Question which pick ups will fit in my Luke 2 ?

[franne500]

Hi all,


Me and the bands sound tech. can't get the EMGs to sit well in the mix - So they have to go.
I would LOVE the TRANSITION set - but we are not allowed to buy the single coils (and you have to place a custom order to get them without a flange).

I can't seem to think of any pick ups that will fit in the Luke - Can you ?

My favourite choice would be two Dimarzio DP409s and a Tansition in the bridge...... But then I have to make a custom order and I am afraid that it's gonna take foreeeeeeeeeveeeeeeer to get them.

 

[TNT]

no need to fret, I think a DiMarzio Norton (not air) in the bridge position will do the trick!!!

 

[franne500]

Ehm - - - - not sure i understand you - BUT i can't seem to find single coil that fits in the cavity of the Luke.

 

[Bob123]

Why wouldn't single coils fit? they are EMG slv's which use the same sized materials as "normal" emgs, which are interchangeable with many single coil variants.

Larry Dimarzio says that the transition single coils are very similar to the "injector" model single coils if you want an off the shelf version.

 

[DrKev]

Some of the forumites here have put passive pickups in their Luke, and did have issues with sizing. I'm sure one of them will get around to chiming in and tell you how they got them to fit.

Of course if you simply dont like the EMGs, then swap them out but saying they don't sit in the mix is like saying your car can't drive on the highway. If you can't get them to sit in the mix, you need to look at amp EQ and mic placement. Don't EQ your amp for stage the same way you do for bedroom or even recording studio. It takes time and patience to get live sound right but if you want to keep to keep the EMGs you will get there in the end.

 

[franne500]

Why wouldn't single coils fit? they are EMG slv's which use the same sized materials as "normal" emgs, which are interchangeable with many single coil variants.

Larry Dimarzio says that the transition single coils are very similar to the "injector" model single coils if you want an off the shelf version.

A normal passive single coil won't fit - And i would like something similar to the Dimarzio DP409

 

[franne500]

In my main band we play with in-ears and the same set up all the time - Same amp, same cab, same mics etc etc - everything is mounted in racks - including mics - and the EMGs simply haven't got the same "body" as the passive pups do - Which means that you have to turn up the guitar in the mix - but then it clashes with the sound we wan't.
But with passives it fits right in the middle where it is supposed to be.

 

[dkannen]

Blackouts Singles AS-1 - Seymour Duncan High Output

put a regular blackout in the bridge, you won't even have to change any of the internals of the guitar!

Trust me, UNBELIEVABLE pickups. I love my blackouts to death. They are WAY different from the EMGs, so don't not consider them just because they're active!

 

[franne500]

Blackouts Singles AS-1 - Seymour Duncan High Output

put a regular blackout in the bridge, you won't even have to change any of the internals of the guitar!

Trust me, UNBELIEVABLE pickups. I love my blackouts to death. They are WAY different from the EMGs, so don't not consider them just because they're active!

It is not the bridge that is the problem - it is the single coils in neck and middle

 

[BrickGlass]

In my main band we play with in-ears and the same set up all the time - Same amp, same cab, same mics etc etc - everything is mounted in racks - including mics - and the EMGs simply haven't got the same "body" as the passive pups do - Which means that you have to turn up the guitar in the mix - but then it clashes with the sound we wan't.
But with passives it fits right in the middle where it is supposed to be.

Honestly, this makes about zero sense to me. It is an issue that should be fixed with EQ imo, not a pickup swap. Now don't get me wrong, I'm the one on the forum who actually contacted Dimarzio and asked them what pickups should be used to get the most similar sound to the Transition pick ups. They said the Injectors for the single coils but you need to order them without a flange. Point is, I understand wanting to swap your EMG's out for some passive goodness, I intend to do it someday without a doubt myself. But the problem you are describing seems like it would be fairly easy to fix with some EQ setting tweaks. Changing pups for such a problem seems a little odd to me, but hey, go for the gold man. If you aren't happy with your sound and new pups will make you happy, go for it.

 

[franne500]

Honestly, this makes about zero sense to me. It is an issue that should be fixed with EQ imo, not a pickup swap. Now don't get me wrong, I'm the one on the forum who actually contacted Dimarzio and asked them what pickups should be used to get the most similar sound to the Transition pick ups. They said the Injectors for the single coils but you need to order them without a flange. Point is, I understand wanting to swap your EMG's out for some passive goodness, I intend to do it someday without a doubt myself. But the problem you are describing seems like it would be fairly easy to fix with some EQ setting tweaks. Changing pups for such a problem seems a little odd to me, but hey, go for the gold man. If you aren't happy with your sound and new pups will make you happy, go for it.

