Les Paul Junior 2018 'special edition'

[Friday]

Hi, is there anything special about the 2018 Les Paul Junior 'Special Edition'? This is the one with the weird old timey logo and banner, which otherwise looks to be similar to what followed. Is this model equivalent to or less desirable than the 2019+ current model in some way?

 

[cliffenstein]

Different logo, slightly different neck carve (but still very similar...the original collection ones that came out starting in 2019 are a touch thicker at the 1st fret), also circuit board electronics. I have one...it's killer...I had the circuit board electronics ripped out and replaced with what they come with now. It's likely that the success of the 2018's led to the original collection the following year.

As to whether or not the logo is going to make them more collectible in the future, well that's anyone's guess. I'm keeping mine though!

 

[Friday]

Different logo, slightly different neck carve (but still very similar...the original collection ones that came out starting in 2019 are a touch thicker at the 1st fret), also circuit board electronics. I have one...it's killer...I had the circuit board electronics ripped out and replaced with what they come with now. It's likely that the success of the 2018's led to the original collection the following year.

As to whether or not the logo is going to make them more collectible in the future, well that's anyone's guess. I'm keeping mine though!

Thanks, that's good information. The logo I could live with, I was more interested to learn about neck and electronic differences. I am assuming that people swap out the circuit boards for a different response from the control knobs? I have a 2019 SG with circuit board, quick connect and all that, but I don't have anything to compare it to. Again thanks.

 

[cliffenstein]

I had the circuit board electronics removed because it’s a vintage styled junior so I wanted the electronics to be vintage styled too. It sounded absolutely fine as it was. I also replaced the truss rod cover with a period correct single-ply one, replaced the black knobs with gold vintage repros, and added thumb bleeders, too.

 

[Dilver]

I have one of each - the ’18 limited edition and a ‘20 Original Collection. The necks are the biggest difference. As much as I thought I’d prefer the bigger neck on the ‘20, the ’18 plays better. Also, on the ’20, the intonation was spot on perfect with the stock bridge. I put Mojoaxe compensated bridges on both of them for the lighter weight.

The circuit board electronics work and sound fine, but I pulled it anyway and replaced it with a standard Junior Circuit. It’s easy as hell as there isn’t much to it - two pots and a pickup - and 50s wiring is a must with one pickup.

While it doesn’t change the tone at all, I went a step farther and lined the cavity with copper foil and used an original bumble bee cap, just because I had one. I also changed the knobs to gold and the TRC to single ply black. Purely cosmetic.

The fretboard on my ‘20 is definitely darker and a nicer piece of rosewood than on the ‘18 LE. Not a big deal, but worth noting.

One last thing, the color of the finish on the 18 LE is a nice yellow center burst (similar to a real 50’s Junior) with a dark maroon back and sides. The ‘19 and onward finishes will vary - some are the same yellow center, while others are a darker butterscotch that does not look like a real ‘50s Junior. Some had the same dark maroon back and sides and others had dark brown.

Almost forgot: the LEs supposedly had “cryo-treated frets” - not sure if it really made any difference, but they stopped calling out in the specs after 2018.

I honestly believe Gibson was testing the waters with the ‘18 LE to gauge interest, so they made them really well. If you do a search you’ll read posts about some of the later Original Collection Juniors having weird finishes at end of the fretboard, ridges where the fretboard and neck meet, and fretboards that weren’t sanded well. All of the ‘18 LE‘s seemed like they were perfect. I LOVE my ’18 LE Junior and play it just as much as my R8.

 

[Friday]

Really helpful, thanks you guys. I'm asking because it has been impossible to find a current model (2019+) new in stock in any shops here (AUS). No ETA on the horizon either so I'm wondering if Gibson has stopped making them or something??!!

I have found a 2018 though and am tempted. How important is this "audio taper" pots thing that Agnesi fellow goes on about in the Gibson promo videos? Does the stock 2018 limited edition lack this feature? You mention "50s wiring is a must with one pickup", can you elaborate?

 

[ajory72]

Really helpful, thanks you guys. I'm asking because it has been impossible to find a current model (2019+) new in stock in any shops here (AUS). No ETA on the horizon either so I'm wondering if Gibson has stopped making them or something??!!

I have found a 2018 though and am tempted. How important is this "audio taper" pots thing that Agnesi fellow goes on about in the Gibson promo videos? Does the stock 2018 limited edition lack this feature? You mention "50s wiring is a must with one pickup", can you elaborate?

