have an opportunity to buy Luke 1... got few Q's...

[the_jiveman]

Hi Everybody!!!

I'm new to the forum, and new to Luke guitars... I've always heard nothing but great things about Music Man guitars, in general, but I've never had an opportunity to play one...

A friend of a friend is selling a Luke 1, and I'm in a need of another guitar... At least I think it's a Luke "1", according to my few searches on this forum thus far...

The guy says it was purchased around 1997 or so... It has 1 potentiometer (volume), with a floating tremolo and a locking nut... So Luke 1, right?

I've been playing an Ibanez RG-series guitar (Edge tremolo, 24 jumbo frets, super thin neck), and lots of hard-rock/metal stuff (metallica, pantera, and similar type of "metal")... So some of my concerns/observations are:

- how good is Luke for this type of music?
- would it be a big difference in tremolo types (I don't need steve vai dives, but I like to use the trem to its potential, from time to time)?
- the Luke frets seem significantly thinner than my jumbo ones on RG... and they may need to be filed further, since they seem farily worn at places.. do you think they can take a good "filing" job without becoming "too thin" for normal playing (lots of bending and whatnots)? or are we talking a need for new frets or something?
- Is the neck truss rod adjustable??? This guy was saying that it's a solid, but I'm little suspicious that a high-profile guitar like that wouldn't have an adjustable neck...
- the V shaped neck is significantly different from my super-thin Wizard II neck on RG, but for some reason, it still feels comfortable enough (unline a Strat, which is just too beefy for me)....

He also said that he lost the locking nut srews and the trem arm (I guess he never used it)... The guitar has a few dings and damages on paint, but nothing too bad...

I'm not too crazy about the color (some sort of dark purple-ish), but if it plays well, that's the most important...

How much do you think this guitar might be worth, from the description above (considering it's missing the locking screws, tremolo arm, and the frets may need some work)???

Thanks guys! I appreciate your feedback on any of the above!!

 

[Luc]

You are correct..A Luke with a floyd rose= a luke 1

As I own a Luke 2 i can't comment on questions regarding the tremolo etcetera but to be honest, i don't think a luke is very suited for metal. I heard that the single coils on the Luke 1 (I believe they were SA's??) Sound fatter than the SLV's that are on the Luke 2, but I don't think they are made for playing metal. I even think the SLV on my Luke are one of the best sounding clean pickups i've ever heard. The EMG 85 in the bridge sounds very smooth, and has got a deeper tone than the 81, which is more used in metal-ish guitars. But hey, it's a matter of taste, I think the Luke sounds phenominal, but then i'm more a fan of a more distinguished tone...I don't like to have a "screaming" tone.
I believe the truss rod is adjustible, at least on my Luke it is adjustible, and I can't think of an EBMM with a non-adjustible truss rod.

Don't know how much it's worth, have to see pics first and i don't know the average price on a used Luke 1 nowadays..

Hope this helps,

Luc

 

[the_jiveman]

Yeah, I wouldn't think that they are an "excellent" metal guitar... but I play mostly lead, and I like a little refined tone... The single coils don't have to "scream", as long as I can get a full consistent distortion in the lead that can take me through the solos (think Metallica-like solos or similar, for comparison)... I will likely use a floor processor, so I suppose I can tweak it to a point for Luke... but I wouldn't want an entirely different setup from my RG tones... How about this, do you think Dream Theater lead can be done on Luke 1 (tone wise, not technique wise, we all know taht Petrucci is the ONLY one who can play DT solos )... ??

As far as the price goes... I'm not looking for too-specific of an answer... A range will be sufficient, and will give a little perspective...

For example... do you think it might be $800-900 range, $600-800, $400-600, or something else? Assuming that it plays well, holds the tuning, and it needs only those things that I mentioned above (plus some regular maintenance)...

Thanks!

