Love it. This guy sounds like the Bob Ross of guitars. 'Let's put a happy little single cutaway over here all by himself....he can just sit over there and be happy.'
Love the fact that George seems to be sitting in a rocking chair! This, plus his raspy voice, make him look like a wise old man. Which he of course is!
I have a '57 TV in excellent condition and the neck is killer, just fits the hand so nicely. The P90 has quite a wide range of tonality. If you get a chance to test one, do it. I also have a BJ Armstrong version that really sounds great, though the neck profile is not as good. If you can't find a vintage Jr. give the BJA a try. (and I never wear rings when I play)
Wanting to build one with the TV yellow have no idea of what the neck profile is, worked with a lot of vintage guitars but, never was around that model, for me the neck is the most important thing, If I cant get the neck to feel right, a flaw in the body is of little concern, the same with Fenders, I love that early 60's necks. What would you compare the neck of your 57 to with todays guitars? Hope it's not a baseball bat. lol
Hmmm.... that's a tough one. James, I have tried to figure out a way to describe it and it's not easy. We know the neck shapers at Gibson do it by hand and so they are all a little different. It's not like a baseball bat, but its certainly not a thin neck. It is a little bigger than my BJA Junior and my R9's , as well as my Strat. I agree with you that neck "feel" is important, seems a better neck makes it easier to play. All I can say is when I put my hand on the 57 fretboard it just feels "right". I have relatively big hands so I need a fuller neck. I recommend you just pick up as many as you can and see what feels right for you. The 57's are universally loved so maybe start with that; I also hear the 55's are very nice. If you can find them...
OMG YES. I watched a video of the guitar show the other day and was wondering when another video would be released! Do another video on the Jaguar please! maybe a fiesta red?
I have to say I'm partial to the Yellow, I had a 73 Olympic White Strat that faded to this cool yellow, it's not the same as the Gibson color but I fell in love with both of those, thinking of doing a Double Cutaway Jr in TV yellow.
Hello & Thanks for Watching! Sorry for the delayed response to your question. Yes, George does play & does so, very well! If you search for our 4th Episode in Season #3 of the Gruhn Show for "Weymann 848" you'll see just how well George can play, at the beginning of the episode! And, his vintage guitar store is world-renowed, is located in Nashville, TN and is where he conducts his vintage guitar business. You can check out his website at www.Guitars.com. Thanks again for Watching, for Your Comment & Please Make Sure to Subscribe if you haven't already and Stay Tuned! Sincerely, The Musician Network (TMNtv)
It's an instrument. Sort of a tool. It's made to use, it's been used before and hopefully will be used in the future. Let it live, evolve, get some dings and dungs ...
ruokangas.com/models/unicorn-supersonic/ Who cares about old EXPENSIVE Gibson guitars anymore? Juhas Ruokangas improved the design, shifting the waste for better balance, cutting a more graceful "Venetian" cutaway - instead of the sharp "Florentine" cutaway Gibson Les Paul's use. He also uses different woods: Spanish Cedar, and Baltic Birch, etc.. Juhas also improves other parts of the design: the bridge is milled from a solid billet, by his friend in Germany, and tuners are custom made. Nuts are made from Moose shim bones - very dense and greasy - not bleached, so they stay slippery for good lubrication in the grooves. Juhas also was the first who invented roasting wood, to make it sound better by speed-drying the resins, otherwise, it takes decades for the resins to dry.. Roasting wood is now used throughout the guitar making world, for electric and acoustic guitars!! Our Finnish friend (soon I will possess one of his creations, IF I sell enough produce) designed and builds a better instrument than Gibson ever did. When I see old geezers like Gruhn spewing specs about old guitars, which I've known about for decades, it makes me yawn. I was born in 1955, and would love to possess a 1955 Junior or Special, but I'd rather put the money into a new Ruokangas guitar!!
Pharmer David ...the thing with Gibson is that they are iconic and you dont see many of them. Its a collectors thing, i understand that.. And i also understand your point as well
I'd have to bathe the guitar in hand sanitizer after this sleezeball touched it. He just gives me the Hebrew jeebees. Im itching all over right now. Ooy. Make it stop!
+Barry Burton Hello Barry! Thank you for this correction and for watching! George tries incredibly hard to be VERY exact on these initial production dates but he is human, like us all! We very much appreciate you bringing this to our attention & it is duly noted, sir! Stay Tuned for More Gruhn in 2016 & Beyond, The Musician Network (TMNtv)
+Barry Burton Barry....I worked for George, if you don't think he knows the first year of production for Les Paul Jr.'s your crazy. He's talking about the Les Paul Jr. TV model. They ARE a distinctly different model, please rewatch the first 3 minutes of the video where he describes the difference between the FIRST year issue of the TV model, versus the standard sunburst finish Les Paul Jr. It's slightly foolish to try and sharpshoot someone who knows more about vintage instruments than most people have forgotten. Good try though. HAHAHAHA!
