Acting Impulsively: Epi LP Junior?!

My first "real" electric was an awesome custom made by a Detroit luthier named Al Polla. It was a single-humbucker set neck with an extreme cutaway (the body style used on all Polla electrics, I think). I got it used in the early 80s. I wish I had pics of it from its glory days; it had a beautiful cherry sunburst finish and a super-low action. it had a built-in tuner: a five-position knob to choose the note (EADGB) and a red-green-red LED block. It was HEAVY.

Anyhoo, the set-neck didn't have a tenon or anything, the body and neck met flush with the fingerboard covering the joint. From the beginning i had trouble with the neck joint. I used SuperGlue to secure it and that held for about 20 years. When it came undone again, I tried a few other solutions with no success. So, I finally disassembled it (still have the parts, including body and neck).

It had a pickup I'd not seen before, a cream-colored double-bladed humbucker. Further research leads me to believe it's an original Bill Lawrence L-500. It's been sitting around unused. I've thought about selling it, but I have some nostalgic attachment to it. So, today I looked at cheap, Epiphone Les Paul Juniors. I'm thinking about getting one and dropping the L-500 in it, for old time's sake.

I'm kinda in love with the Limited Edition Red One (http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Limited-Edition-Les-Paul-Junior-Electric-Guitar?sku=423557):

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/1/7/0/748170.jpg

$129 shipped seems too good to pass up, but I really don't need another guitar (and really not this guitar). Still, high school is calling!! GAS Attack!! Help me, Jebus!!

p.s. not looking to be talked in or out of anything, I just thought I'd share. Peace...

I acted impulsively a couple of years ago and snagged a sunburst P-90 Junior (MF blowout $99), and love it!

I did put better tuners and a GFS alnico P-90 in it...

Tim

I've got an older black 'special' model.. I like the guitar itself, but IMHO, that pickup is WAY too hot. I'd be interested to hear it with a P-90..

Ha.. I just posted about that Epi Jr. in the 'one-pickup guitars' thread... I really liked it, and couldn't believe you could get such a nice hunk of mahogany for $99! (GC price) I don't doubt it would need new tuners and a better pickup, but it played pretty damned well. And I didn't realize it was a limited edition... (I'm always looking for the next Squier '51.)

i have a black MII Epi LPJR with a P90 ... it has a chunky neck and is a lot of guitar for $99 NIB ... http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w158/lagrange5/1998%20Epiphone%20LP%20Junior/epiphone_junior_008_900x675.jpg

Get it and make your version of the John Lennon Les Paul Junior. If this would've been back then I would've had my po' boy JL Jr.

I... Hate... You... Guys...

Got thinking about a JR this week but can't justify a Gibson financially. I was thinking more P-90, but the Epi discussed above got my eye. Long story / short, pulled the trigger and should be here in a week or so.

Read reviews and hard to find much bad about it especially @ $129.00 shipped. Sure, it could be a beast, but we'll see and I WILL let you know how it arrives. Mahogany body is, if nothing else, something I can mod till it's totally ruined.

I think the good news is that due to the current economic situation, I'm not jonesin' (well, am, but realistically) for 4K Martins. An instrument, if it works at this price, is a total find. Impulse? Yea, kinda, but if it crashes and burns, it's less than the price of a bad pedal... Plenty of those in the drawer!

These are good guitars for the money.

I got one for my son a couple of years ago. It's almost exactly the same as the one in the picture but it's got a lovely 2 tone sunburst finish instead of the red.

I changed the tuners that it came with and have been toying with the idea of swapping the pickup for a P90 or at least putting a cover on the humbucker but never quite got round to it.

OK. I did it. I ordered one of the Limited Edition Jrs. Now, what will I tell my wife? Crap.

OK. I did it. I ordered one of the Limited Edition Jrs. Now, what will I tell my wife? Crap.

Start by telling her how lovely she looks today...:wink:

DO IT, the Bill Lawrence L500 is possibly the best pickup ever. I have been wanting a jr. with a p90 lately, but one with an L500 would be f***ing ****.

OK. I did it. I ordered one of the Limited Edition Jrs. Now, what will I tell my wife? Crap.

I keep telling you guys.

1) Take a picture. Include:
a) an amp
b) a guitar
c) an object that dates the picture (magazine or newspaper, whatever)

2) Learn to Photoshop.

3) Insert new guitar or amp in place of the one/ones in the picture.

4) Show wife picture while saying, "No, honey, I've had this thing for years. I just don't play it much."

5) Just in case, be sure that you precede the entire process with TG's advice below:

Start by telling her how lovely she looks today...:wink:

How do you tell what type of wood has been used in the Epi Juniors?

My son's has a nice 2 tone sunburst finish showing a nice grain pattern on the front (which could of course only be a thin veneer) but the back, side and neck are finished in a solid black colour. I've removed the plate behind the controls but the hole has been painted with shielding paint.

It doesn't particularly matter to me as it plays well and sounds pretty good but I'm just curious.

My son's has a nice 2 tone sunburst finish showing a nice grain pattern on the front (which could of course only be a thin veneer) but the back, side and neck are finished in a solid black colour.

That may be a strong indicator of a veneer, if the sunburst fades to opaque black on the sides and back. My Squier MB-5 bass is like that (no complaints, it looks great).

How do you tell what type of wood has been used in the Epi Juniors?.

This Limited Edition version, at least, claims to be a mahogany body and a maple neck (both tinted/stained red). I 'm not so sure about the other Juniors.

Mahogany/maple seems like a good combo to me. A strong, Fender-like, bolt-on maple neck is what I like. As I mentioned in the original post (above), my first real electric was a set-neck that gave me lots of problems. I don't really feel much of a need for another set-neck in my lifetime. Sure, I'll take a ES-335 if you're giving them away, but...

