1960 Gibson Les Paul Junior Cherry Red guitar

This vintage 1960 Gibson Les Paul Junior electric guitar in Cherry Red finish with double cutaway body style came through the shop a few years ago. I'm always a Gibson guitar buyer but I especially love Les Paul guitars. You can contact me here to sell a Gibson guitar. 

If you're looking for help with how old is my Gibson Les Paul guitar? Check out my blog post on How To Date A Vintage Gibson Les Paul guitar. 

Or check out a few other vintage Gibson Les Paul Junior guitars that have come through the shop:

1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior guitar

1959 Gibson Les Paul Junior guitar

1961 Gibson Les Paul Junior guitar

Gibson's Les Paul Junior model was introduced in 1954 as an entry level student model electric guitar. It wasn't until the late 1960s that the Junior kicked the student model image in favor of the bare bones rock and roll screamer that it's known to be today. The Junior is known for superior resonance and sustain because of its simple design and lack of magnetism from a neck pickup to slow the vibration of the string. Gibson updated the body style in 1958 to the double cutaway style that lasted until 1961.

The double cut Juniors from 1958 to 1961 enjoyed an improved neck set/bridge position as well as larger frets when compared to the earlier Juniors. The Les Paul Junior has been been played professionally by: Leslie West, Johnny Two Bags, John Lennon, Mick Jones, Peter Frampton, Billie Joe Armstrong and many more. Every Gibson collector and player should have a Junior in their arsenal.

This 1960 Gibson Les Paul Junior has recently come in from the family of the original owner. It appears to be original but for an added strap button on the bass horn as well as an added initial sticker on the truss rod cover. I opted to leave the sticker but it could be removed without evidence if you like. The neck is straight and the frets show moderate wear. The neck is typical for a 1960 Gibson with 1 11/16" wide at the nut and a slim profile. I think you'll find its 7 lbs 1 oz weight very comfortable. The finish shows little fading and wear from light use (sold thank you!).

I used the serial number, the features, and the potentiometer codes to determine how old is my Gibson Les Paul guitar. The serial number is ink stamped on the back of the headstock with a "0" prefix which would indicate 1960. We also know that the double cut Les Paul body style began in 1958 and lasted until the introduction of the carved SG body style in 1961. The slim neck profile is a typical feature of a mid to late 1960 Gibson. You can read more about Gibson guitar dating here: How to date a Gibson Les Paul.