 

[ba2m]

i think luke is very versatile guitar, i've noticed that some metal musicians really like that emg 85 and emg 81 combination on their guitar.. so i think that emg 85 in luke 1 is enough for playing metal or rock..

but i'm also agree with Mr Luc that those single coils aren't fit with metal type..

about the price, it's really various depends on the country, guitar condition, and how bad the seller needs the money.. i've seen secondhand luke 1 being sold for 700$ - 2000$, that's a wide range isn't it.. so i really don't know what to inform about the price of the guitar

about the tremolo arm.. can you tell him to find where is the tremolo arm? i don't know wheter it's available at store or not to buy that kind of tremolo arm..because it's different with the edge ibanez tremolo or the floyd rose it self.

about the locking nut srews, i think you can find it in the store because it's looks like similar with other guitar locking nut srews

and what i know is.. you cannot find this guitar quickly if you want to buy it. well at least that's my experience.. i was waiting for my luke 1 for several years... i contacted some of famous seller (like maeguitar in hongkong, and some local seller in my country)but they said it's quite hard to find this guitar these days..

and i'm sure you'll be amazed when you hold that guitar and plug it into the amp.. i think you should try it and you'll know that kind of feeling when the first time you hold an ebmm guitar.

goodluck!

Abraham

 

[the_jiveman]

...but i'm also agree with Mr Luc that those single coils aren't fit with metal type..

How easy would it be to install one of those single-sized humbuckers (I think Seymore Duncan makes some)? IN CASE the single coils are too clean for me, which, I'm not sure about yet... Does that 9V battery do anything to the single coils? or is it only for the bridge pickup?

btw, WHAT IS the purpose of the 9v in this guitar (I don't have a lot of experience with active electronics guitars...)

about the tremolo arm.. can you tell him to find where is the tremolo arm? i don't know wheter it's available at store or not to buy that kind of tremolo arm..because it's different with the edge ibanez tremolo or the floyd rose it self.

about the locking nut srews, i think you can find it in the store because it's looks like similar with other guitar locking nut srews

I don't think he'll be able to find the trem arm... sounded like he hasn't seen it in years (and hasn't used it EVER)... I would doubt that I can't get a replacement from EB or an authorized dealer... same for the screws...

and i'm sure you'll be amazed when you hold that guitar and plug it into the amp.. i think you should try it and you'll know that kind of feeling when the first time you hold an ebmm guitar.

I played it briefly few days ago, and it felt relatively good. I wasn't amazed or anything... but that's probably because I was so used to a different style neck... And the fact that the frets were not jumbo was a little tough for me, but this is just a matter of getting used to it... But overall, I liked it... I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth buying for the style of music, and the "fixes/parts" I'd need to do to it.

 

[Sweat]

Jiveman,

The 9V battery is to power the active pick ups, EMG`s, active pick ups must have an external power source.

Since I am new to EBMM guitars and have never seen a Luke 1 not sure about you other PUP question, I have on other guitars placed a passive and active pup, it is a matter of proper wiring and selector switch I own a Luke 2 and it is the most amazing guitar I have ever played but I am not using it to play Megadeath, Mettalica, etc.

If it is a good price and you can afford it then go for it, otherwise look at the JP model, probably fits your style much better, just my thoughts.

Beagle

 

[the_jiveman]

The 9V battery is to power the active pick ups, EMG`s, active pick ups must have an external power source.

Right, but I was just curious as to why that's needed... What do the active pickups have that passive don't? I don't know, since I don't have experience with active pickups...

...otherwise look at the JP model, probably fits your style much better, just my thoughts.

I don't doubt that for a second! unfortunately, I can't afford one of those now, and I don't know anyone personally selling one... as opposed to this particular Luke which might be a good buy, at the moment... as long as I make sure it'll cover my "needs"...

 

[Sweat]

Right, but I was just curious as to why that's needed... What do the active pickups have that passive don't? I don't know, since I don't have experience with active pickups...

Well since I am not an expert but here goes the best I can, first active does not have a coil it has an internal preamplifier which needs power and offers a wider tonal range , higher outut and less noise than passive, go to emginc.com and you can get much better info than I am giving you, I can use the bridge pick up in my Luke and if I use the right setting on my effects and amp get some quite heavy tones.

Like I said before if the eal is right do it, must be a good deal if JP is out of range.
Would discuss price but no experience with Luke 1.

Beagle

 

[beej]

Active pickups don't necessarily have higher output- there are passive pickups that are hotter. Same with the noise- I actually haven't had a great experience with EMGs and have had lots of noisy ones.

