Questions/opinions for Luke owners/users

[gtrman66]

I am planning on taking a road trip tomorrow to check out and hopefully come home with a new luke on Monday.The dealer is about 75 miles away and has a standard luke and a BFR luke in stock...both priced very fairly....I am going to test out both but I only have room in my budget for one new guitar so that leads me to a handful of questions for the current luke owners on the forum although anyone can contibute.I've played lukes in the past in-store but not these particular guitars.OK......Here we go.......
How long have you owned/played a luke?
What made the luke stand out as the guitar for you when you bought it?
If you tried both the standard model and the bfr which would/did you prefer and why?
If you already own both which do you prefer and why?
How does your luke perform in the real world i.e. gigging,recording etc(comfy to play for extended periods,standing,seated,feels good in the hands,no fatigue etc)?
How well has it held up i.e. setup has remained stable,no finish,elctronics, build issues or other weirdness?
Would you buy another luke and why/why not?
Any other advice or opinions you wish to give?
>
>Thanks in advance for any help ,advice,and opinions you can give and I'm looking forward to reading the responses

 

[glockaxis]

1.I've played mine exclusively since 2005.
2.The small neck and easy playability along with the trem and EMG pickups all contributed to me picking it out.
3.Never tried a BFR before in any model.
4.It's comfy, no fatigue and sounds awesome live and recording. That's why it's my number 1 go to guitar.
5. It has held up wonderfully with no issues. It holds tune amazingly well and the only thing you have to change is the battery (yearly or earlier--depends on use and if you leave it plugged in all the time) and strings.
6. I would buy another one. I wanted the DD2 but money was too tight at the time. I'd like to trade my mint AL for one however if the opportunity arose.

 

[DavidOfOz]

1. Got a BFR Luke a little over 2 years ago and a standard Luke a little under 2 years.

2. I chose the Luke because it had the versailitiy I need for the wide range of music I'm usually asked to play (or should I say, "fake").

3. No real personal preference. The BFR *does* sound *different*...more resonant, more mids, or something. You may prefer the sound of a BFR over the standard model or vice versa, so it's worth doing the sound comparison.

4. Again, no real personal preference. The BFR sounds really rich and resonant and looks awesome. On the other hand, my standard Luke has piezo (and is a Dargie, so looks awesome)...I love them like my children: equally. Hmmm, maybe I love my Lukes more than my real children. (Only joking, Bec!).

5. For me, the Luke has to be the most comfortable guitar I've ever played. Could play one for hours without wanting to put it down. I have modestly sized hands, and I find the soft-V neck profile to be perfect for me.

6. The setup has been amazing on both. The Dargie shipped to Australia from the US, and was still in perfect tune when I received it. Now that I think of it, same with the BFR. That is probably a reflection on the quality/standards of EBMM rather than on these individual guitars. Never had a CS issue with either. The BFR finish is like glass...it picks up the finger prints more obviously than an opaque finish...but nothing that a Wonder Wipe couldn't solve in half a second.

7. If money were no object I'd definately get more Lukes. (The reality is I can't justify any mor eright now.)


The Luke isn't for everybody, but it sounds like you've decided to get one and the real choice is between BFR and standard models. If you *need* piezo, then I think it all becomes moot, because piezo isn't available on the BFR Luke. Otherwise, do the sound comparison test, and see which suits the kind of music you usually play.

Enjoy!

 

[kimonostereo]

How long have you owned/played a luke?
I've owned one since 97/98. A Luke version 1 which was that beautiful cobalt blue with the Floyd Rose. Was without one for approx 2 years as I had to sell it to buy my first house. Picked up a Luke II.

What made the luke stand out as the guitar for you when you bought it?
I had been a huge fan of EBMM for a long time. As soon as the Luke came out, I had to try it. I had owned the EVH for a few years but didn't actually own a Luke when it first came out because I simply couldn't afford it. One day I got a deal on a Luke that I just couldn't pass up. I loved the sleek body and small profile, but it was the neck that always impressed me the most. The soft "v" was very comfortable and fit just right. I have a hard time deciding which neck I like better: EVH/Axis or the Luke. They are both perfect if that makes any sense.


