When you pulled out the slide, its like the guitar said "Oh yeah, this is what I like to do!"

Like an Old Master painting, that checking on the headstock…

The tone that comes from your hands is a gift!

this is one of the coolest guitars i've ever seen - I can't believe the guys son sold it honestly but you're always a great owner of these cool vintage pieces because you really give them justice man

The best part is the history of guitar. Not many people get to know the actual person that owned/played a musical instrument, and this adds such an emotional level to this guitar. RIP Steve.

They made those triangle picks up until the late 90's. That guitar sounds amazing, even if that neck is held together by thoughts and prayers!

Sold my ‘64 SG Jr to pay for my daughter’s wedding reception … nearly 30 years ago 😩

One story I heard was that Les was going through a divorce and let the contract with Gibson expire to keep it out of the settlement and then renewed. I believe Mary Ford played an SG at one point as well which may be another reason Les wasn’t that enthusiastic about the model.

Man turnin knobs instead of stompin a peddle is such a true statement great vid as always great story as well Thanks

Every time you play an old guitar Matt, you knock the damn dust off of it!

8:52 the slide sounds so sweet!

Due to the slanted bridge I would say that is a 61' or early 62' By mid 62' they stopped slanting the bridge and used the lightning bolt type bridge. (Better intonation) That Maestro vibrola is an awesome unit. I have owned a bunch of 60's Gibsons. and I had a mid 60's Firebird III and an SG Jr. that both had one. I took mine apart to see how it worked. The trem has a roller cam on each side with a torsion spring mounted between them and held captive by ea. roller cam... so just like the Kahler trem there is no knife edge fulcrum but the roller cam is the fulcrum point. And because the roller cam moves easily there is almost no friction....and stays in tune VERY well ! SERIOUSLY way ahead of its time. Those trems were used on Epiphones of the day as well. Those trems are not uncommon for SG JR's and Specials of the period. Although the more expensive SG standard and customs both came stock with the other style of Maestro trem.... the one that never stayed in tune ?!?! It's so weird Gibson would use the more expensive trem that actually stayed in tune on their cheaper guitars and their more expensive model guitars used a trem system that didn't stay in tune very well at all. Its well worth your effort to find the trem arm. Once you do you will have a guitar that has a VERY useable trem system... more accurate than a stock strat trem. Too bad Gibson stopped using that model trem by the late 60's.... yet another mystifying decision by Gibson.

I know it’s two years later, but the triangle pics were around up through the ‘90s. We use to refer to them as bass pics. Just picked up a ‘65 barn find. It was saved by a plumber salvaging copper pipes out of an attic in a house to be bulldozed down in a day….

Mike Oldfield used this beauty as his main guitar during his best period... from about '75. to the end of the eighties. It can be seen on his various live shows on youtube. He later switched to PRS Custom. He never got that tone again. The correct model name is a Les Paul Junior, as written on the headstock, it didn't have the "SG" mark at the time. Personally I think it's maybe the best guitar ever made. The tone is absolutely unmatched.

I own a 1965 SG Jr, all original, its a beast. Love those old Juniors.

In the old photo you can see the cigarette between E string and headstock, on the guitar you can see the nicotine-yellow in the same area! Beautiful guitar, Matthew, bravo as usual!

A better condition example lives in a studio I visit often in West Texas. Slanted bridge produces perfect intonation. Last session, it was my go-to. Out of an amazing collection. ⚡️

These old guitars just sound amazing

Soul sacrifice at Woodstock is one of the best songs of the era. Never liked regular sgs but there’s something about those early specials that is awesome to me. Excellent job as always Matt.

My kids and I now watch your channel together!

I just bought ‘60 Les Paul Special with a NASTY headstock break/repair. Still sounds amazing. Those old P90s kill!

That vibrato is just something really cool!

I love your style of playing....reminds me of my father playing 50 years ago.

Love old 60s les paul juniors and they a fantastic rock machine! Teles and SGs are my two favourite guitars as you can't beat the simplicity of them. Rock on brother

Literally every junior you have featured on the channel has been killer. I'm still envious of the gold SG with the humbucker.

that old lead-based jb weld holding that neck together will hold just fine!

Wow man that junior sounds amazing man ,that slide sounds like it was made for that guitar!!!!!

very cool, I owned a 1964 SG Jr that I bought in 1981 for $150. I believe the Les Paul Jr SG labeling ended in 1962/63. Those dogear P-90's are heavenly

Hey buddy I love JRs I have early 1963. It's in great shape. I chased this guitar for 15 years. I was born in 63 so when I saw it I had to have it.

That guitar sounds so sweet! Especially with that brass slide!!🎸

That is fucking sick man. Great playing on the slide. I love the tonal options of something so simple.