It's just a different take on pickup design- there are some neat things you can get with actives (and the preamp), including being able to tailor the frequency response which is harder to do with the passives. There are also lots of innovative things being done with passive pickups- new materials, noise-free designs, etc. Different strokes for different folks.

As for mixing the two, you can't just wire them up together. You need to buffer the passives to mix them into the signal. Sure, you can do this, but if you're going to swap out a pickup in the Luke it's easier to do all (and the accompanying electronics and pots) or nothing. Even then, you have to be conscious of the small pickup route and find ones that will fit in.

 

[ba2m]

IMO if you want to play metal u don't have to change those single coils.. since u don't need any single coils for metal.. the humbucker emg 85 is enough metal i think,

you can consider those single coils are bonus if you want to play blues or another music genre sometimes later..

 

[the_jiveman]

Hey guys, thanks for the quick overview of active pickups! That was definitely helpful!

...must be a good deal if JP is out of range.

The seller didn't decide on price yet, but he was hinting that it might be in the $500-700 range... He's my friend's dad, and he's not playing any more, so the guitar is just sitting... He said he doesn't want to just get rid of it, but considering that he "knows me" and he would prefer the guitar to be used than not (AND CONSIDERING that it's not in the best shape), he might be willing to part with it for a little less... Now, I'm not sure, but that sounds like a good deal for a Luke, even with fret repairs and trem arm + screws purchase... Do you? Again, think: Luke 1... frets may need a filing job... needs new trem arm + locking screws... few visible hits and dings on the body... the trem stud screws look a little rusted where the trem knife edge meets... and... it's purple (not really a minus, but I wouldn't buy it new in that color)...

By the way... how much do JPs go for? Again, not very familiar with EBMMs, but I always thought that the JPs are like $2000??? I think I saw few used ones on ebay for not much less than that...

IMO if you want to play metal u don't have to change those single coils.. since u don't need any single coils for metal.. the humbucker emg 85 is enough metal i think,

you can consider those single coils are bonus if you want to play blues or another music genre sometimes later..

The bridge pickup is what I usually use for rhythm... but for lead, I tend to say in the "warmer" territory of neck pickups (maybe like 75% of the lead I do on neck pickup)...

 

[silverburst]

I like the 81/85 combo myself. They came stock in my Zakk Wylde LP, and the tone is monstrous.

 

[jongitarz]

FYI, officially, there is no Luke I or Luke II. It's just the evolution of the Luke model.

 

[the_jiveman]

thanks! good to know... This was my first encounter with EBMM Luke, and when I did a few searches online, I was surprised that what's currently being sold looks different than what this guy is selling to me! So I first thought that he did some modifications to his guitar or was not telling the truth, or who knows what else... but then i found this site, and quickly learned that there is such a thing as Luke I and II, at least unofficially so.

 

[jongitarz]

You can't go wrong with either. I would take a newer Luke mice elf, It has the tone pot, and the MM trem. (I do not like Floyds) It's all about what feeels good to you.

 

[Sweat]

I like the 81/85 combo myself. They came stock in my Zakk Wylde LP, and the tone is monstrous.

Have to agree that there is nothing wrong with the 81/85 combo,
I took a set of Zakk Wylde EMG and dropped them in a guitar last summer, I am getting ready to sell this guitar but man it tuned the axe from a pussy cat into a tiger.

Beagle, Just sitting waiting for UPS to deliver my 20th!

 

[Sweat]

You can't go wrong with either. I would take a newer Luke mice elf, It has the tone pot, and the MM trem. (I do not like Floyds) It's all about what feeels good to you.

Must agree even though I have never played or seen an older Luke, the new Luke rocks, and I as well can not stand Floyds.
But if you can get it for a good price do it Jiveman.

Beagle

 

[the_jiveman]

...and I as well can not stand Floyds.

see... I love Floyds... so I wouldn't be as interested in Luke II, probably...

 

[jongitarz]

You would be if you played one. The MM trems stay in tune, don't have antenae sticking out of the rear, and you can adjust each saddle to dial in your setup.

 

[Sweat]

You would be if you played one. The MM trems stay in tune, don't have antenae sticking out of the rear, and you can adjust each saddle to dail in your setup.

Amen brother, so much better than a floyd, easier to adjust, change strings and stays in tune!