1959 Gibson Les Paul Junior
The 1959 Les Paul Junior is the most coveted double-cutaway Junior. Consistent quality, outstanding P-90 tone, and the iconic TV Yellow finish in its most refined form. The punk, blues, and rock communities have made these essential.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Recent Sales
Showing 10 verified sales for 1959 Gibson Les Paul Junior. Reissues, replicas, and parts listings are filtered out.
Specifications
| Body Wood | Mahogany (slab body) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 22 |
| Pickup Config | S |
| Bridge | Wraparound bridge/tailpiece |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe |
| Finish Options | TV Yellow, Cherry Red |
| Est. Production | 4,054 |
Pickups & Electronics
Single P-90 dog-ear pickup. Peak year for Junior collector interest.
What Changed in 1959
The peak production year for the double-cutaway Junior. The 1959 models are considered the finest Juniors ever made, with consistent construction and excellent P-90s.
Collector's Notes
Among the most forged vintage Gibsons — be extremely careful with documentation. A real 1959 TV Yellow double-cut Junior in excellent condition is worth serious money. Expert authentication recommended above $15K.
How to Authenticate a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Junior
Gibson serial numbers from this era are ink-stamped on the back of the headstock. Cross-reference with known Gibson serial tables — numbering was not strictly sequential. Potentiometer date codes are critical: look for CTS pots (code 137) with two-digit year codes matching 1959 or up to 18 months earlier. This is the most reliable dating method for Gibson guitars of this era. The finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer showing age-appropriate checking (fine crazing). Under blacklight, original nitro fluoresces a distinctive green-yellow — refinished instruments lack this characteristic. Verify the single dog-ear P-90 pickup — check for correct bobbin construction, Alnico magnets, and appropriate DC resistance (7-9k ohms). Flat (slab) mahogany body — not carved. Double-cutaway from late 1958. The wraparound bridge/tailpiece should be correct style for 1959. Original Kluson Deluxe should be present with no evidence of replacement (no oversized bushing holes). Original hardshell case adds provenance value.