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Why is it better - maybe I don't know enough good adjectives to describe such an experience that well - Don't know if Shelley and Wordsworth could either - But you hands and ears are the best judge when it comes down to tonal quality, feel and the all round playing experience
I could only tell very subtle differences between my old usa strat against its custom shop cousi ln I used to own.
(formerly miserneil)
And it's been hard to admit that....
I've played a bunch of LPJs, from all the periods of Gibson's manufacturing. I've also played quite a few copies (I own an Arbiter DC from 1975) and there is a certain, unquestionable magic about the late 50s versions. Just is. I have not found a single cut LPJ that matches my '56.
I haven't tried a CS Junior yet, and I look forward to trying one against my vintage version. I am sure that they are fantastic.
In a way a rosewood block of wood, tuned to pitch, on a xylophone, is the most basic form of an instrument - Yet some blocks have a better tone than others
I'm not a believer that all old guitars are good - far from it an in many instances a modern Custom Shop can match or beat certain vintage models - But I believe that both have attributes that are very rarely found on a standard production model
The CS Juniors are great, the necks can be a bit unwieldily on some of them (I had a CS TV DC Junior that had the biggest neck of ANY guitar i'd ever played, It was uncomfortably big). I personally think the Gibson P90 & CTS pots they have in them are both excellent. They also have modern fretwire as apposed to the thin stuff that the 50's SC's had, making them more playable straight out of the box.
The plus side of a genuine Vintage junior for me is the weight and resonance of the wood. It's just better quality, lightweight wood. It was available in abundance back then. Just seems more 'musical' to me, I can feel it resonate in my hands. The old P90's just have that sound. I still regard them as the best pickup Gibson ever made. And of course there's the 'mojo' of the genuine vintage junior.
(formerly miserneil)
I once knew someone who owned a Mk2 Golf GTi. I asked him if he ever fancied getting something quicker to which he replied "I couldn't imagine anything quicker". Er......yeah.
I played a Custom Shop Junior that World Guitars recently had for sale. It was glorious. Would've bought it there and then if they had taken my American Standard Strat in px. They didn't and I walked away somewhat disappointed.
@merlin I understand what your saying about a genuine 50's Jr, but we are talking about a new production CS, and isn't that "little black box with the wires" the same on the CS model as the production model? AFAIK its the same pickup?
So the wood, yep I imagine they source better wood, and 1 piece bodies, but I really doubt on a Junior you could hear the difference. Maybe the tone caps might be better or something, as for the fretboard and tuners, that's a feel thing, and I guess some might prefer the CS, but blindfolded I wouldn't be suprised if people couldn't tell the difference between standard JR and CS Junior unless they had played them both previously.
I get it for Les Paul Standards/CS R9's R8's and such, there is a fair amount going on with that guitar, and the little extras add up a fair amount and can be worth the money to some people. But a junior is really a simple stripped down guitar. I really think your paying to own a custom shop, and fair enough, finish and quality control will be much more consistent. But I still don't think it is going to be better, just different and 'historically correct'. I bet cranked up mine will sound just as good. IMHO
Just for the record, I've been around guitars for a long time, I own vintage guitars with honduran mahogany bodies, and CS Gibsons (not LP's) and I've lost count of the LP's I've played over the years.
and @SidNewton that's really is a terrible analogy, no offence, but what has the speed of an 80's hot hatch got to do with a Les Paul Junior? Of course there are faster cars? I really don't get it? Are you saying I'm saying a LPJ is the best guitar in the world or something? Its an LPJ - Maybe what your friend was sayin was not to give him another mk2 GTI for twice the price because it was sprayed a vintage color and used vintage leather for the seats.
Anyway, its just my opinion
are the CS juniors like the LPs...you know various LP years 57 58 59s
do Gibson have a selection of juniors from different years too?
1980 Tokai LS-80