$140 Les Paul Jr? IT HAS TO BE TRASH , RIGHT???

In this video, we check out the Les Paul Junior from West Creek guitars. I bought this guitar with my own money and I’m finding out that it’s not too bad the tuners and the pick up are pretty horrible but for $140 delivered the rest of the guitar is stellar. Does it feel like a Gibson? No. Does it sound like a Gibson know. Is it a good guitar for the money? I would have to say yes I certainly couldn’t make this neck and body for that price. If you’re interested in this, Guitar, or any of the tools you see me using here’s some links
WestCreek DC Electric Guitar (Les Paul JR.)
amzn.to/3pTAD97
Guitar Neck Notched Straight Edge
amzn.to/43atiQb
Noxon Multi-Purpose Metal Polish Liquid
amzn.to/43bzKX3
Guitar Luthier Tool Kit
amzn.to/3XPCHvz
D'Addario Accessories Pro-Winder
amzn.to/4348gCx
Baroque Fret Erasers
amzn.to/44u1GX0
D'Addario Guitar Strings
amzn.to/3r37J6A
Titebond Original Wood Glue
amzn.to/3NZaM97
Honey Amber TransTint® Dye
amzn.to/44qxY5f
FLEOR Alnico 5 SSH Prewired Strat Pickguard Loaded Pickguard Humbucker Pickup Set
amzn.to/46uB0r7
Fender Tex Mex Tele Pickups
amzn.to/44DXX9L
Lyx Pro Tele
amzn.to/3O370LH
6 String Saddle Bridge Plate Decorative Pattern for Tele Electric Guitar (Sliver)
amzn.to/44ioWb8
Fender American Standard Electric Guitar Tuning Machines - Set of 6
amzn.to/3XJCeKY
Holder Downer 5000
amzn.to/3rn6DD6
LyxPro 30” Electric Guitar TL Series
amzn.to/3PO2vpU
IYV 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar, Right, Ocean Blue
amzn.to/44erSp5
Leo Jaymz Beginner Electric Guitar - Poplar Body，Maple Neck and Ebony Fingerboard
amzn.to/3O5SeE2
ivy 6 String Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Right, Tobacco Sunburst
amzn.to/3rkXbju
Leo Jaymz ResonanceX Pro Electric Guitar with Flame Maple Top - High Gloss Mahogany Body and Hard Maple Neck
amzn.to/46HcP9a
WestCreek DC Electric Guitar (Les Paul JR.)
amzn.to/3pTAD97
If you want to donate to the cause you can always cash app us here. $cathy717
I really appreciate ya watching!

[@rachelflair4835]

My friend I became obsessed with owning many guitars.Over 65. I had 3 Gibson Flying V's, an American made Valley Arts strat, a Japanese Greco-Zemitas one off, 2 PRS signature guitars, 3 EPIPHONE master guitars, 12 Westone Japanese guitars, 4 American made Stella acoustic guitars, a 1967 Gretch , 8 Ibanez guitars from the late 70s. I thought I was queen! I was proud of my collection. I was an accomplished player with a huge collection. Then my son became sick at 17. Deadly sick. I sold everything I owned to pay his expenses. My collection was vanity. I cannot express how many times I've wept because of my vanity. My son lived and I thank God. Yes...God. I now only have 5 guitars. I have a Les Paul Classic (my best) an American made Stella Harmony guitar(dear God is it awesome) , a dinged up to hell and back Westone superstrat, and a late 70s Ibanez strat copy. Beware of vanity. It consumed me...but God taught me a great lesson.

[@MashaT22]

I love how involved you wife is. As a single woman, it makes me wish I had a husband who also loves guitars and is happy to let me go shopping for them! 😊

[@harrykelley7131]

If you don't find that guy....... stay single girl.

[@frankcunnigham220]

Will you marry me? Lol

[@jungdo99]

Love your videos Sean, a real world guy that offers a real opinion. That guitar for $140 seems like a bargain to upgrade just like you said.