If you tried both the standard model and the bfr which would/did you prefer and why?
I have purposely not tried the BFR model. I'm saving up for an Al!

If you already own both which do you prefer and why?
Not sure if it matters, but I kinda miss my Luke I, although I really like the Luke II. I have two of them right now. A Black one from 2004 and a brand new Dargie II. The Luke I just played and sounded different. I suppose it's the Floyd Rose but I also think the pickups sounded a bit different in the Luke I compared to the Luke II. I replaced the EMG 85 with an 81 and I'm pretty happy so far.

How does your luke perform in the real world i.e. gigging,recording etc(comfy to play for extended periods,standing,seated,feels good in the hands,no fatigue etc)?
I'm a bedroom player but have recorded a few fun projects. I have to say that overall the Luke is extremely balanced and comfortable. I don't get fatigue from sitting with it because of the nice contours on the body. Compared to the EVH which is almost like a Tele body in comparison. The guitar is very nicely balanced standing or sitting. No problems there.

How well has it held up i.e. setup has remained stable,no finish,elctronics, build issues or other weirdness?
EBMM is a great company and stands by their products. I mentioned this in another post, but the original neck on my 2004 Luke II had frets that were dressed to much. The high "e" would literally slip off the fingerboard when you played anything. I lived with it for a while because. I guess I had gotten used to the locking nut with the Luke I and thought maybe it was supposed to be that way. I finally called customer service when I realized that I stopped playing the Luke for a few months. CS asked me to ship the guitar to them and they ended up replacing the whole neck, which gave me the new compensated nut. The guitar plays like buttah now. No problems since.

Would you buy another luke and why/why not?
I have two right now!

Any other advice or opinions you wish to give?
The Luke is a very versatile guitar. You can do a lot with it and it has some great sounds. I do notice that some folks love EMG's or hate them. If you like EMG's, you'll enjoy the Luke. Everyone I've ever run into that has played one, has wanted to own one.

 

[nickowatson]

The Luke is the most comfortable guitar i've ever played. The body is small and the V neck allows pain free playing all day. I've had my BFR for a little over a year now, i bought it for its looks and comfortability but the active sound definately grows on you. It's amazing how well they stay in tune too. I would never not have a Luke. I went to see Colin a few days ago and saw the most amazing non BFR Luke i've ever seen (w/ all rosewood neck). i'm considering swapping it for my BFR. The main thing is that you come home with a Luke because no matter what, standard or BFR, they're both awesome guitars and you won't regret buying it.

 

[dwells]

Luke = Greatest guitar ever made brilliant end of story!!!

 

[DrGonzo5150]

Lukes are awesome!!! I have several
Super comfy and super versatile - End of story.
BFR vs Standard - Both awesome, both different. Let your ears decide.
Build quality is second to none!!! My pearl red 94 has literally seen 100s of gigs and is gigged HARD. I have had no problems with electronics/finish/hardware... It is as awesome as ever

I went to see Colin a few days ago and saw the most amazing non BFR Luke i've ever seen (w/ all rosewood neck). i'm considering swapping it for my BFR.

Mini hijack - What colour? Can't wait for Colin to update his page this week

 

[threeminutesboy]

How long have you owned/played a luke?

Since 2007 ordered in 2006 with the second Dargie Delight Window

What made the luke stand out as the guitar for you when you bought it?

I had a strat equipped with EMG SL20 that was my main guitar for years, after, discovering EBMM guitars in 2003 with the Axis. Getting a Luke was a natural move.


If you tried both the standard model and the bfr which would/did you prefer and why?

I have a tried a BFR luke but I guess I was not in good condition to evaluate it properly. It's a different beast and it's hard to explain but there more "ziiing" when you play it. At this point, I prefer the regular Luke toward the BFR

If you already own both which do you prefer and why?