Hi Friday,
I’m in South Australia and can feel your Gibson purchase woes…

I feel like Australia is a little lacking in Gibsons

My most recent SG purchase I picked up from Japan- 3rd time I’ve bought a guit over the internet and am always pleased- they know how to price properly and keep you happy.

 

[Friday]

Hi Friday,
I’m in South Australia and can feel your Gibson purchase woes…

I feel like Australia is a little lacking in Gibsons

My most recent SG purchase I picked up from Japan- 3rd time I’ve bought a guit over the internet and am always pleased- they know how to price properly and keep you happy.

Ajory - Japan is a topic I keep returning to, hovering over and chickening out on. I know the guitar net and these forums are full of great Japan stories and really bad ones too, and everything in between. Would be all ears to learn your basic method and go-to marketplace. Is it ZM? If so where in there? Because as a plan B if Juniors are indeed nowhere on the horizon here I may have no option. For interest to US members wondering why we might look to Japan, the normal Gibson USA Junior costs about US$2200 here in AUS. Yeah, I know.

 

[ajory72]

Ajory - Japan is a topic I keep returning to, hovering over and chickening out on. I know the guitar net and these forums are full of great Japan stories and really bad ones too, and everything in between. Would be all ears to learn your basic method and go-to marketplace. Is it ZM? If so where in there? Because as a plan B if Juniors are indeed nowhere on the horizon here I may have no option. For interest to US members wondering why we might look to Japan, the normal Gibson USA Junior costs about US$2200 here in AUS. Yeah, I know.

Hey mate,
I hear ya! A new 61’ SG Standard with sideways vibrato here in SA was not possible to get under $4,000 AUD
So I’d been gassing over the vibrato SG on Reverb, spent a lot of time looking at the conditions and how to get one’s money back if it all goes pear shaped etc..

Anyway I found a great looking guitar being sold by “Nery guitars” who I assumed - and you need to know Japanese culture a little and how they do business - anyway I assumed he was a “middleman” or “broker” as the extra pics I asked for came fast and was in the same guitar shop over there, I forget which, but knowing their culture I felt confident putting my cash down. It helps to know how and when to get your money back..

Anyway I laid $3,300 AUD incl shipping for the guitar,
I asked how it was being shipped (plane) and I asked for notification when it left Japan. 2 weeks later when it hit our shores I paid $400 AUD to customs for its release, 2 days later I was making the delivery guy wait whilst I unboxed it and made sure it was what I’d paid for… it was, no breaks etc… so slipped him a 20 for his patience and that’s all… nice guitar btw, perfect

So all up I paid $3,720 for a guitar the shop in town wanted 4,300 AUD for…. plus whatever they stick us with at the time (your probably familiar with what I’m saying)… bloody salesmen…

Anyway would I do it again?

Bloody oath I would….

Just do your due diligence and don’t let anyone bullshit you, deals a deal and can’t be altered.

 

[Dilver]

Really helpful, thanks you guys. I'm asking because it has been impossible to find a current model (2019+) new in stock in any shops here (AUS). No ETA on the horizon either so I'm wondering if Gibson has stopped making them or something??!!

I have found a 2018 though and am tempted. How important is this "audio taper" pots thing that Agnesi fellow goes on about in the Gibson promo videos? Does the stock 2018 limited edition lack this feature? You mention "50s wiring is a must with one pickup", can you elaborate?

Never listen to anything Mark Agnesi says - he’s a total poser and can barely play. Audio taper pots (as opposed to Linear taper) are just the standard pots that are used in most modern electric guitars, and yes, both the 2018 LE and all Juniors made 2019 and after have them.

As for 50s wiring, Google it or do a search here to get a full understanding. 50s wiring allows the volume and tone controls to be more interactive, as opposed to modern wiring, in which your volume and tone controls are completely independent of each other. This helps with the loss of higher frequencies one experiences when turning down the volume control with Guitars with modern wiring. With a Junior - you’ve got to make everything happen with one pickup… and that’s part of the appeal. 50s wiring enables you to have more control IMO and get everything you can out of that pickup. It’s very easy to do - all you’re doing is moving one wire from the outer lug on the volume pot, to the center lug.

I feel for you being in Oz and the limited availability of guitars. But you do have amazing scuba diving, incredible food, and gorgeous women with cool accents…

 

[lawrev]

Was the 2018 Junior really a "limited edition?" When I hear that I think of limited production numbers. I purchased one at the time, it wasn't really special in any way (my new Billie Joe Armstrong is much better) and I think its calling card was the old script "Gibson" on the headstock. Which didn't come on the 1950s Juniors anyway. I think that Gibson uses the phrase "Limited Edition" a bit too much - a marketing strategy.

