Help! Tone controller on MM Luke II

[andrealuke]

Hello everyone!
I was the proud owner of a Luke I from 1996 which is still my personal companion in every musical contest I've been since then, now I recently bought a brand new Luke II, after tested it and played everywhen I could...
Now I own both and I like the way they are different in tone.
But there's a little question: tone control (in Luke II, of course) seems to be a little too dark for me, and compared to the Luke I (where it was not present at all). I love the opportunity of using a tone pot, but I'd like the tone being a little brighter when it's completely opened, just to get closer to the Luke I. So I think I have to change it, but I don't know how to choose the right one... I've read something about nanoFarad and so on, but I think here I could find the right answer.
I like the way it darken the sound, but I'd like it to be brighter when completely open.
Does anyone can help me, please?

Thank you very much.

 

[threeminutesboy]

you can use a push pull pot and choose to have the control or not. In that case you keep the best of both world

 

[kimonostereo]

Just a note on the differences between the Luke I and II. The pickups are different in each guitar. Luke had EMG make him a different set of single coils. So ever since the Luke II came out, the guitar has had his pro series SLV pickups. Supposedly the humbucker has been an 85 ever since the Luke was introduced, but to me it sounds a little different in each guitar.

Other members here have tried to replicate the sound of the Luke I pickups by removing the tone control from the circuit, but from what I recall, it didn't do much. The SA pickups that are in the Luke I are hotter sounding. I'm not sure if they were just standard EMG SA pickups or not.

 

[Roubster]

I think it's also the fact that you have the locking floating trem on the LUKE I and the vintage trem system on the LUKE II.

 

[DrKev]

Roubster and kimonostereo said just what I was thinking - pickups and bridge. The (small) change that we often hear when taking the tone pot out of the circuit probably won't have have any effect at all on active pickups.

 

[andrealuke]

thanks

Thank you all guys for your ideas and opinions, I think i will do some tests and decide, then let you know what happens.

 

[Craiguitar]

I do get what you are saying, as I have experienced the same thoughts, ultimately however, I came to the conclusion that the 2 instruments sounded different for a reason, and thats the way it should be. So, Single coils (SA57 vs SLV), sound so different anyway, and the Humbucker (85) 'should' sound the same, but the Luke II has the load from a tone pot on it. Experimenting with a push-pull pot which will unload the tone control might offer a very slight tonal difference. Me, I still love both sounds for what they are. Lets wait and see what the Luke III is going to be.....

(incidentally, what are your thoughts on the difference in neck profile between the Luke I & II ? My Luke I has an impossibly thin V neck & I love it. My Luke II is a meatier V, with more on the shoulders, but is incredibly comfortable. I tend to prefer whichever one I am playing at the time.)

 

[andrealuke]

@Craiguitar:
Honestly I love THOSE neck profiles, they are really slightly different to my left hand that... I decided for the second Luke because I tried so many guitars in last years but no other could fit so perfect my hand, simply every note was just in the place where I was looking for, my thumb set right, every position is comfortable, and it's so for hours and hours during practicing, rehearsals or gigs.
Normally I thought about a second guitar to be the help in case of breaking a string during a gig, so it was perfect to be the same guitar... Later, testing guitars I changed my mind in "why not getting something more?". Luke II is was the answer for me. Vintage trem, tone pot and different single coils were the cool facts I would upgrade my sound... Lately in a shop I saw the "White pearl" color... it blew my mind!
But I still have my problem with a different tone... Maybe it's just a matter of time to set my amp up for both of them...
I read we have the same guitars, so let me ask you a question: I've changed frets some years ago and I tried jumbo higher frets instead the original ones... believe me: it was a revelation!
A last question: do you think Luke II (std model) has changed since they introduce BFR series? surely it's lighter than the Luke I...

 

[Craiguitar]

@Craiguitar:
Honestly I love THOSE neck profiles, they are really slightly different to my left hand that... I decided for the second Luke because I tried so many guitars in last years but no other could fit so perfect my hand, simply every note was just in the place where I was looking for, my thumb set right, every position is comfortable, and it's so for hours and hours during practicing, rehearsals or gigs.
Normally I thought about a second guitar to be the help in case of breaking a string during a gig, so it was perfect to be the same guitar... Later, testing guitars I changed my mind in "why not getting something more?". Luke II is was the answer for me. Vintage trem, tone pot and different single coils were the cool facts I would upgrade my sound... Lately in a shop I saw the "White pearl" color... it blew my mind!
But I still have my problem with a different tone... Maybe it's just a matter of time to set my amp up for both of them...
I read we have the same guitars, so let me ask you a question: I've changed frets some years ago and I tried jumbo higher frets instead the original ones... believe me: it was a revelation!
A last question: do you think Luke II (std model) has changed since they introduce BFR series? surely it's lighter than the Luke I...

Well firstly I've never had a refret on my guitars (yet...) I'd be nervous about changing the size of the fretwire, but if you say its good then thats comforting to know. In answer to your second question, all I know is, I've recently tried a 'newer' Luke II, and it did feel a hell of a lot diffrent to my Luke II. Not necessarily worse, but certainly different. The one I tried did have less birdseye figuring on the neck, it was quite plain in fact, and also I am less enamoured with the non-recessed neck plate. It just seems to cheapen the look/feel of the instrument a little. I did like the compensated nut though. That's one improvement. I have never tried a BFR version, so I can't comment there.

