Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Jr.

[AussieJake]

Hey
I was wondering if anyone on the forums had Billie Joe Armstrong's (Green Day)
signature LP Jr on hand.
Gibson.com: Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior

I'm looking for for some honest reviews and opinions on it as most of the
ones on Gibson's site are all from teenage girls who want to get into his pants.
And i figured i could trust you strangers...

Im most interested in the H-90 Pickup in it. From my understanding, it's just two
single coils stacked on top of each other, right?

Thanks,
Jake

[Johnny Alien]

I have owned a BJA previously and just got another one. I have also owned USA Standard Juniors and currently a historic Junior as well. The BJA is build-wise a step up from the standard and it is also closer to vintage specs than the standard. The finish is more accurate and overall it just feels a little more solid. It DOES have a pretty thin neck though especially compared to all other Juniors. It is 60's profile vs 50's profile. The H-90 is not the best but it's OK. Some people like it alot but I will probably swap it. It is NOT humbucking though. It is quieter than a P-90 but still hums quite a bit. I would choose a BJA over a standard unless you needed a large neck. Especially since used BJA's can be had for under a grand. If you can afford a few hundred more a used Historic is probably the best Junior out there.

[marc1kim]

Here's mine:


The H-90 is sweet, not noise canceling, but rather noise reducing. It gets a nice cruch with high gain. Nitro finish as smooth as silk panties. Look for a used one for better value. I got mine near mint for $800 with hardshell case.

[marc1kim]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

Those are sweet sunburst was my first choice, but couldnt resist the price on my ebony. maybe my next will be sunburst....or all natural finish

[Johnny Alien]

What I want to know is what is the deal with all of the tiny differences between years. Some years have the painted looking serial numbers and a few I saw just have the stamped in standard serial numbers. Some have strip tuners and some have the single vintage tuners. The new ones seem to have a slightly different case too. The handle is not as reinforced anymore it's just a standard handle. Is there any pattern to the changes are where they all just random?

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by marc1kim

Those are sweet sunburst was my first choice, but couldnt resist the price on my ebony. maybe my next will be sunburst....or all natural finish

The one I just got that had the headstock broken was an ebony model. Not my first pick either but it was a good price. Then when the ebony was damaged I happened to find this one at a very low price so it worked out well for me.

[DDcat]

"Im most interested in the H-90 Pickup in it. From my understanding, it's just two
single coils stacked on top of each other, right?"

Sort of. There is an underwound coil wired in series on the bottom that is "supposed" to buck noise. Ironically, I found it to be noisier than a standard single P90. Only you you can know if you'll like it. I hated it. I found it muddy as hell (I kept reaching for the guitar's tone control only to find it maxed out). If you don't like it there are plenty of great P90s out there. I quite like the guitar otherwise. Although I did replace the bridge which was going all sitar on my ass on the e and b strings.

[marc1kim]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

What I want to know is what is the deal with all of the tiny differences between years. Some years have the painted looking serial numbers and a few I saw just have the stamped in standard serial numbers. Some have strip tuners and some have the single vintage tuners. The new ones seem to have a slightly different case too. The handle is not as reinforced anymore it's just a standard handle. Is there any pattern to the changes are where they all just random?

Not an expert, but aside from the Vintage Juniors. There were some that came out in the 80's with tune-o-matic bridges, and stopbars.

..then there was the early 2000 models which had a straight "lightning bar" tailpiece, these sported 60s taper necks and nitro gloss finish, pressed serial number. Ebony and sunburst were the colors I remember

then the BJA are more similar to vintage spec (angled tailpiece, strip tuners, exra piece of wood by the cutout), with the exception of 60's slim taper neck, H-90, ebony and white finishes ink serial number
.
Then the late 2000's satin juniors, 50's style neck, straight "lightning" tail piece, fretboard sits flush against the body, no extra wood on the neck pocket. satin finish. pressed serial number

and the historic junior...which is to vinage spec

[Arthur]