I was at GC again yesterday, and looking at that Epi, I'm pretty sure the neck is mahogany as well. Mahogany has such a distinctive grain to it.

As for the other LP Jrs., unless they say otherwise, I just assume all cheap guitars are made out of basswood. Which is fine for the price.

I keep telling you guys.

1) Take a picture. Include:
a) an amp
b) a guitar
c) an object that dates the picture (magazine or newspaper, whatever)

2) Learn to Photoshop.

3) Insert new guitar or amp in place of the one/ones in the picture.

4) Show wife picture while saying, "No, honey, I've had this thing for years. I just don't play it much."

5) Just in case, be sure that you precede the entire process with TG's advice below:

you..sir..are a genius..if i were wearing a hat id be tipping it right now!

How do you tell what type of wood has been used in the Epi Juniors?

I don't actually want to know, as that would take all the mystery out of it!

:mrgreen:

Tim

ps- however, since you piqued my curiosity, I checked and MF says the sunburst has a basswood body and a mahogany neck. Don't know if that's accurate, but there you have it...

OK. I did it. I ordered one of the Limited Edition Jrs. Now, what will I tell my wife? Crap.

How about "...this year I decided to do my Christmas shopping for you early" :wink:

I've got one of these Epi LP Jr's with the humbucker. Not a bad guit for a hundred bucks, but I'm going to swap out the stock 'bucker for a GFS Mean 90 - heard good things about that pup. I'll be doing that real soon actually. Will post an update on the sound w/ the Mean 90 when I put it in..


http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/MyEpiLPJunior025PB.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/GFSMean903795.jpg

I've played a Epi. LP JR. and my local shop and I didn't like it.Maybe if it had a new pickup and some different strings I would like it more,But it just didn't feel right.

you..sir..are a genius..if i were wearing a hat id be tipping it right now!

Which reminds me. In the picture, try not to be wearing the hat that your wife bought you last month for your birthday. That's what spoiled that plan in my world. :lol:

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/dannew2008/h2/7-28-10007.jpg
A real P90 will fit in the humbucker route if you don't mind a tiny gap at the front and back. In fact if yours is a dark color (or you color the hole dark) you can't see it much at all. ANd $99 for these are a steal, even if they are plywood.

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, but... I have 2 of these guitars. One was given to me by a coworker because her kid lost interest in it after breaking it. I liked it so much I bought another one ($99 + tax at GC) for when I have to give the first one back. The neck may be maple but it cracked when it got dropped, so it may be something softer than maple. It was light-colored with no real grain. Oh yeah to answer the "What is it made of" question, the non-mahogany ones are definitely plywood: http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/dannew2008/h2/7-31-10028.jpg
bad pic of the pickup route, you can see the "layers".
http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/dannew2008/h2/9-1-10077.jpg
REALLY bad pic of the hole I had to drill in mine to fix the broken strap button screw being punched into the body when it got dropped.

looks good. I keep thinking about picking one up (price is great!)

Grrrr... My order has been canceled. Apparently Epiphone's out of them, and not making more! I originally got an email telling me it was backordered, but I checked online and it said my order was canceled. I just got the confirmation from MF customer service.

The item's still on their website. Grrrr...

Ah welll...

Grrrr... My order has been canceled. Apparently Epiphone's out of them, and not making more! I originally got an email telling me it was backordered, but I checked online and it said my order was canceled. I just got the confirmation from MF customer service.

The item's still on their website. Grrrr...

Ah welll...

I see these all the time in stock at both the GC's and Sam Ash here. It appears the price has gone up to $119 now, but still not a bad deal..

I still need to put the GFS Mean 90 in mine - can't seem to get around to it, but I will do that soon..


http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/MyEpiLPJunior041PB.jpg

I see these all the time in stock at both the GC's and Sam Ash here. It appears the price has gone up to $119 now, but still not a bad deal..

I'm interested in the Limited Edition one with the solid mahogany body. Not having much luck.

I've been thinking about snagging that LP Jr. or the Wilshire for $199 and changing the tuners and pickups. I have 4 Epi Jr models (2 SG, DC, 2 LP) and they are awesome.

Man, I'd love to find one of those mahogany beauties. I have the regular sunburst like the (sweet) one pictured above. Great little guitar. These are sleepers for sure. I'd love to find a SG Jr, too.

Man, I'd love to find one of those mahogany beauties. I have the regular sunburst like the (sweet) one pictured above. Great little guitar. These are sleepers for sure. I'd love to find a SG Jr, too.

Be careful because some on Ebay are grossly overpriced for like $300. The DC cutaway famously played by The Clash is awesome. The 2 SG's I got for about $100 each. If I could find the TV Yellow SG Jr. I would die. I've had so many engineers a people ask me what guitar I was playing. Put GFS Kluson tuners and a good P-90 (although I have 2 that are stock) and this guitar will cut up with the best of them. My other guitar player in my band plays a real LP Jr. and mine sounds just as good. Buy what you can.

I got my LP Jr a few years back. A friend worked at a mom-n-pop (see how long ago?) and I got to cherry pick through 8 guitars. This one had a noticeably better neck and frets than the others. One other was close, but no contest between those two and the others.

Oh yeah, $85 as a factory 2nd :grin:

I love mine. Has a GFS P90 retro-fitted in place of the humbucker, and a GFS wrap bridge to replace the Epi stocker. Thinking tuners next and it's a screaming little Jr.

This type of bridge works great on these guitars. It has notches molded into the lightening bar that really keep the strings nicely in place. And perfectly aligned with the poles on the pickup :mrgreen:

I've got two from GFS in chrome. It looks like their chrome one is different now, but you can find these by the dozens on ebay.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/assets/images/products/lespajuinwrc1.jpg