Song Rig
The Thrill Is Gone
B.B. King · Completely Well · 1969
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
BB King's most famous tone — Lucille (a Gibson ES-335 variant) into a Lab Series L5 amp, with the guitar's unique suspension system preventing feedback at stage volume. Warm, singing, and never harsh. The string bends and vibrato carry more emotional content than any effect.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson Lucille (ES-355 custom, no f-holes, semi-hollow)
- 2Fender Bassman (original recording) or Lab Series L5
- 3No effects whatsoever
Amp Settings
Very clean, very warm — BB King never used overdrive or distortion effects. The warmth comes from the semi-hollow body and a moderate, non-saturating amp level. Presence and treble kept low for smoothness.
Technique
How to Play It
BB King's vibrato is unique: he shakes the note from side to side (parallel to the fret) rather than bending up and down — this creates a distinctive warble. He also rarely plays more than one note at a time, letting each note speak fully.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Any semi-hollow or hollow guitar with a warm pickup + any clean Fender-style amp. The technique (side-to-side vibrato) is the defining characteristic — without it, you have the gear but not the tone.
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