Help: Musicman Luke

[mike_baugh]

Hi Guys, just a few questions

I have a musicman luke 2008 limited ed, and as you know the necks are stripped to the headstock (which is great) what oil(s) are best for maintaining these necks? I'm aware musicman use gun oil, is linseed oil also good?

Also, with the limited edition 2008 luke the hardware is gold, which looks really smart but will this finish fade with ware? If so is there anything I can do to prevent this perhaps?

And! This model has what I think are called a 'compensated nut' right? well I have been talking to my tech about lowering the action a little bit but he said he would have to cut into the nut grooves but he doesn't really want to do it because he feels it would compromise the unique design of the nut (which I believe is to improve the quality of the intonation) so is there a way around this?

I really appreciate any help you guys can offer,

PS just got ernie ball strap locks... the design is fantastic, I am very impressed, I highly recommend them! the schallers are back in their box

[kimonostereo]

I'd just stick with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil. It's a blend of linseed and a polymer that allows it to go on thin and set fast. EBMM uses it so I use it. It's cheap too and sold at Walmart.

For gold hardware: just wipe down really well after each use. You could also use a paint sealant to repel oils and moisture. I have done this in the past and it seems to work good. Main thing is to just keep the gold clean after use.

I dunno if your tech will have to cut the nut down to adjust action? Do you feel like the action near the nut is too high when you press down? I've owned a few EBMM though the years and I've never taken a file to the nut ever.

[mike_baugh]

Wow thanks for the quick reply

The action height near the nut isn't high at all, the thing is the guy who sets up my guitars is really amazing, he has got all my guitars playing awesomely, including the luke, but he has done the nuts on my other guitars and as a result, the action is unbelievable, I mean truly unreal, Paul Gilbert was signing my old Ibanez PGM301 three years ago after a guitar clinic and he 'felt' it and was very impressed, but the tech doesn't want to file this nut because he said it might affect the or damage the unique feature that the nut has of improving the intonation (he is a massive ernie ball fan, he has a carbon blue luke and a steve morse model, he used to have a JP too)

[mike_baugh]

what I'm trying to say is, the luke is a little higher than my other guitars, but only because he hasn't touched the nut, if he does take the nut down a little, and sets up the intonation, will the 'compensated nut' suffer in performance?

I just realised how bad I am at explaining about techy stufff, I am so glad I am not a tech

[Slingy]

If you look at the nut and the little half circle that is drilled out on each to make the compensation, you could file lower as long as you stayed within that circle. Mine has a good mm of room. Any lower and it would be lower than the first fret anyway. Your guy sounds like he knows what he's doing though.

[mike_baugh]

Ah I understand,

Yeah, he knows his stuff, it's just that he has never had to adjust a compensated nut before so he's a little apprehensive about doing it.

one question leading to another: is it me or are the luke frets really short/low? I have to admit, I love how it feels but they are pretty low, might need a re-fret in 6 months at the rate I'm playing it

[Slingy]

Yes they are low profile frets.

[Ricman]

Ian is an amazing tech....dubious taste in pets......if it helps Mike, Ian set up my Axis and left the nut alone. Played like a million dollars afterwards, but I know he wanted to get his file out. Why not try it with the nut left alone first, and see if it suits?

[mike_baugh]

You know Ian?

I have had it without the nut touched for about 3 months now, would like it to be a little lower

[Ricman]

Its Richard Mike - we met a few times at Ians...and at his/your BBQ.....hows tricks?

[mike_baugh]

AH hey! how's it going? I remember, you were talking about going to that steve morse clinic and that :-)

[Stu-Pendus]

I always use Danish oil put on with oooo wire wool with the grain.Wipe it off after a couple of minutes.Danish oil is designed to applied to out door unpainted wood and is far more durable than nearly all other oils.I normaly do it two to three times initialy allowing a week between applications and then once a year.Make sure that you wipe vigourously after applications to avoid the wood becoming sticky and is best not played for a few days after the initial application.You finish up with a silky smooth matt sheen that never becomes furry after long sweaty playing sessions.