The limited edition Gibson ES-345 was the blues legend’s primary stage model in his later years
(Image credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
B.B. King’s iconic “Lucille” Gibson ES-345 electric guitar has sold at auction for $280,000 - well over its original estimate of $80,000-100,000.
The guitar was the centerpiece of Julien’s Auctions’ Property from the Estate of BB King sale, which featured nearly 600 items owned and used by the legendary bluesman.
As is common knowledge, King bestowed the name Lucille on many guitars over the course of his long career - in fact, just last year Gibson introduced a new Lucille tribute model in Alpine White.
But the model sold at auction, a black Gibson ES-345 prototype 1 for 80 limited edition that was gifted by Gibson to BB King on his 80th birthday, is notable for having served as King’s primary stage guitar in his later years.
(Image credit: courtesy of Julien's Auctions)
Unique touches on the limited edition Lucille include a headstock boasting 'BB King 80' and a mother-of-pearl crown; a pickguard similarly imprinted with a crown and 'BB King' in gold; and custom 'BB' covers on the pickups.
The guitar also came with a hard leather case with 'BB King' embroidered in gold.
(Image credit: courtesy of Julien's Auctions)
The Lucille prototype was just one of many guitar highlights of the Julien’s auction. Other drool-worthy instruments that went under the hammer included a stage-played black 2005 Gibson ES-345 Special Edition Lucille gifted to King to commemorate his 83rd birthday (sold for $43,750); a Gibson ES-355 Stereo model from 1969 ($31,250); a sunburst Gibson Custom model ($25,000); and King's gold-finished "Merry Christmas" Gibson Lucille, featuring a Christmas tree drawing on the body ($25,000).
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Head to Julien’s Auctions for more on the Property from the Estate of BB King sale.
Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.