 

[jk60LPTH]

Really helpful, thanks you guys. I'm asking because it has been impossible to find a current model (2019+) new in stock in any shops here (AUS). No ETA on the horizon either so I'm wondering if Gibson has stopped making them or something??!!

I have found a 2018 though and am tempted. How important is this "audio taper" pots thing that Agnesi fellow goes on about in the Gibson promo videos? Does the stock 2018 limited edition lack this feature? You mention "50s wiring is a must with one pickup", can you elaborate?

Have you considered looking into buying from the US, or GB, or Canada? I was looking to buy an LP Special last year and the only one I could find that had everything I wanted was in Australia. I did a lot of research because I was concerned about duty and import fees, but I found there are exceptions, and things I'd never heard about before, including trade agreements between the US and certain other countries that may apply. The first thing I found was that if you ship with FedEx and other major shippers they use there own clearing agents who charge you an arm and a leg, even for things that duty is not required to be paid for, and have other ridiculous charges for things like a form you could fill out yourself in 5-10 minutes- they charge you over $100US to do so, and add-ons to the delivery charges that many people complain that they don't tell you about until the driver show up at your door. No one tells you that in the US there is an 'American goods returning' exception that allows things that were made in the US and shipped overseas to be sold back to the US without any duty as long as no changes, repairs or addtions that increase their value have been made- all you need is a letter from the US manufacturer stating that the item was originally manufactured in the US and signed by a person at the company who has signing authority. A copy of the letter must accompany the shipment.
Of course, the preceding isn't applicable to you, but it demonstrates how not knowing the laws ends up costing you a lot of money that you needn't pay.
I've bought guitars and guitar cases from Canada in the past, and didn't have to pay a cent for duty. They were shipped by Canada Post, from Canada to a US Customs House that handles mail for the US Postal Service, took 1 day to clear Customs, and were delivered by USPS for nothing more than the shipping charge, and arrived in great condition. I think this could have something to do with a trade agreement between the US and Canada, but not sure about that, and again, I'm just telling you that to demonstrate that duty is not required in a lot of cases.
However, since Australia and Canada both have had connections to the Commonwealth, trade agreements between those countries favorable to you may exist.
Now, in the case of Australia, I mentioned that I was looking at buying a guitar in your country, so I called up the Customs office at my port of entry ('port' in this case does not mean a dock on a waterway, it can mean any place goods enter a country, in this case, an airport). So, I explained to the guy at customs what I had read about 'American products returning to the US', and he said, "you don't have to do that... have the person in Australia go to the freight terminal of a transatlantic airline (one that carries passengers) that serves our area and ship it from there. Have the shipper FAX or email a copu of the shipping receipt to you. When it arrives here, it will be unloaded and go directectly to our Customs office and we'll notify you when it's available to pick up. Bring the receipt to show us, we'll give you the package, and that's it." I asked him, "So I don't have to pay and Duty or import fees?" And he said, "For a guitar? We have cars come through here and we don't charge them any import fees, we're not going to charge you Duty for a guitar". I actually never bought that guitar becuase I found one that was better and exactly what I was looking for in Canada and didn't pay Duty on that either.
Anyway, this may or may not help you, but you might want to look into your options, if not for this guitar, then for the future- it may open up a whole new market of opportunities for you.
Good luck!

 

[RU Experienced]

Until just recently, I owned 3 Les Pauls. All of them were very nice, but needing to sell a couple of them to fund another "want", I kept the 2018 Junior. Absolutely a favorite of all my guitars. Love the simplicity. The electronics have been upgraded along with a Lollar P90. Nice chunky neck without binding. It's the D-18 of electric guitars. And I personally like the "old script" logo just fine.

 

[efstop]

Juniors are still in production, there are plenty of them in Canada. However, the Canadian chains don't ship out of Canada. Long & McQuade doesn't and as they are pretty much the distributor, I don't think any of the others will, either.

I saw one ebony LP Junior that was available to "Add to Cart" at Sky Music for A$2,999. Whether it's actually available, I don't know.

 

[cliffenstein]

Electric Guitars Gibson Electric Guitars Gibson - The Original Collection

Gibson - The Original Collection - Electric Guitars Gibson Electric Guitars Gibson - The Original Collection

www.portmacguitars.com.au

 

[cliffenstein]

@Friday ...I see in your other thread you started on this subject you asked about the pickups, too...they're the same. The 2018's had quick connect (which I had removed), but the pickups themselves are the same standard Gibson P90 (my personal fav P90 by the way).

