Junior style guitar, what to buy, Take 2

Creed_Clicks

Recently got an LP Junior kit made after I bought the parts and had a luthier put it together, and not really bonded with it, so I have sold it, for a loss, but that's the way it goes. Lesson learned and an expensive indulgence.
While I didn't bond with that one, I did love the sound. So I've been looking around at getting another junior style guitar. I'm not sure I ever bonded with Les Pauls, so may rule them out of the running based on my experience with the kit.
Valuable advice given to me on another thread is "try before you buy". Trying to keep the cost below €1,000, so guessing that's about £800 or so.

I'm in Ireland, and currently options within driving distance of me would be:

2019 Gibson DC tribute junior. I think it looks good despite what I've read online about the pickguard, though have read it's a slim neck, so won't really know until I try it.

2015 Gibson LP Junior. I'll audition it, but might not like it based on the kit experience.

2011 Gibson SG Junior. Again, I'll have a look and see, looks a little odd to me at times..

1980s Greco LP Junior. A bit of wear but could be interesting...

New Hamer Junior Special. I picked this up very briefly in a shop before and it could be a runner as well, though not sure on the bridge (I can't remember it being in the way when I tried it a while back). Going relatively cheap as well, and I could git a Bigsby vibramate in theory...

Vintage V130. The lower end of the scale, but have heard good things. it has a thick neck right?

New Epiphone LP Junior. Again, it's an LP, but would audition it...

Not sure how different the DC juniors are to LP juniors in feel, as I've never laid hands on a DC junior.

Anything else, I'd probably have to jump on a cheap flight to the UK and go to the likes of Andertons , or head to Glasgow.

Last option, and one I might try and avoid is to find some kind of a custom tele partscaster body with a P90 in the bridge, or P90 route and have a t style bolt on junior. Also would be appealing in a way.
e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZRjGKajyKs

Modellista

Ahem.... https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/165513/four-characterful-t-styles-350-each-p-p-included#latest

Creed_Clicks

@Modellista hmmmmmmmm

JD50

Gordon Smith do a junior type... 

Creed_Clicks

@jd50 yep, and pretty good they are too, but I need to stop buying guitars off the internet before playing them!  
The Eastwood Jetson Jr looks odd as , but could be great fun...

Winny_Pooh

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/254520056042

dindude

A few more suggestions. 

The reissue SE One - I’ve bought one and it’s got exemplary build, nice chunky neck, better ergonomics than a Gibson.

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/prs-se-one-korina-ltd-tobacco-sunburst/930832?gclid=Cj0KCQiAkePyBRCEARIsAMy5ScsbGvYJ_ZuONPXeXfmTzDUROf9VPmg6IDAOuak8jQTKtFmwznn9rlsaAp5rEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

This is interesting

https://www.peachguitars.com/guitars/electric-guitars/solid-body/rivolta-combinata-i-camino-burst.htm?opt=13755&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkePyBRCEARIsAMy5SctFg7DQDZWxhdc8wFxMTsxU2oaItH4XuyxKgLGD1CHenXl-maR55vkaAta4EALw_wcB

Kittyfrisk

Creed_Clicks said:

@jd50 yep, and pretty good they are too, but  
The Eastwood Jetson Jr looks odd as , but could be great fun...

'I need to stop buying guitars off the internet before playing them! '
I think you might need to have a word with @HarrySeven. There may be some philosophical differences of opinion 

stimpsonslostson

Don't get a Gibson 2015 until you've played one. I had one, it sounded great & smelled AMAZING. The neck however was horrible- VERY wide & gave me cramp. 

The Vintage v120 I had (and the SG jr version too) had very thin necks. 
I hear the Harley Benton ones have a thick neck. 

I'd go PRS SE one, or Gibson SG Jr- SG Jr's are wonderful. 

Creed_Clicks

@stimpsonslostson Always liked the look of those SGs. The one near me is asking price of €850 so whatever that is in £

NelsonP

I have a 2019 Gibson DC tribute junior.

Paid just over £500 for it and it's a cool guitar. Proper rock machine. Basic but good. No-one worries about pickguard mounted pickups on a strat so no issue for me.

Only thing about it is that the G string won't stay in tune.  The nut needs sorting, but that's an easy fix. 

Creed_Clicks

@NelsonP aesthetically this one is the best looking to me even over the SG. Is it a very different feel to an LP Junior? 

On the real cheap end are those Epiphone SGs any good ? Obviously the humbucker could be swapped out for a P90 hb.
I can push the boat out though with $$$.
Also curious to try the Hamer.
Id love to try a Godin Summit but nowhere will have one in Ireland and a potential risk to buy online  
PRS SE one too. I could get over the headstock ...

carlos

stimpsonslostson said:

Don't get a Gibson 2015 until you've played one. I had one, it sounded great & smelled AMAZING. 

What the fuck?

Creed_Clicks

dindude said:

A few more suggestions. 

The reissue SE One - I’ve bought one and it’s got exemplary build, nice chunky neck, better ergonomics than a Gibson.

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/prs-se-one-korina-ltd-tobacco-sunburst/930832?gclid=Cj0KCQiAkePyBRCEARIsAMy5ScsbGvYJ_ZuONPXeXfmTzDUROf9VPmg6IDAOuak8jQTKtFmwznn9rlsaAp5rEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

This is interesting

https://www.peachguitars.com/guitars/electric-guitars/solid-body/rivolta-combinata-i-camino-burst.htm?opt=13755&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkePyBRCEARIsAMy5SctFg7DQDZWxhdc8wFxMTsxU2oaItH4XuyxKgLGD1CHenXl-maR55vkaAta4EALw_wcB

That PRS look really cool actually and so does the Rivolta.

stimpsonslostson

carlos said:

stimpsonslostson said:

Don't get a Gibson 2015 until you've played one. I had one, it sounded great & smelled AMAZING. 

What the fuck?

I know! I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I am will be along soon to enlighten us as to why, but when you opened the case there was a beautiful, almost chocolatey aroma. 

@Creed_Clicks have you looked at the new 2020 "inspired by Gibson" Epiphone range? 
Les Paul Jr, vintage 50s neck profile too!:
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/191216352612008--epiphone-les-paul-junior-vintage-sunburst

It's not a jr, rather a Special (with 2 p90s) but I love the look of this. 
https://www.gak.co.uk/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=1500,height=1500/https://58eca9fdf76150b92bfa-3586c28d09a33a8c605ed79290ca82aa.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/epiphone-sg-special-p-90-faded-pelham-blue-1013642.jpg

Creed_Clicks

@stimpsonslostson yes , very tempted with the new Epis... 

Creed_Clicks

Any arguments v thick or thin necks. Personal preference I suppose 

grungebob

I was gonna suggest the SE one and the Rivolta but I see it’s already been mentioned. 

I have a rivolta combinata and it’s a hell of a good guitar, I bet that Jr plays and sounds great. 

Creed_Clicks

2 pickup P90 opens up a whole other area (e.g. the wonderful reverend club king 290 with Bigsby) so I’ll steer clear.

The Rivolta looks really cool. I’d have to get a trip to blighty to try one out.

TTBZ

That P90 tele looks really cool - wonder where a body like that would be available in the UK?? 

For Gibson style ones I’d probably try one of the new Epiphones. Single pickup guitars are the best  I just can’t get into neck pickups for anything other than clean. Whenever I switch to mine (even a P90) it feels like I drop right out of the mix, or everything just sounds worse.

SimonC

I played one of these Godins in a shop a while back, and was sorely tempted. Very nice guitar

https://godinguitars.com/product/summit-classic-sg-vintage-burst-p90-rn