1955 GIBSON LES PAUL JUNIOR

Condition: Very good, light play wear for its age on front of body, a few dings on back of body, neck and headstock.

Upgrades / modifications:

Repro Kluson Deluxe Tuners, original tuners are included, they shrunk but they are still nice and complete.

Description:

This Jr plays and sounds great with endless sustain, very musical, dynamic, resonant. The original P-90 pickup sounds punchy and strong, but sweet and warm at the same time, a great vintage feel and tone. The intonation is good, and the truss rod works fine. The Sunburst finish is beautiful, the 3 colors are deep and strong, and the smooth checking is just the way it should be. On the back of the body are some dings, signs due to time. Untouched electronics and wiring, original hardware, and plastics. The original frets are still in good shape.

Historical & Factory Description

The Gibson Les Paul Junior, introduced in 1954, was designed as a more affordable, stripped-down version of the Les Paul Standard model, intended for students and working musicians. By 1955, the Junior had already established itself as a formidable instrument, prized for its raw tone and simplicity.

Built at Gibson’s historic Parsons Street factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, each Junior from this era was hand-crafted by skilled luthiers using a solid Honduran mahogany body and neck, paired with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. The instrument was finished in a hand-applied 3-tone sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer, giving it the timeless look that remains iconic today.

Unlike its more ornate siblings, the Junior carried only a single dog-ear P-90 pickup in the bridge position, offering a powerful, biting midrange that became synonymous with rock and roll and early blues. Its wraparound tailpiece/bridge contributed to direct string transfer and remarkable sustain, further enhancing its aggressive character. The minimalistic layout — a single volume and tone control — allowed players to focus entirely on performance and dynamics.

Though initially marketed as a student model, the Junior’s sheer tonal punch quickly attracted seasoned professionals. Its lightweight build, durability, and ferocious expressiveness made it a favorite among gigging musicians. Today, original mid-1950s Juniors are highly collectible, valued not just as entry-level guitars of their time, but as iconic workhorses that helped shape the sound of modern rock.

Production at Kalamazoo continued until the mid-1980s, but guitars from the 1950s “golden era” are especially revered for their build quality, tonal character, and historical significance. A 1955 Les Paul Junior represents not only an instrument, but also a direct connection to the legendary Gibson tradition born in Kalamazoo.