humbuckers, but it looks like both models are pretty much the same. It looks like both have the same cosmetics, other than a few of the late 90's models with different style inlays etc. I have also noticed some have a pearl inlayed logo (which I prefer) and some have the gold decals. Can someone tell me what the difference is between a Junior and a Special?
Thanks

 

[ES350]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

basically;
Junior---one P90
Special---two P90's

There are a bunch of variations on these models since the 90's, but the SC Special with the P100's are a pretty good deal used. Swap out to some decent P90's and you have a good beater Special...

 

[jerryjg]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

be honest with you I don't think youd be happy with one. I mean, after youve played "The Standard", of the Gibson line, i mean..why would you evvr want to pick up a lesser Paul? They are not select wood bodies - more like 3 piece lamintaes, and I really vcannt imagine picking up one after playing Amber and being really happy.
I belive a Standard with P90's is waht youll end up wanting

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

be honest with you I don't think youd be happy with one. I mean, after youve played "The Standard", of the Gibson line, i mean..why would you evvr want to pick up a lesser Paul? They are not select wood bodies - more like 3 piece lamintaes, and I really vcannt imagine picking up one after playing Amber and being really happy.
I belive a Standard with P90's is waht youll end up wanting

Yeah, but I dont foresee affording a p90 standard for awhile. I like the looks of the dual p90 special with neck binding, pearl inlay and overall just better than thier "generic" linew of specials. Havent had the chance to play one yet.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

be honest with you I don't think youd be happy with one. I mean, after youve played "The Standard", of the Gibson line, i mean..why would you evvr want to pick up a lesser Paul? They are not select wood bodies - more like 3 piece lamintaes, and I really vcannt imagine picking up one after playing Amber and being really happy.
I belive a Standard with P90's is waht youll end up wanting

I don't know man. I personally think I have some rather nice Les Pauls, but I still play my little ole cheap SG Juniors all the time. Guitars like that just have a different tone and vibe to them.

 

[FretFire]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

You might also look into the PRS SE Soapbar, they're using the singlecut shape again now. A friend of mine has a Tremonti SE that I wasn't too impressed with, but I've played a couple of the new Soapbars locally and I've been pretty impressed with them. If I go after something w/ P90s, these will be on my list to consider.

 

[ES350]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

I picked up one of the 90's TOM Specials in TV Yellow for 4 bills and it is a pretty good guitar for that kinda money...chuck the P100's and go to town; it's like a monster Tele.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

You might also look into the PRS SE Soapbar, they're using the singlecut shape again now. A friend of mine has a Tremonti SE that I wasn't too impressed with, but I've played a couple of the new Soapbars locally and I've been pretty impressed with them. If I go after something w/ P90s, these will be on my list to consider.

I just got one of these (PRS SE Soapbar) a week or two ago --- I can NOT believe what an awesome guitar it is, especially for the price! This thing plays as good or better than my American Strat, and they cost $500 brand new! I got mine used, so imagine what kind of smile I have on my face

Here's a demo of the clean and crunch tones I get out of it. From jazzy to Telecastery to rock crunch --- great sound all around!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JrAOAJZDTM

Thread from when I got it

 

[J Moose]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

be honest with you I don't think youd be happy with one. I mean, after youve played "The Standard", of the Gibson line, i mean..why would you evvr want to pick up a lesser Paul?

Why would you buy a Behringer amp when you have Marshalls & Sunns around?

They're different animals then a Standard or anything else, a little more raw and to the point. Not quite as "big" but not lacking in size of tone either. They fit somewhere between a Tele and a Paul with 'buckers, but much closer to the Paul side of the tracks. Leslie West seems to like 'em, as do a lot of other people! My LP special usually lives in open tunings & set up for slide...

Juniors have one pickup, Specials have two.

The double cutaway models usually have a bit of a 'wavor' with the tuning if you don't watch it. The mahogany necks wavor a little bit... single cuts are more stable since there's more wood on the neck/body joint.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

Yeah, I didnt mean the Les Paul Jr. ,or an SG jr.
I stand by my comment that he wouldnt be happy with a cheaper Les Paul Special SL though, after putting down Amber and picking up a Les Paul Special it just wouldnt cut it- IMHO of course.

 

[BigJoe77]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPFDWCCHd/

Here's a decent deal on a Double Cut LP Gibson with a pair of P-90s. Looks like fun.

 

[Aceman]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

P-90's are for RAWK. Don't worry about the wood.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

Yeah, I didnt mean the Les Paul Jr. ,or an SG jr.
I stand by my comment that he wouldnt be happy with a cheaper Les Paul Special SL though, after putting down Amber and picking up a Les Paul Special it just wouldnt cut it- IMHO of course.

If its "in your opinion", then stop encouraging him to not even try a Special. First impressions are important, and posts like "there's no way you'll be happy with it" can deter smart buys. It's not about the brand, nor the model; its about the specific guitar.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

I think there is some model confusion going on here, or at least I hope so...LP Jr's and Specials are killer bare bones rockers...nothing at all in the worlkd wrong with a Jr or Special...

One like this

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...Double-Cutaway-VOS-Electric-Guitar?sku=517974

or like this would be great

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...Single-Cutaway-VOS-Electric-Guitar?sku=517973

On a tighter budget I'd play the wheels off this one...

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...ature-Les-Paul-Jr.-Electric-Guitar?sku=517324

Or you could go special (I dig Jr's myself but Specials are great too!).

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...ial-Double-Cutaway-Electric-Guitar?sku=517059

Or on an even lesser budget there are the faded sepcials, great guitars for not much coin

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...ded-Double-Cutaway-Electric-Guitar?sku=517512

Or you could even try the new Melody Maker...not a Jr or a Special but a stripped down rock machine!

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Melody-Maker-Electric-Guitar?sku=512640

 

[jerryjg]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

If its "in your opinion", then stop encouraging him to not even try a Special. First impressions are important, and posts like "there's no way you'll be happy with it" can deter smart buys. It's not about the brand, nor the model; its about the specific guitar.

Sorry. Specials are okay for guys who've never gotten thier mitts on a Standard. The reason a Standard is called a "standard" is cause its the 'Standard' of Gibson Guitars. That meand carved maple tops, select solid body wood.
The OP has a premium plus Les Paul. It is the standard..and plus ! Would he be happy with a special. No. I stand buy that. Thanks for you earnest response.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

First financial advice, now you're an expert on what I like? LMAO! How many keystones and cobras you had today Jerry?

 

[jerryjg]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

First financial advice, now you're an expert on what I like? LMAO! How many keystones and cobras you had today Jerry?

Lets put it this way Einstien. Specials suck okay?

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

:haha:

 

[karpathion]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

honestly it may just be me but for what you are looking for, i'd say go for a gibson nighthawk.
it's the combo of a lessy and a telly. and for about 800 beans on fleabay. it's a great axe.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: School Me On Les Paul Juniors and Specials

honestly it may just be me but for what you are looking for, i'd say go for a gibson nighthawk.
it's the combo of a lessy and a telly. and for about 800 beans on fleabay. it's a great axe.

^Now see, Im down with that!