Gibson Double Cuts: Specials & LP Juniors Offer P-90 Power!
P-90 loaded Double Cuts
4,0 / 5,0 | 
Gibson has announced new Double Cut versions of the Special and the Les Paul Junior. These USA models both come equipped with P-90 pickups and offer a stripped-down rock ‘n’ Roll vibe.
Gibson Double Cuts
These two new Gibson Double Cut ranges are essentially divided by the number of P-90 pickups they have; the Special comes with two Soapbar P-90s, and the Les Paul Junior has a single bridge Dogear P-90 pickup.
No Longer Student Guitars
Originally, these models would have been affordable ‘student guitars’ when they launched in the 1950s, but in 2025, they are now £1,699 and £1499 each. These USA-made models are very ‘bare bones’ in a good way and come with a Gibson hard case included in the price. However, I must say that I think you can find alternatives from other brands for far less than these two.
If you must have the Gibson logo on your guitar, then you will pay a premium for it.
Construction
Both models are traditional in their design, featuring a mahogany body and a Slim Taper mahogany neck. They then have a rosewood fretboard with the standard Gibson 12″ radius fitted with 22 medium jumbo frets and a set of acrylic dot inlays. The Special comes with a bound rosewood fretboard, offering a slight upgrade over the LP Junior.
Hardware is minimal for both the Special and the Junior; each features a wraparound bridge and a set of Gibson Deluxe tuners with white buttons, along with a Graph Tech nut. This is all in keeping with the original specifications, and so I would have it no other way.
They are available in three nitrocellulose finishes: Ebony, Vintage Cherry, and TV Yellow.
P-90 Power
The P-90 pickups are where these models truly shine, offering single-coil clarity with extra bite and bark when pushed hard into a tube amp. You will experience some noise and hum, as these are single-coil pickups, but that is part of the fun.
The Special features dual volume and tone controls, plus a three-way selector switch, whereas the Les Paul Junior has just a volume and tone control. These are hand-wired controls and come with Orange Drop capacitors.
Verdict
Nice guitars that follow the original specifications in terms of being cut back and bare bones. I must reiterate that I believe the price point for these is way too high for what you are actually getting. In 2025, there are far better options for P-90-based double-cut guitars, and CNC machines around the world can all cut accurate neck slots, etc
They haven’t broken the $2k price point yet, but at this rate, it won’t be many more years before they do. I love both models, but I think the pricing on these is really pushing the limit of what I can recommend as a good buy.
The DC Les Paul Junior is available in TV Yellow, Vintage Cherry, and Ebony, priced $1650, £1499, €1699 at Thomann.
The DC Special in TV Yellow, Vintage Cherry, and Ebony, priced $1939, £1790, €1999 at Thomann
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