History & Significance
xx
Artists & Notable Guitars
10/21/22 Marty McFly's Back to the Future guitar was from the future | Guitar World
6/3/25 Gibson launches search for missing Back to the Future guitar | Guitar World
6/5/25 Michael J. Fox and others discuss the lost Back to the Future guitar | Guitar World
7/4/25 Gibson steps up search for lost Back to the Future guitar | Guitar World
RUSH: ALEX LIFESON "WHITEY" 1976 GIBSON ES-355TD sold for $384,000
- Alex Lifeson's main guitar from 1976-2015 was Custom built for him at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo
- "Whitey" is played by Lifeson on:
- All tours from "A Farewell to Kings" (1977) to "R40" (2015)
- All albums from "A Farewell to Kings" (1977) to "Test for Echo" (1996)
- All music videos supporting "A Farewell to Kings", "Hemispheres", and "Moving Pictures"
- Rock bands did not tend to favor the semi hollow body sound in the 1970s, and so Lifeson's consistent use of the ES 335 and ES 355 gave Rush's music a distinct sound and feel. The sound of Lifeson's signature chord (an F sharp major chord with an added 4th and flat 7) ringing out on the opening of "Cygnus Book II: Hemispheres" in Whitey's rich tone is one of Rush's most iconic musical moments, and countless others have been worked out, recorded, and performed on this instrument.
- SIGNATURE MODEL: 2008 Gibson Custom Shop Alex Lifeson ES-355 Alpine White MSRP $5645 - faithful replica of Lifeson’s 1976 Alpine White ES-355, limited to 50 units, all hand-signed and numbered by Lifeson
Note: see next section for in depth discussion about the Gibson B.B. King "Lucille" models
Lucille Models
The Gibson B.B. King "Lucille" is an iconic semi-hollowbody electric guitar, designed in collaboration with blues legend B.B. King to reflect his customized ES-355 guitars, named “Lucille” after a 1949 incident where King risked his life to save his guitar from a fire sparked by a dispute over a woman named Lucille...
1980-2019 GIBSON B.B. KING LUCILLE MODELS
- In 1980 the first B.B. King models were introduced based on the Gibson ES-355 with no F-holes in two variations:
- 1980 - B.B. King Standard MSRP $1389
- 1980 - B.B. King Custom MSRP $1789
- In 1981 each model was renamed
- 1981-83 - BB King Standard "Lucille" MSRP $1389
- 1981-85 - BB King Custom "Lucille" MSRP $1789
- 1988-2001 Gibson B.B. King "Lucille"
- In 1986 the Lucille Custom became the B.B. King "Lucille" , and this was the only B.B. King model available until 2002
- 2002-2011 Gibson B.B. King "Lucille"
- Production of the B.B. King models was moved from Nashville to the new Gibson Memphis factory in 2002
- 2002-04 Gibson B.B. King Super "Lucille" Model ARLS MSRP $3999
- Limited edition run of 50 instruments (plus 17 Artist Proofs)
- Hand signed B.B. King signature pickguard
- Similar to the B.B. King Lucille, except has an abalone block fingerboard and "Gibson" & "Lucille" logo headstock and available in Black Sparkle finish only
- 2006 Gibson Custom Shop B.B. King "80th Birthday" Lucille - Limited edition in honor of King's 80th birthday with only 80 made & Signed by BB King (King took ownership of Prototype #1) MSRP $5999
- 2006 Gibson BB King “King of the Blues” Lucille MSRP $4700 - Limited edition 150 made & Signed by BB King
- 2011 Gibson Gem Series Limited Edition B.B. King Lucille Model ARLCCHGH1 MSRP $5999
- Lucille has only ever been produced in Ebony or Cherry finish—until now. Based on the exalted specs of Gibson Custom’s B.B. King Lucille model, the Gem Series includes five exclusive new finishes, produced in only 125 guitars total, with 25 of each color: Sapphire, Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, and Emerald
- 2012-19 Gibson B.B. King "Lucille"
- 2014 65th Anniversary Lucille Model ARLC14 MSRP $3799
- Commemorates the 1959 ES-355TD-SV, with a mother-of-pearl “Lucille” headstock inlay and “65 Years” truss rod cover
- 2016 Gibson B.B. King "Lucille" Model ARLCAWGH1 MSRP $4199
- 2019 Gibson B.B. King "Lucille" Model ARLCAWGH1 MSRP $5499 - limited run of 100 units in Alpine White with Gold Hardware. In 2019, Gibson consolidated production to Nashville, ending the Memphis division’s semi-hollow production. The 2019 Lucille was among the final models, increasing its collectibility.
- 2014 65th Anniversary Lucille Model ARLC14 MSRP $3799
- 2022+ Gibson B.B. King Lucille Legacy Model BBES355LLTEBGH1 MSRP $7999
- The legendary Gibson B.B. King Lucille Legacy returns to the Custom Shop ES™ lineup as a core Artist model. Lucille features all of the high-end appointments that are fit for a King. Highlights include gold hardware, including a gold “B.B. King” engraved truss rod cover and a TP-6 tailpiece with fine tuners. A “Lucille” mother of pearl inlay adorns the headstock, and the ebony fretboard features split block mother of pearl inlays. A mono Varitone switch, along with four audio taper CTS® potentiometers and paper-in-oil Bumblebee capacitors, are paired to Gibson Custombucker humbucking pickups. The legendary semi-hollowbody design remains, but the f-holes are gone, in keeping with B.B. King’s personal preferences. The top, back, and sides of the body feature stunning figured maple veneer, which is visible through the Transparent Ebony nitrocellulose lacquer finish, making Lucille a very special guitar that’s fit for blues royalty.
- In 1980 the first B.B. King models were introduced based on the Gibson ES-355 with no F-holes in two variations:
Mach Five Guitar
The Mach Five Guitar is a 1999 Gibson ES355 TDSVBB King "Lucille" SN 92039417
Image Descriptions
Reference
top of page
bottom of page