Gibson BB King "Lucille" Ebony 1991 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar

This is a Gibson BB King “Lucille” Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar in Ebony finish. Made in the USA in 1991, this set-neck constructed guitar consists of a closed semi-hollow Maple body, a 3-piece Maple neck, and a 22-fret Ebony fingerboard. Other appointments include an ABR-1 Bridge, a TP-6 Tailpiece, Mother of Pearl block inlays, Stereo/Mono Jacks, and a set of Gibson ‘490T/490R humbucking pickups. These pickups are wired to two independent volume controls, two independent tone controls, and a 6-position Varitone switch.

The Gloss finish neck plays very well, with the ‘C’ profile sitting comfortably in the hand and providing a smooth and responsive playing experience in all registers. The Ebony fingerboard is pleasant under the fingers, and with its 12” radius and Medium Jumbo frets offer a perfect balance between easy chord playing, practicality for lead lines and string bending techniques. The semi-hollow construction gives the guitar a nice open and resonant feel, while keeping unwanted feedback at bay.

The semi-hollow body delivers unique acoustic features. It achieves a delicate balance between body resonance and resistance to feedback, this results in an organic vocal quality that is tactile and responsive to the player’s touch. The pair of Gibson ‘490T/490R humbucking pickups sound thick and chunky with rich lows, tight, punchy mids and crisp, clear highs. The round and thick tone of the neck position is well complemented by the hotter, brighter bridge pickup which provides all of the bite needed for hard rock lead lines. The 6-way Varitone switch acts as a notch filter to suppress certain frequencies, and offers 6 unique voices which are almost infinitely variable thanks to the standard controls. A guitar truly fit for a king.

Luthier Report

Our ID: 1190825127310

Weight: 9.8lbs

Serial: 91541352

Aesthetic Condition:

Headstock: Overall very good condition. Moderate nitro checking is present to all aspects of the headstock, this is common with nitrocellulose finishes on a guitar of this age. Some finish cracking is apparent at the joint between the binding and the headstock, also surrounding the logo edges. This is typical for Nitro finished guitars. The top rear corners demonstrate chipping of the finish, revealing the wood beneath. All aspects of the headstock demonstrate consistent light scratching which can be seen under direct light.

Neck: Overall very good condition. The rear of the neck demonstrates a mild indentation behind the 3rd fret, this can be felt under the thumb in playing position. Some finish cracking is apparent at the heel of the neck, this is typical for Nitro finished guitars where the 3-piece neck has been joined together during manufacture. Mild nitro checking is present to all aspects of the headstock, this is common with nitrocellulose finishes on a guitar of this age. Small gaps are present either side between the frets and binding, this is common on a guitar of this age and changes in temperature. Very light lateral scratching is present across the fingerboard, these can only be seen under direct light and can not be felt in the playing position.

Body: Overall very good condition, the finish surrounding the joint between the neck and the body demonstrates finish cracking which is typical for set neck nitro finished instruments of this age. All aspects of the body demonstrate consistent light scratching throughout, most notable to the rear face. The binding, edges and sides demonstrate similar markings, with a notable chip to the clear coat to the rear face near the control plate. Inconsistent small patches of ‘pitting’ can be seen to the front face treble side, this appears to be a reaction with the nitrocellulose finish and something being sprayed near the body previously.

Condition of Frets:

The frets demonstrate moderate signs of use, with flattening of the crowns throughout the register. This does not affect playability. There is considerable material remaining for future fret work.

Current Set Up:

Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (5/16” socket) not included.

Hardware: Overall very good condition. Light to moderate tarnishing and oxidation is present to all aspects of the metal hardware, this does not affect the functionality of the hardware and is common with regular past use on a guitar of this age. Slight warping is present to the pickguard.

Structural: No concerns or issues to note.

Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.5mm - Bass 2mm

Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.

Strings on Guitar - 10-46

Electrics: Fully functional.

Case & Accessories

Gibson hard case.

Overall very good condition. The exterior of the case displays light scratching and ripping of the tolex. Light to mild tarnishing and oxidation is present to the latches.

Original paperwork, Bear Strap and cable included.