Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Funkfingers
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
F

Funkfingers

Guest
Title pretty much says all. Barely used, unmodified Gibson B. B. King Lucille model, date stamped 1992, gold plated hardware variant. Original brown Tolex 'n' pink folds case.

Mostly maple. Ebony fingerboard. TP6 fine tuner tailpiece with inevitable corrosion on the string anchor points. 490R/T humbuckers, Varitone, stereo outputs, trapdoor control cavity access cover plate.

I like the neck/Rhythm pickup. Would prefer more shove from the bridge/Treble unit. (Brobucker?)

Are these any good or just another over-dressed Gibson lemon?
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

I'll take it off your hands if it doesn't do it for you!
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

Easily the best Gibson thin line semi-hollows ever made IMO, and in 1992, it was probably pretty well made compared to one you'd get made today. If you can get a good deal on it, get it.
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

Lucilles are wicked axes.
The sky is the limit with pickups tho. Im sure there are heaps that would sound ace.
I would go for a pair of gold WLH's tho. A big, classy guitar like that deserves big, classy sounding pickups.
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

Any guitar must be taken on an individual basis. People rave on about the 90's being great for Gibson, but the two worst guitars I've had from them have both been from the 90's.
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

I really like the Lucilles, nearly bought one, but I have several quibbles with them.

They are heavier than the typical ES-335.

The Varitone circuit seems like a good idea, but I am always disappointed when I play one.

I would immediately remove the TP-6 for a LW Aluminum tailpiece. I like the tone of the LW bar better.

I think the 490 set is better than the 490R/498T set, but I think the guitar would be better with a different pickup--Seths, Antiquitys, et. al.

That said, if I found one at the right price, I would be really tempted.

Bill
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

I like the 490R in the Lucille. Its A2 magnet and slight overwind compensates for all that maple and ebony. (At least, back in 1992, it really was Ebony! WTF is Richlite?)

I have the Epiphone Lucille. On this, the budget Varitone is all on one PCB. In one sense, its Cheepnis is advantageous. By cutting less of the signal than the real thing, the Epi VT is actually more usable. With amplifier overdrive, one of the settings makes for a killer Michael Schenker cocked wah pedal sound.

TP6 swap to traditional stopbar? Probably.

Still mulling things over. If an American PRS semi-hollow just so happened to drift into view, I would probably prefer it over the Gibson.
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

If I could swing one from back then and it was "right" I'd be all over it
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

Funkfingers said:
I have the Epiphone Lucille.
Click to expand...

Wow, already have the Epi and are considering the Gibby? Being the SDUGF, I'm surprised some MIC/MIJ D-bag "industry insider" hasn't swooped into this thread yet and labelled you a 'purist' and 'tone snob' for buying a Gibson for non-objective reasons and all that. ;-)

If you played it, and it made you feel good (about equal to the price), then it's worth it. Take care of it and you can get most of your money back if you don't bond over time with it.
 
Re: Been offered 1992 Gibson Lucille w/gold plating. Any good?

I have decided to close this thread before certain Teflon-coated people wade in and spoil it.



EDIT - In the event of purchase, I shall, of course, report back. ;)
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top