N/A

How does your luke perform in the real world i.e. gigging,recording etc(comfy to play for extended periods,standing,seated,feels good in the hands,no fatigue etc)?

the Luke is a very versatile guitar and while recording it offers you a very quiet instrument absolutely noise free!! Very comfortable and balanced like any EBMM instrument

How well has it held up i.e. setup has remained stable,no finish,elctronics, build issues or other weirdness?

I had no issue with my Luke. it stays in Tune, no stress crack, no broken stings. Perfect instrument really

Would you buy another luke and why/why not?
I may have another one with Piezo and modded with EMG89 for even more versatilty

Any other advice or opinions you wish to give?

Enjoy your gtr testing and keep us posted

 

[lukather101]

Out of the 3 EBMM guitars I own the Luke is by far (imo) the only one that has the complete package.
I will admit to having set up problems with it but even with these problems it’s still easily the best looking and sounding guitar I have ever owned .

If I had to sell anything the Axis and Morse would go .

 

[mike_baugh]

How long have you owned/played a luke?
About 3 - 5 months

What made the luke stand out as the guitar for you when you bought it?

I love the feel of the neck, the slinkiness of the strings, the trem is soo smooth feeling, I love the unfinished neck, I LOVE birdeye maple! I really appreciate the lightness of the instrument and how comfortable it is to play both sat down and standing up, the roundness of the body feels and looks fantastic, the lovely warm chunky biting sounds the pickups get is sensational, it records incredibly well, the locking machine heads are fantastic, and above all, it looks absolutely amazing.

If you tried both the standard model and the bfr which would/did you prefer and why?

I prefer the standard luke because I don't like transparent finishes... both feel the same and sound similar, but the BFR has a little more mid.

How does your luke perform in the real world i.e. gigging,recording etc(comfy to play for extended periods,standing,seated,feels good in the hands,no fatigue etc)?

It stays in tune, its light (great for gigging) it records brilliantly, extremely comfortable to play, the neck is such a please to play on, can't say a bad word...

How well has it held up i.e. setup has remained stable,no finish,elctronics, build issues or other weirdness?

No issues, the neck hasn't budged at all, electronics are great, the battery for the emgs seem to last forever and I teach guitar full time so it certainly gets used a LOT.

Would you buy another luke and why/why not?

I would like another one, because since I got my luke I no longer play my strat or rg, I would like to get a dargie II

Any other advice or opinions you wish to give?

I recommend the limited edition lukes, I love the colours especially the sequoia gold and blue dawn, it's nice to have something a bit different, I have a 2008 limited edition sequoia gold luke with a matching lizard back case, it's great because there are only 41 of these lukes worldwide (strings and things told me) so it's a nice little investment too i suppose, not that i would sell it!

 

[agt]

I replaced the EMG 85 with an 81

I have absolutely no experience with EMG pickups, but I am GASsing hard for a Luke after playing a few recently.

According to the EMG website, their retail pickups feature an "exclusive Quik-Connect™ cable". Is this true for the OEM pickups in the EBMM Luke model? In other words, is it easy to change the stock pickups to other EMG models?

Not that I am planning to switch pickups, but, just in case I wish to experiment down the road, I am curious if this is an easy option.

 

[kimonostereo]

I have absolutely no experience with EMG pickups, but I am GASsing hard for a Luke after playing a few recently.

According to the EMG website, their retail pickups feature an "exclusive Quik-Connect™ cable". Is this true for the OEM pickups in the EBMM Luke model? In other words, is it easy to change the stock pickups to other EMG models?

Not that I am planning to switch pickups, but, just in case I wish to experiment down the road, I am curious if this is an easy option.

Yep. Really easy to do... BUT you'll have to drill out the mounting holes to get the original screws to fit. I did this to install an EMG 81 into a Luke II.

 

[slukather]

How long have you owned/played a luke?

I bought my first Luke in the early-mid 90's, it was a Luke 1.

What made the luke stand out as the guitar for you when you bought it?