Have some respect. This guy is the reason we have so much CORRECT info on vintage guitars. He single-handedly collected and did the taxonomy on much of what we know and take for granted on vintage guitars. He's a national treasure and a hugely important figure in guitar history. It annoys me when know-it-alls (who don't know even part of it all) shoot their big mouths off and disrespect someone like this. He's not 'Gruhn', he's Mr Gruhn to you. AND he's correct. The TV model did indeed come out in 1955 the year after the Les Paul Junior debuted.
He said TV MODEL, shit head. You weren't paying close attention. The TV Model and the Les Paul Jr. are pretty much the same guitar except for color and name, yet they are distinct guitars according to old Gibson catalogs.
I could listen to Mr. Gruhn forever lol
Love it. This guy sounds like the Bob Ross of guitars. 'Let's put a happy little single cutaway over here all by himself....he can just sit over there and be happy.'
look at the checker in on that Guitar.......BEAUTIFUL!!! 🎸💚
I know, I love the age, I worked a Vintage shop in Houston & we would use freon to spray on a guitar to try to get the same checking, never the same.
Love the fact that George seems to be sitting in a rocking chair! This, plus his raspy voice, make him look like a wise old man. Which he of course is!
"I'm George Zimmer. You're gonna like the way you look. I guarantee it...." Men's Wearhouse commercial.
Ha, ha I need a suit man, yea you could say George Zimmer.
I have a '57 TV in excellent condition and the neck is killer, just fits the hand so nicely. The P90 has quite a wide range of tonality. If you get a chance to test one, do it. I also have a BJ Armstrong version that really sounds great, though the neck profile is not as good. If you can't find a vintage Jr. give the BJA a try. (and I never wear rings when I play)
Wanting to build one with the TV yellow have no idea of what the neck profile is, worked with a lot of vintage guitars but, never was around that model, for me the neck is the most important thing, If I cant get the neck to feel right, a flaw in the body is of little concern, the same with Fenders, I love that early 60's necks. What would you compare the neck of your 57 to with todays guitars? Hope it's not a baseball bat. lol
Hmmm.... that's a tough one. James, I have tried to figure out a way to describe it and it's not easy. We know the neck shapers at Gibson do it by hand and so they are all a little different. It's not like a baseball bat, but its certainly not a thin neck. It is a little bigger than my BJA Junior and my R9's , as well as my Strat. I agree with you that neck "feel" is important, seems a better neck makes it easier to play. All I can say is when I put my hand on the 57 fretboard it just feels "right". I have relatively big hands so I need a fuller neck. I recommend you just pick up as many as you can and see what feels right for you. The 57's are universally loved so maybe start with that; I also hear the 55's are very nice. If you can find them...
Love the finish! Nice!☺
I like that he doesn't treat the guitars too gently.
George is very good at overstating the obvious in a tone that can lull one to sleep
I was unaware of the clear TV finish.
Nice
OMG YES. I watched a video of the guitar show the other day and was wondering when another video would be released! Do another video on the Jaguar please! maybe a fiesta red?
mr. personality
I had one i bought back in the 70's for $150.00
My rabbi sells guitars. Who knew?
Reminds me of Cy Abelman in A Serious Man. The strings are eminently playable...
Your rabbi likes gawdy gold rings? Oy vey!
this guitar are for sale??
The Heavy Creepy Sound Gibson
Gibson
S g
George and Norman seem to be the top dog collectors in the US. Who else out there have substantial collections?
They are not going to publish their names on UA-cam bro.
Well said. Thanks for Watching & Please Make Sure to Subscribe if you haven't already and Stay Tuned! Sincerely, The Musician Network (TMNtv)
My 1955 Les Paul Jr was faded down to the mahogany
Dream guitar doesn't even begin to say it...
what does the TV stand for?
Television.
They were made to show up better on black and white TV compared to a white finish.
I have to say I'm partial to the Yellow, I had a 73 Olympic White Strat that faded to this cool yellow, it's not the same as the Gibson color but I fell in love with both of those, thinking of doing a Double Cutaway Jr in TV yellow.
All these years I thought TV referred to the color, not the model. Specifically the yellow
I wish Gibson still made affordable Les Paul Juniors
does george play or just collect and buy and sell . ??
