Gibson LP Junior copy

[Lm2]

I was recently looking for an LP Junior.

www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Jr.aspx

Why ? Because of the simplicity of the model (1 PUP) and the sound (yep, A P90).

Simplicity mostly because there are no switches to accidently bump into :-) 

Big disappointed I was when I noticed that the model wasn't available anymore. Thomann had still a few red models but I just didn't want that one.
As HB doesn't have the model (I already whined about that in another thread) I was a bit frustrated.

Looking frantically for a model like that, I bumped into a comparable model, not a Gibson but a Vintage.




Vintage Guitars is from a company called JHS : www.jhs.co.uk/vintage-electric-guitars/

To find it, was another challenge, but finally I got the GHB model.



In short :

- Quality of the body is not as good as HB. Painted body, noticable close to the fretboard.
- The tuners could be better.
- The wraparound tailpiece should have been the same like the Gibson one (smaller and more effective).

- The dogear P90 is very good (Alnico V). I am amazed about the sound. Note that ALL items on this guitar (and Vintage specifically) are Wilkinson branded.
- Electronics (tone and volume) 
- Full Mahagony body.

When I listen to the sound coming out of this model and comparing it with the P90's in my Jazzmaster, this P90 is much better (better lows and dynamic).
Seems that Wilkinson makes different pups for different people.
This is probably the reason that this model is more expensive than a regular HB. It's the "creme de la creme" of Wilkinson products.
There are some YT vids showing the sound of the model.

[Deleted]

I've got quite a soft spot for their V130.  The shape of the pickguard around the lower cutaway seems to have avoided a designer's eye though...nasty.

[guydio]

I did exactly what you've been doing. I shortlisted the vintage, Westfield e400 from Glasgow cross music, considered a Faber kit from Germany, and looked at the Japanese lawsuit companies offerings (Greco, tokai, and Edwards).
Then I saw Thomman were selling les Paul specials and juniors at very good prices. In the end I got a double cut special about £150 cheaper than on Amazon UK. Check out my thread "led Paul clones" .

[marit]

guydio: you got real lucky there, weren't both the double and single cut around 500 euros?

Something about pickguards and not fitting with the shape of the guitar *cough* HB-35 *cough*

Congrats on your guitar Lm2! The fact it sounds better might have to do with the fact it's only one pickup, I've been reading about how that makes a difference in the sound of the guitar. The headstock looks a lot like that of the current electric HB guitars, funny.

[Deleted]

Jul 2, 2016 12:44:46 GMT marit said:

guydio : you got real lucky there, weren't both the double and single cut around 500 euros?

Something about pickguards and not fitting with the shape of the guitar *cough* HB-35 *cough*

Congrats on your guitar Lm2! The fact it sounds better might have to do with the fact it's only one pickup, I've been reading about how that makes a difference in the sound of the guitar. The headstock looks a lot like that of the current electric HB guitars, funny.

Yep.  Why does it always go so wrong there?  It can't be that hard for a designer to actually refer to the shape of a guitar and draw a suitable line.  Not keen on that wibbly wobbly headstock shape either.  Looks like somebody placed a noodle there for a guideline. DESIGNERS!!

[Deleted]

Most headstock shapes are ok for me, EXCEPT that dreadful J&D parrot headstock on their strats, that one makes me sick to me stomack

[Deleted]

Jul 2, 2016 14:25:21 GMT papache said:

Most headstock shapes are ok for me, EXCEPT that dreadful J&D parrot headstock on their strats, that one makes me sick to me stomack

Oooh yes.  That one cries out for a fret saw.

[john]

I've got one in seafoam green and it's a good guitar in its own right but I keep it in the bedroom. All my others are under the TV in the front room but I can't look at that headstock for long.

[Deleted]

Can you not reshape the tip of that headstock so its not so pointy. It almost looks like a fish hook

[john]

Reshapings on my to do list but it's handy for reaching for beer & scratching my back.

[guydio]

I just noticed there's a b stock gibson lp junior on the thomman site going for £400 or so. I got the dc version as I knew I'd want to replace the pickups, tuners etc. if I bought the vintage or Westfield versions. The gibbo also comes with the auto tuners and nice hard shell case. Not too bad when you add it all up.

[Lm2]

Jul 21, 2016 18:02:58 GMT guydio said:

I just noticed there's a b stock gibson lp junior on the thomman site going for £400 or so. I got the dc version as I knew I'd want to replace the pickups, tuners etc. if I bought the vintage or Westfield versions. The gibbo also comes with the auto tuners and nice hard shell case. Not too bad when you add it all up.

I won't replace the pups on the vintage, the pups ROCK.  . Noticed that the B stock is still around 550 Euro.