B.B. King's Main Guitar: Lucille
Lucille was B.B. King's signature guitar for over 50 years. It was a semi-hollow body electric, most famously a Gibson ES-335 or one of several Gibson models that King customized and named Lucille. The guitar became so identified with King that Gibson eventually produced a signature model called the B.B. King Lucille, which remains in production today.
King named the guitar Lucille after a woman he met at a dance hall fire in 1949 in Twist, Arkansas. The story goes that King rushed back into a burning building to retrieve his guitar, and he named it Lucille to remind himself never to do something that foolish again for a woman. The name stuck, and King used variations of the Lucille name for nearly every guitar he played afterward.
The original Lucille was a Gibson ES-335, a semi-hollow body design that gave King the warm, singing tone he became known for. The semi-hollow construction meant the guitar had a wooden chamber inside, which added resonance and sustain compared to a solid-body electric. This design choice shaped the sound of blues guitar for generations.
Key Takeaways
- B.B. King's main guitar was called Lucille, a Gibson semi-hollow body electric that he played for over 50 years.
- King named the guitar after a woman he met at a dance hall fire in 1949, as a reminder of a dangerous decision he made.
- The semi-hollow body design gave Lucille a warm, resonant tone that became the signature sound of B.B. King's blues style.
- Gibson produced an official B.B. King Lucille signature model based on his original guitar, which is still made and sold today.
- King played multiple Lucille guitars throughout his career, customizing them to his preferences and replacing them as needed.
The Gibson ES-335 and Why King Chose It
The Gibson ES-335 was introduced in 1958, and B.B. King adopted it as his primary instrument during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The semi-hollow body design was relatively new at the time, and it offered King something that solid-body guitars could not: a natural resonance that made single notes ring out with clarity and sustain.
King's playing style relied on bending strings and holding notes for long periods, letting them sing and decay naturally. A solid-body electric would have sounded thin and short in his hands. The ES-335's wooden chamber gave his bent notes a vocal quality, almost as if the guitar was singing along with him. This became the foundation of his tone and influenced countless blues guitarists who came after him.
The ES-335 was also practical. It was lighter than a full hollow-body jazz guitar, which made it easier to play for long sets. It fed back less than a full hollow-body when played at high volume, which mattered in the loud clubs and theaters where King performed. The balance between resonance and control made it the ideal choice for his style of blues.
Specifications of King's Lucille Guitars
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Semi-hollow body electric |
| Typical Model | Gibson ES-335 or ES-345 |
| Pickups | Usually two humbucking pickups |
| Finish | Often black or dark colors |
| Strings | Heavy gauge, typically .046 to .010 |
| Tuning | Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) |
King preferred heavy-gauge strings on Lucille, which required more finger strength to bend but produced a thicker tone. He also kept the action relatively high, meaning the strings sat far from the fretboard. This setup made bending strings harder physically but gave him more control over the pitch and sustain of each note.
The humbucking pickups were essential to Lucille's sound. These pickups reduced electrical noise and produced a warm, full tone that worked well for blues playing. King's fingerstyle technique—playing without a pick—meant the pickups had to respond sensitively to the nuance of his touch, capturing every variation in how hard or soft he plucked the strings.
How King Customized His Lucille Guitars
B.B. King did not straightforward play a stock Gibson ES-335 out of the box. He worked with Gibson and other technicians to customize his guitars to match his exact playing style. He had the pickups adjusted, the electronics modified, and the neck shaped to his preferences. Each Lucille was a working instrument tailored to his needs.
King was known for playing without a pick, using his fingers to pluck the strings. This meant his guitars had to respond well to fingerstyle playing, with pickups that captured the nuance of his touch. He also preferred a certain amount of natural feedback and sustain, which required careful setup and adjustment of the electronics.
Over his career, King owned multiple Lucille guitars. Some were damaged or worn out from constant touring and playing. Rather than retire them, he would have them repaired and refurbished, or he would move on to a new Lucille that Gibson provided. The name and the identity stayed the same, even as the physical instruments changed.