Hello & Thanks for Watching! Sorry for the delayed response to your question. Yes, George does play & does so, very well! If you search for our 4th Episode in Season #3 of the Gruhn Show for "Weymann 848" you'll see just how well George can play, at the beginning of the episode! And, his vintage guitar store is world-renowed, is located in Nashville, TN and is where he conducts his vintage guitar business. You can check out his website at www.Guitars.com. Thanks again for Watching, for Your Comment & Please Make Sure to Subscribe if you haven't already and Stay Tuned! Sincerely, The Musician Network (TMNtv)
It's an instrument. Sort of a tool. It's made to use, it's been used before and hopefully will be used in the future. Let it live, evolve, get some dings and dungs ...
i want it.
And both cost a gazillion dollars.
FUCK its beautiful
I hate when people say, "Lezzz Paul". Its LES! No offense to Mr. Gruhn.
Brits say Lez. Yanks say Less. Lez makes me crasy.
alright george settle down there...
😪😪😪😪😪😪
mandarin wants to be careful with those juniors..
If you want a distressed guitar give this guy a brand new one the bloody rings he wears clicking and clacking will do the job in five minutes!!!
But a cheap ass junker and rock out!!!
Am I the only one that cringe over the rings or am I crazy I mean 1958
ruokangas.com/models/unicorn-supersonic/ Who cares about old EXPENSIVE Gibson guitars anymore? Juhas Ruokangas improved the design, shifting the waste for better balance, cutting a more graceful "Venetian" cutaway - instead of the sharp "Florentine" cutaway Gibson Les Paul's use. He also uses different woods: Spanish Cedar, and Baltic Birch, etc.. Juhas also improves other parts of the design: the bridge is milled from a solid billet, by his friend in Germany, and tuners are custom made. Nuts are made from Moose shim bones - very dense and greasy - not bleached, so they stay slippery for good lubrication in the grooves. Juhas also was the first who invented roasting wood, to make it sound better by speed-drying the resins, otherwise, it takes decades for the resins to dry.. Roasting wood is now used throughout the guitar making world, for electric and acoustic guitars!! Our Finnish friend (soon I will possess one of his creations, IF I sell enough produce) designed and builds a better instrument than Gibson ever did. When I see old geezers like Gruhn spewing specs about old guitars, which I've known about for decades, it makes me yawn. I was born in 1955, and would love to possess a 1955 Junior or Special, but I'd rather put the money into a new Ruokangas guitar!!
Pharmer David ...the thing with Gibson is that they are iconic and you dont see many of them. Its a collectors thing, i understand that.. And i also understand your point as well
Im gonna look into that brand you mentioned, sounds interesting, thanks!
I'd have to bathe the guitar in hand sanitizer after this sleezeball touched it. He just gives me the Hebrew jeebees. Im itching all over right now. Ooy. Make it stop!
1954 is the first year production of the Gibson Les Paul Jr. model. Get your facts straight Gruhn!
+Barry Burton Hello Barry! Thank you for this correction and for watching! George tries incredibly hard to be VERY exact on these initial production dates but he is human, like us all! We very much appreciate you bringing this to our attention & it is duly noted, sir! Stay Tuned for More Gruhn in 2016 & Beyond, The Musician Network (TMNtv)
+Barry Burton Barry....I worked for George, if you don't think he knows the first year of production for Les Paul Jr.'s your crazy. He's talking about the Les Paul Jr. TV model. They ARE a distinctly different model, please rewatch the first 3 minutes of the video where he describes the difference between the FIRST year issue of the TV model, versus the standard sunburst finish Les Paul Jr. It's slightly foolish to try and sharpshoot someone who knows more about vintage instruments than most people have forgotten. Good try though. HAHAHAHA!
+THE MUSICIAN NETWORK (TMNtv) Dont' give this guy more credit than he deserves, he's wrong.
Have some respect. This guy is the reason we have so much CORRECT info on vintage guitars. He single-handedly collected and did the taxonomy on much of what we know and take for granted on vintage guitars. He's a national treasure and a hugely important figure in guitar history. It annoys me when know-it-alls (who don't know even part of it all) shoot their big mouths off and disrespect someone like this. He's not 'Gruhn', he's Mr Gruhn to you. AND he's correct. The TV model did indeed come out in 1955 the year after the Les Paul Junior debuted.
He said TV MODEL, shit head. You weren't paying close attention. The TV Model and the Les Paul Jr. are pretty much the same guitar except for color and name, yet they are distinct guitars according to old Gibson catalogs.