Billie Joe Armstrong’s 1955 Gibson Les Paul Junior

Billie Joe Armstrong has been seen on stage for decades now with a black-finished Gibson Les Paul Junior carrying a Virgin Mary sticker on the body. According to Billie’s guitar tech, the guitar is a 1955 model, but it’s unknown when exactly Billie got it, and what the story behind it is.

Specs

From what can be seen in photos, the guitar follows the standard Junior format of the era – solid mahogany body, set mahogany neck, wraparound bridge, and a single dog-ear P-90 pickup in the bridge position. The Virgin Mary sticker is placed on the bass side of the body below the bridge, making the guitar instantly recognizable visually.

Usage

The guitar was already part of Billie’s touring arsenal by the time of Premier Guitar’s 2013 Rig Rundown, where it appears among several other Juniors. That puts its confirmed use at least as far back as the 99 Revolutions tour following Uno… Dos… Tré!.

However, there is no confirmed evidence of it being used in studio recordings, nor has Billie mentioned it in an interview. Compared to his 1956 sunburst Junior “Floyd,” which he credits as the root of his tone, the Mary-sticker guitar seems to serve more as a stage instrument.

Current Status

There is no information to suggest the guitar has been retired. It appears to remain part of Billie’s live arsenal, used alongside various other Juniors, and seen as late as July 2025. If you happen to know any more details about the guitar, about the origin of it, and the sticker, be sure to leave a comment below.