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Axis 30th Anniversary

Convince me to buy a Luke

Red Scare

Red Scare

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
106
Location
Traverse City, MI
I love the Axis SS, but I'm not totally into the body shape as I tend to be more traditional. I love the neck best of all.
I love my AL, but the neck is not as great as the Axis SS.
I like the Silo body, neck is better than the AL, but not as great as the Axis.

Now, I really like the body on the Luke. Not crazy about EMG's, but I haven't used them in over 10 years, so I may like them now. How is the neck compared to what I know?

I have noticed a lot of people have the Luke's (and seem to sell them as much). Am I missing out? Do I need one? Convince me one way or the other.
 
Red, I've had 2 Alberts, and an Rosewood ASS
and 2 LUKE's, I LOVE THE LUKE!!!! the neck feels
smaller (to me anyway) and more comfortable
for someone with smaller hands. Thats my 2 cents worth!!
 
My Luke is the only guitar I've played and owed that has EMG's...I couldn't be happier. The tone and and sonic diversity make it my main axe. The "V" neck fits me like a glove.

The finest guitar I've ever played...it's got serious balls. Plus it is a Ball!
 
the Luke is a very versatile guitar.... listen to the man himself...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G32g89X8M38"]YouTube - Steve Lukather in the studio[/ame]
 
For me it's because this neck.....

HPIM0776a.jpg


...plays even better than it looks!
 
Ah come on there must be one like mine in your store inventory! And wait till you see the necks on Rob's Alberts!

.....but I know I got really lucky, I know:D
 
Red, I need to choose my words carefully here.

First - Luke is my Guitar Hero - He floats my boat like nobody else and I could listen to him play all day. Because of this I got myself a Luke, and until a few weeks ago I owned an ASS and a Luke. The Luke neck is very, very lovely, but aren't all EBMMs? But try as I might, I just coudn't bond with it.

Two reasons;

1. The middle pickup was right where I normally pick. I set my action very low, and when shreding on the low bottom E, I was constantly catching the pickup - and you can't lower it.

2. More importantly.....EMG pickups have lots of benefits, but I do think they lack the organic warmth of a normal pickup. Bear in mind that I was comparing it to my ASS which has amazing warm tones, I just found the Luke a bit cold and maybe sterile for my liking.

All I'm saying is that the two Axes are very, very diferent. They both ooze quality, but for me the ASS was the Axe of my dreams.

Usual advice I suppose - try before you buy.....but just make sure its a ball.....
 
Ricman said:
Red, I need to choose my words carefully here.

First - Luke is my Guitar Hero - He floats my boat like nobody else and I could listen to him play all day. Because of this I got myself a Luke, and until a few weeks ago I owned an ASS and a Luke. The Luke neck is very, very lovely, but aren't all EBMMs? But try as I might, I just coudn't bond with it.

Two reasons;

1. The middle pickup was right where I normally pick. I set my action very low, and when shreding on the low bottom E, I was constantly catching the pickup - and you can't lower it.

2. More importantly.....EMG pickups have lots of benefits, but I do think they lack the organic warmth of a normal pickup. Bear in mind that I was comparing it to my ASS which has amazing warm tones, I just found the Luke a bit cold and maybe sterile for my liking.

All I'm saying is that the two Axes are very, very diferent. They both ooze quality, but for me the ASS was the Axe of my dreams.

Usual advice I suppose - try before you buy.....but just make sure its a ball.....
Click to expand...
I HAD issues with my Luke... but it's just great now that I've refretted the guitar.... it feels to me a lot better, and as far as EMG's go... well I'll tell you what... do a blindfold test with another guitar player and I guarantee you won't be able to tell that they are EMG's.... listen to Luke on the live Toto DVD.... with one guitar he was able to reproduce ALL the tones he got on the early Toto albums.... these guitars are very well thought out instruments....
 
No arguement that they are well thought out guitars..

Luke does get close to his recorded tones when he plays live - but he's been playing EMGs for a long time - way longer than he's been with EBMM.

I have a very modest set-up at home, and to me the EMGs seemed cold compared to the Axis Dimarzios. I actually did do an A/B test for a friend - same tune through the same gear..he's a Luke/toto fan too, and he spotted the EMGs instantly.

My views are not meant as a criticism. With my level of ability I cannot say which is "best". But I am blessed/cursed with good ears, and they sound like very different guitars to me.

PS - What frets are you playin now Gerry?
 
Ricman said:
Red, I need to choose my words carefully here.

First - Luke is my Guitar Hero - He floats my boat like nobody else and I could listen to him play all day. Because of this I got myself a Luke, and until a few weeks ago I owned an ASS and a Luke. The Luke neck is very, very lovely, but aren't all EBMMs? But try as I might, I just coudn't bond with it.

Two reasons;

1. The middle pickup was right where I normally pick. I set my action very low, and when shreding on the low bottom E, I was constantly catching the pickup - and you can't lower it.

2. More importantly.....EMG pickups have lots of benefits, but I do think they lack the organic warmth of a normal pickup. Bear in mind that I was comparing it to my ASS which has amazing warm tones, I just found the Luke a bit cold and maybe sterile for my liking.

All I'm saying is that the two Axes are very, very diferent. They both ooze quality, but for me the ASS was the Axe of my dreams.

Usual advice I suppose - try before you buy.....but just make sure its a ball.....
Click to expand...

Very ineresting what you're saying...I have become a major Axis fanatic mainly because of the neck and the tones, and haven't tried EMGs in years...we have some LUKES coming in soon, including a BFR...I'm very curious to see if I have the same conclusion that you do. Always cool to hear the different opinions on this forum.
 
Ricman said:
No arguement that they are well thought out guitars..

Luke does get close to his recorded tones when he plays live - but he's been playing EMGs for a long time - way longer than he's been with EBMM.

I have a very modest set-up at home, and to me the EMGs seemed cold compared to the Axis Dimarzios. I actually did do an A/B test for a friend - same tune through the same gear..he's a Luke/toto fan too, and he spotted the EMGs instantly.

My views are not meant as a criticism. With my level of ability I cannot say which is "best". But I am blessed/cursed with good ears, and they sound like very different guitars to me.

PS - What frets are you playin now Gerry?
Click to expand...
the frets on my Luke are now Dunlop 6150 stainless and FOR ME they are a big improvement.... the guitar is now near perfect for me.... I don't know what your amp setup is but for me I have a few tube based rigs that I use for a variety of situations... I use FX quite a lot and my work requires me to cover everything from very clean funk to jazz to country to rock and some metal tones and everything in between...:eek: now what I've found is that with a good tube based rig and a Luke is that ..
1... the EMG's are very quiet....( essential for some stuff...)
2... if you learn how to use the volume and tone controls you will find a lot of variation in tones... ( if you roll all the tone off the bridge PU, it's sounds really close to a Les Paul neck pickup... very clever IMO...:))
3... if you are in situations where long hours of playing time are required.. the Lukes neck suddenly makes a lot of sense... its very comfortable...
4... I have lots of guitars.... the Luke is the most useable... it's designed for one of the most recorded guitarists ever... he knows a thing or two..
5... they look COOL...:D
 
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