What Guitar Does B.B. King Play?

Posted by admin on September 1, 2009

Along with a great player often comes a great guitar – usually made famous by the player himself and B. B. King is a good example of this player-guitar relationship.

The answer to the question, what guitar does B.B. King play, is the BB King Lucille model that comes in both the Gibson and Epiphone versions.

At first glance this guitar looks like the Gibson 345 model but it is actually based on the Gibson 355.

Some of the interesting features include the micro-tune fine tuning tailpiece, the vari-tone selector switch, the stereo output and, the most significant feature of all – no F-holes!

The guitar is still a hollow body with the standard woodblock that  runs under the pickups and gives these models sustain and helps prevent feedback. In the old days I used to put rolled-up paper inside the F-holes to stop feedback on my 335, but B. B. King when he designed this guitar was a step ahead.

The stereo output would be great for recording and stage use, especially if using more than one amplifier.

The best way to discover the sound of this instrument is to listen to the man himself play it, but anyone who plays one of these semi-acoustic guitars, from the “es” range, will almost know how it sounds just by looking at it!

The guitar shown is the BB King Lucille Epiphone model and available from here at a really great price.