Finished in a delightful Medium Cherry nitro lacquer, this Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Junior hails from the brand’s limited-production Greatest Hits Collection. Beyond its eye-catching cherry finish, this model is a faithful reissue of Gibson’s cult-classic student guitar, built true to vintage form with a slab-bodied, one-piece mahogany construction. Powering the guitar is a custom dog ear P-90, delivering a raw, authoritative single-coil bite that’s always ready to rock. A mahogany neck with a comfortable 1950s-style D profile pairs with a smooth rosewood fingerboard and precisely Plek’d frets for effortless playability. Completing the package, the guitar has undergone the Murphy Lab’s Light Aging process, giving it the look and feel of a well-preserved vintage original. Favored by Sweetwater’s rock and blues players alike, the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Junior embodies the essence of a straightforward, plug-and-play classic.
Led by Master Artisan Tom Murphy, Gibson Custom Shop’s Murphy Lab focuses on one mission: crafting convincingly aged instruments using state-of-the-art techniques. Each Murphy Lab guitar is finished to one of four distinct aging levels, ranging from Ultra-Light to Ultra-Heavy. This Les Paul Junior features Light Aging, showcasing authentic lacquer checking with minimal signs of play wear — as if it spent most of its life safely stored in its case. Additional details, like the extra-rolled fingerboard binding, recreate the broken-in look and feel associated with Golden-era Gibsons. For players seeking the authenticity and personality of a vintage-style instrument, a Murphy Lab–aged guitar delivers a uniquely personal experience.
Gibson Custom’s meticulous attention to detail and commitment to tradition are evident throughout this 1957 Les Paul Junior. Built entirely to vintage specifications, it features a one-piece mahogany slab body for enhanced resonance. Traditionalists will appreciate the solid mahogany neck and full, chunky C-shaped profile that comfortably fills the hand. A single dog ear P-90 occupies the bridge position, paired with a wraparound bridge/tailpiece and straightforward volume and tone controls. The guitar is assembled using hide glue, and every component has been carefully chosen to bring it as close as possible to its vintage counterparts.
The 1957 Les Paul Junior doesn’t just capture the look of a classic — it delivers the feel as well. Its wide, chunky neck carve offers a substantial grip that instantly recalls the instruments that inspired thousands of players during the golden era. The neck features a 1.6875-inch nut width, and, like all Gibson guitars, this instrument was Plek’d before leaving the factory to ensure smooth, consistent, and flawless playability.
