NGD - Another 2015 (eek) Junior

[RobJD]

Another one I'm afraid that has sold his soul for a 2015. Well after a bit of soul searching and a very good lightening deal on Amazon (in the UK) the price dropped enough for me to order a 2015 Junior in Cherry. Instantly hit with 2015 buyers remorse but slightly alleviated by the price.

It arrived yesterday and had my first evening with a 2015 Gibson. Nervously opened up packaging to find factory sealed Gibson box. (Phew not been sent a return...I think). Take the case out. Disappointingly scratched on the bottom but it's that sort of plastic. Still it's a case and that's it's job.

Opened up the case and save for a very small blemish by the strap peg the guitar was immaculate. It isn't a ding but looks a bit like a small scrape. Will see if it polishes out but not visible enough or bad enough to give up on what I was hoping was going to be a bargain. All case candy present and correct (including photo weirdly...but nice touch).

Now for the will it stay moment. Those changes. It was massively out of tune so turned on the g force and...well...it was brilliant! It looks horrible and out of place but in terms of pick up and play can't fault it. Not a chance I would want it on my Standard or a Traditional but I can live with it for the convenience. The big thing I was worried about was the neck. My hands aren't the biggest and yes it felt weird at first. But the deal breaker I was expecting? Nope.

The nut looks a bit meh and obviously there is the wear issue but will wait and see how it goes.

The scrawl on the headstock...I'm never going to like it but who knows, in 20 years when the g force has packed up and the nut has been replaced with a bone nut...

So all in all I will eat my words and say I am really pleased with it. I would have not have got it but for the price reduction but having always fancied a junior...well everybody has their price, right?

Here she is:

 

[endial]

Happy New Junior Day!

I gotta say, early in the year I believed, and even stated more than once, that the
Juniors were going to be 2015's saving grace (if there could have been
such a thing). I was even open to getting one and still am.
I read the finishes were better than Gibson's average recent work of the
last couple of years and any I saw in person appeared to prove that. I certainly won't
hesitate to get one used in the not too distant future either.
Curious what you peeps are getting these for price-wise. I haven't really looked. Yet.

 

[djw171]

Congrats. I just picked up a Sunburst version myself this week. Again was not prepared to pay regular price but at blow out discounted it was worth the gamble. Figured I can re-sell again for probably not too much of a loss. G-force is ugly and useless IMO and coming off this weekend.

I know what you mean about the neck, it does feel odd at first.

The overall quality and finish along with hard shell case makes them well worth the price in my book. It doesn't look like we have a Junior in the 2016 line up yet either.

The Brass nut should be better for wear without the Gforce. Its the constant grinding back and forth of the string that creates the wear. Gibson have a replacement they were sending out to some members on here. I was thinking of getting one of those anyway to try as an alternative to brass.

 

[agiehler]

HNGD. Always thought the Juniors were the best of the 2015 debacle. Even considered getting one as well! Enjoy her.

 

[EllenGtrGrl]

Cool! Congrats, Jrs. are great guitars. Have fun!

 

[kingrex]

Watch out. You may get to where you like the robo tuner. In my opinion they are a perfect fit on the lower priced Gibson line and still should be. Again, they can easily be removed, sold, and replaced with standard tuners. Gibson's real mistake was placing them on the higher end guitars (ie. traditionals and standards) that really provoked the animosity in the purists among us. That is a great looking guitar and a great package. Congrats and enjoy.

 

[Telechamp]

HNGD. Always thought the Juniors were the best of the 2015 debacle. Even considered getting one as well! Enjoy her.

IMO you've got to add the 2015 Special Double Cuts in there with the Juniors, as well..

Yes, I've got one, and it's a keeper.

 

[rjshare]

Don't know what you paid for it, but I've seen a few places knocking these out for seriously good prices so I can understand you being tempted. Can you give me some more thoughts on the neck? Not so much the width but the thickness really as these are listed as having a slim taper but i would have thought a thin neck that wide would be like playing an ironing board! I saw them somewhere at sub 500 quid which made me stop and think for a minute or five but I told myself eventually to drop the idea as I really don't get on with slim neck profiles.

 

[afjungemann]

Juniors are my weakness. It is weird that I typically lust after customs and higher end guitars but at the same time these "basic" guitars are just so lovely. Their simplicity is what I love too.

