Up for sale, a 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG Junior in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. A first year example of the SG Junior model (still retaining the "Les Paul" text on the headstock), this body has the Honduran mahogany construction of its predecessor and a slender, effortless neck profile carve. Tonally, this is an extremely clear and powerful sounding instrument, with an acoustic voice that has surprising projection and top end snap that translates very well through the dogear P-90 pickup. The growl, harmonic content and sweet, singing quality of a great P-90 is an instantly recognizable tone, and this guitar delivers this iconic sound with ease. The mahogany body ensures a fundamental warmth, and the instrument is extremely responsive to subtle shifts in playing dynamics. Weighing a mere 5lbs 8oz, you'd be hard pressed to find a lighter and more balanced instrument with this kind of versatility and tone. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar and currently strung with 10-46 strings, this Les Paul SG features low action and easy playability. The one-piece mahogany neck has a slender, fast-feeling C-shaped profile carve with round shoulders, measuring .835" deep at the 1st fret and fills out to .915" at the 12th. On the Brazilian rosewood fretboard, the original medium jumbo fretwire is intact with its full factory height and well-rounded crowns, exhibiting fairly uniform grooves beneath all strings on frets 1-5, with wear extending and growing fainter beneath the plain strings until fret 7. The guitar plays cleanly in every register, with a straight neck and optimally adjusted, responsive truss rod. The original nylon nut measures 1 11/16" in width. On the headstock, the Kluson Deluxe single line strip tuners are intact and function reliably with original white buttons. The dogear P-90 pickup features a clean bobbin and original windings (metering at 8.15k ohms), and the solder joints are untouched on the harness, with the ceramic disc tone capacitor bridging the CentraLab pots which date to the 20th week of '61. The lightweight aluminum wraparound bridge is present, as are all of the original plastic parts including the pickguard and pair of black bonnet knobs. The gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, and the Cherry color is strong and saturated, with tight lacquer checking on the face of the instrument, and broader checking on the back. Cosmetic wear includes some light wear on the top headstock edge, a spot of light buckle wear central to the back, and some additional minor marks from careful use on the body as a whole. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, free of palm wear. A late 1960s Gibson hardshell case with gold plush interior is included.