 

[Friday]

Juniors are still in production, there are plenty of them in Canada. However, the Canadian chains don't ship out of Canada. Long & McQuade doesn't and as they are pretty much the distributor, I don't think any of the others will, either.

I saw one ebony LP Junior that was available to "Add to Cart" at Sky Music for A$2,999. Whether it's actually available, I don't know.

I was at Sky Music on the weekend and that black one you mention was not around. They may have it out back or just online but - as irrational as this may sound to some - I prefer the tobacco or sunburst one. Will keep looking and exercising patience. Thanks though.

 

[Friday]

@Friday ...I see in your other thread you started on this subject you asked about the pickups, too...they're the same. The 2018's had quick connect (which I had removed), but the pickups themselves are the same standard Gibson P90 (my personal fav P90 by the way).

Good to know, thank you.

What was very interesting and surprising to me while I was in a music shop on the weekend looking at P90 Gibson (Sky Music Clayton BTW, great people) was that I tried a new LP Special (or Special Tribute, can’t recall) on the rear pickup only through a 100W digital amp and there was zero hum from the guitar. Like dead silence. I was trying to simulate what a Junior might be like. Very surprised at its zero hum. The guy said same pickups as in a Junior too. I expected loads of hum. Sky does have exactly the guitar I want but it’s a lefty unfortunately.

I’m learning a lot from your answers, thanks fellas.

 

[Friday]

Electric Guitars Gibson Electric Guitars Gibson - The Original Collection

Gibson - The Original Collection - Electric Guitars Gibson Electric Guitars Gibson - The Original Collection

www.portmacguitars.com.au

No good, "Out of stock. Call for ETA". My search prompt is "Gibson Les Paul Junior in stock Australia" but I still see these kind of results. Frustrating. Thanks though.

 

[Friday]

Have you considered looking into buying from the US, or GB, or Canada? I was looking to buy an LP Special last year and the only one I could find that had everything I wanted was in Australia. I did a lot of research because I was concerned about duty and import fees, but I found there are exceptions, and things I'd never heard about before, including trade agreements between the US and certain other countries that may apply. The first thing I found was that if you ship with FedEx and other major shippers they use there own clearing agents who charge you an arm and a leg, even for things that duty is not required to be paid for, and have other ridiculous charges for things like a form you could fill out yourself in 5-10 minutes- they charge you over $100US to do so, and add-ons to the delivery charges that many people complain that they don't tell you about until the driver show up at your door. No one tells you that in the US there is an 'American goods returning' exception that allows things that were made in the US and shipped overseas to be sold back to the US without any duty as long as no changes, repairs or addtions that increase their value have been made- all you need is a letter from the US manufacturer stating that the item was originally manufactured in the US and signed by a person at the company who has signing authority. A copy of the letter must accompany the shipment.
Of course, the preceding isn't applicable to you, but it demonstrates how not knowing the laws ends up costing you a lot of money that you needn't pay.
I've bought guitars and guitar cases from Canada in the past, and didn't have to pay a cent for duty. They were shipped by Canada Post, from Canada to a US Customs House that handles mail for the US Postal Service, took 1 day to clear Customs, and were delivered by USPS for nothing more than the shipping charge, and arrived in great condition. I think this could have something to do with a trade agreement between the US and Canada, but not sure about that, and again, I'm just telling you that to demonstrate that duty is not required in a lot of cases.
However, since Australia and Canada both have had connections to the Commonwealth, trade agreements between those countries favorable to you may exist.
Now, in the case of Australia, I mentioned that I was looking at buying a guitar in your country, so I called up the Customs office at my port of entry ('port' in this case does not mean a dock on a waterway, it can mean any place goods enter a country, in this case, an airport). So, I explained to the guy at customs what I had read about 'American products returning to the US', and he said, "you don't have to do that... have the person in Australia go to the freight terminal of a transatlantic airline (one that carries passengers) that serves our area and ship it from there. Have the shipper FAX or email a copu of the shipping receipt to you. When it arrives here, it will be unloaded and go directectly to our Customs office and we'll notify you when it's available to pick up. Bring the receipt to show us, we'll give you the package, and that's it." I asked him, "So I don't have to pay and Duty or import fees?" And he said, "For a guitar? We have cars come through here and we don't charge them any import fees, we're not going to charge you Duty for a guitar". I actually never bought that guitar becuase I found one that was better and exactly what I was looking for in Canada and didn't pay Duty on that either.
Anyway, this may or may not help you, but you might want to look into your options, if not for this guitar, then for the future- it may open up a whole new market of opportunities for you.
Good luck!

Thanks for the info, however postage alone from US or Canada is out of the question.