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Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
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Playability
73
Sound
69
Build
64
Value
64
Score
69
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Playability
73
Sound
75
Build
77
Value
60
Score
75
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Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior vs Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Reasons to Get
Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior over Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
50s Vintage vs Speed
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickups
P90 vs HH
Vintage tone with good sustain
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
1.02'' (25.9mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
64 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 over Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior

Decorative Top
3/4 Plain Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile
Speed vs 50s Vintage
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs P90
High output without hum
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) vs 1.02'' (25.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap

Other Key Differences
Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior vs Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Bridge Pickup
Gibson Alnico 3 P-90 Dogear vs EMG MF Signature
Different Bridge Pickup
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior vs Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 is the better choice.

The Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior Overview

  • From Gibson's 2020 Artist Collection series
  • Lukas Nelson Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson Alnico 3 P-90 Dogear (P90/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: (/)
  • Neck pickup: (/)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • Vintage Style Compensated Wraparound bridge
  • 50s Vintage Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage Deluxe strip with white buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Overview

  • From Jackson's 2017 Artist Signature series
  • Marty Friedman Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 3/4 Plain Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Style with Gotoh Stop Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Schaller Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior has an P90 configuration while the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 has HH pickups.

P90s are vintage pickups that are somewhere in the middle between a Humbucker and a single coil. They have decent output, and the tone is not too warm. It's a very particular type of sound that is used in many genres, but it was more popular decades ago.

Like any other single-pickup guitars, it should give you a bit more sustain since there will be less interference with the vibration of the strings. However, you're stuck to one single tone, unless you use effect pedals.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 gives you 3 switch options while the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior gives you 0. This means that the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

The Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior doesn't come with pickup switching options.

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 39
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 69
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 75

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior compares to the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior
Quality of materials 51
Features 50
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 64
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Quality of materials 65
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior Nut Width
Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior and Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior Neck Profile
Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior's neck profile
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Neck Profile
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior has a V type of neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

The Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior and the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior favors large hands more than the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1.

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior and Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior vs Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
General Gibson Lukas Nelson 56 Les Paul Junior Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Brand: Gibson Jackson
Year: 2020 2017
Configuration: P90 HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Collection Artist Signature
Colors: Sunburst Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Vintage Style Compensated Wraparound TonePros Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Style with Gotoh Stop Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Vintage Deluxe strip with white buttons Schaller Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Acrylic Dots Mother of Pearl Block
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: 50s Vintage Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm) - 12th Fret: 1.02'' (25.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson Alnico 3 P-90 Dogear (P90 / Passive) EMG MF Signature (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 0 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2