I love the neck, l used to play 2 humbucker guitars, but i changed to 2 singles and 1 humbucker, for more versatility, i love the clean sound on the Luke single coils, the neck single coil is great for solos, and the humbucker is great for rock sounds, and much much more.

If you tried both the standard model and the bfr which would/did you prefer and why?

I own a Luke 1, BFR Luke, a Luke 2, and a DD2 on the way.

All are great guitars, the Luke 1 is more dark, i actually prefer my Luke 1, maybe because l've played it for so long. Or l play my BFR, mainly cause l dig the top on it, the Luke 2 is still an awesome guitar, and still gets played regularly.

If you already own both which do you prefer and why?

Well l love my Luke 1 or the BFR, but the Luke 2 is still an awesome guitar, you'll be happy with either, l think it's been said before, the BFR seems to have more mids, and l like mids in my sound.

How does your luke perform in the real world i.e. gigging,recording etc(comfy to play for extended periods,standing,seated,feels good in the hands,no fatigue etc)?

I suffer from no fatigue, it's such a comfortable guitar, some people don't like the neck, but l love a small neck, l don't like a big neck.

How well has it held up i.e. setup has remained stable,no finish,elctronics, build issues or other weirdness?

Like any other guitar, if you get it serviced regularly, look after it, wipe it down regularly, it will last a lifetime. My Luke 1, l just recently got it refretted, other than that, l've had to replace the Floyd Rose in it, but that was just due to me sweating and rust.

build issues??? no such thing, is ebmm, is good.

Would you buy another luke and why/why not?

I've just bought a DD2, l don't think l'll buy another one, l have 4 already, my next purchase shall be a Y2D.

Any other advice or opinions you wish to give?

Play one before you buy it, l'm sure you'll like the Luke, but some people don't dig the EMG's or the neck.

If you do buy one, love it, dig it, and enjoy it.

Scott.

 

[gtrman66]

It's new!It's Blue (sorta)!

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post.I really appreciate the help and advice.I decided to go with the standard Luke.I liked the BFR ,but couldn't justify the extra expense and for my ears the standard had the sound and feel I was looking for.In fact i liked it so much that I traded my 1 month old Y2d back in for the Luke I loved the neck on the Y2d but just couldn't get used to the feel of the body.The Luke is a much better fit for me.
Once again thanks and Happy Holidays

 

[DrGonzo5150]

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post.I really appreciate the help and advice.I decided to go with the standard Luke.I liked the BFR ,but couldn't justify the extra expense and for my ears the standard had the sound and feel I was looking for.In fact i liked it so much that I traded my 1 month old Y2d back in for the Luke I loved the neck on the Y2d but just couldn't get used to the feel of the body.The Luke is a much better fit for me.
Once again thanks and Happy Holidays

Nice one!!!
But you know what the say around here... no pics, no guitar

 

[DavidOfOz]

Enjoy! The Luke is awesome!

 

[nickowatson]

Mini hijack - What colour? Can't wait for Colin to update his page this week

Discontinude colour - Egyptian smoke, its gorgeous mate!

 

[Slingy]

Yep. Really easy to do... BUT you'll have to drill out the mounting holes to get the original screws to fit. I did this to install an EMG 81 into a Luke II.

The quick connect is so simple. The stock screws wouldn't go through the 81 I bought either at first. I didn't drill it out though, just rammed it through a couple times before screwing it down.

 

[gtrman66]

Nice one!!!
But you know what the say around here... no pics, no guitar

Yeah yeah I know I know
Posting pics on the "official pics" thread today

 

[kbaim]

Late to this thread but I dont have anything insightful to add anyway after reading the other posts from luke players.

I would have mentioned to bring your main amp to the store to see how the 2 guitars sounded through them...but sounds like your ears made the decision for you which is always best...along with comfort.

You may wanna add an EMG 89 in the bridge to split the humbucker eventually if you like those tones. I've done it with 2 of mine.

And for me...the piezo is such a special and significant tone enhancer for cleans, i'd look into one of those next should you find yourself in need of a back up at some point. Then add the BFR
Enjoy your Luke