Dilema!!!

[Ali]

Popped into the guitar store yesterday to be met with the news that my Luke order is near completetion, but that the piezo couldn't be added at the late build stage, despite Strings and Things saying no problem (I suspect they didn't realise how far on it was). So, a carbon blue without the piezo is heading to the UK.

S & T, the importers, have said they're happy to take it as stock and reorder one with the piezo BUT that would put me right at the beginning of the road again with up to 5 months waiting time again. Is the piezo REALLY worth hanging on for? Or do I just put the extra £300 towards something else.

Or do I take the £1800 I've got in credit just now and put it towards a Tom Anderson Hollow Drop Top Classic they have sitting on the shelf? It's very, very nice to play but a tad expensive at £2400. And are they really that much better quality wise than EBMMs?

Nothing in life is ever simple, is it?

Think I'll go in and sit down with the TA, a Tyler and a few others they have in stock and see how I feel. There was me thinking I'd be all Luked up in the next month

 

[jimmyp]

That is a tough one. I personally love the sound of a piezo in my Sil Spec and it does add to the versatility of the overall guitar. However, in all fairness, I wouldn't wait another 5 months for the new one to be completed. The major factor for me is that however much I like having the piezo option, I very rarely use it as when I play acoustic I tend to get my Ovation out as I play differently on a 'proper' acoustic than I do on an electric guitar with piezo pickup (this is NOT to say it sounds any better - the piezo sounds every bit as good as my acoustic). I reckon you should play the Luke that is arriving - you'll probably fall in love and have to have it IMHO

 

[kbaim]

Well, if it were me? Which it was several years ago (though having the pleasure of being drawn to the Luke and playing it at the store for several months)...

I'd advise buying the carbon blue near completion!

My addiction began when I ordered a blue dawn (the good ol days) based on falling in love with the purple Luke in the store. The store sat on my order for 2 weeks, and as a make good, they agreed to loan me the Purple until Blue Dawn arrived.

Then I did some recording with purple, my playing just really improved and I was inspired to write music every time I picked it up. So when my BD arrived it only made sense to have a backup .

About 6 months later I really wanted a guitar with a piezo since I was writing more and more fingerpicking stuff. Didn't realize you could get a Luke with one so I tracked down an Axis SS with one.

Then finally sucked it up and ordered the Luke w/piezo...after buying another axis ss and also a Steve Morse.

So I would --
A. Get the Carbon Blue
B. Finish those songs for your son and buddy
C. Start saving again for an Axis SS, or silo sp or Luke w/piezo down the road

KEITH

PS. EB has had a piezo Luke at the January (20,21,22) Namm show the past 2 years. Wonder if they sell those? Might be worth a call to Scott Ball. Last year was a RAD RED with Piezo.

 

[dan desy]

Why don't you just get the Luke and stick in a Graphtech GHOST piezo system in it? Those things are the best piezos on the market!

 

[Ali]

Thanks Keith and Jimmy. Think you read my mind.

I went into the store at lunchtime in a confused frame of mind. I tried three Tom Andersons...all hollow Drop Tops. One Classic with Alder, and two standards- H3 with basswood and H2 with Alder. The H3 with basswood was immediately struck off. It would suit the heavier side of things very well but it lacked top end and was a bit too LP in the mids for my taste. The two H2/Sa equipped Alder bodies were very nice. But I have to say I really wasn't that impressed with the necks. I don't know how they achieve the neck finish but it feels too much like a coating rather than a natural wood with wax. The earthing on all three was also suspect. Lots of crackling and hiss...not £2600 impressed then. I do like the way they stain the Alder as well as applying some real AAA tops, but they should at that price...

Tried a Burning Water Tyler and have to say the necks are just fabulous. Feels like you've been playing them for years even when picking one up. Not as impressed with the one though, just a bit too metallic and high end and certainly not as smooth as the TAs. It really is a substitute high end strat and the sound is similar (though far better than a F*nd*r). It out Strats a Strat but that's all its tricks in one basket. I also, much as I love the neck, couldn't live with the colour scheme

And then I plugged in an Axis again. The same trans Blue as last time, through the same amp as the others and...hooked again. It may lack the variety of the TA but when it comes to humbucker tone the Axis wins hands down. And the neck...the Tyler is fabulous, but I prefer the Axis. The additional roundness of the fretboard edges just pips the scalloping of the Tyler for comfort. For some reason, price probably, playing the Axis is so much less intimidating. It just brought out the best in me. I hate playing in a guitar shop, even in the quiet booth out the back, but with the Axis I was happy to just ad lib all over the place. Even came up with two new licks

So, the Carbon Luke is being bought. And the extra £500 credit I save is going to go back to the Axis fund. I've decided against the Axis piezo and premium quilt as that boosts the price from £1300 to a whopping £1950!!! So, two £1300 EBMMs that I love for the price of a TA or Tyler that I can see the appeal of, but just don't move me to play the way either the Luke or Axis do.

