Guitar tone · blues, r&b
B.B. King guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 7 B.B. King songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson ES-355TD-SV 'Lucille' into Gibson Lab Series L-5 solid state combo.
Guitars B.B. King used
- Gibson ES-355TD-SV 'Lucille'2 songs
- Gibson ES-355 'Lucille'2 songs
- mid-1960s Gibson ES-355TD-SV2 songs
- Gibson ES-355TD-SV1 song
- Gibson ES-355 (early 1960s, pre-Lucille, likely mono wiring)1 song
- Fender Precision Bass (likely, session standard for 1960s blues/R&B recordings)1 song
- Gibson ES-355TD-SV (Lucille)1 song
Amps B.B. King used
- Gibson Lab Series L-5 solid state combo3 songs
- Gibson Lab Series L5 solid-state combo2 songs
- Lab Series L5 2x12" combo amp1 song
- Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, 1964, tube combo)1 song
- Lab Series L5 (solid-state combo, B.B. King's primary studio amp late 1970s-1980s)1 song
- Ampeg B-15N Portaflex (likely studio amp for 1960s blues sessions)1 song
- Lab Series L51 song
10 B.B. King tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| The Thrill Is Gone · riff | 0 |
| The Thrill Is Gone · solo | 0 |
| Blues Boys Tune · riff | 0 |
| Blues Boys Tune · solo | 2.5 |
| Blues Boys Tune · solo | 2.5 |
| Guess Who · riff | 0 |
| Rock Me Baby · clean | 0 |
| So Excited · riff | 0 |
| Sweet Little Angel · riff | 0 |
| Sweet Sixteen · riff | 2.5 |
B.B. King songs on popular amps
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.
Get B.B. King's tone on your gear
Pick any B.B. King song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did B.B. King use?
Across 7 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Gibson Lab Series L-5 solid state combo (3 songs), Gibson Lab Series L5 solid-state combo (2 songs), Lab Series L5 2x12" combo amp (1 song), Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, 1964, tube combo) (1 song).
What guitar did B.B. King use?
Most often: Gibson ES-355TD-SV 'Lucille' (2 songs), Gibson ES-355 'Lucille' (2 songs), mid-1960s Gibson ES-355TD-SV (2 songs), Gibson ES-355TD-SV (1 song).
How do I get B.B. King's tone on my amp?
Open any B.B. King song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.