JP vs Luke

[gelvo]

If you had to choose between a JP and a Luke, what would it be and why? Which is more versatile, which has the better clean tones in various pickup positions, which has the better distortion? Is the JP tremolo better?

You see I’m still saving for an EB, and where I live most music shops only occasionally have one EB in stock, so it is rare for me to be able to go into a shop a test both at the same time.

 

[dwells]

THE LUKE !!!
why? well they sound better in all pickup positions , the neck is just so comfortable and i like the built structure alot more

 

[robelinda2]

Luke baby. Luke all the way. Great neck, great tones- clean and dirty.

Plus Luke is in Toto, and they are cool. Toto do Africa, which is the greatest song of all time. All signs point to Luke!

 

[the24thfret]

Plus Luke is in Toto, and they are cool. Toto do Africa, which is the greatest song of all time. All signs point to Luke!

This is awesome.

Although being a huge DT fan, I will say DT is the greatest band on the face of the earth. I challenge you also to somehow prove Toto is better musicians than DT... ohhhh!

 

[brasco68]

Isn't that like asking...which is the better orgasm??

 

[TNT]

. . . Isn't that like asking...which is the better orgasm??. .. .

68,

Interesting how you compare the two???? However, I'm not quite sure what to say at this point??? Oh well, how about "Luke" (but I also like the JP).

 

[phatduckk]

I think JP is buffer but Luke's a lot funnier.

 

[dwells]

dream theater are a better band but the Luke guitar kills the jp !!!
if you wan to hear distortion check out my bands demos at
www.myspace.com/teramaze
all done with a luke
cheers

 

[brasco68]

dream theater are a better band but the Luke guitar kills the jp !!!
if you wan to hear distortion check out my bands demos at
www.myspace.com/teramaze
all done with a luke
cheers

Dude...killer tone / great chops....those EMG's kick ass don't they?

What are you playing through?

 

[the24thfret]

I think JP is buffer but Luke's a lot funnier.

My JP6 cracks jokes all the time...

Sometimes I wish I had some EMG single coils in the JP, but that would tear out its soul, wouldn't it?

What's the difference in necks, anyway? And does any forumite here actually own a JP and a Luke?

 

[pauldogx]

If you had to choose between a JP and a Luke, what would it be and why? Which is more versatile, which has the better clean tones in various pickup positions, which has the better distortion? Is the JP tremolo better?

You see I’m still saving for an EB, and where I live most music shops only occasionally have one EB in stock, so it is rare for me to be able to go into a shop a test both at the same time.

Gelvo--I have owned both guitars and I love them both. The Luke is definitely more in traditional str*t territory while the JP is obviously closer to Iban*z territory IMHO. If you can try both guitars somehow--I would highly advise it. The necks are radically different--the Luke slightly narrower and V shaped--the JP alittle wider and more of a thinner modern c shape. I have huge paws and the JP is much more comfortable to me. Both are incredibly versitile guitars--they can do any type or style you want to throw at them. The JP has a great single coil sound in the middle position. I sold my Luke--but I think I'm gonna get a used one and have the neck reshaped to take the V out of it---I really miss that guitar.

 

[beej]

The necks are completely different. Try them both and pick the one that's most comfortable to you.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

The trems are the same (but they do look different)

 

[DrKev]

Hey Wells, great stuff there! White Sparkle eh? Very sweet!

Found this little gem through that page too...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k64aQ81e-Y"]YouTube - ernie ball musicman luke[/ame]

 

[dwells]

hey

Dude...killer tone / great chops....those EMG's kick ass don't they?

What are you playing through?

i use a peavey triple xxx through a celestion box gt752 and a mxr dyna comp but that guitar sound on the demos is a pod line6
crazy hey?

 

[brasco68]

i use a peavey triple xxx through a celestion box gt752 and a mxr dyna comp but that guitar sound on the demos is a pod line6
crazy hey?

That was just a line 6?? Wow....I would love to hear what the Luke sounds like through the peavey. I do all my recording direct, but I need to get a different amp for live.

 

[GHWelles]

I have both.

The JP6 has a wide comfortable neck with larger frets and flatter radius. It has a two point floating recessed trem. It has high power Dimarzio pickups. It has a wider string spacing at the nut.

The Luke has a narrower but comfortable V Neck and lower profile smaller frets. It has a non-recessed two point trem. It has EMG's, and standard string spacing at the nut.

I find the JP6 is easier to bend strings on given the larger frets and flatter radius neck. It has a very powerful tone. The recessed trem is more versatile.

I find the LUKE is easier to slide from note to note given the lower profile frets. The EMG's and the Luke woods give a very soulful, articulate and dynamic tone.

Both are great.

 

[pauldogx]

I have both.

The JP6 has a wide comfortable neck with larger frets and flatter radius. It has a two point floating recessed trem. It has high power Dimarzio pickups. It has a wider string spacing at the nut.

The Luke has a narrower but comfortable V Neck and lower profile smaller frets. It has a non-recessed two point trem. It has EMG's, and standard string spacing at the nut.

I find the JP6 is easier to bend strings on given the larger frets and flatter radius neck. It has a very powerful tone. The recessed trem is more versatile.

I find the LUKE is easier to slide from note to note given the lower profile frets. The EMG's and the Luke woods give a very soulful, articulate and dynamic tone.

Both are great.

Wonderdog makes two important points I didnt mention in my post---fret size and radius----definitely another consideration!!!!

 

[Roxy]

Both are great. That's why I own both. To me, the Luke is more versatile and traditional in feel and tone. The JP is a little more "shredder" like in feel/tones. I like the EMGs better than the DiMarzios. They are fantastic. I like the JP tremolo better since its recessed and the .10s feel great on it. The non-piezo Luke is setup Jeff Beck style with a little float. The Piezo equipped Luke is flat drop only. All stay in tune great. No complaints or regrets.

With this post, I'm now a senior member.

 

[roburado]

My feeling is that comparing the guitars is like comparing apples and oranges. They are vastly different animals.

To me, the JP is a specialist. The Luke is a generalist. The JP does the metallic thing very, very well, IMHO. The Luke IMHO covers more ground stylistically. If you look at JP's and Luke's day jobs, you'll see that JP primarily uses his guitars to play JP/DT music, which, while eclectic, tends to require a little less versatility tonewise than Luke's gig.

Neither guitar is better than the other. The question is which one is better for you and your style of music. For me, the best answer is to own both. I don't have a Luke yet, but I'd like to have one in the future. There are some things that it does beautifully that a JP will never do. Of course, the JP does some things for me that I can't envision the Luke doing quite so well.