Lucille is the name American blues musician B.B. King (1925–2015) gave to his guitars. They were usually black Gibson guitars similar to the ES-330 or ES-355, and Gibson introduced a B.B. King custom model in 1980, based upon the latter.
In the winter of 1949, King played at a dance hall in Twist, Arkansas. The hall was heated by a barrel half-filled with burning kerosene set in the middle of the dance floor, a fairly common practice at the time. During a performance, two men began to fight, knocking over the barrel and sending the burning fuel across the floor. The hall burst into flames and was evacuated.[1]
Once outside however, King realized that he had left his guitar inside so he went back into the burning building to retrieve his beloved $30 Gibson guitar. King learned the next day that the two men who started the fire had been fighting over a woman who worked at the hall named Lucille. King did not know Lucille but named that guitar, and every guitar he subsequently owned, Lucille, as a reminder never again to do something as stupid as run into a burning building or fight over a woman.[2]
B.B. King wrote a song called "Lucille" in which he talks about his guitar and how it got its name. The song was first released on the album Lucille and is included on the B. B. King Anthology 1962–1998 album. King also recorded a track called "My Lucille" (which also references his guitar). Written by Ira Newborn, it was released in 1985 and was part of the music for the film Into the night starring Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Lucilles through King's career
Early Lucilles
King played guitars made by different manufacturers early in his career. He played a Fender Telecaster on most of his recordings with RPM Records (USA).[3] However, he is best known for playing variants of the Gibson ES-335.
Black and also available in Emerald, Amethyst, Sapphire Blue, Ruby and Diamond [6]
In 1980, Gibson Guitar Corporation launched the B. B. King Lucille model.[4] The most noticeable differences between the Lucille and the Gibson ES-355TD-SV on which it is based are the "Lucille" script on the headstock, the maple neck, and the lack of F-holes on the top. King requested that, to reduce feedback, there be no F-holes.[7]
Gibson made the B.B. King Standard model from 1980 to 1985. This model had chrome hardware and dot inlays instead of block inlays.[citation needed]
The Gibson subsidiary Epiphone markets a low-cost, foreign-made Lucille model based on the Gibson Lucille. Differences include a variation on the headstockinlays, a gloss finish and different pickups.[8]
Gibson Little Lucille
Gibson Little Lucille
In 1999, Gibson launched the Little Lucille, a version of their Blueshawk guitar. It differed from the Blueshawk in having a Tune-o-matic bridge and a TP-6 stop tailpiece.[9] Gibson has since discontinued the Little Lucille and the Blueshawk on which it was based.
The 80th Birthday Lucille
In 2005, for B.B. King's 80th birthday, Gibson made a special run of 80 Gibson Lucilles, referred to as the 80th Birthday Lucille. They presented the first prototype, which was engraved by Baron Technology, Inc, with design work by Scott Jeffrey, to King as a birthday present. King used the guitar as his main guitar until the summer of 2009, when it was stolen. Traced through a Las Vegas pawnshop, the instrument was returned to King in late November 2009.[10]
^"The Legacy of Lucille: The Surprising Story Behind B.B. King's Guitar". Rollingstone.com. May 15, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
^Kerekes, Jim; O'Neill, Dennis (January 3, 1997). . Archived from the original on November 16, 2011.
^Burrows, Terry. "The Complete Book of the Guitar" p. 111 Carlton Books Limited, 1998 ISBN1-85868-529-X
^ ab. Archived from the original on February 5, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
^. Gibson.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
^. Gibson.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
^. Player.gibson.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
^. Gibson.com. June 24, 2008. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
^Kling, Reno (February 16, 1999). . Gibson.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
^Dahl, Eric (December 3, 2009). . Guitarcenterblog.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
Further reading
Eric Dahl, B.B. King's Lucille and the Loves Before Her, Blue Book Publications, 2013, 96 pp, ISBN978-1-936120-41-3.
