Luther Allison

Luther Allison mostly played on Gibson guitars (Les Paul and Flying-V).

http://www.vintageguitar.com/2819/luther-allison/

*Overall, Luther loves Gibsons, which he terms the “Cadillac” of blues guitars.

“You see me with a Les Paul in my hands most of the time. I played Gibsons for years and years and years. Matter of fact, Gibson was the first guitar I played after I was able to get a name-brand guitar.”*

Luther has a prized black ’62 Strat that became a victim of his performing excesses.

“I split it down the middle acting the fool,” he says, recounting the time he was standing on his own cord doing some fancy tricks, and the guitar body literally split in half. He has since had it repaired.

In Europe these days, he uses a German-made Stevens rackmount amp run through two Fender 1959 Bassman Reissue 4 X 10 cabinets.

Alongside his goldtops, he also plays a sweet baby blue Lucille. As he says, “Lucille was a big effect on me, and I like to play 335s. I have a ’67 335 and a ’50s 345 Stereo, given to me a long time ago.

In 1961, he was playing a nightclub called Walton’s Corner, in Chicago, and the club owner told him he needed some decent equipment. The owner fronted Luther a piggyback Fender amp and a white Stratocaster. That Strat was later loaned to Magic Sam, who made it famous.

“Magic Sam took my Stratocaster to Europe and all around,” Luther reminisces. “He used it and finally he gave it back to me. I had it refinished and then it got stolen and I ain’t seen it since.”

During this interview, Luther said he "also has a 1930s 12-fret, slothead National Duolian".

Alongside his goldtops, he also plays a sweet baby blue Lucille. As he says, “Lucille was a big effect on me, and I like to play 335s. I have a ’67 335 and a ’50s 345 Stereo, given to me a long time ago.”

At circa 1969-1970 Ann Arbor, Luther is using a Fender Jaguar in this photo by Willa Davis.

In the live performance video "Low Down and Dirty" by Ruf Records, Luther Allison is seen playing a Gibson Flying V, likely a model from the 1950s.

In the live performance of "It Hurts Me Too," Luther Allison can be seen playing a Gibson ES-Les Paul Hollow Body, which he uses as a slide guitar. This performance is featured on Ruf Records' YouTube channel.