Gary, not only do you look fantastic, you are a guitarist's dictionary of valuable information. I don't know why I haven't seen this sooner. Always my favorite dealer, Mr. Blankenburg! Here's wishing you well. See you soon.
I own a 2014 Gibson Les Paul 'Special' in TV yellow with two P-90 pups and the lighting-bar tail piece. I replaced the circuit board in the control cavity with Gibson 500K pots and NOS 'CRL' ceramic disc caps, as well as substituting the pups with Seymour Duncan 'Vintage' P-90's. Out of the four Gibson Les Pauls I own, the 'Special' stands out the most with it's searing tones, along with all the multitudes and different shades of tones. Truly an inspiring instrument to play, and one of my favorites.
I play my Jr through an old Laney amp and it gets everyone's attention. Juniors are unlike any other guitar . I am addicted to that tone. My brothers Byrdland feels like a cinder block after playing a Jr
I love my Custom Shop '57 VOS re-issue. I also have a '56 GoldTop Les Paul (with P90's) and a lovely '57 Stratocaster. My Junior has so much sustain, & so much P90 awesomeness and so much class. People hear P90's on so many classic recordings and mistakenly think that they are listening to classic humbuckers. If you can add a Junior to your collection you should!
I agree, I certainly would love to add a Junior or maybe even a Soapbar Gold Top :-) Has your '56 Gold Top got the wrap over bridge ? That's the ones I like :-)
Also used by John Lennon during his final concert appearance with Yoko Ono at Madison Square Garden On 30 August, 1972. Played well (and was played well) against the Les Paul Standard played by Elephant’s Memory guitarist Wayne “Tex” Gabriel.
Not their only pickup prior to 1957, just check out the Customs for the few years running up to 56. . . you will see the Alnico V "Staple" pickup, which are fascinating and unique pickups, the rectangular poles are slug mags, with no bar magnet running beneath like a p90. Reissues cost a fortune, not to mention the originals these days. They have an almost Piezo sort of a sound.
TV yellow wasn't for playing on TV. Jr's were students/kids guitars. No professional playing on TV would be using a Jr. They would have used a proper Les Paul. None of those were ever in TV yellow. I had heard that "TV yellow" was the same finished used on furniture and TV cabinets, but I don't know if that is any more true the the store about TV yellow being used to play on TV. Still kick ass guitars either way though.
Gary also my 58 Melody Maker (i suppose) is a double cutaway-i was told by the previous owner that it was a Les Paul Junior-but it has nothing in common with the LPJ-it is exactly except for the double cutaway like and early Melody Maker-it actually looks like and early SG-im so confused-HELP!
As far as I know the Melody Maker started in 1959. For a couple of years it was the Les Paul shape but in a thinner slab (and without the cap). In about '62 (I'm not sure) it became the double cutaway shape like a symmetrical Les Paul. A year or two later they played with the shape and introduced the version that Joan Jett made famous. Later they went to an SG body shape (Not sure if the slab is thinner than an SG).
Gary i own a 58 Gibson melody maker PLEASE PLEASE do a vid on this guitar Im dieing to know the history of this guitar-its made of one solid block of hardwood-it seems to me that it was ahead of its time-and unfortunately the technology of the day it was manufactured-thanks RX2525
I've never believed that the finish was designed to show up on TV. There is no historical evidence and the first run of LP TV Juniors were in natural anyway.The televisions of the era, and other furniture were often this Scandinavian colour. Gibson called it limed mahogany. Why would Gibson do a tv friendly finish on their student model, the very least likely guitar to be on tv? Why not paint an L5 like that? I think it was aimed at teen-agers who were the new tv generation.
Aso, it might be that they were aiming at the telecaster/esquire market. Slab body, Single coil pickup(s), blonde finish, tele-vision v Tele-caster. Grabbing some of that market while subtly linking Fender to their cheapest model.
Why would an entry level student model guitar be played on TV? That story is bs, it was called TV because TV sets of the time were finished in a limed mahogany color. TV was new and cool.
Gary is the best in the business. Rock on, Gary!!
Gary, not only do you look fantastic, you are a guitarist's dictionary of valuable information. I don't know why I haven't seen this sooner. Always my favorite dealer, Mr. Blankenburg! Here's wishing you well. See you soon.
his voice kills children
Chuck Norris even hides.
popoaggie Sam Elliot is hiding some say in Costa Rica
I own a 2014 Gibson Les Paul 'Special' in TV yellow with two P-90 pups and the lighting-bar tail piece. I replaced the circuit board in the control cavity with Gibson 500K pots and NOS 'CRL' ceramic disc caps, as well as substituting the pups with Seymour Duncan 'Vintage' P-90's. Out of the four Gibson Les Pauls I own, the 'Special' stands out the most with it's searing tones, along with all the multitudes and different shades of tones. Truly an inspiring instrument to play, and one of my favorites.
