B.B. King Guitars
When you talk about the blues, you’re invariably going to bring up the name B.B. King at some point. This legendary artist has strummed his way through countless hearts over a career that spanned decades, creating music that resonates with raw emotion and unparalleled mastery.
For B.B. King, his crown was his beloved guitar, affectionately named “Lucille”.
Let’s dive deep into the relationship between the King of Blues and his iconic guitars, notably the Epiphone B.B. King Lucille and the Gibson Custom B.B. King Lucille Legacy.
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The Man Behind the Strings: B.B. King
Riley B. King, professionally known as B.B. King, was an American blues singer, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. Introduced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, King is undoubtedly one of the most influential blues musicians of all time.
His early life was riddled with challenges. Born on a cotton plantation in Mississippi, he started life with the barest of essentials. Music became an escape for him, and as he grew, he began playing on street corners for dimes. From there, it was a meteoric rise. His distinct style of playing, characterized by vibrant single-string runs, made him stand out. He didn’t just play the blues; he felt it, lived it, and breathed it.
The story behind naming his guitar “Lucille” is both intriguing and reflective of King’s connection to his instrument. In the winter of 1949, during a performance in Arkansas, two men started a fight that knocked over a kerosene stove, setting the hall ablaze. After evacuating, King realized he left his guitar inside and rushed back in to retrieve it. He later found out that the two men were fighting over a woman named Lucille. To remind himself never to do something that foolish and to avoid fights, especially over women, he named every guitar he owned afterward, Lucille.
1. Gibson Custom B.B. King Lucille Legacy
This guitar has been meticulously designed to mirror the personal modifications and specifications B.B. King himself preferred.
Key Features:
- Design: This Gibson guitar has a semi-hollow body without the f-holes to curtail feedback. The build quality is top-tier with superior craftsmanship.
- Pickups: This model is armed with two humbucking pickups, capturing the essence of B.B. King’s signature tone.
- Neck: Crafted from one piece of mahogany, the neck on the Gibson Custom B.B. King Lucille Legacy offers both durability and comfort. Its profile is designed to ensure smooth transitions and easy access to higher frets, which is a boon for those soulful blues solos.
- Bridge: The Tune-O-Matic bridge paired with the TP-6 tailpiece allows not only for easy string adjustments but also ensures excellent sustain and tone stability.
- Vari-A-Tone: Retaining this signature feature, the Vari-Tone switch on the Gibson Custom B.B. King Lucille Legacy offers even more tonal possibilities. Combined with the superior electronics and build quality, this feature can genuinely let the artist shape their sound, from the crisp bright tones to the deep mellow resonances.
- Finish and Aesthetics: The inlay on the headstock, the gold hardware, and the signature of B.B. King himself add a touch of elegance and authenticity to the instrument.
Gibson Custom B.B. King Lucille Legacy Specification table
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Brand | Gibson Custom |
| Configuration | HH |
| Strings | 6 |
| Made in | United States |
| Series | Modern Collection |
| Colors | Black |
| Left-Handed Version | No |
| Body | |
| Top | Figured Maple |
| Type | Semi-Hollow |
| Body Material | 3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Bridge | TP-6 with Fine Tuners |
| Neck | |
| Neck Joint | Set |
| Tuners | Grover Tulip |
| Fretboard | Ebony |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Decoration | Mother of Pearl Split Block |
| Scale Size | 24.75″ |
| Shape | Slim Taper |
| Frets | 22 Vintage |
| Fretboard Radius | 12″ |
| Nut | Corian |
| Nut Width | 42.9mm (1.688”) |
| Electronics | |
| Switch | 3 Way |
| Knobs | Bell |
| Pickup Mods | Varitone |
| Volume Controls | 2 |
| Tone Controls | 2 |
| Bridge Pickup | Custombucker (Humbucker / Passive) |
| Neck Pickup | Custombucker (Humbucker / Passive) |
1. Epiphone B.B. King Lucille
The Epiphone B.B. King Lucille is one of the most renowned guitars out there. An accessible version of the Gibson Lucille, it embodies the spirit and design of B.B. King’s personal guitar but at a fraction of the price, making it an ideal choice for many budding blues artists and fans.
Key Features:
- Design: Semi-hollow body without the f-holes. This was intentional to reduce feedback, which B.B. King wasn’t a fan of.
- Pickups: Equipped with two Alnico Classic Humbuckers that produce that deep, rich tone synonymous with the blues.
- Neck: It comes with a glued-in maple neck with a SlimTaper “D” profile, allowing ease of playability.
- Bridge: The TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece enables the artist to get their strings in perfect tune.
- Vari-A-Tone: Perhaps the most distinctive feature of this model. The Vari-Tone system allows the player to switch between different capacitors, offering a range of tonal palettes.
EPIPHONE B.B. KING LUCILLE Specification table
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Brand | Epiphone |
| Configuration | HH |
| Strings | 6 |
| Made in | China |
| Series | Artist Collection |
| Colors | Black |
| Left-Handed Version | No |
| Body | |
| Type | Semi-Hollow |
| Body Material | 5-ply Maple/Poplar |
| Bridge | Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic |
| Neck | |
| Neck Joint | Set |
| Tuners | Grover Rotomatic with Keystone Buttons |
| Fretboard | Ebony |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Decoration | Pearloid Blocks |
| Scale Size | 24.75″ |
| Shape | Rounded C |
| Thickness | 1st Fret: 0.84” (21.3mm) – 12th Fret: 0.94” (23.9mm) |
| Frets | 22 Medium Jumbo |
| Fretboard Radius | 12″ |
| Nut | Ivory Tusq |
| Nut Width | 43mm (1.693”) |
| Electronics | |
| Switch | 3 Way |
| Knobs | Speed |
| Pickup Mods | Varitone |
| Volume Controls | 2 |
| Tone Controls | 2 |
| Bridge Pickup | Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive) |
| Neck Pickup | Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive) |
Which One To Choose?
The million-dollar question for many is: which one to go for? Both guitars, while echoing the legacy of B.B. King, serve different audiences.
The Epiphone B.B. King Lucille is perfect for those who are starting their blues journey or are on a budget. It gives the player a taste of the legend without a hefty price tag. It’s reliable, sounds fantastic, and carries with it the spirit of Lucille. For many hobbyists and semi-professionals, this might be the ideal choice.
On the other hand, The Gibson Custom B.B. King Lucille Legacy is for the purists, the professionals, and the collectors. It’s an investment, not just in terms of money but in terms of musical heritage. Owning one is like having a piece of history, a segment of the soul of B.B. King. If you’re a seasoned professional or a collector, then this guitar is undoubtedly worth considering.