1/17

1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Junior, Serial Number 42120

This 1962 Gibson Les Paul Junior™ is a wonderfully clean and lively example from the earliest years of the SG™-bodied design. Produced in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on January 2, 1962, it comes from a fascinating period when the Les Paul name was still being applied to the radically redesigned, deeply beveled solidbody shape introduced just a short time before. At just 6.02 pounds, with a single P-90 pickup, wraparound tailpiece, and little else to get in the way, this is about as direct as one of our vintage solidbody guitars gets.

For the Les Paul Junior, the new thin, deeply beveled body design arrived in 1961, replacing the slab-bodied double-cutaway version introduced in 1958 and offering dramatically improved upper-fret access. This example retains the earlier non-compensated aluminum wraparound tailpiece and angled stud arrangement used during the first version of the design, before we moved to a compensated tailpiece and revised stud placement. It is a great snapshot of how quickly the Junior was evolving during this period.

The original Cherry finish remains strong and vibrant, with tight, even checking in the nitrocellulose lacquer that has developed beautifully across the guitar. There is mild fading overall, most noticeably along the back of the neck and sides of the peghead, along with scattered nicks and dings expected from careful use over more than six decades. Wear is somewhat heavier along the treble-side body edge near the control cavity, with a few additional dings along the bass-side edge. The peghead has light wear along its front and rear edges and one more noticeable impact mark between the low E and A tuners. All of it is cosmetic. Most importantly, the guitar is free from breaks or structural damage, with a strong, clean heel and neck joint. The Gibson and Les Paul Junior silkscreens remain clean and fully intact.

The mahogany neck has the slim profile associated with this period, measuring .80" at the first fret and .89" at the 12th. The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard is particularly dark and attractive, with its original celluloid dot inlays intact. Glaser Instruments in Nashville recently gave the guitar a professional refret with medium vintage-style frets and fitted a new nylon nut. They did an excellent job, and the guitar plays easily all the way up the neck, with a good neck angle and plenty of adjustment remaining at the original wraparound tailpiece.

The hardware and plastics are exceptionally well preserved. The original non-compensated aluminum wraparound tailpiece shows only light patina, with no leaning at the studs. The original Kluson® Deluxe single-line, three-on-a-plate tuners remain clean and fully functional with their original white buttons. The original two-ply black and white pickguard has developed some light cupping and shrinkage, including a little stress near the treble-side horn, but remains intact.

One particularly interesting transitional detail is the pair of period reflector knobs. The volume control wears the earlier short-wall black Top Hat knob with silver reflector, while the tone control has the slightly later tall-wall version. Their patina is consistent, and given the transitional nature of this period, both may well have been installed on the guitar from new. The lettering on the volume knob shows some wear, while the tone knob remains especially clean.

Under the hood, everything remains original and untouched. The original dog-ear P-90 reads 8.39k ohms, with clean original solder throughout. The original wiring harness features Centralab potentiometers with visible pot code 1346140, a Sprague® ceramic disc capacitor, and the original Switchcraft® right-angle output jack.

This guitar is loud and lively before you ever plug it in, and that character carries straight through the amplifier. The original P-90 is strong, articulate, and full of punch, but there is much more range here than the single-pickup layout might suggest. The volume and tone controls are particularly responsive, moving easily from clear and open sounds into thicker, more aggressive territory. At barely over six pounds, with the fresh frets, slim neck, and resonant mahogany body, it is an exceptionally comfortable guitar to play. Turn it up and it does exactly what a great Junior should—it roars.

This guitar includes its original black chipboard case, along with a new Lifton™ Historic Black/Goldenrod SG hardshell case for transport.

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: 6.02 lb.
Neck Depth: 1st Fret: .80", 12th Fret: .89"