Only 3 of these super rare factory black Juniors are known to exist and this is one of them...

This is a Superb original Gibson 1960 vintage Les Paul Junior double cutaway finished in factory black which is quite a find and has been seen by many of the most famous names in the vintage guitar business who all say this is legit and a pretty damm rare piece!

I bought this (along with a few other guitars) from a doctor who lives in Cleveland OH at the Dallas Guitar Show last week (March 2016). He claimed he has owned it for 20 years and bought it himself from a dealer at a show in Arlington in the late 90’s and even back then, he paid quite a bit for it due to it’s rarity.

I only know of two more in existence and it just so happened that one of these was at the guitar show so I took it to the owner of that one to compare and yes, they are like brothers - see last pic, the other one (a 1959) is on the left and this one is on the right.

As I happened to be at one of the worlds biggest and best guitar shows, I took it around to everyone I could for their opinion, including some of THE biggest and most prominent names in the vintage guitar business and not one of them said it was a refin. Everyone said it looked legit with no evidence of it ever being painted another colour. If you black light it, the whole guitar lights up and glows like a green genie and the black has that almost blueish hue you get on the old Les Paul Customs. The cavity also looks just like an old Les Paul Custom.

The only thing no one seemed able to explain is why the serial number is like it is. It looks as if the original yellow ink stamp was crudely outlined in paint that seems the same as a 1960 TV Special or Junior. Why this is, neither I nor anyone else could explain. A best guess is the serial number was so feint someone at the factory did this in a crude attempt to improve legibility…? Who knows. This also must be one of the last inked serial numbers before they went to the pressed style in 1961. Whether this has any signicence too I do not know...

It also looks like someone has a small accident with the router on one wall of the cavity, otherwise cavity looks just like you would expect to see on a 1960 Les Paul Black Beauty Custom.

When I got it, there was a wooden, home made made control cavity cover on it which is now in the case. One of the dealers pointed out to me the pickguard screws were wrong so I have replaced these screws and donated a proper control cavity cover from another 1960 Junior I have with a refin neck, so all the parts on this amazing junior are now authentic.

I am happy to provide a list of the people who have seen this and like me, are of the opinion this is the real deal and totally legit. I am also happy for the buyer to have it examined by his/her expert of choosing and if they are not happy, I will provide a no quibble refund. I know buying such a rare item can be risky but I do not think I can be fairer that that..

Case, is an early - mid sixties Les Paul SG case with a leather covered metal handle that this guitar has been in for the last 20 years at least. Whether it is original to this guitar I do not know, probably not, but it could at worst be only a few years younger.
There are a few dings here and there, some checking all over  which you do not see very well in the photos, but this only goes to add to the amazing vibe this oh so rare guitar has. Inspection is welcome at any time, by appointment, in Cheltenham, UK.

Price includes full UK VAT

FIND ANOTHER!