The Gibson B.B. King Lucille Signature Model
In the 1980s, Gibson created an official B.B. King Lucille signature model based on his original guitars. This model is built to the specifications King preferred and is designed to capture the tone and feel of his famous instrument. The signature model comes with a semi-hollow body, humbucking pickups, and a setup that works well for blues playing.
The Gibson B.B. King Lucille is still in production and is available to players who want to own a guitar modeled on one of the most famous instruments in blues history. It is more affordable than a vintage ES-335 and comes with the benefit of modern manufacturing consistency. For many blues players, owning a B.B. King Lucille is a way to connect with the legacy of one of the greatest guitarists who ever lived.
The signature model has helped keep Lucille's name and King's influence alive for new generations of guitarists. Players who use the B.B. King Lucille are choosing an instrument with a proven track record and a direct link to blues history.
Other Guitars King Played
While Lucille was King's main guitar, he did play other instruments throughout his career. Early in his playing days, before he settled on the ES-335, King played various guitars including hollow-body electrics and other semi-hollow designs. He experimented with different sounds and setups as he developed his style.
King was also known to play acoustic guitars in studio sessions and informal settings, though these were never his primary performance instruments. His reputation and his recorded legacy were built almost entirely on the sound of Lucille, the semi-hollow body electric that became inseparable from his identity as a musician.
In his later years, King continued to play Lucille even as his health declined. The guitar was so much a part of who he was that performing without it would have felt incomplete. Lucille was not just a tool; it was an extension of B.B. King himself.
Why Lucille's Tone Defined Modern Blues Guitar
The warm, singing tone of B.B. King's Lucille became the blueprint for blues guitar tone. The semi-hollow body design, combined with King's fingerstyle technique and his use of string bending, created a sound that was when ready recognizable and deeply influential. Other blues guitarists heard what King was doing and wanted to replicate it.
The ES-335 became the go-to guitar for blues players because of King's success with it. Today, if you listen to blues recordings from the 1960s onward, you will hear the influence of Lucille's tone in countless performances. The guitar shaped not just King's career but the entire direction of electric blues music.
King's approach to tone was not about effects or amplifier tricks. It was about choosing the right instrument, setting it up properly, and then playing it with skill and feeling. Lucille was the right instrument for what he wanted to say musically, and that choice mattered as much as his technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Gibson B.B. King Lucille a good guitar for beginners?
The Gibson B.B. King Lucille is a professional-grade instrument with a higher price tag, so it is better suited to intermediate or advanced players. Beginners might find the heavy string gauge and high action difficult to play. However, if you are serious about blues and want to learn on a guitar modeled after one of the greatest blues players, it is a solid choice once you have developed some finger strength.
What kind of amplifier did B.B. King use with Lucille?
B.B. King played through various amplifiers over his career, including Fender and Gibson models. The amplifier mattered, but King's tone came primarily from his guitar and his playing technique. He was known for using moderate volume and letting the natural sustain of Lucille do the work, rather than relying on heavy distortion or effects.
Can I buy an original B.B. King Lucille guitar?
Original Lucille guitars that King actually played are extremely rare and valuable. Some are in museums or private collections. The Gibson B.B. King Lucille signature model is the closest you can get to owning a Lucille without purchasing a vintage instrument. It is built to King's specifications and offers an authentic connection to his legacy.
What tuning did B.B. King use on Lucille?
B.B. King played Lucille in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) for most of his career. He did not use alternate tunings or open tunings the way some blues players did. His approach was to master the standard tuning and use string bending and fingerstyle technique to create his distinctive sound.
How much does a Gibson B.B. King Lucille cost?
Prices vary depending on the specific model and where you purchase it, but a new Gibson B.B. King Lucille typically costs between $2,000 and $3,500. Used models may be less expensive. This is a significant investment, but it is considerably less than a vintage ES-335 or an original King-played Lucille, which would cost tens of thousands of dollars.