Gibson ES-355 (Lucille)

B.B. King's beloved 'Lucille.' A semi-hollow ES-355 with dual humbuckers, Varitone switch, and a warm, singing tone. The semi-hollow body provides natural resonance and sustain that makes single notes sing like a human voice.

Field notes on the Gibson ES-355 (Lucille)

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Tone Recipes18 min read

BB King Blues Lead Tone Recipe: Lucille's Sound Explained

BB King's tone secret isn't gear; it's gain structure and technique. Here's the amp setup, guitar settings, and what no pedal can replace.

By Rick Dalton