I’ll never own one of these due to health issues,stemming from Covid affecting my cystic fibrosis,taking away my ability to work and the gap between disposable money and making ends meat being so minimal even more so with trying to give my 5 year old the opportunity to play music. But I’m so glad to have been alive to witness this video of my favourite guitar players signature model played by my favourite guitar demo duo. Thank you so much for giving me a feel of how this truly beautiful guitar sounds . If I close my eyes I can almost feel it. Keep doing your thing guys love the work.

I saw BB in Macon, GA in the mid 80s and it was hands-down the best of the hundreds of concerts I've seen in my lifetime. He was truly the king of the blues with the best vibrato in the biz.

@stanknugget

Жыл бұрын

Proof?

@1201zj

Жыл бұрын

​@@stanknugget I really hope you're trolling.

@stanknugget

Жыл бұрын

@@1201zj Of course I am!

@1201zj

Жыл бұрын

@@stanknugget thank goodness lol

As a longtime Gibson player, its really handy to have a control that makes it sound a tad skinnier, particularly on a multi guitar stage. The famed Jimmy Page mod (which I have in my Paul) gives you 18 more settings than stock, and only one of them makes it sound bigger ( and that one's not great). Sometimes hollow quack fits into a mix better than fat and round.

@b5blu392

Жыл бұрын

Remember that time when EVERYONE wanted the page mod on their LP then Gibson made their standards with out of phase and coil spits. Then guitar nuts freaked out bc it wasn’t “standard” anymore. 🤣😂🤣 lunatics

@nathanmarineau3993

5 ай бұрын

That makes sense!

My son is 9 years old and actually truly appreciates BB King and loves to watch and listen! The man is truly timeless! 🙌

@stanknugget

Жыл бұрын

Proof?

@tmmuscics2753

Жыл бұрын

W kid

I'm a metal guy but I've been listening and discovering a lot of blues music recently. Been listening to a lot of Albert King as well. I love his playing and I the music videos of him in the African American churches back in the 60's/70's and can just picture how hot these places were when they got filmed. Love watching his music performances wish I saw him live.

@aleksik4028

Жыл бұрын

Freddie King, Albert King, Otis Rush.

@jeremycox5219

Жыл бұрын

Check out Peter Green playing I've got a mind to give up living it's a cover of a B.B. King song worth a listen.

@USMarine75

Жыл бұрын

If you haven’t already, check out the video “In Session with SRV and Albert King 1983”. Also “Magic Sam - All Your Love and Lookin Good”. 👍🏼

@guitars_tunes_books3426

Жыл бұрын

Albert King is awesome. So is Albert Collins, not sure if you checked him out?

@martynpeters1173

Жыл бұрын

Definitely give Albert Collins a go! If you can work out his running then you’re a better person than I am!

Lee, that last little blast was sublime, great touch and tone, bravo....

Epiphone and Gibson have been stepping up their game lately.

@stoneysdead689

Жыл бұрын

@@rexrathtar3893 I noticed that myself but- everything is going up so- I just assumed they would to. Hell, eggs are like almost 6 bucks a cartoon now.

@toolittle7204

Жыл бұрын

They've just stepped up their marketing brother, same factories and same materials. I'm a shameless stupid Gibson hyperfan, but they have changed nothing aside from huge product line reductions. And I still will stand by Epiphone BY FAR having the absolute worst, trash, horrendous fret work in the game

@bassyey

Жыл бұрын

Now they're both overpriced for the trash they produce. Years ago, it was only Gibson.

@ZJMusic1990

Жыл бұрын

Especially Epiphone!

@kennyblackbird5674

Жыл бұрын

​@@toolittle7204😂😂😂😂👍👍👍Yep!

The Varitone circuit is great for when you're recording clean tracks or even having a dirty setting and recording multiple tracks with various settings from the Varitone.

Believe it or not, I actually got to play a real Lucille owned by BB via work. It's sitting on the floor of one of the owner's offices, just sitting there. They were good friends of BB's.

I bought this guitar and paid full price. Anyone now buying is getting a great deal.

Nice love that I'm getting one .wow nice guitar..cool storyline

Nailed the style and tone. Nice one guys 👍🏼

I saw BB King at the Colston Hall, Bristol in 1981, amazing player and a lovely guy.

