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1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Junior, Serial Number 42118

An exceptionally clean example from the early years of the SG™ body style, this 1962 Gibson Les Paul™ Junior was produced in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on January 24, 1962. Still carrying the Les Paul Junior name, it retains the straightforward formula that made the original single-cut model so effective: a lightweight mahogany body and neck, single dogear P-90 pickup, and Wraparound tailpiece, now paired with the radically different double-cutaway body introduced the previous year.

The Cherry finish remains very dark and rich, with very little fading and moderate lacquer checking. Light playwear is present throughout, including scattered nicks and dings along the body and peghead edges, a ding through the finish near the controls, and a few more noticeable marks across the front and back. Even with these signs of use, the guitar presents exceptionally well. The heel and neck joint are particularly clean, with no breaks, cracks, or structural damage.

The original two-ply black and white pickguard has experienced the shrinkage commonly encountered on examples from this period, resulting in some cupping, cracking near the screw below the fretboard, and loss of the tip at the treble-side horn. The original black short-wall Reflector knobs remain in place, although the Volume and Tone lettering has worn away from years of use.

The mahogany neck has a SlimTaper™ profile measuring .77" at the first fret and .83" at the 12th, with a 1 11/16" nut width. Its Brazilian rosewood fretboard is particularly dark and retains its original celluloid dot inlays. The guitar was recently refretted and fitted with a new nylon nut by Glaser Instruments in Nashville. The work was cleanly executed, and the slim neck remains comfortable and easy to play.

The original nickel-plated hardware remains intact, including the non-compensated wraparound tailpiece with angled stud placement and Kluson® Deluxe single-line, three-on-a-plate tuners with their original white buttons. The tuners remain in excellent condition and function as intended. The face of the peghead shows only light edge wear, while both the Gibson and Les Paul Junior silkscreens remain particularly clean and well preserved.

The original dog-ear P-90 measures 8.27k ohms and is paired with its original, untouched wiring harness. The electronics include Centralab® potentiometers bearing code 1346140, a Sprague ceramic disc capacitor, and the original Switchcraft® output jack, with the original solder joints remaining clean and intact.

At only 5.65 pounds, the guitar feels exceptionally light and responsive. It is loud and resonant unplugged, and the original P-90 is clear, punchy, and powerful when amplified. It drives an amp beautifully but cleans up equally well, with a surprisingly broad range available from the simple volume and tone controls. The combination of the lightweight mahogany body, lively acoustic response, and strong P-90 makes this an exceptionally fun guitar to play.

The guitar includes a Lifton™ Historic Black and Goldenrod SG hardshell case and a Gibson Deluxe Protector SG case.

This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty, and exclusive Gibson Certified Vintage accessories including a leather guitar strap, matching leather luggage tag, and vintage-style Gibson picks and pick container.

Weight: 5.65 lb.
Neck depth: 1st fret: .77", 12th fret: .83"