 

[DrGonzo5150]

Just a note on the differences between the Luke I and II. The pickups are different in each guitar. Luke had EMG make him a different set of single coils. So ever since the Luke II came out, the guitar has had his pro series SLV pickups. Supposedly the humbucker has been an 85 ever since the Luke was introduced, but to me it sounds a little different in each guitar.

Other members here have tried to replicate the sound of the Luke I pickups by removing the tone control from the circuit, but from what I recall, it didn't do much. The SA pickups that are in the Luke I are hotter sounding. I'm not sure if they were just standard EMG SA pickups or not.

This.

I know Dwells tried removing the tone and it didn't have the desired effect.
I'm 100% with you Kimonostereo, even the humbucker sounds different to me... Luke 1 has hotter pickups through and through.

 

[kimonostereo]

DrGonzo,

Yeah, the pickups are very different. I have an old set of EMG SA's in one of the early Schecter strats with a ebony fingerboard. I should see if there is any difference there, but I'd say it would still be hard to tell since the Luke I has a Floyd and the Schecter has a Wilkinson.

That said, my second EBMM guitar was a Luke I when they first came out. I sold it, and later got a Luke II, but was quite puzzled because it just didn't feel or sound the same as I remembered.

Part of me wanted to just put the change in feel to it being a EBMM vintage / standard trem and no locking nut... It was only after I got my current Luke I that I realize how much slimmer the neck profile is compared to the Luke II. When I play the Luke I, it feels like home... although I do like the Luke II neck profile too... it's just not as comfy as the Luke I for me.

The maple wood of the neck also feels different. I'm not sure if it's because of age, but I don't ever recall my early EBMM necks feeling the way the newer ones do. They almost feel "dry" to me, still good, but different from the older ones. My Luke I and EVH both have the same "feel" as far as the maple part of the neck wood is concerned.

Ah, the mysteries of the old EBMM's...

 

[andrealuke]

After reading all of yours, I thank everyone for being so interested in my question.
Sincerely, thank you.
Last night I tried to change my point of you with all of your opinions and suggestions in my mind, and worked with both guitar (connected through an A/B box) straight to the amp (Mesa Dual Recto) and set it all up to find the right balance to make it work together as-they-are-now.
The result? It will take time to test, but I'm glad of what I heard: some EQ adjustments and it feels better now. Both are great guitars to me.

I also feel more acoustic sound! Playing both unplugged, Luke II has a very high volume and acoustic feel that I didn't expect to... Man, I own my Luke I since 1996 and it's been my ONLY instrument since last month, so it's been played for hours almost everyday for 15 years... It's changed and grown a lot since the day I bouth it, but never reached the acoustic feel of the new one...

Bird's-eye maple on the neck are fewer in the Luke II than in Luke I but not so much, I saw necks with no "eyes" at all, but that's not my own. Profile has changed and I think I will change frets shape as I will need to, but everyone has his own hands so it's personal needs.

 

[Craiguitar]

Well firstly I've never had a refret on my guitars (yet...) I'd be nervous about changing the size of the fretwire, but if you say its good then thats comforting to know. In answer to your second question, all I know is, I've recently tried a 'newer' Luke II, and it did feel a hell of a lot diffrent to my Luke II. Not necessarily worse, but certainly different. The one I tried did have less birdseye figuring on the neck, it was quite plain in fact, and also I am less enamoured with the non-recessed neck plate. It just seems to cheapen the look/feel of the instrument a little. I did like the compensated nut though. That's one improvement. I have never tried a BFR version, so I can't comment there.

Just thought i'd update on this one. My Luke 1 has just gone in for a refret. I finally bit the bullet and decided to get it done. The upper frets have a lot of even-wear, from bending etc, and the lower frets have deep grooves, mainly under the unwound strings. It's gone to stuartsguitarworks.com. I think it's in good hands. We discussed the options, but in the end I really just want it back like it was, so dunlop fretwire, same height. I'll let you know how it turns out. I figure if I get another 19 years out of these frets then I'll be more than happy.

 

[Craiguitar]

Just thought i'd update on this one. My Luke 1 has just gone in for a refret. I finally bit the bullet and decided to get it done. The upper frets have a lot of even-wear, from bending etc, and the lower frets have deep grooves, mainly under the unwound strings. It's gone to stuartsguitarworks.com. I think it's in good hands. We discussed the options, but in the end I really just want it back like it was, so dunlop fretwire, same height. I'll let you know how it turns out. I figure if I get another 19 years out of these frets then I'll be more than happy.

Got the luke 1 back today post refret. Fantastic! It feels just like it's brand new again. Very impressed. Thank you stuart palmer!

 

[Karlsson-75]

Got the luke 1 back today post refret. Fantastic! It feels just like it's brand new again. Very impressed. Thank you stuart palmer!

I'm about to take my Luke for a refret too. I want it back just like it is now...
....only without the fret buzz of course