Sounded great with the tube screamer with the blues licks Pete! :):)

I play a Gibson Blueshawk and I love the varitone. Playing in a full band those tone cuts can be pretty dynamic and help you sit in a mix

I have a Sheraton that looks like Lucille. I really wanted the white Lucille version that came out a couple of years ago, it was so good looking!

I have the Ltd Edition Bone White Epiphone Lucille. It is such a great guitar. Fret work and set upcis outstanding on the ebony board. Varitone and stereo, what's not to love.

The original ES-345s and ES-355s both had the Varitone. It was basically the originator of the coil-splitting that we see on so many guitars today. Not sure why they made it with 6 different positions, I guess Gibson thought 'We've already started it, let's just keep going'?

Just bought one a month ago. I've owned two Gibson 335s and this is pretty close in quality. And these new models have a slightly different Varitone that actually sounds AWESOME on 4. Cuts a lot of that Epiphone mud out of the mix. I can't recommend these enough.

@jasonodell79er

9 ай бұрын

Wow. Thanks. A bit skeptical.

Awesome guitar and video!

Beautiful guitar and such a mellow tone

It may be aimed at the Blues, but Lucille is an incredibly versatile for many genres. There’s footage of Brent Hinds from Mastodon playing a Lucille and it’s epic

@happyhappy85

Жыл бұрын

Michael Gira from Swans plays one as well

The lab series was a brilliant amp I had a l5 and loved it. Sadly it blew up and I couldn't find someone to fix it. No matter what you plugged into it the sound. If Gibson or Moog would like to reissue this I'm here.

Captain respects the King of the Blues. It shows in his playing here. Nicely done. Saw BB in the early nineties in Montreal. Hell of a show.

There is a great Video from That Pedal Show showing Mick trying to change the Pickups on his Gibson ES 335 , its really entertaining .

@markrist-vt2qr

Жыл бұрын

That's not difficult at all. Just cut the existing wires and solder the new ones onto the old. Don't need to go fishing around through the f-holes just to change pickups.

I totally got what you were talking about. I saw both videos. Yep he knows more than when he was with the edge.

CJ from the wildhearts plays a Gibson Lucille AFAIK. That’s a good enough reason to get one. If you know, you know

Great demo guys...I always wondered what guitar style Captain was into?...now I know, he's a brilliant bluesman!!!....loved the jam at the end guys and I'm seriously thinking of purchasing one.

Varitone is best used in the middle pickup position and in combination with the pickup volumes. You get a much broader range of usable tones, position 3 is best for this in my opinion.

Your playing is fire Pete and i can honestly say i like my 2021 Epi LP std 60s smokehouse better than a 1992 Gibson Studio i had the pro/burstbuckers are better than 490r/t for me and the Epi 60s slim neck feels better.

Position 4 with the tone knobs dialed back has a very glassy fender quality. This is one of the best guitars I've ever played.

The early 80's 335 studios did not have F holes as well. Lab series L5 was pretty good, had a built in compressor circuit.

Pretty sure if you watch the B.B.King "The Thrill is Gone", 1993 Montreux - he is using position 2 or 3 of the varitone.

Fan sincse TTIG in '69. Knew some things but loved the mention of the Gibson Lab Series amps, They were pretty killer.

The Tone Master getting some love! 🙌

A King size guitar purpose designed for Chicago uptown blues club duty.

Lee, you sound great doing BB. You can tell that you love him.

Captains on form with the feels today

I saw BB KIng play the Paramount theater in Seattle in 1994. At the end of the show, his bandleader was yelling "B-B - KING!" into the mic over and over, while BB went to the front of the stage, removed his jewelry, and gave it to the fans.

BB had an article in Guitar Player magazine called "Educate yourself", he was no fool! To my knowledge he used position 2 and 3 only on the varitone.

I believe that position 2 on the Varitone was BB's favourite and he didn't use any other

Forget the blues, it’s a rock machine. Izzy from Guns ‘n Roses used to play a red Lucille. The varitone is great for Mick Ronson/Ziggy Stardust sounds. It cuts better through the mix. Chicken style fingerpicking works great. And in my case…I have a 50’s Bassman 5F6A Mercury Mag clone that is heavy on the bassside on the neck humbucker PU at higher volume (non master). Click it down a notch or two and you’re right back in the Ziggy territory…

Pete’s solo in the opening jam is so tasty. Almost nothing played. Perfect.

