Question How is Luke compared to JP: sound , playability, feel etc ?

[PaoloGilberto]

hi fellow knuckleheads,

I am an amateur player, I don't earn my living from music, is just a hobby ...that suck all my time, life and money ))))
I have a JP 6 fully loaded, I love it, but I was thinking to buy another guitar from a forumite
I don't need a second guitar now, so its just GAS
But I have a few expectations although if I will decide to buy it:
1. I love the JP all around, but for my personal taste I would have preferred a thinner (nut width and back of the neck shape) neck (I played a Dean model of a friend, who's neck feels more thinner, for my taste).
now I know the Luke neck is more similar to a Strat neck, so I am wondering if compared to the JP will be closer to what I want (JP has 43 mm neck width, Luke has 41.3 mm as I remember, but the Luke neck is very different from JP neck and maybe not so good for shredding !?)
2. I like active pick-ups a lot for their more aggressive sound and I was wondering if on the same amp settings, Luke bridge pick-up is more aggressive than the JP D sonic I have now.
3. I've read a lot about active pick-ups not sounding so good on cleans !?
4. the middle and neck pick-up on clean are similar to a strat or not? and on drive can they do metal shredding tones ?
5. I love the tone Dean Welles has on every tune I've listened but I remember he changed the 85 pick up with the 81. is the 85 not so agressive?

many thanks in advance for all replies
Paul

 

[walleye]

i think the jp would be more aggressive sounding
and if you like dean guitars and the JP guitar i think you might find it harder to shred on the luke. however i find it much easier on the luke but thats just me

 

[denny99]

now I know the Luke neck is more similar to a Strat neck, so I am wondering if compared to the JP will be closer to what I want (JP has 43 mm neck width, Luke has 41.3 mm as I remember, but the Luke neck is very different from JP neck and maybe not so good for shredding !?)

Luke's neck is something you love or you hate Personally, I love it and it's one of the reasons I bought it. It is for sure a good neck for shredding, you probably need to get used to the particular neck shape as the shreds really depends on the guitar player...

3. I've read a lot about active pick-ups not sounding so good on cleans !?

They sound different. Good or not, it's a matter of taste, but don't believe those urban myths saying EMG aren't good for clean tones. EMG single coils sound crystalline and bright. On the Luke, I especially like position 4, when both SC are used.

4. the middle and neck pick-up on clean are similar to a strat or not? and on drive can they do metal shredding tones ?

Yes, they have a sort of strat tone. Personally I use an EQ pedal to boost the solos and the neck pickup, despite the fact it is a single coil, can be driven to fat tone quite well. It doesn't sound exactly like a humbucker, though.

5. I love the tone Dean Welles has on every tune I've listened but I remember he changed the 85 pick up with the 81. is the 85 not so agressive?

If properly driven it is aggressive, indeed! The 81 has higher output, but if you're not into metal only, I would suggest staying with the 85 which have plenty of output.

 

[brokenvail]

If you are looking for thinner neck the Luke is not for you. It is more narrow at the nut but not thinner. Nothing in the EB line is thinner 9except the JPXI. To get anything thinner you're be looking in the Ibanez/Dean maybe Parker catagory.

The Luke sounds amazing and the 81 in the bridge would push you further in the aggressive catagory. If you get the Luke and the EMGs are the quick connect kind I will gladly swap you my 81 for your 85 because I am growing to adore the 85 in the bridge and need to swap out my 81 for one.

The Luke is no JP but in it's own right a tone monster. If I were you I would totally get the Luke if for nothing more than to increase your "tool" box and have new and different tones at your finger tip.

 

[Tung]

I love my JP but the Luke has a more curve that's more like the traditional C and V shape necks. If you want a shredding thnner neck, the Luke is wrong for you, BUT, you have to try it because it all depends on your left hand technique. You might like the Luke's curve radius.
The whole thing about EMG not being clean is bull****. I have several EMG equipped guitars and I've even used them on jazz gigs.

 

[Danserrano]

Ive owned both. Keyword owned bc the Luke just wasn't for me. Like Denny said it was a love it or hate it. And it just didn't do it for me. I tried to wait and see if I would grow to love her but never did and ended up selling it. I loved everything about the Jps. Ended up selling/trading those as well. I have a 25th and a roasted morse. What I'm trying to say is ebmm has a awesome guitars. U may have ur eye on a Luke or may love the Jp but u never know there may be an axis or silo that just does it for u.

Or a true Gold morse with rosewood neck. (hope u read this Bp) lol

 

[PaoloGilberto]

thank you all for replies, so the neck will be something to love or hate ....

 

[lukather101]

thank you all for replies, so the neck will be something to love or hate ....

Oh Yes.
I'm using mine more and more lately to try and get use to it , it's defiantly my least favorite neck profile compared to the rest of my guitars but I love the sound and look .
Not quite sure how to describe necks on guitars but to me it feels too small

 

[mikeller]

I say you need to try one for yourself and see. Personally I love the Luke neck alot. My two main guitars these days are the JP6 and Luke....

 

[jakedawgwhite88]

I Love my luke and the single coils but the 85 isn't punchy enough for me and the pickup is flat eq'd just like all emgs, But because there is a 3 pin quick connect on it seymour duncan's new blackout pickups plug right in. I have one on the way as i write this I will post a thread with the results. The feel of the luke is great its really a mid point between a rounded neck thats not too big (because of the v) but the radius is flat enough that you can really move. Luke isn't slow by any means.

 

[Dante]

the emg 85 is like a big PAF, it has more treble and bass than mids. the 81 has a high mid spike, is less "fluty" and grinds more. if you are into rock, the 85 should be plenty. also, the 85 will sound more in balance with the single coils than the 81.

i have both pickups btw.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

LOL, for me there are few guitars I can recall to have "small/thin enough" necks ))))
@ mikller : unfortunately I can't try here one, I'll have to buy blind one
@ Dante : I think I am more into metal sound than rock, actually I am pretty sure about that

Oh Yes.
I'm using mine more and more lately to try and get use to it , it's defiantly my least favorite neck profile compared to the rest of my guitars but I love the sound and look .
Not quite sure how to describe necks on guitars but to me it feels too small

 

[BrickGlass]

I have a Luke and a JP and they are quite different in feel and sound. I love them both because of the diversity they offer between the two. EMG's sound just fine on cleans so no worries there. Worry about your EQ on your amp for that issue. The Luke neck is very different than the JP so be aware it will feel quite different in that regard.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Deano loves his 3 Lukes. Trust me. He can shred.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

So...I've decided to buy a Luke from a forumite.
I'm a bit anxious if I'll like it, especially the neck, if I don't then I'm a dead man, 0 chances to resell it here in Romania lol

 

[BrickGlass]

You're gonna love it man! Amazing guitar.