When it comes to music, the instrument is often an extension of the player behind it. The blues definitely agrees. Some of the famous blues guitarists have unique and recognizable guitars. Some styles of guitars even bring to mind their respective players. Without further ado, here are a few of the famous guitars of famous bluesmen.
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Lucille played by B.B. King
The famous story behind the famous name is that one night in 1949, B.B. was playing in a bar when two men got into a fight over a girl and knocked over a kerosene heater (basically a barrel full of lit kerosene). The place went up in flames and everyone ran out. However, B.B. realized that he left his guitar inside and ran to save it. He nearly lost his life, but named his guitar and subsequent guitars Lucille after the girl the two men fought over.
The modern and most famous iteration of Lucille is a custom black Gibson ES-355 with Lucille printed on the headstock. B.B. has been playing this version for nearly 25 years. It’s pictured here.
Blackie played by Eric Clapton
Arguably the most famous stratocaster ever, Blackie was the nickname for a Frankenstein of a guitar assembled by Eric from three different strats. Purchased from Sho-Bud guitar shop in Nashville, Tennessee, he combined the best components to create Blackie. Eric played it live and in the studio from its creation in 1970 to 1985, when he retired Blackie. Contrary to the many rumors that state otherwise, Blackie was reportedly 100% playable during her retired years.
Blackie was sold at auction for a record $959,500 to Guitar Center, who proudly displays the guitar.
Number One played by Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray’s Number One was a 1973 sunburst model traded for at Ray’s Music Exchange in Austin, Texas with Stevie’s old ‘63 strat. Beaten and bastardized, the guitar remained his main axe since that day. Although the original had a white pickguard and strangely hot ‘59 pickups, Stevie replaced the pickguard with a pickguard featuring the now famous SRV lettering. Remarkably, Stevie had the frets replaced with jumbo bass style frets while he played on a reportedly .013 (going as high as .018) guage strings.
Number One now resides with Stevie’s brother Jimmie. It’s been permanently retired in memory of Stevie.
Polka Dot Strat played by Buddy Guy
While not as famous as the other listed here, this guitar deserves recognition if only for its unique paint job. Comprised of white polka dots on a black finish, this strat has been serving as Buddy Guy’s main guitar for years now. Originally a custom artist series, made especially for Buddy, Fender has recently created a similar guitar with an inverted paint scheme and lace sensors.
The Polka Dot Strats remain road worthy and accompany Buddy to most of his live shows.
Ex-Sunburst played by Rory Gallagher
Called the Ex-Sunburst by fans for its lack of a finish (worn away by heavy use and sweating) as much as for Rory’s refusal to give it a name, this famous guitar happens to be one of the first strats in Ireland in 1961. Rory bought it for an estimated £100. Heavily modified, the guitar had one different tuner, all new pickups, and modified pickguard.
The Ex-Sunburst resides with Rory’s brother, Donal Gallagher. It isn’t played.
1 Comment
Regarding Rory’s guitar.
It was his only main guitar ever during more than 31 years in his whole career, since he bought it second hand for £100 in 1963, through Taste(1966) until his final shows in 1995.
In Rory’s words: “B.B. King have hundreds of Lucilles but I only have a single 61′Strat and it even doesn’t have a name”. It was stolen and remained off Rory’s hands during a week until it was found abandoned. Rory considered it an extension of himself.
To understand what Rory’s guitar had to endure watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIO4z7Z4nq4, specially from 7:48