[@TheRealDealBobbySteele]

Get Squier 40th anniversary vintage edition strat $299 at guitar center right now, basically a polished classic vibe on sale. Just ordered one and would like your opinion and a tear down

[@jimmyz2098]

Cool ! Man I dig that guitar. Been jonesin' on this one on Amazon for a few weeks now. I dig the simplicity of it, and I don't have one like this in my arsenal. Cool vid, and excellent demo and explanation. Keep on rockin, and keep bringing us the good stuff!

[@johnpittman3756]

Before you put in the new pickups, try to adjust the pickup string screws upwards and see if you can get a better sound. Especially the 1,2 and 5,6 ones.

[@An2oine]

Spacers are sold to adjust that pickup height.

[@soulagent79]

Nice axe! The problem with Dogear P90s on any guitar is that you can only adjust the pole pieces not the whole pickup.

[@scarmyguitar]

Right....Hold my beer

[@TrevorDaniel]

man you do the best reviews! i love taking cheap guitars and upgrading pickups/tuners/setup/etc just finding ways to make sick ass guitars for less than 4/500$. feels good when my friends come over with super expensive guitars then play like cheap one and keep going back to it and we end up using a cheap one on a record. i feel like a proud father 😂

[@MotorRoseMusic]

I've bought 4 WestCreeks and theyve all been good. Getting ready to do the 4th review soon.

[@rayfabris2512]

the cheap guitars now are better than what I grew up on

[@georgew.mobley3559]

I've had my eye on one of these for about 3 months the only thing holding me back is what the knobs are mounted on. Looks too much like a tele knob mount. Still might get one. Thank you sir and very cool guitar and video.

[@peterpellerin1374]

Alright, I picked one up when they seemed to first come out. I got a blue one. I was stunned how nice it was.! The pickup may be low output, so I raised the poles. Made a good difference. And I shimmed it. This is my go to guitar now. For the price, I can't say enough good about it. Tho, I only hesitate because I coulda got lucky with this one.

[@Prousto]

If this came in TV yellow I’d buy it today.

[@Louzahsol]

I bought one of those zenison Vs in white and let it sit in direct sunlight for a couple months and it turned the same kinda yellow as Randy rhoads les paul

[@Louzahsol]

@@gearmeister yellowing looks good though

[@egnbigdave]

Looks more like a Melody Maker double cut (bit like the Joan Jett signature model) than a LPJ Double cut.

[@danielpaddonshealingspace2481]

You do a great job with your videos taught me a lot thankyou. You need to try SX guitars the vintage Strat awesome guitar I have 1 myself and did nothing but change strings out of the box.

[@scarmyguitar]

I'll check it out!

[@basshnter1997]

I've owned an SX 335 and tele copy. Both had really decent looking wood but the hardware and electronics were complete garbage. Gave the tele to a friends kid learning to play. Still have the 335 copy but it's highly modified. I wouldn't even consider it an SX anymore.

[@danielpaddonshealingspace2481]

@@basshnter1997 I haven't had a issue mine was intonated as well.

[@74dartman13]

Nice work. I like it!👍😎🎸🎶

[@PhillipBasinger]

I like that guitar .Cant wait to hear what a really good P90 sounds like in that thing.Thank you

[@bobperu1]

Damm you headbutted me right in the noggin. Lol

[@helcat3567]

Mate I really liked it looked great. yeh might not sound like you want but if you ask me it didn't sound to bad. like you say you'll fix all that. well good one mate from your pal Helcat in Australia.

[@TheJohnburghardt]

Great review. I bought on of these as well as a dog ear spacer to raise the pickup a bit and put in some quality locking tuners. I really like how this guitar sounds and how the neck feels.

[@JonathanRodriguez-lh5mb]

Great review! I got one of these not too long ago and I agree the frets need a good level and crown. The stock pickup is prefectly fine but I did install a P90 shim under it to raise it up a little. Now I'm in the process of figuring out a bridge for it. I'm not a fan of the bad ass style bridges. Cheers!

