B.B. King
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Blues R&B

B.B. King

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The King of Blues and master of expressive vibrato. Famous for his beloved guitar 'Lucille' (Gibson ES-355), he pioneered electric blues guitar with a simple philosophy: let your fingers do the talking. Every note sung with precision, every bend telling a story through minimal gear and maximum soul.

3 Eras
7 Gear Items

SIGNATURE TONE

Warm, singing sustain with expressive vibrato. Simple setup: guitar straight into amp with minimal effects. His tone comes from his fingers - precise bending, shimmering vibrato, and emotional phrasing that made every note count.

SIGNAL CHAINS BY ERA

Explore how the rig evolved over time

1

Early Blues Era

1949-1960 2 items
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Establishing the modern electric blues sound with various Gibson guitars before settling on the ES-355.

2

Lucille / Classic Era

1960-1980 2 items
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Peak period with his named guitar 'Lucille,' creating timeless blues recordings.

3

Modern Era

1990-2015 3 items
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Later career with Gibson signature Lucille models, maintaining his timeless blues sound.