Which LP Jr. Reissues?

[zozoe]

Sorry for the double post...
Happy holidays to all!! I've got GAS for one of these tobacco burst single pup, single cutaway, & there are several variations. Is there any one particular run that stands out as a more solid build than the others? I see one with the olde style Gibson logo, one that has LP100 inked onto the h'stock, another that says LP Junior, & yet another with a big JUNIOR on the truss cover.

For about 900 bills in looking at at a 2018, LP Junior on the stock, blank truss cover, & all else standard....

Any tips or trends on these different builds?

Many thanks in advance.

>>>
>>>40 yrs ago I had & gigged with both, a '54 Jr. & a '59 Special,,, I had,, but no longer do & I want something now... having a 2 pup Special would be nice, but I also used to have a 90's reissue one, & it didn't feel right.... I like the way THIS one looks,,,, G.A.S.

 

[endial]

That is a 2018 model, with that script logo (which I think is very cool). See: 2018 Junior

If you're looking at that for $900 I'd be all over it. That's my take.

The 2019's are the introductory year for the "Original Collection" models, which boasted similar specs, but the classic Gibson logo, and fuller neck profiles. The neck on the 2018's are rounded and very nice but not as big as the '19's (to the best of my knowledge. I have a '19 and it's...um...big).

The other scripted (scrawled) "LP100" ones are the not-so-popular 2015's which had a wider neck (Not thicker. Wider.) and the "robot" tuners.

I'd have to say as for build quality, they all can be considered pretty similar. I don't recall a lot of people complaining about that on any of these. Other persons will chime in with more info on that, I'm sure. My 2019 O.C. Junior is superb.

Good luck!

 

[monstruo_loco]

That is a 2018 model, with that script logo (which I think is very cool). See: 2018 Junior

If you're looking at that for $900 I'd be all over it. That's my take.

The 2019's are the introductory year for the "Original Collection" models, which boasted similar specs, but the classic script logo, and fuller neck profiles. The neck on the 2018's are rounded and very nice but not as big as the '19's (to the best of my knowledge. I have a '19 and it's...um...big).

The other scripted (scrawled) "LP100" ones are the not-so-popular 2015's which had a wider neck (Not thicker. Wider.) and the "robot" tuners.

I'd have to say as for build quality, they all can be considered pretty similar. I don't recall a lot of people complaining about that on any of these. Other persons will chime in with more info on that, I'm sure. My 2019 O.C. Junior is superb.

Good luck!

Great information! Just curious, you mentioned the neck on your 2019, have you ever measured it at the 1st. & 12th and how would you describe the profile/shoulders?

 

[Dilver]

I have the 2018 with the script logo. Its a great guitar and $900 is a good price. I’ve compared the 2018s and 2019/20s to see if it was worth selling mine and getting a new one and decided it wasn’t.

Three differences:
1. The necks on the 2019/2020s are a bit bigger feeling - but not much...and not enough to make it worth the trouble. My 2018s neck measures .830 at the 1st fret and .960 at the 12th.

2. Finish color. Some of the 2019s and 2020s are a bit darker yellow, almost orange color by comparison to the 2018s and the backs are browner, whereas the 2018s were a very dark burgundy.

3. 2018s have the circuitboard - pots and cap on a circuitboard connecting to the pickup with a quick release wire. Won’t make any difference in tone, but I swapped them out for CTS pots and a PIO cap anyway. Easy enough to do yourself, if you can solder.

I‘d stay away from the 2015s with the infamous “crayon” Les Paul 100 logo. Not that they‘re bad guitars, but you’ll take a hit on resale value as most people can’t stand that horrible crayon logo.

 

[afireinside]

I nabbed a 19 Original Jr for $1100 blem from sweetwater. Thing is amazing! I slapped in a Duncan antiquity and holy cow! Beefy neck tone tone tone all day long.

 

[endial]

Great information! Just curious, you mentioned the neck on your 2019, have you ever measured it at the 1st. & 12th and how would you describe the profile/shoulders?

