I saw a TV Yellow Gibson Les Paul Jr at the music store the other day.

A Les Paul Jr is the basic bottom of the line Gibson Les Paul (single cut). It is literally designed as a beginner guitar for kids. D** neck inlays, no binding, flat slab body (no arch top), 1 P90 pickups, single piece stopbar bridge. Basic in every way. Set neck (glued in neck joint which is a plus) TV Yellow is classic and awesome. How much? I love that? $5000!!! A custom shop guitar.

The question is, what makes that a $5000 lost price guitar? What the hell!? My brother recently bought a Gibson SG Jr, which is basically the exact same guitar, in an SG shape. Awesome guitar. I love it. Feels great, plays great, looks great, feather weight, not all that different than my Les Paul Studio which I love. Really not that different play or sound. Equal and they are above average over all guitar. Not just in the name, but he baid close to $2000 after taxes for that Gibson USA guitar (with a Gibson hardshell case)

I didn’t play the TV Yellow Jr, but seriously… $5000? They are both mahogany, superior construction, the only real anomaly that could be there would be the winding of the pickup. They had an SG Jr on the wall for $1750, which is about what my brother paid before tax.

I guess the Custom Shop guitars might have a bit more of a guaranteed excellent guitar because of all the hands on it making sure it’s as good as it gets when it comes to everything, or it gets destroyed and disposed of before it leaves, but USA are pretty excellent guitars too when set up properly.