1963 Gibson Les Paul Junior

The 1963 Les Paul Junior — double cutaway mahogany slab with a single P-90. Simple, raw, and increasingly collected.

Current Market Value

Excellent
$5,600$8,000
Very Good
$3,200$5,600
Good
$1,600$3,200
Fair
$800$1,600

* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology

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Specifications

Body WoodMahogany (flat top, no maple cap)
Neck WoodMahogany
FingerboardBrazilian Rosewood
Scale Length24.750"
Frets22
Pickup ConfigS
BridgeWrap-over combination bridge/tailpiece
TunersKluson Deluxe single-ring
Finish OptionsSunburst, Cherry Red
Est. Production4,000

Pickups & Electronics

Single P-90 dog-ear pickup at bridge position. Simple volume and tone controls. The raw, unfiltered Gibson sound.

What Changed in 1963

Final year of the Les Paul Junior designation before SG Junior name.

Collector's Notes

Double-cutaway Juniors are excellent players. Verify original P-90, wrap-over bridge, and tuners.

How to Authenticate a 1963 Gibson Les Paul Junior

Check the serial number on the back of the headstock — ink-stamped numbers should fall within documented ranges for 1963. Potentiometer date codes are critical: look for CTS pots (code 137) with two-digit year codes matching 1963 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 1963. Original Kluson Deluxe single-ring should be present with no evidence of replacement (no oversized bushing holes). Original hardshell case adds provenance value.