I am offering a Gibson ES-355 Lucille Ebony from 1988, the made in Nashville, Tennessee (USA), iconic semi-hollow signature model by blues legend B.B. King from the post-Norlin era, with top, back, and sides made of maple with solid maple center block, set-in maple neck with medium “C” neck profile and 42.9mm nut width, bound ebony fingerboard with bold mother-of-pearl block inlays, two warm-sounding Gibson Bill Lawrence “The Original” humbuckers with sophisticated electronics, including factory-installed Varitone switch and high-quality Gibson Tune -o-Matic bridge with Gibson TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece in a beautiful ebony nitrocellulose high-gloss finish with multi-ply body bindings and tortoise pickguard in very good condition, including original Gibson luxury hardshell case and professional setup with 10-gauge Elixir strings.

In 1986, the Norlin Corporation sold its Gibson shares, ending the “Norlin era,” and under new management, the focus returned to manufacturing quality. This new beginning was urgently needed and significantly saved Gibson from ruin. This 1988 Gibson Lucille presented here is an excellent example of the exceptional post-Norlin manufacturing quality at the Nashville factory.

The B.B. signature guitar, aka “Lucille,” is based on the ES-355 design, but was specifically adapted to the tonal and playing requirements of the great blues master and is one of the most popular semi-hollow guitars in the Gibson range – no wonder that the model is still being built four decades later.

The body is made of maple for the top, back, and sides and features a solid maple center block that provides excellent feedback resistance, tight bass response, and long sustain. The classic ES-355 shape does without the iconic F-holes, yet offers a perfect balance between acoustic resonance and electrical assertiveness. The deep black ebony nitrocellulose high-gloss finish underscores the elegant, timeless custom character of this model.

The set-in maple neck with a medium C profile provides a solid yet smooth playing feel and is equally suited for expressive bending, controlled vibrato, and precise chord playing. The bound ebony fingerboard with large mother-of-pearl block inlays not only provides a luxurious look, but also ensures a fast, direct response across the entire fingerboard. The elaborately five-ply bound headstock with the characteristic Lucille mother-of-pearl inlay rounds off the elegant appearance.

Sonically, this Lucille is equipped with two original “The Original” circuit board humbuckers developed by Bill Lawrence, which deliver a warm, open vintage tone with silky highs, carrying mids, and tight bass thanks to their melodic singing qualities, complex rich overtones, and extremely dynamic sound response. A key unique feature is the six-way Varitone switch, which allows the frequency spectrum to be specifically shaped – from full and round to focused, nasal, and assertive. This was an essential tool in B.B. King's sound concept and makes the Lucille exceptionally versatile.

A sound sample of the model (only from 1991) can be found above at the end of the photo gallery.

The Gibson Tune-o-Matic bridge in combination with the TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece allows for extremely precise fine tuning directly at the string holder and offers maximum tuning stability – especially with changing string tensions or in studio use. The gold-plated hardware and classic Gibson Crown Button tuners blend harmoniously into the luxurious overall picture.

The ES-355 Lucille is aimed at players who are looking for an expressive, dynamic blues, jazz, and soul sound that can be effortlessly developed from warm clean passages to singing leads. At the same time, this model is a highly attractive collector's item from the early Post Norlin era of the 1980s due to its features, history, and craftsmanship.

Technical Specifications:

• Origin: Nashville, TN, USA
• Year of manufacture: 1988
• Construction: Semi-hollow with solid maple center block
• Top: Arched maple top
• Back/sides: Maple
• Neck: Maple, set-in
• Neck profile: Medium “C”
• Fingerboard: Ebony with mother-of-pearl block inlays, bound
• Fingerboard radius: 12"
• Frets: 22, medium jumbo
• Nut: 42.9mm
• Headstock: Black face with Lucille mother-of-pearl logo inlay, 5-ply bound
• Pickups: 2x Gibson Bill Lawrence “The Original” Circuit Board Humbucker
• Electronics: 3-way switch, 2x volume & 2x tone controls; 1x Varitone switch
• Tuners: Gibson Crown button tuners
• Bridge: Gibson Tune-o-Matic with TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece
• Hardware: Gold
• Bindings: Cream; 7-ply (top), 3-ply (back), 5-ply (headstock)
• Pickguard: Tortoise, 5-ply bound
• Finish: High-gloss black, nitrocellulose
• Scale length: 628mm
• Weight: 4.33kg
• Serial no.: 81728553
• Includes brown vintage Gibson luxury hardshell case

These early Gibson ES-355 Lucilles from the post-Norlin era are of outstanding build quality and are now extremely rare.

This Gibson ES-355 Lucille is in excellent original condition and is technically flawless. Visually, the instrument shows only normal age-related wear, which blends in well with the vintage patina of the instrument (see pictures). The frets are in excellent condition.

The instrument has been professionally set up with 10-46 Elixir Optiweb strings, and I (a long-time guitar teacher) will ship it fully insured via DHL for €49.99 within Germany or €119.99 within the EU. Worldwide shipping is available—individual shipping costs upon request.

All pictures shown are of the actual instrument for sale.