It's nice to get the story behind some of these old guitars. Thanks

That slide tone.......Oh My !!!!!

My Dad had a 60s model SG he played at church it was an amazing guitar. I always thought me or my little brother would get it when he passed away last June but he had hocked it and never went back and got it and I truly miss him and his SG the P90s were awesome.

Steve is standing behind you with both hands raised saying YESSSS Brother Matthew!! Great history and great sounding guitar! Thanks for sharing and saving another one!!

Hey Mathew, Despite being a non-player I have always loved guitar centered rock and roll and was heavily affected by many of the great guitarist's from the silver age of rock such as Robin Trower, Jeff Beck, Ronnie Montrose, Eric Clapton, Pat Travers, Roy Buchanon, and the mighty guitar army featured by The Outlaws and Canada's own Frank Marino to name a few. I noticed that Frank played a guitar I could not identify. I knew what the more modern vintage of Gibson Les Paul's looked like and I knew what the Fender Telecaster and Stratacaster looked like but, I had never seen a guitar like the one that Frank seemed to favor...until I watched one of your videos about these early Gibson Les Paul's. This is definitely the shape of Frank's favorite guitar though I cannot say specifically which model or year it is without cheating and looking it up on the internet. Of all those early electric guitars I think this model looks the coolest. I know that should probably be the last concern with regard's to an electric guitar but, am I wrong? Tell me this shape isn't the coolest? hahaha Thanks again Mathew for giving me a history lesson and edumacating me about vintage guitars. Love it man. Keep on rockn'! Peter St. John Clovis, CA

Looks like he's playing through the 1959 Bassman tweed amp in this video, for those of you wondering (you can see it mic'd up in the background).

I really try to not be envious when I watch your channel !

What an blues axe! I love that slide sound

Love the vintage all natural sound with no crappy stomp boxes.

That is one wicked p90! Love that guitar! On a side note when he was going through divorce from Mary. He didnt want his name on the guitar hence where SG comes from, so this one is probably 61 62. Very rare due to its LP ID.

I had a 1967 Gibson SG Jr. (video of it on my channel) no matter what amp I played that guitar through, it sounded killer. Some vintage P-90's definitely have "it". My opinion, if I may add... I've been playing guitar 38 years as of 2021. Guitars with tone like the '67 Jr. I had and this Jr. you have don't come around that often. Keep it. Avoid another "kick myself in the ass" trip down Regret BLVD. Big regrets are unshakable. They'll haunt you till the end. Yessir, you got a real gem there, indeed. Rite on & rock on my man! \m/

Matthew thank you for sharing these vintage guitars that actually have character . Players grade is character. A mint guitar in a case is just an object.

Fabulous ..love the playing ..and attention to knobs ..love it .

Glad you got to tell a little of this guys story

...wow ...wish I'd never sold mine!

I’m envious of your neighbors, they get a free concert every time you get a new guitar. Keep it up dude you rock!

I love how the 60s SG's all have that extremely thin blade-like edge on the belly cut. Brings a new meaning to calling a guitar an axe. They look amazing!

Based on the serial # it comes out as a '61 but Gibson serial numbers are all over the place around that time...sometimes the pods or pickups will help confirm a date... Definitely early 60's. The Fender thin triangle picks were very popular in the early/mid 70's and you can still get them today. Great guitar...its story goes on.....

It’s so vibey like your special It’s a keeper

What a great sounding old fiddle.

Those old guitars, wow, I had a Les Paul Jr. SG for years , love the way they sear down the neck and have infinite sustain. Now I don’t really miss it but it sure was fun.

I had a 60s SG with Les Paul on the headstock from mid-80s to mid-90s. Traded for a glorious Sheraton II in natural maple. Still kicking myself (always will, I guess. What's life without continuity, right). It had 2 P-90s and a tune-o-matic with stop tailpiece. Never knew the exact year nor if the TOM bridge was a mod. The guitar was sanded down to the wood and I kept it oiled with Tung oil. Was like a fine gunstock. Probably die looking for another. Playing a double-cut Les Paul Special 59/60 clone that comes close, but no cigar...nothing sounds like old pickups.

sounds gorgeous with the slide

The amp, the degaussed pickups and plater make these old guitars sound great. I bet if he played an epiphanies, it would sound very similar through that amp

Wow another gem with character!! Btw...I used to use those triangle picks in the early 80's.

I have 44460! Also a 62’ with slanted tailpiece. Awesome guitars, enjoy!

That’s the pick I use! You can still get them!

Just got the opportunity to play a dead mint ‘63. Thing was museum quality. Unreal guitars dripping with mojo.

There's definitely something with that old mahogany & P90. Sounds incredible. And how cool of the family to share such a cool pic of the owner & guitar. Allows the sentimentality to carry on.