Happy NGD!!!

 

[z-clay]

Nice guitar, I've never owned a LP Junior before but I'm starting to want one after seeing yours.

 

[C_Becker]

HNGD !

If only it wasn't for that damned neck

 

[RobJD]

Don't know what you paid for it, but I've seen a few places knocking these out for seriously good prices so I can understand you being tempted. Can you give me some more thoughts on the neck? Not so much the width but the thickness really as these are listed as having a slim taper but i would have thought a thin neck that wide would be like playing an ironing board! I saw them somewhere at sub 500 quid which made me stop and think for a minute or five but I told myself eventually to drop the idea as I really don't get on with slim neck profiles.

Paid £389 which for a USA Gibson, with a hard case was a fairly easy decision. Know what you mean about the neck. I actually quite like the profile. The slimmer flatter profile almost negates the feeling of width a bit so I am actually getting on quite well with it. It isn't as comfortable as the asymmetric neck on my Standard but find it more comfortable than the baseball bat of a neck on my Epi Rosso Corsa.

The neck was going to be a potential deal breaker but having spent a couple of days with it am finding it ok so it's definitely a keeper.

 

[RobJD]

Juniors are my weakness. It is weird that I typically lust after customs and higher end guitars but at the same time these "basic" guitars are just so lovely. Their simplicity is what I love too.

Happy NGD!!!

Know what you mean. G Force aside it really is a no fuss guitar. Slab of mahogany, single pick up and 6 strings. In terms of just being able to pick up and play it doesn't get better. And I can leave it out without worrying about it too much...unlike my Standard which has to hide away from the kids!

 

[edselman]

Just a note regarding the GForce. I removed the GForce from my 2015 Junior and replaced it with Tone Pros. In spite of the fact that the company that makes the GForce says that they do not mar the finish of the guitar. They do. The GForce left rather deep impressions in the finish of my Junior that the new tuners don't cover up. In spite of that, I'm very far from putting the GForce back.

 

[Telechamp]

Paid £389 which for a USA Gibson, with a hard case was a fairly easy decision.

That's about 600 U.S. dollars right now, so that sounds about right. I paid $600 for my '15 Special, and the 2015 Juniors and Specials seem to be going for that price now.

 

[RobJD]

Yeah but in the UK, prices are normally dollars = pounds. The store price of the Juniors is currently £469 to £499, so under £400 is probably going to be about as good as they get. I certainly envy the US blow out prices you read about on here sometimes!

 

[Telechamp]

Yeah but in the UK, prices are normally dollars = pounds. The store price of the Juniors is currently £469 to £499, so under £400 is probably going to be about as good as they get. I certainly envy the US blow out prices you read about on here sometimes!

Thanks for the info. Yeah, sometimes we forget how good we've got it over here on our prices vs. the prices you guys have to pay!

 

[fullspectrum]

I'm really pissed off our Canadian dollar sucks again and isn't 1:1 with the US dollar because I would definitely pick one of these up. I played one at Long and Mcquade today and it was a pretty nice guitar overall.
The neck did feel wide but I could adapt fairly easily. I put it WAY out of tune and the GForce got it back in tune pretty quickly. The headstock scribble and hologram was somewhat of a novelty on a guitar in this price range. On a higher end LP I wouldn't want it but on one of these who cares. Played it for awhile and if it was $599 I would have bought one. In Canada it's $799...still not a bad deal really. Actually it's a pretty darn good deal...lol It's the special DC that $999 here.

 

[RT60]

Yeah but in the UK, prices are normally dollars = pounds. The store price of the Juniors is currently £469 to £499, so under £400 is probably going to be about as good as they get. I certainly envy the US blow out prices you read about on here sometimes!

... and 20% of that £389 was VAT (sales tax, for our US friends)

Prices in the US don't have tax added on the sticker price like we do.

Anyway, @RobJD, wonderful guitar. I really think the 2015 Juniors (and Specials) are fine guitars that won't lose TOO much value compared to their maple-topped counterparts... they look good and sound good, and the simplicity just works.

 

[bungle]

Gongrats nice looking guitar. Hope you enjoy it & the g-force does last 20 years..