I've been playing clarinet for a living for many years. My search for "tone" has led me to playing older systems, my favourite sound coming from instruments made in the early part of the 20th Century. They used higher quality woods and different bores, key systems, fingers hole sizes and spacing. All of which leads to a very different sound, which is much closer to the sound in my head...
I realised quite recently that I ought to apply the same ideology to my guitar tone. Rather than try to sound like someone else (I have never played in a covers band, and refuse to for many reasons, primarily creative ones) I knew that I needed to find "my" sound. This has over the years led to much buying and then selling, but finally I've decided to whittle my "collection" down to just three electrics and one acoustic (late 40s Kay Archtop), each of which allow me to make a pretty personal sound. This means that because of my latest acquisition, I'm going to have to sell everything that I'm not playing.... but that's another story.
So what is this post actually about? It's about my latest, and quite possibly last purchase. And it's a delicious instrument. 60 years old, in quite stunning condition and sounding and feeling absolutely beautiful. So here it is, a 1956 Les Paul Junior. I've been hankering after one for years, and have tried several types of instruments with P90s, but finally hit gold.
I wondered whether the speed knobs were correct or aftermarket, but apparently speed knobs and top hats were fitted on many Juniors in 1955, and many earlier '56 models and a few later '56ers also had them. They are certainly period correct so my guess is that this guitar came from the factory with speed knobs.
This is a tremendous instrument and it sounds fabulous through my 5e3 clone. I am one happy man, although I do need to move on a few others....
Comments
And yes, the speed knobs are period correct, top hats came in late '56.
Enjoy!
(formerly miserneil)
Delicious from the late Latin deliciosus, meaning delight, pleasure.
If only I looked that good now.
May I be the first to say...
DIBS!!
Looking at the headstock edges, the guitar has clearly been looked after.
Has the original case survived?
Congrats.
Skipped said: It's in really good shape and has definitely been played a lot but taken great care of. It's one of the best I've seen but sadly the cardboard case didn't survive. Any ideas where I can source one? Although I don't think it's really necessary apart from completeness sake, so happy to keep it in a decent protecting case.
That looks like a beautiful guitar - I can see from the photo of the back of the headstock that the neck has a lovely, almost v-shaped profile toward the nut.
They also seem to fetch stupid money, even the already broken/ripped ones.
(formerly miserneil)
About as useful as a cardboard, er, case.
They do fetch silly money and you'll never get it back on resale either.
Mine is now a decoration item in the music room: