B. B. King Signed Guitar 1932 Montgomery Ward Archtop Recording King by Gibson – COA JSA

B.B. King was more than just a musician, he was the Godfather and elder statesman of the blues. Every guitarist that has the blues in their blood still channels King in their play.

Presented is 1932 Montgomery Ward Archtop Recording King by Gibson electric guitar autographed by B.B. King. Superbly autographed in silver paint pen (“7-8”) by the Blues master on the body of the guitar with the inscription, “Thanks”. The guitar itself is well loved and shows heavy wear/play throughout (scratching, knicks etc.).

This guitar originated from a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino employee who worked with talented musicians that came to the venue to perform. In the process of all the back stage antics (the partying, the moving and jostling, just dealing with rock stars), many of the guitars have battle wounds including scuffs, scrapes (etc.) and may have been played.

The consigner also worked with the curator of the historic memorabilia laden casino who had the access to many celebrities and musicians (and their memorabilia of course). As a collector, it was truly the place to be as it allowed his treasure trove to be amplified. He is now ready to bring some of those treasures to market. Take notice, in the process of obtaining autographs of the musicians he had them sign the body of a guitar which is more rare than the placed pick guard ones that are often brought to market. As a musician himself, he also made sure that the guitars in his collection were oftentimes elite models like this one.

Other interesting notes:

B. B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato, and staccato picking that influenced many later blues electric guitar players. All Music recognized King as “the single most important electric guitarist of the last half of the 20th century”.

This old Recording King M-5 Archtop was built by Gibson and sold as the house brand for Montgomery Ward. The Kalamazoo KG-21 is a vintage guitar model that was produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in the 1930s. This guitar features a single-cutaway body design, with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It has a rosewood fingerboard and dot inlays, and is equipped with a floating bridge and trapeze tailpiece. The KG-21 is known for its warm and mellow tone, and was a popular choice among blues and jazz guitarists of the era. Despite being a budget model, the Kalamazoo KG-21 has become a sought-after instrument among collectors and musicians today. Note, archtop guitars are steel string instruments, which feature a violin-inspired f-hole design in which the top (and often the back) of the instrument are carved in a curved rather than a flat shape.

Authentication: JSA Full Letter

B. B. King Signed Guitar