Luke with Rosewood neck

**mcalo42** · 04-25-2010, 07:29 AM

I'm so happy with my JP6 that I bought about a year ago that I'm considering buying another Musicman guitar. The Luke has got my attention. A store near me has a new one with a Rosewood neck. I found lots of youtube videos and like the Luke tone but I don't know how the rosewood compares in tone and feel. The store only has that Luke (w/Rosewood) so I would have no regular ones to compare to.

It seems like the BFR’s usually have a nice flamed top but this one is the same color (red) as my non-BFR JP6 – so what else besides the RW neck appointment differentiates that BFR Luke version from the standard Luke? Also, I see references of posts saying Luke II or MKII – what’s the difference, and are all the ones sold today Luke II’s?

Lastly, after searching this forum and instrument section a bit and the WWW I could not any information that compares the BFR version with RW to a normal one. I noticed the EBMMM store doesn't even carry them anymore.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks!

**dwells** · 04-25-2010, 07:37 AM

dude the rosewood necks are sublime and have such a beautiful tone and sustain !
the diff between the rw and bfr is the body on the bfr are 3 tones of high grade woods with standard necks and the rw Luke diff is the neck and the body is the standard alder

. buy it mate if u don't like it I may buy it off u

**nathanhny** · 04-25-2010, 07:42 AM

There's no difference between II or MkII, just different ways of writing it. But the Luke I's, or MkI's, came with a floyd rose trem system

**mcalo42** · 04-25-2010, 07:59 AM

Nathanhny, thanks for clarifying the difference between Luke I and II. If the trem is anything like the JP6 I suspect I will like it.

Dwells, thanks for the insights. Sounds like you favor the RW neck Luke. I really like the tone and sustain from the videos I saw – assuming the rw is even better is causing some extreme GAS…lol. This particular Luke is a BRF with RW neck. I wonder if any of the 3 tone woods are different than a standard Luke with RW. I could call EBMM tomorrow but I'm iching to buy today, as I won't get another chance until next weekend...the salesman said RW can't be had on them anymore but I don't know if that's true.

Thanks for the help!

**Ripper** · 04-25-2010, 08:49 AM

The RW neck Luke you saw could probably a standard solid-colored pearl redburst one with a "BFR RW neck".

This should not be mistaken with the bfr luke with figure wood top and mahongany tone block sandwiched in the body.

The only thing special between the luke you saw and a standard one is the all rosewood neck.

**gtrman66** · 04-25-2010, 09:05 AM

The rosewood necks are awesome!It's a standard alder body with the BFR rosewood neck.
Embrace the G.A.S.!!!!!!
BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT!!!!!!!!!

**mcalo42** · 04-25-2010, 09:05 AM

Good info. makes sense now.

All I noticed was that it had the typical BFR logo inlay in the fretboard.

If the RW neck is the only diff then the cost is almost $300 higher than a standard Luke. Now I'm wondering if the RW necks truly adds that much value since I've never owned a guitar with a RW neck, and never had the opportunity to compare an exact same model with and without RW neck side by side.

Thanks for the insights!

**zombywoof** · 04-25-2010, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by mcalo42

If the RW neck is the only diff then the cost is almost $300 higher than a standard Luke. Now I'm wondering if the RW necks truly adds that much value since I've never owned a guitar with a RW neck, and never had the opportunity to compare an exact same model with and without RW neck side by side.

Thanks for the insights!

Rosewood in the size it takes to do a full neck will be very hard to find for any guitar makers pretty soon.
very rare, very soon.

**gtrman66** · 04-25-2010, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by mcalo42

Good info. makes sense now.

All I noticed was that it had the typical BFR logo inlay in the fretboard.

If the RW neck is the only diff then the cost is almost $300 higher than a standard Luke. Now I'm wondering if the RW necks truly adds that much value since I've never owned a guitar with a RW neck, and never had the opportunity to compare an exact same model with and without RW neck side by side.

Thanks for the insights!

It's worth the upcharge.I've played a rosewood neck and they are schweet!You don't see these very often plus if you ever have to sell it'll bring a better return than a standard luke imho.

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Rosewood in the size it takes to do a full neck will be very hard to find for any guitar makers pretty soon.
very rare, very soon.

And the price will keep getting higher and higher until it runs out

**Slingy** · 04-25-2010, 10:30 AM

The rosewood necks are special and pretty limited, but I wouldn't let them jack up the price because of it. These were offered at the same price as the standard model with a small charge for the inlay work. I wanna say 50 to 100 more tops.

**Stratty316** · 04-25-2010, 10:40 AM

I actually liked the tone of the RW LUKE better then the BFR... or well, I should say it fits my tastes better. I foung the rosewood neck to be a little rounder, fatter and bluesier in the neck position... you can't go wrong with an all rosewood neck.

**Headstock** · 04-25-2010, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by mcalo42

Good info. makes sense now.

All I noticed was that it had the typical BFR logo inlay in the fretboard.

If the RW neck is the only diff then the cost is almost $300 higher than a standard Luke. Now I'm wondering if the RW necks truly adds that much value since I've never owned a guitar with a RW neck, and never had the opportunity to compare an exact same model with and without RW neck side by side.

Thanks for the insights!

I believe the msrp markup for the rosewood neck was 300.

You can't order that any more so keep that in mind.

Rosewood does tend to be more stable than maple, so you'll tweak the truss rod less.

Both feel sublime so you cant go wrong with either.

Std Luke = Alder body, Maple neck /rosewood fretboard.
BFR Rosewood neck Luke = All rosewood neck w/ alder body
BFR Luke = Maple top/Alder body, Maple neck /rosewood fretboard.
Luke Koa = mahogany neck w/ ebony fretboard, mahogany body

**mcalo42** · 04-25-2010, 04:13 PM

Ok, I went and bought it today. I was able to talk down the price so it ended up a really sweet deal, especially considering how hard RW will be to get in the future. Thanks to all for the info that help my decision.

Now I just need to get it set up more to my liking. The action is a bit higher than I like on the treble side. Seems to be just about right on the base side (approx 4/64 to 5/64) but the treble side is the same, so too high for me. An eyeballed glance at the radius of saddles looks about the same as the fretboard's radius.