10's on a Luke?

[Manxmusicman]

Hi guys, new member here. I'm in the states visiting at the mo and have managed to get myself a Luke. I've previously played nothing but Gibson's but wanted something different. Needless to say I can't wait to get this baby home and get it through my own setup. Having used gibsons I'm used to playing with 10 gauge strings, my Luke currently has 9's and I still can't get comfortable with them. I like something with a bit more resistance when I'm playing.

My question is will I need to change anything on the guitar if I put 10's on? Will the string height need adjusting? As I said i've played nothing but gibsons so the floating bridge is new to me.

 

[meanMRmustard]

Welcome and congrats on the Luke! I switched mine to 10-46's and just re did the intonation and the neck was fine I didnt need to adjust the truss rod. I also added a 3rd spring to the trem claw and put the 2 screws at the top all the way in thus essentially making it a hardtail. Or take it to a tech to do all that stuff for ya either way the 10's are much nicer.

 

[jamie_au]

Pretty much what Mr Mustard said. I have my trem slightly floating, so it's a different animal....but if you just want to be able to bend the note down, and have the trem flat against the body, then it shouldn't be much trouble.

Personally, I've been playing my G****n a lot recently due to the show we're doing, and it's strung with 11-52's, so I'm seriously considering moving my Ball's to that guage, as they're at 10-46 at the moment...The 10's are starting to feel too floppy to me.

 

[lukeuser78]

tried it once but just felt stiff and clinical, am a 9-42 lad sadly, shame fatter sounds and those emg's!!!!

 

[brokenvail]

Hi guys, new member here. I'm in the states visiting at the mo and have managed to get myself a Luke. I've previously played nothing but Gibson's but wanted something different. Needless to say I can't wait to get this baby home and get it through my own setup. Having used gibsons I'm used to playing with 10 gauge strings, my Luke currently has 9's and I still can't get comfortable with them. I like something with a bit more resistance when I'm playing.

My question is will I need to change anything on the guitar if I put 10's on? Will the string height need adjusting? As I said i've played nothing but gibsons so the floating bridge is new to me.

You are stuck on a stuff middle ground my friend. Gibsons have a slightly shorter scale length than EBMM which use the same scale length as Fender and a million other brands out there. Typically if you use 10's on a Gibson scale then 9's is what you want on a 25.5 scale like the EB is. The thing is that with EB's slightly shorter headstock and 4-2 tunner layout there is a bit less tension on thos strings than other guitars with the same scale length. It is by no means a flaw or anything like that but it does give a slightly different feel to the strings. I have been experimenting with "custom" string gauges trying to find a happy middle ground. Try the 10's if you like (I use 10's on all my 25.5 scale guitars and 11's on my LPs) The feeling tension wise still won't match but you might like it. Give your self some time though because after years of LP playing the hands and brain need an adjustment period.

 

[Manxmusicman]

Thanks for the responses guys, I'll put the 10's on and give it ago.

 

[chemical69]

Do it. I put 10s on and it plays beautifully.... the whammy bar tension is just right and bends just feel right too...

 

[Roubster]

When I had the LUKE I put 10s on it as well and I dont think there is any other way to have it...for me at least. The feel is great and the tone is fatter and more pronounced. You will have to play a little bit with the trem claw to adjust it how you want and an additional spring...but it's not a big deal. Have fun!

 

[lukeuser78]

What does luke use himself, should know, 9-42's??????

 

[Craiguitar]

What does luke use himself, should know, 9-42's??????

Yup, He uses 9-42's. So do I Can't get on with any other guage. Incidentally, the Luke comes factory set up for 9-42's.