B.B. King’s ‘Lucille’ guitar going up for auction

[Satanica]

I've always loved the blues and listened to BB and Freddie King (also very talented) at the same time I was discovering the psychedelic music of the 60's-70's.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Her name was “Lucille,” and in B.B. King’s hands she gave voice to the “King of the Blues.”

Julien’s Auctions announced Tuesday that King’s black Gibson ES-345 prototype guitar is among the items from his estate that will go up for bid on Sept. 21.

Julien’s says Gibson gave King the instrument for his 80th birthday. The headstock has “B.B. King 80” and a crown inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The guitar is estimated to be worth $80,000 to $100,000.

The guitar was not the first to bear the name. The story goes that King first used that moniker for a guitar he rescued from a fire while he was playing an Arkansas club in 1949. The blaze broke out as two men fought over a woman, and the musician narrowly escaped death after he went back into the club to save his guitar, the auction house said.

When King learned the woman’s name was Lucille, he named his guitar after her “to remind himself to never fight over a woman or run into a burning building,” the auction house said.

The National Medal of Arts that President George H.W. Bush presented to King in 1990 is also up for auction. So are his touring van, jewelry and clothing.
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B.B. King's 'Lucille' guitar going up for auction

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Her name was "Lucille," and in B.B. King's hands she gave voice to the "King of the Blues."

apnews.com

 

[Sejanus]

The pretty important piece of music history which will likely wind up in a private collection to be seen by very few. It should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

 

[LFODBiker]

If it's going to end up in some private collection I'd rather it be David Grohl or Slash. At least they would appreciate what it is and will actually play it rather than lock it away.

<edited - clarity>

 

[Inferus]

I see she is up for another man's touch if the price is right.

 

[Siobhan]

I'd like to see Robert Cray, or Bonnie Raitt, or Keb's Mo' buy his guitar, because not only would it still be played, but *the blues* would be what was mostly played on it, as it should be.

I love used guitars, I like to think they have the musical mojo of the previous owner still resonating within them, and you can often tell the other owner's favorite notes/chords/riffs by the wear marks on the fingerboards.

 

[QuickSugar]

Music is love.