Al Caiola Epiphone

In the early 1960's, Gibson made several models of guitars named after jazz musicians. Only one of these was named for a famous guitar player -- Al Caiola.

Debuting in 1963, the Al Caiola Epiphone was a thin-bodied electric guitar, deep mahogany red with mother-of-pearl inlays on the frets. The design is a "double cutaway", meaning that the body is cut down where the neck joins, to allow you to access the lower frets. It has a distinctive curved control plate, and the tailpiece has a silver shield-shaped insert, with

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engraved. It was manufactured from 1963 to 1970. Only 174 of them were made. In spite of its relative scarcity, you have seen this guitar!

B.B. King's guitar Lucille is an Al Caiola Epihone.