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Roubster

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Messages
2,639
Location
Crooklyn, NY
Okay, first off I apologize because I have no pictures. Next time I go I will take a few because I think the NYC GC possibly carries the most amount of stock I have seen anywhere!

They have at least 5 or 6 HH ALs, 1 hardtail 25th, Gamechanger, 2 JPXII's, 4 LUKE III's, BFR LUKE, couple of reflexes, 2 Y2Ds, few Tribute Axis'ssss (whatever), and a rosewood neck Silo Special as well. Oh, and also a double neck Silhouette. I might have forgotten a few pieces haha.

Anyway, the most surprising thing was to see FOUR (4) LUKE III's on the wall. Basically every option...Black with HSS and HH and olive gold in HH and HSS.

So basically there is only one word to describe the LIII, and that is AWESOME!!! I went for the HSS, since I have my HSH covered with the Y2D and that is what I would buy if I had money right now. First off, the Olive Gold is truly a beautiful finish and the rosewood neck combination compliments it perfectly. First thing I was actually looking for on the guitar was the size difference. Believe it or not I noticed it, and in the best way possible, because I am tall and found it to be more comfortable than the previous LUKE's I owned. It is quite subtle, but I felt it under my right arm which gave it more support than before.

Now the tones on this thing are absolutely beautiful! The preamp that the guys at EBMM put together is really flawless!!! The volume and tone controls are the most useful two knobs to date on any guitar I have played other than the stock Y2D set up. Rolling off the volume totally retains the clarity and high end without a bass roll off. sounds really natural and better than any high pass filter mod I have tried before. And now I believe this is the FIRST time ever you can have an HSS set up where every single position has the same amount of output. This is truly brilliant and makes the guitar more useful in many applications. The single coils sound really good and so does the bridge.

Of course now we have the "spank" switch. Really awesome, and will save you a space for a different pedal on your board :). I really liked it on the lead stuff as it fattens everything up and you can get some really nice singing smooth tones...works equally well in every position.

So this is my review at this point. Based on the specs when it came out, I knew it was going to be an amazing guitar and wanted it off the bat...but now it is a done deal for the future. I just wish I could get it sooner rather than who knows when in my situation :(. I just hope this model is around for some time so I can eventually get it to join my Y2D.
 

Kriig

Member
Joined
May 13, 2012
Messages
7
Location
Norway
Waiting for mine still. This does not help ;)

Thinking of buying a Y2D or the 25th anny model right away too....
 

T- Bone

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Messages
145
I sold my Luke awhile ago. I loved the neck and overall feel of the guitar, but I just couldnt jive with the emg's


Im not familiar with the II's though
 

darchirnoj

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Joined
Sep 27, 2005
Messages
507
Man!
How did it (the humbucker) sound compared to your Y2D?
Does your Y2D still have the suhr pickups in it?
 

Roubster

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Messages
2,639
Location
Crooklyn, NY
Hey T-Bone, the LUKE III has passive DiMarzio pickups which sound much more organic.

Darchirnoj, the humbucker in the LIII sounds really good actually! From what I have been hearing it is based off of the Norton pickup. It has a good amount of midrange with a nice growl to it.

My Y2D still has the Suhr pickups in it. They are not going anywhere. Absolutely killer tone, especially the DSH+ in the bridge.
 

T- Bone

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Messages
145
Hey T-Bone, the LUKE III has passive DiMarzio pickups which sound much more organic.

Darchirnoj, the humbucker in the LIII sounds really good actually! From what I have been hearing it is based off of the Norton pickup. It has a good amount of midrange with a nice growl to it.

My Y2D still has the Suhr pickups in it. They are not going anywhere. Absolutely killer tone, especially the DSH+ in the bridge.
Seriously?? Man! The Norton pickup is one of my favs :) Are these HSS guitars still? what are the singles?
 

Roubster

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Messages
2,639
Location
Crooklyn, NY
Yea the LUKE III's come either in HSS or HH versions both all passive DiMarzio pickups. The singles I heard are based off of the injector singles used by Gilbert. They did sound quite fat...very nice tones and the addition of the EBMM preamp circuit, the balance in all 5 positions is perfect. No volume drop whatsoever. And of course these singles are silent as well :). It's really a must have HSS guitar!!!
 
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