Acquired: 29th September 2012
From: Long and McQaude – 109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
With my birthday coming up, it was time to think about giving myself a little treat and of course the inner neon sign flashed a now familiar "buy yourself a new guitar!"
sign.
Initailly, I fancied trying an Epiphone John Lennon inspired 'Revolution' Casino but the copy I had to hand just didn't seem right to me. The F-holes were not very nice to look at side on with little filing/cutting/sawing marks visible. I got back in the car and drove to the next store in downtown Edmonton. Guitar shops, just like record stores, stand like little frequently visited waypoints in my mind map of the city and I knew that my next stop would prpbably make or break the optimism of the day.
I didn't need to click my fingers to gain attention from the staff... they came out of the middle of nowhere and all I said was "I'd like to try a few Epiphones and maybe a decent Gretsch if you have one available?"
Within a very short time, I arranged two Epiphone Casinos, a BB King Lucille, an Epiphone 335, and a Gretsch G5420T Electromatic hollow body
(in Aspen Green) into a nice little semi-circle with a Fender Twin Reverb on stand by.
In comparing the Epiphone Casinos to the BB King Lucille, anyone in their right mind would have to take into account the differences in construction; semi-hollow body with (Casinos) or without (Lucille) F holes and it does make a difference in sound. At that moment... Lucille came out on top but that does not mean I won't buy a Casino in the future.
Next up was the Epiphone 335... a huge disadavntage in the trial is that I have the Gibson version and so it was a quick pick up > plug in > play a few notes > put down kinda decision.
The Gretsch was really interesting... lovely... nay.. 'beautiful' tone, feel, and superb build and a little hard to believe at the price ($780)! Once the Gretsch had gone back to it's stand, I picked up the Lucille and very quickly decided... I must have this 'dream' and so we headed back to the sales counter and dished out the sale. The thing is, I could still hear the Gretsch playing back the stuff I'd played in the trial and it sounded better and better and better... I said to the guy "Look... I'm taking the Lucille but I think I should have you put that Gretsch aside and I'll come and pick it up on the 12th. He did as I demanded and I left arm in arm with Lucille and we headed back to my place.
Marketing: The Epiphone B.B. King Lucille is a unique instrument - designed by BB King himself!
A semi-hollowbody electric guitar with no F-holes, the Epiphone BB King Lucille has a voice all its own. Its body comprises laminated maple - from the back to the sides to the top. A set, maple neck and smooth, rosewood fingerboard just ask to be played, while two humbuckers with Vari-Tone deliver that signature tone. Other appointments include a TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece, and BB King-signature stereo outputs. When you want a legendary guitar, look to the blues legend's Epiphone B.B. King Lucille!
Features
Finish - Ebony
Top - Laminated Maple
Body Material - Laminated maple
Body Style - Semi-hollowbody with no F-holes
Pickups - 2 humbuckers with Vari-Tone
Hardware - Gold
Scale - 24.75"
Nut Width - 1.68"
Neck - Set, Maple
Fingerboard material - Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay - Block
Binding - B-N-H
Tailpiece - TP-6 Fine Tuning
| Specification
|
Detail
|
|
Left-/Right-handed
|
Right-handed
|
|
Body Material
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Laminated Maple
|
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Top Material
|
Laminated Maple
|
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Color
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Ebony
|
|
Neck Material
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Maple, Set
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Scale Length
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24.75"
|
|
Fingerboard Material
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Rosewood
|
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Fingerboard Inlay
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Block
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Number of Frets
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22
|
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Nut Width
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1.68"
|
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Bridge/Tailpiece
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Tune-o-matic, Fine Tuner
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Number of Pickups
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2
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Neck Pickup
|
AlNiCo Classic Humbucker
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Middle Pickup
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No Middle Pickup
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Bridge Pickup
|
AlNiCo Hot Humbucker
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Controls
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2 x Volume, 2 x Tone, 3-way
switch, 1 x Vari-tone
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Case Included
|
No Case Included
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Manufacturer Part Number
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ETBBEBGH1
|
|