Hey jake I wanted to start a forum on the Billie Joe Les Paul Junior but you beat me to it.
I got one a couple of months ago and it rocks nice low action and great playability and you are correct about the H90. Because your name is AussieJake I assume you are in Aus if you are serious about buying this guitar you should check out sky music in Melbourne they've a vintage sunburst one for $1300 it's on sale.
You should also check out my comment on the gibson website my name on the website is Arthur.
Thanks Arthur

[06VM]

I had a white BJA jr. Loved the guitar but wasnt a fan of the electronics or the H90.
The pots had a horrible tapper, and the h90 was muddy and too hot for my taste. however the fit and finish was outstanding.

upgraded pots, cap and swapped the pup to a gibson p90.
Only reason i sold it was purchase a lp special double cut.

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by marc1kim

Not an expert, but aside from the Vintage Juniors. There were some that came out in the 80's with tune-o-matic bridges, and stopbars.

..then there was the early 2000 models which had a straight "lightning bar" tailpiece, these sported 60s taper necks and nitro gloss finish, pressed serial number. Ebony and sunburst were the colors I remember

then the BJA are more similar to vintage spec (angled tailpiece, strip tuners, exra piece of wood by the cutout), with the exception of 60's slim taper neck, H-90, ebony and white finishes ink serial number
.
Then the late 2000's satin juniors, 50's style neck, straight "lightning" tail piece, fretboard sits flush against the body, no extra wood on the neck pocket. satin finish. pressed serial number

and the historic junior...which is to vinage spec

I am talking specifically about the BJA Juniors. The one I have know has vintage tuners but not the strip style. The older one I owned had strip tuners. Two of the ones I had in my possession had the serial number inked in (or however they do that) while the third had a stamped in serial number that followed the standard serial number pattern. I have also seen variances in the cases. Is there a set of changes that happened all in one year or are they just random differences?

[Johnny Alien]

Another comparison. The top one is the Historic and the bottom one is the BJA.

[Johnny Alien]

Just to show how the bursts can differ, here is the last BJA I owned. This newer one is much darker and my older one was closer to the color of the Historic.

[ddany]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

Another comparison. The top one is the Historic and the bottom one is the BJA.

Bottom is the BJA ?
That is weird :P

Anyway, I have a 2009 Ebony BJA. I was thinking about getting the original Junior,but I did not regret getting this Signature Model.
It is fantastic

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by ddany

Bottom is the BJA ?
That is weird :P

Yeah this BJA has a darker burst. The top one is a Historic.

[marc1kim]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

I am talking specifically about the BJA Juniors. The one I have know has vintage tuners but not the strip style. The older one I owned had strip tuners. Two of the ones I had in my possession had the serial number inked in (or however they do that) while the third had a stamped in serial number that followed the standard serial number pattern. I have also seen variances in the cases. Is there a set of changes that happened all in one year or are they just random differences?

I did read somewhere that the BJA started off with strip tuners, but somewhere along they way, they switched to regular

[Lysol]

Most BJA's I've seen look more like the top one(Historic) as far as the burst goes.

[Arthur]

Something I forgot to add to my previous comment the H90 is NOT noise cancelling it reduces noise

09 BJA Les Paul Jr White
Epiphone. G400

DSL 401
Marshall MG 15

"Know your enemy."

[jeffy]

Originally Posted by marc1kim

I did read somewhere that the BJA started off with strip tuners, but somewhere along they way, they switched to regular

Gibson stopped using the strip tuners sometime in early 2009, I was told. (I contacted Gibson about it when I was looking to buy a BJA Jr.) There differences with the case include no keyed lock and the handle is a single strap instead of the double they used to use. I like the new case more then the old one. I didn't like old handle and didn't need a chintzy lock. I would have liked the strip tuners though. Otherwise, it's a great guitar. The only problem I had was with the hats. Someone decided to not center them when putting them on so they cracked. You can see the cracks in the pic. Gibson covered it and sent me new ones though.