1996 Gibson ES-355 B.B. King Lucille w Bigsby Vibramate

Made in Nashville Tennessee, USA

Serial: 91556465

Upgraded with Bigsby Vibramate and Gotoh Imperial Tuners, otherwise 100% Original

Nut Width: 1.69

Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .83

Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .98

Weight: 10 lbs 5 oz's

Comes in Original Case w Paperwork Pictured 

$$$ It has just been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing. The frets are in perfect condition and polished to shine like a mirror, it is truly stage or studio ready/worthy. Including New Strings,  Perfect Intonation, Truss Rod Adjustment and Low Action Read Our Feedback and Rest Assured, The Dude Abides!

Blues Legend Reborn: Own this 1996 Gibson BB King Lucille That’s Got More Soul Than a Midnight Jam Session!

Hey, guitar slingers and tone chasers! Are you ready to cradle a piece of blues history that’s been kissed by time and tuned for triumph? Introducing this 1996 Gibson BB King Lucille – the queen of the fretboard who’s aged like fine whiskey, with a sweet Bigsby Vibramate that allows for some exceptional tonal possibilites, stays in tune and looks great that tells tales of epic gigs and smoky stages. She’s got a few dings that add character (because who wants a guitar without a story?), and buckets of mojo that’ll make your solos sing the blues like BB himself!

Don’t fret – this beauty’s in player-friendly condition, professionally set up with brand-new frets that glide smoother than a slide on steel strings. Perfect for the gigging gunslinger or the studio wizard laying down tracks that hit harder than a high note. We’ve fully rewired her circuits for crystal-clear vibes, and Varitone stereo six-way switch that’ll switch up your sound faster than a key change in “The Thrill Is Gone.”

Why settle for a plain Jane axe when you can Lucille your way to legendary licks? This guitar’s not just an instrument – it’s your ticket to tone town, where every strum strikes gold. Grab her now before she wails away to another lucky player! Contact us today and let the blues begin. 🎸

This 1996 Gibson B.B. King Lucille features a semi-hollow maple body with no f-holes for feedback reduction, a mahogany neck, ebony fretboard with split block inlays, and mother-of-pearl headstock inlays. It is equipped with all original electronics, gold-plated hardware, including upgraded Gotoh Imperial tuners, dual humbucking pickups, a Varitone switch, and a Bigsby Vibramate. The guitar also has a bound headstock and fretboard, and the truss rod cover is engraved with B.B. King's name.

Full Specs:

Body

Material: Maple with a maple centerblock to reduce feedback.

Construction: Semi-hollow body.

F-holes: No f-holes, a signature modification requested by B.B. King to further control feedback.

Binding: Multi-ply binding on the body and headstock.

Finish: Gloss finish, typically in an ebony or black color.

Neck & Fingerboard

Neck Material: Mahogany.

Profile: SlimTaper profile.

Fingerboard: Ebony.

Inlays: Mother-of-pearl or pearloid split block inlays.

Headstock Inlay: Mother-of-pearl "Lucille" inlay.

Nut: Solid brass or Corian nut.

Frets: 22 frets.

Hardware

Tuners: Gold-plated Gotoh Imperial tuners.

Bridge: ABR-1 or Tune-o-matic bridge.

Tailpiece: Newer Gibson Original TP-6 tailpiece with fine tuners.

Strap Buttons: Brass strap buttons.

Electronics - Have been Rewired and Varitone Switch Replaced

Pickups: Two Gibson humbucking pickups

Controls: Two volume, two tone controls.

Varitone: New Six-position Varitone rotary switch for a variety of tonal options.

Output: Stereo and mono output jacks.

Cosmetics & Features

Truss Rod: Adjustable truss rod with a polished brass truss rod cover engraved with "B.B. King".

Binding: Bound fretboard and headstock.

Pickguard: Tortoise-bound pickguard.

This guitar has been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. Unless otherwise noted in the listing, It features low action with no buzzing or dead spots, perfect intonation, a brand-new set of American-made strings, and a straight neck with a fully functional truss rod. If needed the frets have been leveled, dressed, crowned, and polished to a mirror shine. The fingerboard has been thoroughly cleaned (unfinished rosewood and ebony boards are treated with Fret Doctor, a premium all-natural oil). All electronics function flawlessly. The guitar has been deep-cleaned and detailed and arrives stage- or studio-ready. 

About The Guitar Dude 

Three-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer worldwide. Specializing in premium Gibson, classic Fender guitars from all eras and the best Japanese made treasures. Known for the highest-quality consignment sales and custom layaway plans (available on select guitars and extendable beyond 45 days to fit your budget—contact us for details).  

Often copied, never duplicated. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for beautiful guitar content. Like what you see? Let us go to work for you. @TheGuitarDude

Our Guarantee  

We stand behind every guitar we sell. “Good enough” is never good enough. Every instrument is inspected, set up, and tested by multiple people immediately before shipping. We deliver the highest standard of quality and have built a reputation as a three-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer since 2009. The Dude Abides.  

Neck & Setup - (unless otherwise noted)

- Neck is perfectly straight with no truss-rod issues. 

- Intonation is spot-on.  

- Professionally set up with low action and new American-made strings.  

- All frets are dressed, leveled, crowned (if needed), and all frets on all guitars are polished to shine like new with no divots.  

Return Policy, Restocking Fees & No Tire-Kicking Policy 

We follow Reverb’s 7-day return policy. However:  

- You must notify us in writing within 3 days of delivery (per tracking) of your intent to return.  

- Original shipping and return shipping costs are not refunded unless the guitar is damaged in transit or is significantly not as described.  

- A 15% restocking fee applies to all returns for any reason other than damage in transit or significantly not as described.  

We record demo videos of every guitar before shipping to document exact condition and performance. Additional photos, measurements, or in-hand descriptions are available upon request prior to purchase.  

Minor adjustments and tweaks to a set up (for example to correct a slight buzz or truss-rod tweak) are normal after shipping due to carrier mishandling the package, climate & atmospheric changes, especially when moving from South Florida to colder or less humid environments. These slight issues do not constitute “significantly not as described.” Guitars must be returned in the exact same condition as received/advertised or additional repair/restocking fees will apply.  

We are a small business, not a big-chain retailer. We invest significant time and effort into every guitar. This is a NO TIRE-KICKING shop. There is no post purchase haggling or partial refunds. If minor cosmetic marks, tiny imperfections, or the possibility of a post-shipping setup tweak makes you uncomfortable, please do not buy. Plenty of large retailers offer free trials and can absorb shipping costs—we do not.  

Payment, Shipping & International Duties  

- All items can be shipped internationally. Buyer is fully responsible for all import duties, taxes, and customs fees.  

- We accept PayPal, PayPal Credit, Affirm, and other major payment methods.  

- Most U.S. shipments are sent via UPS or FedEx with full insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation. All packages are professionally packed for maximum protection.  

International Shipping Note 

International shipping prices shown are for most countries. Certain countries have higher costs. We try and avoid USPS and mostly ship UPS. Express services (UPS, DHL, FedEx) are always available. Contact us for a personalized quote.  

Thank you for considering The Guitar Dude. We look forward to earning your business and delivering a guitar that exceeds your expectations. Contact us anytime for questions, consignment inquiries, layaway details, or a personalized shipping quote.