March 27, 2023
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Lucille is the name American blues musician B B King 1925 2015 gave to his guitars They were usually black Gibson guitars similar to the ES 330 or ES 355 and Gibson introduced a B B King custom model in 1980 based upon the latter A Gibson Lucille model semi acoustic guitar unique for having no f holes Contents 1 The story of Lucille 2 Lucilles through King s career 2 1 Early Lucilles 2 2 Gibson Lucille 2 3 Gibson Little Lucille 2 4 The 80th Birthday Lucille 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingThe story of Lucille Edit King in Hamburg 1971 with one of his Lucilles Sign commemorating the Lucille story Twist Arkansas In the winter of 1949 King played at a dance hall in Twist Arkansas The hall was heated by a barrel half filled with burning kerosene set in the middle of the dance floor a fairly common practice at the time During a performance two men began to fight knocking over the barrel and sending the burning fuel across the floor The hall burst into flames and was evacuated 1 Once outside however King realized that he had left his guitar inside so he went back into the burning building to retrieve his beloved 30 Gibson guitar King learned the next day that the two men who started the fire had been fighting over a woman who worked at the hall named Lucille King did not know Lucille but named that guitar and every guitar he subsequently owned Lucille as a reminder never again to do something as stupid as run into a burning building or fight over a woman 2 B B King wrote a song called Lucille in which he talks about his guitar and how it got its name The song was first released on the album Lucille and is included on the B B King Anthology 1962 1998 album King also recorded a track called My Lucille which also references his guitar Written by Ira Newborn it was released in 1985 and was part of the music for the film Into the night starring Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer Lucilles through King s career EditEarly Lucilles Edit King played guitars made by different manufacturers early in his career He played a Fender Telecaster on most of his recordings with RPM Records USA 3 However he is best known for playing variants of the Gibson ES 335 Gibson Lucille Edit Gibson Lucille Gibson LucilleManufacturerGibson Guitar Corporation 4 Epiphone 5 Period1980 2015ConstructionBody typeSemi hollowScale24 3 4 1 11 16 WoodsBodyMapleNeckMapleFretboardEbonyHardwareBridgeTune o matic TP 6Pickup s 490R Alnico magnet humbucker 490T Alnico magnet humbuckerColors availableBlack and also available in Emerald Amethyst Sapphire Blue Ruby and Diamond 6 In 1980 Gibson Guitar Corporation launched the B B King Lucille model 4 The most noticeable differences between the Lucille and the Gibson ES 355TD SV on which it is based are the Lucille script on the headstock the maple neck and the lack of F holes on the top King requested that to reduce feedback there be no F holes 7 Gibson made the B B King Standard model from 1980 to 1985 This model had chrome hardware and dot inlays instead of block inlays citation needed The Gibson subsidiary Epiphone markets a low cost foreign made Lucille model based on the Gibson Lucille Differences include a variation on the headstock inlays a gloss finish and different pickups 8 Gibson Little Lucille Edit Gibson Little Lucille In 1999 Gibson launched the Little Lucille a version of their Blueshawk guitar It differed from the Blueshawk in having a Tune o matic bridge and a TP 6 stop tailpiece 9 Gibson has since discontinued the Little Lucille and the Blueshawk on which it was based The 80th Birthday Lucille Edit In 2005 for B B King s 80th birthday Gibson made a special run of 80 Gibson Lucilles referred to as the 80th Birthday Lucille They presented the first prototype which was engraved by Baron Technology Inc with design work by Scott Jeffrey to King as a birthday present King used the guitar as his main guitar until the summer of 2009 when it was stolen Traced through a Las Vegas pawnshop the instrument was returned to King in late November 2009 10 See also EditList of guitarsReferences Edit The Legacy of Lucille The Surprising Story Behind B B King s Guitar Rollingstone com May 15 2015 Retrieved June 11 2016 Kerekes Jim O Neill Dennis January 3 1997 B B King Lucille Speaks Archived from the original on November 16 2011 Burrows Terry The Complete Book of the Guitar p 111 Carlton Books Limited 1998 ISBN 1 85868 529 X a b Gibson com Gibson Custom BB King Lucille Archived from the original on February 5 2011 Retrieved January 23 2011 Epiphone B B King Lucille Gibson com Archived from the original on July 4 2014 Retrieved January 17 2011 Gibson com Gibson Memphis BB King Gibson com Archived from the original on July 2 2012 Retrieved July 12 2012 The GIBSON amp Baldwin Player B B King Make the people happy Player gibson com Archived from the original on October 22 2006 Retrieved January 4 2018 Epiphone BB King Lucille Gibson com June 24 2008 Archived from the original on July 4 2014 Retrieved May 16 2011 Kling Reno February 16 1999 B B King embraces Gibson s Little Lucille Gibson com Archived from the original on May 17 2008 Retrieved May 16 2011 Dahl Eric December 3 2009 One Customer s Pawnshop Treasure Guitarcenterblog com Archived from the original on August 13 2011 Retrieved May 16 2011 Further reading EditEric Dahl B B King s Lucille and the Loves Before Her Blue Book Publications 2013 96 pp ISBN 978 1 936120 41 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lucille guitar amp oldid 1145474847, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
