TONEDB

lead guitar from “the thrill is gone” by b.b. king | ToneDB

the thrill is gone

b.b. king

lead guitar

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A warm, round, and slightly gritty semi-hollow body tone defined by expressive, vocal-like phrasing and signature vibrato.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson ES-355 ("Lucille")

Amp: Fender Twin Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Studio Plate Reverb

Other: Amp volume set moderately high for natural tube compression and slight overdrive when played hard. Varitone switch likely set to position 1 (bypassing the filter circuit) or bypassed entirely.

Recording Notes

  • Recorded in 1969 at Hit Factory, New York.
  • King's distinctive fingerstyle technique and left-hand vibrato are crucial components of the sound.
  • Minimal effects used; the core tone comes from the guitar and amplifier interaction.
  • The orchestral arrangement was added after the main tracks were recorded.

Recreation Tips

  • Primarily use the neck pickup.
  • Roll the guitar's tone knob back slightly (around 6-8) to tame highs.
  • Set the amplifier for a mostly clean sound that breaks up slightly when attacking the strings harder.
  • Use fingers instead of a pick for a rounder attack.
  • Focus on developing a wide, controlled finger vibrato.
  • Add a touch of reverb for space.

Sources