25th Anniversary vs F-1 BFR vs BFR Luke (maybe)

[AriB]

Hey guys, looking to upgrade to another music man guitar! The two basic choices i'm into now are a petrucci BFR used but mint, or a new 25th Anniversary. I need Strat-like clean (which i had when i had my old JP6), nice crunch, and smokin' lead (play through a triaxis). My intellect (and reviews here) are telling me 25th anniversary, but my gut (and eyes) are telling me the BFR. I own a steve morse y2d, and played a BFR last week and loved it. Any insight here if I can only buy one? If i get the 25th will i miss the tones of a Petrucci BFR, or vice versa? Also thinking about a fully loaded JP6 mystic dream...when do the new pickups start shipping?
Thanks!
Ari

PS-this would be for gigging purposes (I gig 120 gigs a year)

 

[AriB]

noone here's got anything to say?

 

[Slingy]

Never played any of those, but I like Lukes alot! Either of those theoretically can get you where you want but the Luke has the advantage or disadvantage of a true neck single. I prefer the Luke cleans over my Super Sport.

 

[Hieronymus]

I would go with a Luke as well. Awesome neck and tones with the EMGs. I'm contemplating the DD2 in a Luke.

 

[phatduckk]

they're all going to sound great but different. I'd say the neck's going to be a big decision factor

JP: thin, shredder type neck
Luke: soft v
25th: C shape, "normal"

Personally id go with the one that feels most comfortable

 

[dwells]

dude i own a BFR Luke and there are just sensational such great precise tone and u can can get any tone !!! trust me brilliant

 

[Dante]

i never played a 25th, i'm guessing it's for more reserved players than me.

between the JP6 and the Luke, it's a matter of wether you want a bucker or a single coil at the neck. the neck on the JP6 is mahogany, also accounting for some difference in tone. for most people the Luke would be all they ever need as far as versatility goes.

 

[the24thfret]

I need Strat-like clean (which i had when i had my old JP6)

IMO You'll never get "Strat-like clean" from a JP, even in the second position.

 

[Coffeemug]

I'd go with a BFR Luke...you'll have one of the most comfortable necks ever plus nearly all of the sounds one could ever want from a solidbody electric.

 

[AriB]

Wow! This was not the response i thought i'd get! So there's some soul and tone in those bfr lukes, huh? I'll get on it!
Ari

 

[Coffeemug]

I don't know whether you've ever played a Luke, but that neck is so addictive you just can't put this instrument down!

 

[Hieronymus]

I can't speak for the bfr Luke as I own a regular one (that's fantastic) but I do trust Dwells opinion. (Just check out some of his tracks)

 

[AriB]

My God! Just checked out DWell's clips! Pretty incredible! I guess those necks are fast like the Petrucci's...I do like the flat shred necks though (I have an ESP Edwards Soloist and i love it). Gotta do some more research. How does the Luke neck compare to a steve morse y2d (which i currently have)

 

[bkrumme]

This is a guy who really needs Poppa's game changer!

If you're looking for strat-like cleans, the center position on a JP comes close, but not perfect. Crunch and Lead are no problem with it at all.

I don't have my 25th yet. Have you seen the video Travis Larson did with his 25th? I think it covers the bases pretty well.

 

[Eilif]

The three guitars in question--25th, JP, and Luke--will all give you the nice crunch and smokin' leads you need.

When it comes to a Strat-like clean, however, the JP and the 25th absolutely cannot touch the Luke. If you want a single-coil sound, then get single coil: go for the Luke!

Hey guys, looking to upgrade to another music man guitar! The two basic choices i'm into now are a petrucci BFR used but mint, or a new 25th Anniversary. I need Strat-like clean (which i had when i had my old JP6), nice crunch, and smokin' lead (play through a triaxis). My intellect (and reviews here) are telling me 25th anniversary, but my gut (and eyes) are telling me the BFR. I own a steve morse y2d, and played a BFR last week and loved it. Any insight here if I can only buy one? If i get the 25th will i miss the tones of a Petrucci BFR, or vice versa? Also thinking about a fully loaded JP6 mystic dream...when do the new pickups start shipping?
Thanks!
Ari

PS-this would be for gigging purposes (I gig 120 gigs a year)

 

[GHWelles]

I have to go with the BFR -JP6. The neck is a perfect shape. And the bridge pickup is LOUD powerful and clear. And it has a coil tap for some variation in the pickup combinations. If you really wanted, you could modify that coil tap to give you a single coil in the neck.

The BFR-LUKE is awesome, but the V neck is not comfortable for me, and the EMG's give me a more compressed sound than the JP6 pups. But if you want a true clear strat-like tone, this one is the winner.

A lot depends on your setup. I have a very compressed low wattage Marshall amp/pedals setup, so further compression from the pickups does not work for my setup. If I had a high wattage amp, It would be a different story.

 

[petruccirocks02]

+1 on the BFR JP. The whole guitar is amazing. If you like the shredder necks, stick with the JP. I'm also a fan of DiMarzio's instead of EMG's. Can't stand active pickups.

-Phil

 

[AriB]

Hi, thank you all for your advice! Many thanks to all who helped, and thanks to Pete DuBaldo also. I pulled the trigger on a JP BFR (great deal for my situation), based on pricing, previous love of my jp6, the piezo, and resale value! The split coil setting on my old jp6 was a gorgeous clean, btw.
For those who mentioned it, my main rig at gigs is a triaxis/g major 2 into a powered speaker. MY y2d sounded awesome with it, and if i can hack it, i'm gonna try to keep both!

thanks again!

 

[AriB]

Oh, one more thing: Anyone here tried out the new petrucci pickups (Liquifire, crunch lab) in a bfr yet? Worth upgrading?
Ari

 

[bkrumme]

Hi, thank you all for your advice! Many thanks to all who helped, and thanks to Pete DuBaldo also. I pulled the trigger on a JP BFR (great deal for my situation), based on pricing, previous love of my jp6, the piezo, and resale value! The split coil setting on my old jp6 was a gorgeous clean, btw.
For those who mentioned it, my main rig at gigs is a triaxis/g major 2 into a powered speaker. MY y2d sounded awesome with it, and if i can hack it, i'm gonna try to keep both!

thanks again!

You made a great choice! Pics when you get it!