Epiphone BB King Lucille, Ebony (2019) - Secondhand

Full Description

Classic blues tone

This guitar has been continuously designed for decades to the specifications of one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time, so it comes as no surprise that it delivers the perfect blues tone. Two Alnico humbuckers offer delicate, dynamic sensitivity and precise articulation to completely capture the emotion instilled within every performance. A six-position Varitone switch offers complete control of your mid-range, ranging from deep rich tonalities or nasal higher tones. A three-way Epiphone pickup toggle combines with two designated volume and tone switches offering that final precise touch to truly personalise your sound. Singing with precision, blues has never sounded so good.

A unique semi-hollow

Lucille is based upon the Various Gibson ES models, taking influence from a variety of different features that have developed BB King’s beloved guitar into an incredibly unique partner to any musician. Unlike most semi-hollow guitars, the f-holes have been removed from the top of the body. This was to reduce the amount of feedback, allowing King to dial up the volume and create that crisp, cutting blues tone without muddying his expression with any harsh tones. This isn’t the only feature to help prevent this, a maple centre block is positioned to halt any feedback in its tracks. The body itself is constructed from five-ply maple, producing a tone which upholds the carefully curated bright, precise tone and delivers a tight low-end.

Gold standard hardware

It’s only right that BB King’s iconic guitar comes with hardware fit for a King. A TP-6 Stop Bar tailpiece with fine tuners delivers precise tuning and outstanding tuning stability, ensuring every note is tightly in key so it can resonate its true emotion. This is strengthened thanks to Grover Rotomatic tuning machines that lock in each note to prevent deviation from an accurate pure note. All the hardware remains accurate to its inspiration with a stunning gold finish across all the hardware, including the alnico pickups. This is all respectfully completed with the blues legend's name engraved into the brass truss rod cover.

Lucille’s story

Behind every iconic guitar there’s a story, and Lucille’s story is the most unique tale of all. In BB King’s song ‘Lucille’, he gives us a recollection of how Lucille was named. One night he was in Twist, Arkansas when a brawl broke out, ultimately knocking over a barrel that was being burned to heat the hall, resulting in fuel spilling across the floor. The hall erupted into an inferno of flames and was evacuated. Once BB King had left the building he realised he had left his beloved Gibson guitar, King ran back into the building and retrieved his guitar. The next day he found out the fight broke out over a woman who worked at the bar, named Lucille. He named every subsequent guitar he owned after Lucille as a reminder to never do something as risky as that again.

The King of Blues

BB King inspired multiple generations of guitar players with his iconic sound. Idolised by a multitude of artists, ranging from Eric Clapton to John Mayer, his influence upon modern guitar playing has been significant to a wide variety of genres, including those outside of the blues. Starting his career in the 1940s, King began playing guitar with gospel singers before he moved to Memphis and started building his audience through regular slots performing on the radio. King continued to tour and perform with his trusted instrument Lucille until 2014 at the age of 89, accumulating a total of 43 studio albums over his outstanding 73-year career. King passed away in 2015, leaving an incredible legacy to guitarists.

Specifications

Body

• Body Shape: ES-335
• Body Material: 5-ply Layered Maple
• Bracing: Spruce
• Centerblock: Maple
• Binding: Multi-ply Top, Back, and Headstock, Single ply Neck
• Finish: Gloss

Neck & Fretboard

• Material: Maple
• Profile: Rounded C
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 12"
• Number Of Frets: 22
• Frets: Medium Jumbo
• Nut Material: Graph Tech
• Nut Width: 1.693"
• Inlays: Pearloid Blocks
• Joint: Glued in, Set Neck

Hardware & Electronics

• Finish: Gold
• Tuner Plating: Gold
• Bridge: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic
• Tailpiece: TP-6 Stop Bar with Fine Tuners
• Tuning Machines: Grover Rotomatic with Keystone Buttons
• Pickguard: 5-ply ES-335 style Bound Tortoise Pickguard
• TrussRod: 2-way Adjustable
• Truss Rod Cover: Brass Bell; Engraved "B.B. King"
• Control Knobs: Black Speed Knobs, Black Chicken Head Varitone Knob
• Switch Tip: Cream
• Switch-washer: Gold Varitone Washer
• Control Covers: Black; PVC
• Strap Buttons: 2 - Bottom and Back of Heel
• Mounting Rings: Black
• Pickup Covers: Gold
• Neck Pickup: Alnico Classic PRO
• Bridge Pickup: Alnico Classic PRO
• Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS Potentiometers, 6 Position Varitone Switch
• Pickup Selector: 3-way Epiphone Toggle
• Output Jack: Two: Epiphone 1/4" Mono and Epiphone 1/4" Stereo