Not really....well - not in my book anyway The thing is, that i try to get the BEST guitar sound for the band i am in - and that means hopefully very little EQ and outboard prosesing. So that when any sound guy gets my signal he wont need to do any adjustments - it just sits in the mix (EQ wise, not volume of cause). That is the goal i am aiming at.

 

[BrickGlass]

Not really....well - not in my book anyway The thing is, that i try to get the BEST guitar sound for the band i am in - and that means hopefully very little EQ and outboard prosesing. So that when any sound guy gets my signal he wont need to do any adjustments - it just sits in the mix (EQ wise, not volume of cause). That is the goal i am aiming at.

Dude, if you are unwilling to do any EQing then don't be surprised if you can't get a good sound, at least imo. You typically need to do some different EQing (at least in my experience) just based on the venue or room you are playing in alone. And I'm not talking about the sound guy doing EQing necessarily, he will do what he needs to do based on his judgement typically, I'm talking about you EQing your own signal at the amp or with a pedal etc. Also, don't most players that are serious in any way try and get the "BEST" sound for the band they are in? I don't follow the reasoning that getting the "BEST" sound would mean very little EQ or outboard processing. Obviously the best sound might need to be achieved by changing something, perhaps the pickups, but with what you are describing as the problem, I'm not seeing the pickup being the biggest issue. I'm just confused by what you are describing and what you feel to be the problem.

 

[DrKev]

The sound we like to hear as guitar players when practising and working on our tone/rig is not always a sound that works well in the context of actual music and definitely doesn't work well with a bunch of instruments coming through the same speakers.

Recording studios are a great place to see this in action - wonderful guitar sound when played on it's own will frequently suck in a mix with the other instruments. The more instruments and sounds there are, the more it will suck. Conversely, the guitar sound that works best in the mix, and that sounds like what we like to hear, often sounds ugly as hell when listening to it on it's own. And EQing the cymbals can affect what we hear in the guitar. Adjusting the vocal midrange can make the bass sound muddy. It's never obvious and frequently frustrating and just goes to show that an appropriate mix is not as simple as "take this guitar sound and don't mess with it". It applies equally to every musician in the band.

Over the years I have learned how to EQ my amps better for live situations (which depends on the room I'm in) and what mic position in front of my particular amp conveys it in a way that works FOH. That way I know that the engineer is getting a sound more appropriate to the band mix rather than what my ears love when I'm noodling on my own. And engineers sometimes thank me for it too. But every room and PA system is different and some amount of EQ is absolutely necessary if the mix is to work. The amp needs to be EQ for the room and the sound of the band. Once the sound is sent to the desk, it's the engineers job to do with it what ever is needed to make the music sound good and you don't need to worry about that.

Maybe swapping the EMGs will be a great idea for you, absolutely change them if you don't like the sound of them. But if you have problems with your live mix, you'll still have problems with ANY pickup. All you will do is shift your problems to another set of frequencies that you'll still refuse to adjust.

We're not trying to break your balls here, we want you to get a great live sound too.

 

[guitardan]

You can buy just about any model DiMarzio single w/ out the flange. I was looking into this a few months back, and the fine folks at DiMarzio gave me a few links (can't find em ) to a few ebay stores with a bunch in stock.

FWIW - I bought a set of Carvin Twin Blade (singles) and a C22 that dropped right in to my Luke 2.
But after a few days of playing them, I yanked them and put the EMG's back in.
Bottom line, they were spec'd for the Luke and the proof is in the countless recordings w/ stellar tone.
Plus you can't rule out that a lot of your tone is in your fingers.....

 

[franne500]

Dude, if you are unwilling to do any EQing then don't be surprised if you can't get a good sound, at least imo. You typically need to do some different EQing (at least in my experience) just based on the venue or room you are playing in alone. And I'm not talking about the sound guy doing EQing necessarily, he will do what he needs to do based on his judgement typically, I'm talking about you EQing your own signal at the amp or with a pedal etc. Also, don't most players that are serious in any way try and get the "BEST" sound for the band they are in? I don't follow the reasoning that getting the "BEST" sound would mean very little EQ or outboard processing. Obviously the best sound might need to be achieved by changing something, perhaps the pickups, but with what you are describing as the problem, I'm not seeing the pickup being the biggest issue. I'm just confused by what you are describing and what you feel to be the problem.

Naturally I do a lot of EQing in my rack - but my mic signal that goes to FOH should need no EQ or prcessing

 

[Jamie M]

I am very confused.

 

[beej]

There are a ton of guys that use EMGs live (including Luke for all of those years). But they're just part of a complicated signal chain.

If they're not for you, by all means, look for something else. If you use the search function, you'll find a few threads where people have swapped out for passives.

I'd say if you're drawn to the Dimarzios, then the best bet is to ask them how long they'd actually take, and go for it.

 

[BrickGlass]

Naturally I do a lot of EQing in my rack - but my mic signal that goes to FOH should need no EQ or prcessing

Um...ok