.890 at the first and exactly 1.000 at the twelfth. It is the most "shouldery" guitar I own, but with that amount of thickness behind it, it's not all that uncomfortable. It's bigger than a fifties' neck and not as round as I'd like but it only takes a minute to adjust to it. After that I feel like I "own" it, if you know what I mean. It's a killer guitar.

 

[monstruo_loco]

.890 at the first and exactly 1.000 at the twelfth. It is the most "shouldery" guitar I own, but with that amount of thickness behind it, it's not all that uncomfortable. It's bigger than a fifties' neck and not as round as I'd like but it only takes a minute to adjust to it. After that I feel like I "own" it, if you know what I mean. It's a killer guitar.

Thanks! That sounds like a great neck, appreciate it!

 

[zozoe]

I have the 2018 with the script logo. Its a great guitar and $900 is a good price. I’ve compared the 2018s and 2019/20s to see if it was worth selling mine and getting a new one and decided it wasn’t.

Three differences:
1. The necks on the 2019/2020s are a bit bigger feeling - but not much...and not enough to make it worth the trouble. My 2018s neck measures .830 at the 1st fret and .960 at the 12th.

2. Finish color. Some of the 2019s and 2020s are a bit darker yellow, almost orange color by comparison to the 2018s and the backs are browner, whereas the 2018s were a very dark burgundy.

3. 2018s have the circuitboard - pots and cap on a circuitboard connecting to the pickup with a quick release wire. Won’t make any difference in tone, but I swapped them out for CTS pots and a PIO cap anyway. Easy enough to do yourself, if you can solder.

I‘d stay away from the 2015s with the infamous “crayon” Les Paul 100 logo. Not that they‘re bad guitars, but you’ll take a hit on resale value as most people can’t stand that horrible crayon logo.

Thnx,, what kind of neck profile do the 2018 Script gtrs have? A lot of Special & other LP reissue have a wider neck at the nut, & they have a think, NON C shaped chunky neck,,, I want something that's as close to the original, but w/o breaking the bank.
Thnx again, Kenny

 

[Dilver]

Thnx,, what kind of neck profile do the 2018 Script gtrs have? A lot of Special & other LP reissue have a wider neck at the nut, & they have a think, NON C shaped chunky neck,,, I want something that's as close to the original, but w/o breaking the bank.
Thnx again, Kenny

So hard to describe these things in words, but I’ll try. The 2018 feels like it has more shoulders and depth than any of the previous Juniors before it (except for 50s of course). But I thought the 2019/20 had a *little* more depth (front of fretboard to back of neck) and it was noticeable only in the first playing position. There was virtually no difference higher up on the necks. Again, I compared the two and the difference between the two wasn‘t enough to make it worth the “upgrade”.

Something else I noticed was that Gibson made a point of specifying that the 2018 had “cryogenically treated frets” but don’t mention it in the 2019/20 specs. Either it was BS and someone at Gibson decided to not to mention it on the specs anymore or it was actually a thing they tried and stopped using. But after owning and playing this guitar for 2 years, I will say the frets are holding up REALLY well, so maybe it’s not complete BS.

 

[Dilver]

Just measured my Junior with the new digital calipers I just got...
86.8 at 1st fret
98.3 at 12th fret

...so no wonder I didn’t notice much of a difference with the 2019/20’s I played

 

[endial]

Thnx,, what kind of neck profile do the 2018 Script gtrs have? A lot of Special & other LP reissue have a wider neck at the nut, & they have a think, NON C shaped chunky neck,,, I want something that's as close to the original, but w/o breaking the bank.
Thnx again, Kenny

In all honesty, my belief is that EITHER of these, between the 2018's and the current Original Collection Juniors ('19/'20) will get you there. Key words "w/o breaking the bank." would suggest the '18 is a terrific candidate.

Edit: I'll sum it up like this- I LOVE my 2019 OC. But I certainly wouldn't be disappointed in owning a 2018 model. Not at all.