Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Recording Week '26
  • Guitars
  • Software & Apps
  • Controllers
  • Buying Guides
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • About us
More
  • Footloose!
  • Di Meola on Pastorius and more
  • Frank Ocean
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars
  2. Electric Guitars

10 Gibson Les Paul Junior players

News
By Rob Power
Published 14 June 2013

Rock royalty love the stripped-back attack of the Junior

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Billie Joe Armstrong

Billie Joe Armstrong

The Green Day frontman has had a long-term love affair with the Junior, preferring his low-slung and loud. He's even had a couple of signature models, including one based on his '56 'Floyd' Junior, and a TV yellow Double Cut.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Kiwi born, Aussie bred but Nashville famous, Keith Urban's country-pop has made him a superstar, and he's made quite a lot of it with his trusty Les Paul Junior. Far from the most obvious country guitar, but it takes all sorts...

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Mick Ralphs

Mick Ralphs

Bowie-endorsed '70s heroes Mott The Hoople were electrifying live in their heyday, with raw power and chops to burn. Guitarist Mick Ralphs' fancy fretwork demonstrated that the Les Paul Junior was more than capable as a rock machine. Check out the solo in the video below...

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Bob Marley

Bob Marley

Bob was a guitar hero unlike anyone before or since, defining reggae for a generation and generally making us all feel a little bit better about ourselves. Endorsements don't come much higher, and his weapon of choice? An iconic, heavily modified Les Paul Junior.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Paul Westerberg

Paul Westerberg

Paul Westerberg led The Replacements wielding his Les Paul Junior like a weapon. The music was the perfect match for the guitar - raw yet refined.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Chris Carrabba

Chris Carrabba

Chris Carrabba might be best known for his singalong acoustic emo-punk, but of occasion he's been known to make a slightly more raucous racket. Naturally, the only guitar worthy of baring your fragile soul with is the humble, kick-ass Les Paul Junior (apologies for the shaky-cam footage).

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Peter Frampton

Peter Frampton

He came alive, he stayed alive, and he did at least some of that living with a Les Paul Junior (as well as a Talk Box and, frankly, a lot of other guitars). Unfortunately, YouTube didn't want to play ball so we don't have a video of Frampton playing said Junior, so you'll have to trust us on this one...

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Mick Jones

Mick Jones

The Clash were young, gifted and angry, arguably the greatest band to emerge from the punk wars, and definitely one of the greatest groups London ever produced. Mick Jones' early championing of the Les Paul Junior was probably the result of his youthful obsession with Mott The Hoople, but he turned his into a weapon of mass destruction. The perfect counterpoint to Joe Strummer's machinegun Tele.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
John Lennon

John Lennon

After spending the '60s exclusive to pretty much two guitars - first a Rickenbacker 325 and then an Epiphone Casino - he switched to a modded Les Paul Junior at the beginning of his solo career. Here he is making it sing live in New York City.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Leslie West

Leslie West

A big man with a bigger tone and probably the finest exponent of pure, fuzz-heavy Les Paul Junior lovin', Mountain main man Leslie West made his Junior do the business like no one before - and many would argue since.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Rob Power
Read more
Slash
Artists Slash on his enduring devotion to the Gibson Les Paul
 
 
James Walbourne
Artists His Lordship’s James Walbourne on the importance of Chuck Berry, and being a Pretender for 18 years
 
 
Blues legend Buddy Guy plays the 2023 Savanah Music Festival
Artists Buddy Guy at 90 – how the world’s greatest living bluesman transformed guitar
 
 
Epiphone Joan Jett Olympic Special
Electric Guitars Epiphone brings back the Joan Jett Olympic Special and gives the single-pickup powerhouse an all-new look
 
 
Joe Bonamassa demos his new signature Pawnshop Special P-90 pickups from Seymour Duncan.
Artists How a miracle pawn shop purchase in the depths of winter made Joe Bonamassa fall in love with P-90s
 
 
Jackso Pro Series Phil Collen PC1-E
Artists Phil Collen on why you can play anything on his new Jackson, and even nail those Hysteria tones
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
Ovation Viper
Guitars This cult-classic electric played by Rick Parfitt, Alex Turner and Jeff Buckley is making a comeback
 
 
Gibson 50th Anniversary Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Flying V
Artists Gibson celebrates 50 years of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with limited edition Flying V
 
 
PRS Tekton Series
Guitars PRS goes full-shred with the Tekton series: high-end electrics with pickups voiced for digital rigs
 
 
Fender Silent System
Guitars Inside Fender's 80-year battle against 60-cycle hum – the nemesis of single-coil guitars
 
 
JHS Pedals Reverb Shop: Josh Scott waves hello to the camera.
Guitars Josh Scott of JHS Pedals is getting rid of a (literal) truckload of rare gear on Reverb
 
 
The Jackson Legends Collection, a limited edition run of classic Randy Rhoads, Marty Friedman, Scott Ian and David Ellefson signature models.
Guitars Jackson unveils classic Scott Ian, Randy Rhoads, David Ellefson and Marty Friedman signature models
 
 
Latest in News
kojey
Artists “I’ve spent more time with that guitar than with any human – that's one of my best friends”: Studio gurus Swindle and Ashton Sellars on the making of Kojey Radical’s Don’t Look Down
 
 
Billy Corgan and Marilyn Manson attend SiriusXM's Town Hall With Marilyn Manson And Billy Corgan on August 6, 2015
Singers & Songwriters “Basically a part of our family”: Billy Corgan defends his continued friendship with Marilyn Manson
 
 
UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 28:  SHEPHERD'S BUSH EMPIRE  Photo of Amy WINEHOUSE, Amy Winehouse performing on stage  (Photo by Chris Christoforou/Redferns)
Artists Amy Winehouse's bass player and MD recalls his final conversation with her on the night before she died
 
 
Harry Styles, Kraftwerk, Bon Jovi, Sam Fender
Gigs & Festivals Fender? Swift? Bon Jovi? Speculation rises about the identity of next year’s Glastonbury headliners…
 
 
Harry Styles performs live on stage during The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Artists How a Roland TR-909 and a modular rig provided the spark of inspiration for Harry Styles' most euphoric No 1 single
 
 
Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and producer Rick Rubin pose onstage during Black Sabbath Reunion Press Conference at Whisky a Go Go on November 11, 2011
Guitarists “An awkward situation": Tony Iommi on 13 and Sabbath’s difficult relationship with Rick Rubin
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...