Help me choose a new guitar...

[John C]

Don't forget the Luke has a soft V shaped neck - which works for some folks but not others. I would also suggest the Silhouette Special. It doesn't have EMGs installed but you could always put a set into it. Silo Specials have a "C" shaped neck that would be narrower but deeper than the Charvel.

 

[RocketRalf]

A Morse with Floyd ticks all the boxes. Also consider the Axis and the Silhouette Special. I couldn't blend with the Luke neck, so I suggest you try it before going for it. In fact, try any of these if you can.

 

[isaactmeyer]

you could buy my orignal petrucci6... ha

or a great tele is a simply answer

 

[fogman]

Welcome to the forum!!!!

I'm a very big fan of the Axis myself, but based on the style of music you are playing, I wouldn't recommend it. The main reason is that it does not allow you to pull back on the Floyd, which would keep you from performing alot of the techniques of the artists you mentioned (particularly Vai)

If I'm not mistaken, as of NAMM, I believe the routing on the Morse models was changed so that the Floyds are fully floating.

 

[CHill]

All in one Silhouette HSH

I have a JP6 and a Silhouette. The JP neck is around 10% thinner but a 1/16th wider. The Silhouette has great pickups in the HSH (Via style configuration but the pick ups are jazzier). Both guitars are amazing but the Silhoutte is my vote for you.