[@gabemckay6718]

This has been the most in depth look at this particular I’ve watched and I’ve watched a few. Contrary to the other KZbinrs praising the fret work, you actually showed that it’s not the best and a few other things. I’ve been thinking about getting one myself and now I might just hold off and by an epi LP Jr. down the road instead.

[@scarmyguitar]

good move!

[@donfostermusician3690]

I would say it's a win at $140,00 bucks A little fret work and not too bad Sounded pretty good even with the light pickup May have to order one ...

[@TheWGLOVER]

Dog eared P90 pickups are not height adjustable. You have to use purpose made shims.

[@homeboyjon4885]

You can raise the pole pieces, though. I’ve seen vintage Gibsons with the pole pieces quite high.

[@mikesmith8187]

Great review. Give it time and someone somewhere will come up with a decent budget junior. But this guy clearly knows his way around a guitar. Very impressed.

[@michaelheiser861]

just ordered mine 7/21 won t get it till 7/27/ i'm going to follow your modifications if that ok , as long as you dont do any routing cause i dont have one, really like your channel

[@jcanuk269]

Bought the Pink version in case either of my daughters want to play - I'm the one enjoying the P90 now. It came tune and play, and haven't really fussed with anything yet. Liked the vid thx.

[@TheRealDealBobbySteele]

Gotta see you put the neck pickup in it

[@junebromley5621]

you are awesome sir i like it might have to buy one is the neck thick or thin cant wait till you mod it

[@scarmyguitar]

both!

[@chrisnaples2838]

The Westcreek Racer SG style has a $40 coupon bringing it to $179, the last thing I need is a 10th guitar but for that price, I gotta start to learn how to work on the other 9 so this will be my first patient lol . Great stuff Dude,love the channel !

[@matigewergis3875]

Love from Switzerland you are a Legend Bro.

[@lesterwatson8519]

I say a couple good pickups and new tuners would help for sure. Maybe a fret job later down the road and it would be a decent little guitar. It will never be a Les Paul but heck some Gibson Les Paul's don't live up to the hype. Keep e'm coming brother!!

[@Annunaki_0517]

Ok Sean, somehow one of your videos appeared in my feed. So I watched a few more of your videos, I’m now a subscriber. Good luck with your channel, I have a feeling it will grow fast from here on out. Remember when you hit 300k subs, I was here in the first 25k or so. Some requests: I’d love some more videos on: - pickup building and winding - control cavity shielding and wiring (including what effect the different values of pots and capacitors have) - fret leveling/filing/dressing and maybe replacing. - guitar finishing/ re-finishing - neck shaping (not just the fretboard but the whole neck) Just a few ideas, if you ever get bored. Anyway, thanks again and best of luck.

[@scarmyguitar]

Thanks bro! Means a lot! Hope you stick around.

[@calbrockocat8728]

$260CAD up here in Canada from Amazon free delivery bringing it tax in at $300CAD. Change out the pickup for sure, but I wonder about that bridge. Still, looks really nice. Just needs help to learn to sing.

[@joehansonguitar]

Awesome review! Great playing! Subscribed

[@markcress7484]

I bought one of these this past April 2023....I found 2 slightly high frets on the D string which took 5 minutes to correct. I ordered some P90 spacers from Lollar and raised the pickup. A new set of strings and I've been playing it every day since!! I've also gotten guitar buddies to buy themselves one!! Glad you made this video and IMO $140 well spent!!

[@raygarcia2727]

Sean your a helluva nice guy straight out of the gate . Your a stand up guy . There’s no BS in your DNA . I think it would be a blast just to talk guitars with you for a couple of hours . I bet those hours would go buy fast . Because your cool 😎 one of your many bro’s from around the World ✌️ from Los Angeles California .

[@scarmyguitar]

You da man bro! Anytime!