Definitely has that Duane Allman/ Derrick Trucks tone. Very cool

Ahhhh. A 61 les paul jr. My number 1 guitar is a true original 1961 Gibson Les Paul jr with the slanted wrap around tail piece. Non vibrato also. Monsters of tone dude. I wouldn't sell mine for anything. My serial reads 26528. Mine also suffered a headstock break. It was professionally repaired and it stays in tune like a got damn boss

Thanks Matthew for the fantastic guitar story.......this sg jr. is a keeper

So great ! This video set me on a quest to find a 1961 Les Paul SG Junior…. And I found one. Have had it two weeks now and absolutely love it. Thanks for the inspiration.

What a great sounding Jr. Congrats on the purchase and thank you for preserving that instruments story.

My first response is always keep it!! But then again i want you to get the next one in so i can hear it. Always a good day when u get a new piece to share

In 2021, that shape's an SG. Hard to look at it and call it anything else, history notwithstanding. Great playing as usual, Matthew!

I still have one of those large Fender triangular picks. Get the headstock repaired by one of the guys on the Les Paul forum whose name escapes me now- you won't even see the repair.

Wow this sg sounds so good. Good sustain for that scale.

Matt, As far as the neck break goes, if it stays in tune... Just tune it down to D and be careful not to whack it! If it ain't broke, don't fix it but for this one, if it stays in tune, don't fix it. As for the triangle picks, I picked up a dozen in the late 80's with "Yakima" printed on them, can't remember what thickness they were because I couldn't get used to the shape... To each, their own. I was amazed by the tone that guitar had, spectacular! Neck issues aside, that's a keeper for the tone alone! Great video, thanks for sharing. Take care and be well!

Man … I need one of those. That has to be the best rock & roll guitar ever.

You know you are one of the most inspiring people to me I am pretty sure I will always follow you on social media.

I just got one of those triangular picks day before yesterday. They still make them. It's perfect for my dulcimer.

Drew Smithers (former Bishop Gunn) has a '64 Jr. in White. GREAT slide guitar!

Really love that shuffle slide blues.

nice find Matthew your playing was great but hell man when that slid came out it just has a soul

The back story was neat. The guitar sounds great 👌👍.

Watch this kid move his pick around between using it and finger plucking. Solid playing there.

Looks and sounds like my '63 LP Jr. but mine has the tremolo. Plays great and sounds great.

I see Josh Scott and Rhett Shull needed a lesson on slide tone lol Seriously that was fantastic.

Aged to perfection and that sound and tone, my goodness. That is love of the instrument ingrained in its mahogany and lacquer. What spectacular SG Jr.

A beautiful Blues Sound.

Very cool man. Great guitar and story. I got stuck with a ‘61 SG reissue with a broken headstock after UPS gave me $300 with “full insurance” and the seller didn’t offer up a refund. I’m considering converting it to a junior like this and getting a refin done on it just to give it a new life and some mojo.

I bought a 2020 SG Jr at the end of last year. I hadn’t owned a guitar for a few years before that and wanted something I could play for the rest of my life. I love it!

can you imagine these being cheaper student guitars ? great video Mathew...I remember those picks when I first started playing around 73....just friggin awesome man

Holy cow, this beauty was born for slide, sings so beautifully. I'd keep the neck the way it is, it's sounds too good to change anything on this jewel.

I used to buy the triangular picks in the 70's. I probably have a few in a box somewhere. I'm guessing they are Fender picks. Excellent guitar and nice playing. I like the sound of the brass slide much better than glass !

I would call this "meant to be" with your passion for not only saving but USING these vintage instruments I don't think it could be in better hands.

Looks thin and light. Sounds great too!

I have a 1963 Les Paul Jr. (sg body). It did not have the vibrola on it. Still plays great.

Whooooo that thing is like flaming butter! Smooth but hot. That is surely a “special” guitar. Great find.

Love what you do with vintage guitars. Save them! You make that instrument sound fantastic, love when you slide it. Give me more.

I had a 61 SG/LP Jr., what a great, lite weight rock'n'roll machine. Mine had the stop tail w/the slant and mirrored knobs.

Excellent. Thank you. Wonderful playing wonderful tone.

Damn! I got one of those in the early 70s and still have it. Always loved it. Those old fat necks (I called it the aircraft carrier) really made you fight for the notes but it was forever worth it. I've been a Fender man for a long time so the LP sits in the back of the room. Thanks for reminding me that I can still have fun with things I've forgotten. Yeah!

That is an awesome sounding P-90.

Nice tone. Gotta love the vintage stuff.

Those old Jrs are MAGIC ❤ I HAD A 62 WHITE SG JR 😢 MY FAVORITE GUITAR

Best tone of anyone on the internet!!! I look forward to every new video. Thanks.

Love the sound.....barks like a mad dog