What guitar did B.B. King use on The Thrill Is Gone?

B.B. King used his signature Gibson ES-335, which he called "Lucille." The semi-hollow body construction of the ES-335 was central to King's warm, sustaining tone throughout his career.

What amp did B.B. King use for The Thrill Is Gone recording?

King used a Fender Twin Reverb amplifier for the recording. The Twin Reverb's clean headroom and natural tube warmth provided the foundation for his singing sustain.

How to get B.B. King's tone on The Thrill Is Gone?

Use a semi-hollow guitar like an ES-335 through a clean Fender-style amp with slight natural overdrive. Focus on sustain, vibrato technique, and keeping the tone warm but clear rather than heavily distorted.

What studio was The Thrill Is Gone recorded at?

"The Thrill Is Gone" was recorded at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles with Bill Szymczyk producing. The studio environment allowed for the close-mic'd amp sound that captured King's tone clearly.

Did B.B. King use any effects pedals on The Thrill Is Gone?

King relied primarily on his guitar and amp for tone, with minimal effects processing. His sustain and vibrato came from his playing technique and the natural characteristics of his ES-335 and Twin Reverb setup.

lead guitar from "the thrill is gone" by b.b. king

the thrill is gone

b.b. king

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Tone Profile

A warm, clean blues tone with a touch of overdrive, emphasizing sustain and clarity. It's a classic blues sound with a smooth, singing quality.

Shop This Rig

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Gibson ES-335(instrument)
Fender Twin Reverb(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)

The Story

B.B. King recorded "The Thrill Is Gone" using his signature Gibson ES-335 "Lucille" through a Fender Twin Reverb amplifier, recorded at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles with Bill Szymczyk producing. The recording features King's clean, warm tone with just a touch of natural tube overdrive, captured with close microphone placement. The semi-hollow body construction of the ES-335 contributes to the tone's woody resonance and sustain that became King's trademark sound.

Production Credits

Producer: Bill Szymczyk

Engineer: Bill Szymczyk

Recorded at: Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson ES-335Shop on Reverb

Amp: Fender Twin ReverbShop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a semi-hollow guitar like a Gibson ES-335 or similar.
Use a clean amp such as a Fender Twin Reverb, or a modeling amp with similar settings.
Dial in a slight overdrive for warmth and sustain, but keep the overall tone clean.
Focus on vibrato and expressive playing to capture King's style.

Original Gear

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Gibson ES-335Shop on Reverb(guitar)
Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone ES-335Shop on Reverb$500-$600

Alternative to: Gibson ES-335

Semi-hollow body construction delivers the same woody resonance and feedback control that defines King's tone at a budget-friendly price

Gibson ES-335Shop on Reverb$2,800-$3,500

Alternative to: Gibson ES-335

The exact same guitar construction King used, providing authentic semi-hollow warmth and sustain characteristics

Fender '68 Custom Twin ReverbShop on Reverb$1,400-$1,600

Alternative to: Fender Twin Reverb

Modern reissue of the clean, powerful platform King used, with the headroom and clarity essential for his singing sustain

Boss Blues Driver BD-2Shop on Reverb$50-$80

Alternative to: Fender Twin Reverb

Adds the subtle tube-like overdrive warmth when used with clean amps, mimicking the Twin Reverb's natural breakup

Universal Audio Fender Twin Reverb pluginPlugin Boutique$150-$300

Alternative to: Studio recording chain

Accurately models the Twin Reverb's clean tone and natural compression that shaped King's recorded sound

Sources

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