[@donaldlaporte4227]

Just a heads up brotha new strats and teles at guitar garden, I picked up the strat, flip flop paint, stainless frets, locking tuners, roasted body, roasted neck with rosewood board, hss configuration 197.00 shipped

[@snafu1957]

I put a wilkinson low profile bridge on mine & its a keeper

[@javacody]

Some suggestions. Look at how the pots are wired. Does that seem correct? Also, on the dogear P90, raise those pole pieces up! I think the pickup itself is ok. I've got a shim coming to raise mine up. I'm also going to take it apart and swap in some alnico 6 magnets to give it its cojones back. Low wind pickups with more powerful magnets sound REALLY good to my ears. Id like to put a budget firebird pickup in the neck of mine, too. Route for a switch under the pick guard.

[@mikedtubey]

love me a les paul jr style. looks like hot guitar but fret edges, I've never seen them that uneven. great easy fix for the rattling. worth a new pickup and tuners.

[@fatratz2012]

that will be a good test bed for some of mamas pickups

[@mitchpalmer5116]

I have one. I like it a lot. A few minor discrepancies but nothing i can't handle myself.

[@Jay-bird154]

Got my white DC Junior 2 months to the day after I ordered it , the day after Christmas . Nice ! , I will be putting a Gibson dogear P90 in it and locking tuners . Definitely money well spent .

[@johnjolly9519]

They sell spacer to raise the pup or you could make one with pickguard material or make a new pickguard that goes under the pup. I replaced the bridge on mine with a lower profile one from Musiclily pro & that helped too.

[@Stratsrule]

Ty brother

[@timmackenzie8145]

Pretty much the guitar I just asked you how much you’d charge me to build in the last video I watched(single pick up chibson sunburst Les Paul). Except I asked for the tv yellow finish. Can’t wait to hear it after you soup it up a little.

[@I.M.Guitar-Nerd]

This is my fourth brand with that style of fret end and while they all polish them off the neck and then install them my Eart, Enya, and M-Musi guitars are all the right length, the Westcreek, not so much. I kept the guitar and got a deep discount so at some point in the future I'm going to pull the frets and install stainless steel ones. I also bought new Gotoh 510 tuners and a 510UB wraparound bridge but of course, the post width is off just enough that if I want to use the new bridge I need to plug and dill the old holes. . . And then there is the pickup. Yeah, stock it was a looooong way from those pole pieces to the strings, a shim is needed for sure. I think this is going to be the guitar that teaches me how to wind my own P-90, or find a good one on Amazon, well see how that plays out.

[@JeffV]

P90 you adjust the slugs on the pickup. Not the height of the hole pickup

[@Seven7Pain1]

that is a perfect mod platform guitar i got a custom iyv coming i pulled a bald shredder got them to make me a custom

[@lilymae4131]

I have one and like mine for the price, they have had the $30 coupon for awhile, but like you said it may not last. I'm a beginner and mine came set up well enough for me, better than some I tried that cost three times more. I'm not saying the set up couldn't be better but good enough that I'm not cussing at it. I think most guitars in this price range can be a hit or miss.

[@scarmyguitar]

Thank you

[@lilymae4131]

@@scarmyguitar Was I suppose to message you?

[@cdavidlake2]

Great guitar. Have it, love it.

[@ottovonnekpunch1268]

Damn, Sean! She's a looker for the price! You could do a LOT worse for da bux! She will make a great basis for a NICE project axe!

[@basshnter1997]

It seems the quality of all these under $200 guitars is pretty close. No brand is the magic bullet over another. For sure these cheap beginner guitars blow away what was available in the early 80's.

[@leemercure2194]

Agreed, I had a Harmony Strat copy from the Sears catalogue back in 84 and it was total garbage. If I remember correctly it was close to 200 bucks back then. Today is a great time to be a beginner on a budget. Cheap pedals, lots of amp and modeler options. I wish we had stuff half as good back in the day.

[@jimburgess9205]

I could tell those frets were soft by the way that the sandpaper was digging into them.

