Gibson Custom Shop B.B. King Lucille Legacy ‘Transparent Ebony’ Electric Guitar Gibson

Step into the legendary world of B.B. King with the Gibson Custom Shop B.B. King Lucille Legacy ‘Transparent Ebony’ Electric Guitar, a tribute to the undisputed King of the Blues:

The Lucille Legacy is a meticulous re-creation of B.B.’s iconic custom-spec’d ES-355. It boasts a striking 3-ply figured body, sans F-holes, showcasing a head-turning transparent nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Equipped with CustomBucker pickups, this guitar delivers the vintage PAF tone that’s true to life. Its handwired harness features CTS audio-taper pots and paper-in-oil Bumblebee caps. The SlimTaper neck profile and 22-fret ebony fingerboard ensure effortless string bending, shimmering vibrato, and smooth staccato picking. Visually, the Lucille Legacy stands out with its attention-grabbing gold hardware, including a gold “B.B. King” engraved truss rod cover and a TP-6 tailpiece with fine tuners. The guitar is adorned with split block mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays and stunning multi-ply binding throughout. If your current semi-hollowbody electric leaves you feeling uninspired, let the B.B. King Lucille Legacy reignite your passion. It’s one of the most inspiring guitars you’ll ever have the privilege to play.

Gibson’s ES semi-hollowbody guitars are renowned for their solid center blocks that provide sustain akin to solid bodies and resistance to feedback. However, B.B. King had a unique request – to omit the F-holes altogether from his Lucille signature model. This results in a distinctive sonic profile, sitting between a semi-hollowbody and a chambered solidbody. The unique design offers excellent feedback resistance, while the hollow body cavities on either side of the center block infuse the tone with rich warmth and resonance.

Gibson’s attention to detail extends to the guitar’s electronics. The internal signal path was meticulously designed to replicate the classic Gibson semi-hollowbody tone. To capture the vintage essence, the B.B. King Lucille Legacy is equipped with Gibson’s CustomBucker pickups, featuring Alnico V magnets for the most historically accurate PAF tone. Additionally, the Lucille Legacy features a mono Varitone circuit, allowing for pre-set frequency “maps” you can engage with a switch. Whether you’re playing blues, jazz, rock, or country, from chimey rhythm to searing leads, the Lucille Legacy delivers a sound fit for blues royalty.

The legend of Lucille, B.B. King’s cherished guitar, began with a dramatic story. As a young blues guitarist, B.B. King spotted a Gibson ES-335 in a music store and was determined to make it his own. After saving up, he finally purchased the guitar of his dreams. During a gig in New Orleans, a fight erupted, leading to a fire in the club. As chaos ensued, B.B. realized he had left his beloved ‘335 inside. He rushed back into the burning building, narrowly escaping with his guitar, naming it Lucille in memory of the incident. Lucille has since become a symbol of his devotion to music and a reminder never to make reckless choices again.

Specs

• Number of Strings6
• Left-/Right-handedRight-handed
• BODY
• Body TypeSemi-hollowbody
• Body ShapeB.B. King Lucille Legacy
• Body Material3-ply Figured Maple/Poplar/Maple
• Body FinishGloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• ColorTransparent Ebony
• NECK
• Neck MaterialMahogany
• Neck ShapeSlim Taper
• Neck JointSet Neck
• Radius12″
• Fingerboard MaterialEbony
• Fingerboard InlayMother-of-Pearl Split Blocks
• Number of Frets22
• Scale Length24.75″
• Nut Width1.687″
• Nut MaterialCorian
• HARDWARE
• Bridge/TailpieceABR-1 TP-6 Tailpiece with fine Tuners
• TunersGrover Tulip
• ELECTRONICS
• Neck PickupGibson Custom Humbucker
• Bridge PickupGibson Custom Humbucker
• Controls2 x volume, 2 x tone
• Switching6-position Mono Varitone Switch
• MISCELLANEOUS
• StringsGibson, .010-.046
• Case IncludedHardshell Case

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