I may go down the piezo route one day Keith. But the £400 it saves may also go towards a mid price electro acoustic instead. Don't suppose EBMM fancy making one in teh next couple of years, do they?

 

[NorM]

If you get what you really want you will never second guess your decision

 

[Ali]

My problem is the trying to work out what I need and separate it out from what I want and can afford!!!

I don't need a piezo. I'd probably use it solidly for a month then forget I had it. I almost never use my acoustic these days except when volume levels won't permit an electric. And, whilst it's a completely different league, I love the sound of my AVT150s Acoustic Sim. Doesn't sound anything like an acoustic but it's lovely for clean rhythm playing. If I regret it then I can always add one as Dan mentioned above. though if the Luke tone is as good as the one I tried then I'd be loathe to change it. Maybe, like Keith says, i should buy a second one with piezo...

But the Axis has to come first. Just love that guitar. And no dilemma over colour this time. Has to be Pacific Blue Burst.

Of course, the Boss GT6 wants to be replaced by a Boss GT8 as well...

Does it ever end?

 

[beej]

> Does it ever end?

No, no it doesn't ...

... until the bank cuts up all of your cards.

 

[SteveB]

Wow.. this is the GAS-siest bunch of guys I've ever met! Cool your credit cards!

As for the Luke, I'd buy the one that's nearly ready and see if I liked it enough to save for a Piezo version of the same. (Maybe you could sell the non-piezo Luke later, to recover some of the money spent on the Piezo version.)

 

[phatduckk]

im in a similar kind of place ...

im looking for an EB guitar but the local dealers dont have any Silo's, which are my #1 choice based on reviews and looks. So I want a guitar I've never played and cant fing one to try out LAME

So its now time to decide if i should just sack up and order the Silo from bassplyr or not. i wish i could get my hands on one though. the biggest issue to me is availability and timing. EB guitars are not like a Les Paul where you can find one in any store (not in my experience anyways) ... but being a huge fan of their basses I want to be a loyal customer and stick w/ EB.

what to do???

and ya ... i have way more gear now than I have room for. anyone find out how to control the GAS (besides going broke or having a wife yell at you)?

 

[Ali]

Just realised...I'll have a Luke VERY soon in that case....WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO

And I suspect once it arrives, any piezo regrets will quickly pass. I'll just keep reading JDouglees post about piezos deadening the Luke's sound

Hell, if this is my only addiction, at least it's healthy.......how to persuade the wife that two guitars and a new effects board are required, now there's a task

Tell you what EBMM folk. I'll order another Luke with piezo if you make Pacific Blue Burst an option on them. Come on, it looks stunning on any of your basses, it'll look even better than vintage sunburst on a Luke....PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE

 

[kbaim]

Honey...we have 2 children. What's wrong with hav...

OUCH. STOP IT. WHAT ARE YOU? CRAZY?? OKAY, FORGET IT!!!

 

[Ali]

I'm working on the...."oh, they were really cheap, I got two for the price of that Ibanez I sold"

*hopes she never looks at a price guide*

 

[kbaim]

Tell you what EBMM folk. I'll order another Luke with piezo if you make Pacific Blue Burst an option on them. Come on, it looks stunning on any of your basses, it'll look even better than vintage sunburst on a Luke....PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE

I wasn't aware Pacific blueburst was offered in bass models. I've seen plenty of Blue Dawn basses though. Was it that color? Hmmn.

 

[Bassplyr]

So its now time to decide if i should just sack up and order the Silo from bassplyr or not.

I would...

 

[Ali]

I wasn't aware Pacific blueburst was offered in bass models. I've seen plenty of Blue Dawn basses though. Was it that color? Hmmn.

Nope, definitely Pacific Blue Burst on a Stingray4 with a black plate. It's sitting in my local store as we speak and I drool over the colour every time I go in It looks stunning with the subtle grain. If they ever offer it on the Luke then that'll be my next one

 

[kbaim]

BTW, the title of this thread would make a good title to a future song of yours once your luke gets into town.

 

[Ali]

That's not a bad idea

Though to get the recording up and running I need to upgrade my Mac. Realised that my laptop is only 128Mb and most software needs 256 to 512. Plus, mine is knackered!!!

So, two new iMacs are being ordered for the business. One might end up with 1Gb and a Digidesign MBox and grow legs to find its way into my study