[@GuitarWayne-sb2uj]

To me it sounds more like a Telecaster as opposed to a Gibson Les Paul Jr. I would put either a stacked dog ear Duncan or DiMarzio. Cool video

[@ZacCostilla]

I just ordered one and it came in same day as you posted this video. I had to return it because the frets weren’t level, and I had a ton of buzz at frets 9, 12, and 15. I went to loosen the truss rod and it went loose, so it was already at max relief. Also, the bridge say crazy high, so I checked the neck angle and it was 7°, way too high. I did my return as an exchange, and hopefully my second try will be better. Pros: it was crazy light! It was easy to play (except for the fret heights causing buzz and fret out on bends). Cons: zero setup done, which is to be expected at this price point. But those frets! The ends were dressed gorgeously, but the height issues were really bad. The crazy high neck angle felt like I was playing a cello on my knee. If my replacement guitar has good frets, then I’ll mod it out with all new hardware and a new pickup and re-wire it to ‘50s wiring. If not, then I’ll return it for a refund take put money towards a different guitar.

[@TexanUSMC8089]

It doesn't cost anything to level the frets...if you do it yourself.

[@ZacCostilla]

@@TexanUSMC8089 if the neck angle wasn’t so horrible I would’ve done it

[@DaisyHollowBooks]

Nice for the price. I wish I had your chops.

[@TURBOCAST]

I’ll take it!! I love it! 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@nicolasbeaudry6158]

Sick loved it my brother❤

[@danrunnoft6642]

I've been toying with the idea of getting one of those. Like I need another guitar!

[@Louzahsol]

If they made a single cut I’d buy one

[@timothypotter2137]

I've been watching that guitar, may have to pull the trigger now.

[@GaveMeGrace1]

Thank you

[@123pap]

As long as you can do the work,but if you can't you would be screwed!

[@nicolasbeaudry6158]

Holy shit the more I check the more I like it. It’s like a Johnny thunders axe 💯

[@MisterJWJ71]

They seem like decent guitars for the price but not the best color choices. White, light blue and pink? Dont they know that red guitars sound better??😂

[@rvfiasco]

New viewer. Thanks for sharing your tips because I'm highly curious on how to do a pawn shop pick that's worth it. Also fixing those pesky things like buzz and whatnot... What strings do you use if you don't mind me asking? Thanks again! Subbed!

[@scarmyguitar]

D' Addario

[@timothypotter2137]

I obught the pink the pink one, Dylan Talks Tone P90 pickup will cure all evils. O course I'll do the Potter Setup on it, always do. It will be great.

[@larrystumph524]

I personally love the Wilkinson p 90's on Amazon

[@bobsoldrecords1503]

Those $199 Epiphone LP Jr.s are great. Definitely a worthy guitar

[@3cardmonty602]

They sell shims to raise the pickup. Not expensive. Fits right under the pickup. Or, you can just buy a grittier dogear P90 from a good pickup maker.

[@ronniewilloughby2035]

Great video

[@rachelflair4835]

Very nice guitar.

[@radman1102]

Might be able to get pup up closer to strings w/a couple of washers or something

[@lpj55]

There are shims you can buy that sit under the pup cover. They're inexpensive, come in different thicknesses and blend in pretty well visually,

[@reggiemurphy1523]

Not bad, yeah that pickup was sounding like it was missing some dentures!! Lol

[@sagebrushcoyote]

The fact that it weights over 10lbs tells me to kick it to the curb. It's nearly $200, too costly to mod. I would check out a Harley Benton before I moded this guitar.

[@silverwings1843]

Here is the real issue. Why does Gibson still maintain their ridiculous prices. I stopped playing the Gibson game a long time ago. I simply buy Epiphone and build it. There is nothing special about Gibson anymore. Just the price tag...

[@radman1102]

Fret iis probably Roseacer(sp?)

[@kevindonohue8918]

SD 59's and tuners. Your set

[@timtaylorguitarnut]

Any routs under the pickguard?

[@jonathanhorne6503]

Amazon shows out of stock. Unknown if or when it will be restocked. I was hoping since I have a USA after market P90 just waiting for something just like this.

