The Best Les Paul Juniors for the Money

The Les Paul Junior is one of those guitar designs where price doesn't correlate with quality as neatly as it does elsewhere. A USA Gibson at three or four times the price of an Epiphone is genuinely better made — but not three or four times better to play through an amp at a gig. For most players, the Epiphone range and the lower end of the used Gibson market deliver the core of what makes this design special, without the premium for the name on the headstock.

Best Entry Point: The Epiphone Version

Epiphone's current Junior is the obvious starting point for anyone who wants the format without the Gibson price. The Dogear P-90 PRO pickup is capable enough to get the characteristic midrange bite, the Lightning Bar wraparound bridge handles the basic function well, and the 1950s-style neck profile feels like the right shape in the hand for the music this guitar suits. It comes in TV Yellow, as it should.

The inevitable caveat: factory setups on Epiphones are inconsistent. Some come out playing well; others need work at the nut and action before they're worth the effort. Budget for a setup and you'll end up with a guitar that punches well above its price point. Don't, and you might give up too early on an instrument that's actually quite good.

Best Used Value: Gibson Reissues (Post-2000)

The used market regularly turns up Gibson reissues from the 2000s and 2010s at prices that represent genuine value for what you're getting. These aren't vintage collectables — they're working guitars, built to Gibson's USA standards, with real P-90s and a quality of construction that the Epiphone can't match at any price. For a player who wants the real thing without paying for a current-production Gibson new from a shop, a well-looked-after used Gibson is the best value in the entire category.

What to look for in a used Gibson: straight neck, no fret wear in the first five positions (where most of the playing happens on this type of guitar), functioning pickup with no crackle through the controls, and an original or period-correct bridge. Minor cosmetic wear is normal and doesn't affect playing. Structural repairs to the neck or headstock are worth knowing about before you pay.

Best for Direct Punk and Garage Use: Epiphone or Used Gibson with a Good Amp

This guitar finds its purpose through a pushed amp. A mid-range Epiphone through a cranked Fender Blues Junior, Marshall DSL or similar will produce the snarl and attack this guitar is known for better than a top-spec guitar through a clean modeller. The amp matters as much as the instrument.

For players in garage, punk or hard rock who want that sound specifically, a second-hand Epiphone Junior at £200–300 and a budget spent primarily on the amp is often the most musically effective allocation of the same total funds as a mid-range Gibson.

What Not to Buy

Unbranded or obscure copies at very low prices tend to be poorly intonated, badly set up and equipped with pickups that miss the essential character of the design. The P-90 sound isn't just any single coil — the specific output level, midrange character and response to volume control use are part of what makes the original design work. A pickup that looks like a P-90 but doesn't sound like one undermines the point of choosing this guitar in the first place.

For a full explanation of what makes this design tick, the Les Paul Junior explainer covers the details. Considering buying one? The buyer's guide has the key decisions covered. And if you're new to this guitar style, the beginner's guide will set you up well.

Frequently Asked Questions