Luke 4 SSS Thoughts

[Xenedis]

As Luke (the guitar, not the person, although both are awesome) fans would know, the first two generations of Luke came in an HSS pickup configuration, with an HH pickup configuration introduced later with the Luke III.

Much more recently, the Luke 4 brought us the first Luke with an SSS pickup configuration.

As both a Luke fan and a Strat fan, the Luke 4 SSS appealed to me, as it had not been done before, and it presented guitar players with an alternative pickup combination in this well-established type of guitar. I bought one earlier in 2026 (in the Diesel Blue finish; mind you, Scoville Red also looks very nice).

How many of you bought a Luke 4 SSS?

For those who did, what are your thoughts?

Is there much love for SSS in a Luke?

If you also have a Strat, how do you find the Luke 4 SSS -- tonally -- compared to your favourite (or only) Strat?

I have not yet done a direct side-by-side comparison, but from the limited experience that I have had with my Luke 4 SSS so far, it may be the best Strat that Fender never made.

I wonder if there will be future Luke models offered with this unconventional (for Lukes) pickup option.

 

[Sweat]

I had an SSS when they first came out, something about it did not appeal to me. Now I wish I still had it. Just saw Toto and Luke played an L4 SSS for half the songs, it was the Bareback version and man sounded great.

L4 SSS is not Strat like IMO, the Cutlass is though and the Cutlass is a huge Strat killer.

 

[Xenedis]

I had an SSS when they first came out, something about it did not appeal to me. Now I wish I still had it.

Oh no -- seller's remorse!

You can always buy another one, at least.

Just saw Toto and Luke played an L4 SSS for half the songs, it was the Bareback version and man sounded great.

We last saw Toto live just a little over a year ago, and Steve was definitely playing a bareback, amongst numerous other guitars.

L4 SSS is not Strat like IMO, the Cutlass is though and the Cutlass is a huge Strat killer.

I have not played a Cutlass before, but if I wanted a Strat at a gig and did not take an actual Strat, my Luke 4 SSS would absolutely do the job.

In fact, at the next gig that I play, I am going Stratless, and I may be tempted to take two Lukes.

 

[Sweat]

To each their own but a L4 SSS is not similar to a Fender Strat

 

[ruger9]

I had an SSS when they first came out, something about it did not appeal to me. Now I wish I still had it. Just saw Toto and Luke played an L4 SSS for half the songs, it was the Bareback version and man sounded great.

L4 SSS is not Strat like IMO, the Cutlass is though and the Cutlass is a huge Strat killer.

Yeah that bareback has been his #1 since the L4 came out. I do see alot of videos lately though of him playing the purple/grey one as well.

I always wondered about the bridge pickup in the SSS: is it hotter than the others? Never been a fan of strat bridge pickups (which is why the HSS was invented), but it would be nice to have some power when switching to the bridge.