[@frankcarter6427]

I'm still baffled as to how they can build ,paint , equip and ship a guitar from asia and still make a profit selling it for 140 dollars - how much does it cost to make? 10 dollars?

[@schulergr]

Ya I want one@

[@TheRealDealBobbySteele]

Let me hold that one Sean

[@tonyalto1014]

I actually kinda like it.

[@archie3732]

i didn’t take you serious until you started using that knife haha

[@scarmyguitar]

My man!!

[@An2oine]

Are the frets long on both side or off center?

[@killacoiler1707]

When you consider the pricepoint of this instrument, expectations should not be set very high. Here is my take on it; if the woods are good and the finish isn't horrible the rest of it is irrelevant. The only thing that really put me off a bit was the frets being cut all different lengths and the fretboard looked extremely dry. That said, I go for instruments like this with one thing in mind, to build a custom guitar. I have seen LP Jr. Kits that are all in pieces, raw wood, with junky hardware, equally as cheap pickups, and mini pots go for 1.5x the cost of this unit. So if you want to start building custom units these are a halfway decent way to start. For me the wraparound bridge would stay as it may be no-name, but being that it has adjustable saddles for intonation corrections is a huge plus. The pickup would be replaced with an Iron Gear Alchemist P-90/Humbucking Hybrid. I would get a set of decent tuning machines like a set of Wilkinson or something, and then probably replace the nut with one of higher quality material. Oil the fretboard a bit and then rock the snot out of it. When done it would still have cost less than an Epiphone LP Jr., it has a 14" radius which is a plus depending on playing style, and have better electronics.

[@triax7006]

Guitars are very low tech products. Solid body guitars have a basic function, they are a base for a magnetic pickup to convert the vibrations of the strings that effect the magnetic field into an electric signal that is picked up by an amp other other output. If the neck is straight & stays straight, if the tuners keep in tune & the tailpiece keeps in tune then that is all that is needed for the base of the guitar. It's the pickup that determines the quality of the sound & that can be easily changed. The frets are the other issue & let's be honest here on anything but the most budget guitars stainless steel with only being a small cost increase for the fret material means they are what people should look for or for changing on any guitar including budget ones. Yes they are harder to work on meaning the tools have to be of better quality & stronger but once that investment is made into the tooling then the cost versus value of a quality is raised by a large amount hence why manufacturers like Harley Benton & Eart are fitting them onto a lot of their guitars long with roasted maple. The realisation that modern CNC manufacturing & knowing how electrics rely on the pickup to produce the sound is how ppl's perception of what a guitar should be & how it should be judged is going to scare the big price manufacturers.

[@chrisbrumbaugh9936]

Thats a viable ride right there

[@chrisb561]

I like that!

[@kgkessler6]

Nice for the price 👍

[@wjewell63]

I like it for a fixer upper....👍

[@georgeprice4212]

There’s definitely one thing that I always do: change out the guitar strings. Just a habit of mine.

[@georgeprice4212]

Kinda looks like my First Act, as far as the body style. I’m still trying to get it back in playing condition - need to widen the pickup cavity and make a small pickguard just to hold the pickup.

[@_Yep_Yep_]

Kind of makes me think of what Squire and Epiphone used to produce. Average Jim isnt smart enough to cure a bad fret job or crappy tuners, and if he was it would be around a hundred, but then it plays good. Not bad. Competition is good for everyone who plays or produces.

[@scarmyguitar]

Ha ha

[@user-ek9nx2jn7r]

Try a Sweetwater Cutlass guitar. Then I can see if it’s worth the cash.

[@writheinthedeepfry3859]

Does it really matter if the frets aren't the same size all the way down the fretboard, besides aesthetically? As long as they aren't short enough for the string to go over the edge on bends. Right? Maybe I'm missing something.

[@jasonhuttermusic424]

It could lead to fret buzz. And bum notes.

[@Blinkerd00d]

The most important part of opening a new guitar box is to get your big ass bowie knife. Lol ill have to be sure to do that from now on