I still prefer my 2017 to the newer models but this is a total no brainer for people who might like the newer headstock + tuners

I have one in bone white, Great guitar....

Andertons SHOULD do an exclusive version of the ES-355 (by Epiphone, of course) with the BIgsby and F holes for us The Cure fans

@stanknugget

Жыл бұрын

Nah.

that lucille is an awesome guitar , its an absolute beauty.

The ES-333 has that same back panel to access the electronics. They're made to be modded.

Captain was cookin on the intro

The reason it has an access panel for the electronics is that it doesn't have f holes to access the electronics from.

Oh my!! It's a beautiful guitar. Should I buy this one or a Gibson ES-335? Nice playing Lee! The same goes without saying for Pete!

These look so good. If I could afford another guitar right now I would probably get one.

sweet guitars guys! maybe make a follow up film playing in the middle position with the wild switch? might have more hidden tones in there! possibly some peter green tones??

I disagree about him only using that gadget thingy on the 1/off setting- when Pete switched over to the next to the last setting- at 11:23- that sounded a lot like BB to me. At times his sound got very sharp, just like that. I played in a blues cover band called The Buzzards- we were the house band at The Speedy Pig on Beale Street- which is a Bar-B-Q/bar/blues club that's been there for many, many decades- one of the oldest clubs on Beale Street- which is considered the home of the blues in the US. BB played there multiple times when he was younger and getting his start. He never played there while we were there- he had long moved on from playing any smaller venues like that by that time. But- he was scheduled to play Memphis in May- but not in a club, he would've been playing outdoors on the big stage. But it got cancelled- instead Cheryl Crowe and Kid Rock played- and they sucked. You have to consider- half the audience when you're playing the big stage at Memphis in May are semi-professional musicians that play in the clubs and on the street corner. That may sound odd- semi-pros playing the street corner- but it's not on Beale Street- you see it often. But yeah- this part of the crowd was not very impressed with Cheryl or Mr. Rock. But- before they came out this chic named Paula Cole played piano and sang- she was amazing. Apparently, she had a couple hits on the radio- I never listened to them but- she does one hell of a live performance, very talented lady.

BB n Freddy King used to use position 2 on their Varitone's

Love your playing on this one (both of you). Regarding the varitone - Perhaps they 'non-1' settings would be more useful with rhythm in a mix rather than lead?

Well the practical thing about the varitone is you have 5 different caps and bypass. - So you can easily dial in a dull and jazzy tone (humbucker plus 0.047 caps like on jazz boxes) or a bright and bluesy tone (humbucker plus 0.022 caps). There is a luthier in Manchester building a varitone-in-a-pedal pedal. If you have guitars without caps or bypassed you can run em into a varitone pedal. In the early days B.B. played semi hollows with classic57 unwaxed. Later when he got his signature guitar without the f holes, like the guitar you re showing, he got 498/490 pickups which had higher output. He changed the brutal loud Twin Reverb for his well known Lab5 solid state amp. So the hotter pickups wouldn t crank the amp on high volume as they would have on the Twin Reverb. I read he used 8' some say 9' strings. I can recommand watching a biography. He had a very interesting life.

@andreborges2881

Жыл бұрын

I don't believe there were "classic 57" in the early days of B.B. He used PAFs, I'd guess. Other than that, very interesting link of the SS amp swap because of the 498/490 pups.

@To.Si.Ma.

Жыл бұрын

​​@@andreborges2881 the classic57 by Gibson or Seth Lovers by Seymour Duncan are P.A.F.s redesigned. So thats what he had on his 60s hollowbodies like Wes Montgomery on his jazzbox. SD have as well the antiquity Humbucker which are said to be a bit more P.A.F. like the Seth Lovers... If you can hear that. But those pickups are practically what B.B. played in his early years. I said 57 because P.A.F. came out in between 1955 and 1959 (PAF era), in 1959 they got waxpotted. Thats why Gibson call their PAF HB classic57 and SD their 57 model Seth Lover. SD59 are waxpotted alnico5. While the classic PAFs and classic57, SD SethLover and Antiquities use alnico2. The 498/490 work on a solid state or tube amp with lots of headroom. Otherwise they would crank the amp to early. B.B. is known for clean tones.

