Humbucking Jr

As usual, a little late to the Gibson developments. Not motivated to check Gibsons out since the dealer here only inventorize selected models. This humbucking LP Jr is definitely my thing; single humbucker, hard tail, solid colour... I'm definitely one of those estranged ones who dislike gaudy tops so don't talk to me about flames & quilts; not interested. Another turn off - burst finishes in any iterations. 

Pic: Gibson

Not a Junior

Alright, let's get this right - The Gibson LPJ is not a Les Paul Jr. As clearly seen above, the LPJ is a very LP Studio-like model that debuted in 2013 (seen here is the 2014 version). Featuring a no-frills appointment & a non-gloss finish, it was the most affordable LP of that time. The LP Jr. has always been a slab body, non-humbucking one pickup guitar. I was at the guitar stores yesterday looking for spares & strings. I saw an LPJ in one of the store's display window & was asking how much it was. 

Me: Hi, I can't see the LPJ price tag at your window, how much is it?

Store Owner: Which one?

Me: The dark brown Les Paul - LPJ.

Store Owner: Oh, the Les Paul Jr.

Me: No... I don't think you have a Jr. in your store, the non glossy Les Paul with zebra type pickups

Store Owner: Ah, yes. The LP Jr.

Me: 😖

If you think it's a local confusion, a quick check at YouTube revealed the same disorientation. Gibson is largely to blame for this, naming their models as such. The uninitiated would conveniently equate the J with Jr. since it's a legit model reference for a Guitar in the manufacturer's catalog & believing they are correct. Gee...

Pics: Gibson Legacy / YouTube

Minor threat

Had the urge to hear a P-90 in action so got this one out to play. Sometimes we are too preoccupied with what works, we tend to forget what also works but not quite our cup of tea. The reason why I'm not too keen with P-90s is the humming factor. If you think standard single coils are terrible in this aspect, the P-90 will annoy you more. However, I've learnt to accept this quirk & employ noise suppressors into the signal mix to keep this in check somewhat. 

Gave it a fresh set of D'Addario along the way. The LP Jr. used to be Gibson's lesser model. It's meant for those of us who are not too particular in terms of features. It's also meant for bit-part players, people who are not too guitar inclined but do to pick it up sometimes & were made affordable. The Jr. to me is a lesson in simplicity & will not be any lesser in terms of appeal if we understand what it offers. Personally, anything goes as long as it fulfils my intention. 

Arrnstrong tactics

Not a fan of signatures but the new Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong LP Jr. looks simple & effective. It might be a winner with players looking for bare minimum features & maximum delivery. That pick guard however, is an indication of partial commitment- won't be surprised if there's a neck pickup cavity under it. Implication- it's a production line body with no special considerations for BJ to begin with. Unless, BJ himself told the Gibson people to include that cavity for subsequent tinkering. 

Single Sunday (morning)

Spent some time this morning with the Junior. This is a 2013 model, totally brand new from the store. I would usually avoid such a guitar because:

• It's not humbucking, the default pickup type doesn't offer a convenient replacement for a humbucker either.
• Bridge isn't intonation-friendly
• small tuner buttons

However, the fact that it's a single pickup guitar proved to be more of an attraction rather than a repulsion. The humbucker there is a dog-ear type P-90 pickup & it sounded fat. A very convincing fatness, able to pull off some heavy stuff with it, it's also very receptive to high gain settings so it's a winner despite not being my preference to begin with. There's a pair of intonation screws there to compensate further intonation should the need arises but the manufacturer promises no intonation issues with the provision of a ridged bridge. I trust the PRS version & this one isn't a let-down.Those small tuners are forgettable once the tone & playability are in check. It's the coming of age for me, opting for simplicity & effectiveness over some flashy features that don't manifest talent. I had a good morning :-)

Junior Sunday

Sunday indoors. Spent the whole morning with Jr. What could a restrictive, single pickup guitar do, really, other than some tone manipulations via the tone/ volume knob? Well, if you choose to restrict your adventure as such, then you are further limiting a limited option. I chose to do the following:

1. Clean tones- Amp: Marshall DSL40

I started with cleans, even shredded some notes clean. I'm not much of a clean fan but it's worth listening to the P-90 in this application simply because it offers a different perspective to a single coil take. The highs weren't as protrusive as a standard single coil, in fact, they were fatter & more rounded like a humbucker should be but there's still the single coil snap in the mix. Sounded wonderful, in fact, I prefer the P-90offerings in a mahogany body as opposed to true single coils.