I've known Gary since the late 80s. What a great guy! Wish I still lived on the Island
Gary - you rock! Bring on more vids.
I play my Jr through an old Laney amp and it gets everyone's attention. Juniors are unlike any other guitar . I am addicted to that tone. My brothers Byrdland feels like a cinder block after playing a Jr
I got a Junior recently, it makes you an honest player
"even girls like em'." AMEN G-MAN!!!!!! AMEN!!!
Amazingly, Leslie West's Sunn amps were actually solid state PA heads!
Gary - you rock! Bring on more vids.
Phil Pizza
I love my Custom Shop '57 VOS re-issue. I also have a '56 GoldTop Les Paul (with P90's) and a lovely '57 Stratocaster. My Junior has so much sustain, & so much P90 awesomeness and so much class. People hear P90's on so many classic recordings and mistakenly think that they are listening to classic humbuckers. If you can add a Junior to your collection you should!
I agree, I certainly would love to add a Junior or maybe even a Soapbar Gold Top :-) Has your '56 Gold Top got the wrap over bridge ? That's the ones I like :-)
What do you prefer of your 56 goldtop and 57 junior??
For me is the best sounding guitar. Paired with a relatively cheap Vox AC30, can't be beaten.
GAAAAAARAAAAAAY!!!! Michael Pate here!!!! Miss you buddy!!!!!!
GAS with Gary.... ha :) You guys are awesome
This man is the voice of Bane, Batman enemy
Gary definitely KNOWS guitars....one of the original vintage guitar guys !!!
That guy is real advanced junior
Also used by John Lennon during his final concert appearance with Yoko Ono at Madison Square Garden On 30 August, 1972. Played well (and was played well) against the Les Paul Standard played by Elephant’s Memory guitarist Wayne “Tex” Gabriel.
a sage of music history.
Not their only pickup prior to 1957, just check out the Customs for the few years running up to 56. . . you will see the Alnico V "Staple" pickup, which are fascinating and unique pickups, the rectangular poles are slug mags, with no bar magnet running beneath like a p90.
Reissues cost a fortune, not to mention the originals these days. They have an almost Piezo sort of a sound.
Martin Barre's Les Paul jr is a 1963 sunburst
TV yellow wasn't for playing on TV. Jr's were students/kids guitars. No professional playing on TV would be using a Jr. They would have used a proper Les Paul. None of those were ever in TV yellow. I had heard that "TV yellow" was the same finished used on furniture and TV cabinets, but I don't know if that is any more true the the store about TV yellow being used to play on TV.
Still kick ass guitars either way though.
one tiny visual detail really distracted me - that GREEN guitar in the background!! Anyone knows what that is??!! Dying to see her in full feature!
Word!
Is that you Gary from Tenafly ??? Anto !!!
Is the epiphone 57 reissue version of this good?
yes Its amazing ! - but swapping the epi P100 Pickup for a Gibson p90 makes it Perfect ! ;-)
Gary also my 58 Melody Maker (i suppose) is a double cutaway-i was told by the previous owner that it was a Les Paul Junior-but it has nothing in common with the LPJ-it is exactly except for the double cutaway like and early Melody Maker-it actually looks like and early SG-im so confused-HELP!
As far as I know the Melody Maker started in 1959. For a couple of years it was the Les Paul shape but in a thinner slab (and without the cap). In about '62 (I'm not sure) it became the double cutaway shape like a symmetrical Les Paul. A year or two later they played with the shape and introduced the version that Joan Jett made famous. Later they went to an SG body shape (Not sure if the slab is thinner than an SG).
Gary i own a 58 Gibson melody maker PLEASE PLEASE do a vid on this guitar Im dieing to know the history of this guitar-its made of one solid block of hardwood-it seems to me that it was ahead of its time-and unfortunately the technology of the day it was manufactured-thanks RX2525
gotta love gas
Is this a parody on George Gruhn's videos?
Gary! how the hell are ya! miss you man.. Joe fish
I've never believed that the finish was designed to show up on TV. There is no historical evidence and the first run of LP TV Juniors were in natural anyway.The televisions of the era, and other furniture were often this Scandinavian colour. Gibson called it limed mahogany. Why would Gibson do a tv friendly finish on their student model, the very least likely guitar to be on tv? Why not paint an L5 like that? I think it was aimed at teen-agers who were the new tv generation.
Aso, it might be that they were aiming at the telecaster/esquire market. Slab body, Single coil pickup(s), blonde finish, tele-vision v Tele-caster. Grabbing some of that market while subtly linking Fender to their cheapest model.
Could be the loudest video on UA-cam
Why would an entry level student model guitar be played on TV? That story is bs, it was called TV because TV sets of the time were finished in a limed mahogany color. TV was new and cool.
*Is a girl and enjoys Les Paul Jrs* :)
WAS NEVER A STUDENT MODEL......WHY?...WELL TELL ME WHAT STUDENT WAS ON T.V.?
Where's the guitar sound? play it!