# Joe Bonamassa compares Les Paul Juniors

> Joe Bonamassa shows how one pickup, two knobs on Les Paul Juniors create versatile blues tones.
- Title: Joe Bonamassa compares Les Paul Juniors · Guitar World
- Summary: Joe Bonamassa shows how one pickup, two knobs on Les Paul Juniors create versatile blues tones. Joe Bonamassa demonstrates three Les Paul Junior variants…
- Keywords: joe bonamassa, les paul junior, gibson, p90 pickup, blues guitar, music lessons, Joe, Bonamassa, compares, Les, Paul, Juniors
- Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/lessons/artist-lessons/joe-bonamassa-compares-les-paul-juniors
- Published: 2026-10-18T10:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: joe bonamassa, les paul junior, gibson, p90 pickup, blues guitar, music lessons
## Les Paul Junior variants
Joe Bonamassa compares three Gibson Les Paul Junior models from 1954 to 1961.
## Single-cut 1956 Junior
Joe Bonamassa plays a 1956 single-cut Junior with mahogany body and one p90 pickup.
## 1958 double-cut Junior
Gibson introduced a double-cut Junior with two cutaways in 1958, primarily in cherry red.
## 1960 double-cut Junior
Joe Bonamassa plays a 1960 double-cut Junior with mahogany body and one p90 pickup.
## 1961 SG-style Junior
Gibson released a thinner-bodied SG-style Junior in 1961 with a body contour around the guitar's top.
## Tonal differences
The single-cut Junior has a warm sound, while the SG-style Junior is brighter and slinkier.
## Key takeaway

Joe Bonamassa demonstrates three Les Paul Junior variants from 1954-1961 with different tonal characteristics for blues playing.