2. High gain- Amp: EVH 5150III

OK, the extraneous hum was inevitable but it only persisted when one stops playing. High gain applications shouldn't be served with single coils especially ones with a mad squeak from start to end but I did it anyway. The pickup manifested this coarse midrange only distortion freaks could understand but the bottom end wasn't that commanding in any settings simply because the pickup wasn't a humbucker to be exhibiting some inclinations toward the lower frequencies. If there's a useful application for this, it would be to double a very bottom heavy tone. But it was a pleasant playing experience knowing some black metal & high octane shred could be had from such a guitar which is not the default go-to instrument in this aspect.

3. Guitar-pedals-amp- Amp: Kustom Defender 5H

I'm not too into pedals for the sake of them being able to pull off some tone alchemy in the right combination; I prefer a straight-through set up, that's the way to truly assess the worthiness of the guitar/ amp/ pickups without too much external interference. However, I do line some pedals up occasionally to go into alternative dimensions all in the name of tonal exploration. In this case the following effects were used: tuner (ENO)/ overdrive 1 (Maxon), noise gate (Mooer), overdrive 2 (EHX) & a looping device (Hotone).

The objective here was not to replicate an intense distortion setting but to manifest drive saturation hence the use of 2 overdrive units. The noise gate was necessary because there's a single coil guitar in use, together with that twin overdrive in the mix, it's hum galore. It's good to know that the use of 2 overdrive units simultaneously gave off a thickening effect, enough to push a single coil pickup to produce a fatter tone response (watch the EQ while you're at it) but in this case, the fact that a P-90 is in use, the fattening effect was augmented. This adventure is a little introverted because there were no modulation effects in use to colour the overall output, it's all about hearing some drive overkill & that's what I indulge in most of the time- saturation overkill!

Gibson: LP Jr (mine)

This guitar had been haunting me since I've tried it (not this particular model, it's the store model sporting a TV Yellow finish). I'm not a Gibson fan but this is a good guitar so it overrides all other considerations.

I was thinking- the 2015 version is unappealing & the prices would be equally repulsive so why not just grab this one? So I did :-)

Gibson: Les Paul Jr (2014)

Gibson's Les Paul Jr has more than 50 years of alluring history to back its existence. It was conceived to be an affordable alternative back then but it stood its own along the way, thanks to the no-frills livery of its single pickup, slab body & binding-free approach. The LP Jr today retained its identity as a simple menace but the bridge was upgraded to a 'lightning bar' model, specifically, it features intonation ridges to aid just that- intonation ills (notice the bridge requires no slanted placements to address intonation issues). Also, the recent issues Gibson had with fretboard woods saw this guitar sporting a baked maple fretboard instead of a traditional rosewood make.

Whatever permutations the LP Jr. went through, the essence of a good-sounding & attractive instrument are present. The instrument was well made & showed more urgency in finishing less some scratch marks on the fretboard of my test model. Upon handling, it feels right by manifesting a good balance in both sitting down & strapped on positions. The balance was incredible. 

Then comes the tone- how many of us really understood where a P-90 pickup would take us? Is it supposed to conjure a little kick in single coil territory or is it meant to be a disguised manifestation of a proto-humbucker voicing? If you are still confused then the P-90 did its job; it's neither here nor there, it's living in its own turf. The P-90 or the soap bar pickup has a raunchy, gnarly tone which is unmistakably single coil-ish. If you turn the volume up, you can hear the rounder top end reminiscent of a full-fledged humbucker. In this guitar, the dog-ear P-90 dished out a balanced serving of protrusive top end as well as a deep thumping only a jazz purist would truly appreciate. The only limitation, tone-wise, is that the Jr sports only a single pickup so any variety you'd wish to concoct, it has to be in the form of a volume/ tone play. There are times we need a singular voicing to see us through & this is one of those tools out there to help us achieve that. The LP Jr is perhaps one of the go-to guitar for cleans you must try out in your lifetime. In the distortion realm, due to the P-90 nature, this guitar would be more appealing to punks but I had put it through some black metal & shred moments & it proved to be worthy. Do mind the hum, yes?

All in all, the LP Jr is one of the coolest to own for days when you stopped thinking too much & just want to get some ideas through. I must say that it's a costly one-trick pony but it won't be a costly mistake having one in your tone arsenal. Recommended.

Gibson: Les Paul Jr (ver 2014)

Availability: Swee Lee Co.

Price: $1,199 (bag included)