BB played in the stereo position and #2 on the Varitone. When using the stereo position you can't use the neck pickup. He kept the toggle in the middle position. And didn't use pedals.

when you mentioned it, might be the first time i ever realized lucille didn't have f holes.

BB used position 2 and 3 on the varitone.

BB KIng generally used position #2 on the Varitone

The wife knew how much I appreciated B.B. King, so she got us tickets to see him at the Kodak back in 2007. He told stories about as much as he played. If you haven't listened to him Playin' With My Friends or with Elvin Bishop, take a listen. He was and always will be the King! I need to get this or the Gibson model just to look at it and maybe play some of his tunes. Thanks so much for the review, and I will try to drop in next time I'm in town.

I saw BB live once. Fender Twin (or very similar looking Fender amp anyway) and just so loud. The band started and it seemed loud enough then BB started playing and it was louder than everything else put together.

@To.Si.Ma.

Жыл бұрын

Twin Reverb had 85-100 watt. Lab5 100 watt solid state.

@nathanielvargas3863

5 ай бұрын

I’ve seen many rock bands but BB King and his band were louder than any I’ve heard.

You guys rule so fun. I'm always watching .varitone rules.

BB King often used Position 2 on the Varitone

Back in 1996 BB played a gig in Antwerp Belgium, I was one of the roadies. No pedals, just a L5 everything on 10. Speakers were Widow makers. The P.A.. did the rest.

YO Captain you play some pretty good blues licks 😎🎸

You need to crank the reverb up buddy awesome playing guys blues on andertons crew!!

From what I've read, BB used the varitone on #2 and the pickup selector in the middle for both pickups.

That really IS a stunning sound...regardless of make....helps if you have good fingers too....all good then innit....🤔

I have one of these and they are a great shout at the sale price if you want an ES style guitar on a budget. I think the varitone switch is super versatile and often overlooked with many players not liking it, but like The Captain said, in the right mix, one of those positions on the switch will stand out. I would say though that the build quality is hit and miss with some Epiphones even if they have improved of late. Mine has some open low E string fret buzz which a truss rod adjustment didn't resolve, but that aside, this guitar looks great and the tones are there if you search for them.

@stanknugget

Жыл бұрын

Well, they are owned by Gibson, so…

@danielhunter8008

Жыл бұрын

I had some issues with open string buzz as well. Turned out to be improperly cut slots on the nut. The angle was wrong but it was easy to fix with a nut file. Might help in your case

@gurtana

Жыл бұрын

@@danielhunter8008 Thanks, it might well be the same issue. I'll have a look at that when I can and intonation. But I'll probably take it to a tech as I don't want to over-file the nut slot.

I’ve read BBs favorite was position number two.

How to start bb king style! 5th 6th 1 and band to major 3rd 😁 but his melodic feel is unique

I love the variatone. Hope to get a guitar with it someday

@christianboddum8783

Жыл бұрын

You can find a Varitone kit online (UK) and put it into a pedalcase, then you can use it on all your guitars 😉

@dustingmyguitars

Жыл бұрын

@@christianboddum8783 That's cool. I will have to try that. Ty for the tip

@adamp8765

Жыл бұрын

tinytone makes a varitone pedal that does the same thing

Lee's face at ~0:34 is me trying to think of an appopriate blues phrase

It was used to cut bassy feedback on hollow stage's 330s were dreadful for that 345 s were better ...it had that sort of control,,,, this was in. 63 64 we had vox ac30s and mad as hell, I wish I was young again...

I saw BB with his full band in the 70s and he was very loud and slightly overdriven. I think I read somewhere that he only ever used one position on the Varitone. I was also lucky enough to see the other two Kings, and Freddie in particular knocked my socks off. I think he played a 345.

@To.Si.Ma.

Жыл бұрын

He played normally 2nd and 3rd position.

@dustingmyguitars

Жыл бұрын

How was Albert live? I've seen some of his concerts on youtube. Seems like he was a born entertainer

@kingstumble

Жыл бұрын

@@dustingmyguitars He was part of a package tour in the late 60s--possibly the American Folk Blues Festival--and all I really remember was his left hand Flying V. I don't recall any of his performance.

@_caseyjames

Жыл бұрын

Freddie was a colossus, what a hero

Maybe you have to change position on neck, when you change some of the pisitions on that 6 way switch. Maybe...

4:07 The old studios had these back doors (:D) and ES-333

Great guitar.Certainly a lot of guitar for the money. Love mine!😀

B>B of used a Solid-State Lab Series L5 amp

The varitone switch is hugely misunderstood. The range of sounds you can get by adjusting the volume & tone controls with the various varitone settings is huge. There should be one on every guitar !!!

and as always there is no option for left-handed people!!! fantastic !!

Damn! That's about $200 less than any reseller in the States! I wish I could just drive to Guildford and walk in and buy one today. No Chunnel from Savannah to the UK - YET! Not "the channel" but the Atlantic, so it would be the Atunnle or A Tunnel.

Wow they sound so good actually sound like BB Kings Gibson .

Buying this guitar is a no-brainer definitely total overhaul upgrade I mean actually considering this is a great body and neck with the Ebony fretboard, putting the right pick ups in here a set of Lucille lust for tone and changing out everything to nickel hardware. In my opinion, if you can switch this to The correct bridge and tell conversion kit I’m not sure but certainly if possible this can turn out to be one hell of a guitar it’s the most upgradable epic phone I’ve seen yet that doesn’t actually have a cheaper. Look to it some of the 150th anniversary models but This one certainly has a lot of opportunities. Curious to see what you guys think about that and hear your feedback great demo as always excellent tones that’s why I think the guitar still has so much promise need a good semi hollow guitar for gigging and the true signature one is almost $7000. Lol. 14:48

Damn it, Lee! You and Pete made me go out and buy one! Even though I couldn't get it from you, thanks for the recommendation! I've always wanted a 335 style and this one sans F holes seems to fit the bill. Good going! Now I'll have to get the Epiphone Explorer and Flying V...

And maybe even right hand position, becouse, as I remember, BB is pretty static when he is playing, he doesn't change positions very often... So maybe...

Hi there ! Love your videos. I have one of these Epiphone BB King Lucille's, I bought used, about circa 6yrs ago, for £250, fairly minty, with a cheap hard case. Is what you are demo'ing, a new version of Epiphone's BB King Lucille, or is it the same model that's been around for some years ?? And where the hell did you get your Tonemaster ? I'm trying to get a Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb Blonde, and "another" guitar store local to me, told me it would be October or November, before they are back in stock !! Stay cool guys !

Wonder if it's one of those things where the play back is more pronounced than the sound in the live room, but every time you guys were talking about how the varitone didn't really do much and weren't sure if BB ever even used it, to me those were the times when it seemed that Pete was actually getting his most BB like sounds 😆

@nintendonut100

7 ай бұрын

Yeah, sounded like it did a lot to me, and some of those tones they got from the positions definitely sounded like his ones to me

Bought one when they first came out because I thought it was a limited edition. What an incredible guitar and incredible value, especially with the Andertons sale. The varitone is so underrated. Think of it like riding your volume knob. Have the amp gain cranked and then use combination of volume knob and varitone to sculpt your tone. Also, the varitone excels in a mix. What you think sounds thin alone will cut through a mix.

If you have a tube amp (monoprice stage right 15) it will plug into a cab, but can you plug a head into the combo, like what, disconnect the amp or not a good suggestion

You didn’t mention the stereo output!

This seems like a great guitar at a decent price.

Please do Captain Meets with Doyle Bramhall II

Over here in the United States it’s $949 (£789.50 over there) £649? I’d take that deal all day.

Vari-tone = variable tone.. It was made to give players additional... or one might say various tones.. It was literally just for providing more tones - specifically by notching out mid range frequencies. It was originally advertised as a 'built-in tone selector'. Also Freddie was easily the best king - I havent ever found confirmation, but it is speculated he used his vari-tone quite a bit to get different sounds/tonal qualities - usually out of phase type sounds akin to Peter Green

Sometimes lee is a smoothbrain....the varjtone mixed with pedals and tweaking the tone options up so many tone options, coming from a guy who sells pedals he should understand.

Bb king is to guitar players what the 59 bassman is to amps. Not the greatest to ever play but a top 5 and easily the most important of them all. One of my favourites.

Can anyone tell me what chord are they playing at the outro jam?? It sounded amazing!!!