Question Luke 2 (or Luke II) Marketing Designation

[Xenedis]

I have been curious about whether the guitar known as the 'Luke 2' (or 'Luke II') was ever officially marketed using either of those designations.

From what I can tell, the original Luke (also known, seemingly colloquially, as the 'Luke 1' or 'Luke I') had a Floyd Rose bridge.

From what I also know, the second generation of Luke guitars did not offer the FR bridge, and instead included a Music Man vintage bridge.

From various photos that I have seen, both generations had 'Luke' screen-printed on the headstock. There was no '2' or 'II' designation.

Fast-forward to 2012, and the Luke III was introduced. The Luke III did not have 'Luke' printed on the headstock, and the logo is 'LIII'. We now have the Luke 4, which has 'L4' printed on the headstock.

In my opinion, and as someone else stated somewhere in these forums, the opportunity to designate the latest generation of Lukes as 'Luke IV' in line with Toto's Toto IV album was a lost opportunity. Mind you, 'LIV' might look peculiar, and people would subconsciously call it the 'live' rather than the 'El Four' or 'Luke Four'.

Anyway, getting back to the guitars known as 'Luke 2' or 'Luke II', was that generation of Luke guitars ever marketed with that designation? The existence of the Luke III implies that there was a 'Luke 2' or 'Luke II', but the guitars themselves were seemingly never branded that way, and from serial number lookups, the database does not identify a second-generation Luke as 'Luke 2' or 'Luke II'.

Does anyone know something more official about the designation of the second-generation Luke?

Thoughts?

 

[beej]

That's a great question. From my recollection, it was only ever marketed as the 'Luke'. Once the LIII came out, people started referring to it as the Luke II.

From the Wayback Machine:

 

[Xenedis]

That's a great question. From my recollection, it was only ever marketed as the 'Luke'. Once the LIII came out, people started referring to it as the Luke II.

Thanks. It does seem like the name 'Luke 2' or 'Luke II' was (is) a retrospective name used by the general public rather than Ernie Ball Music Man, arising from the naming of the third generation as 'Luke III'.

From what I can gather, the original Luke had a Floyd Rose bridge, but that was discontinued when the second generation of guitars was introduced.

I also gather that any Luke which has 'Luke' printed on the headstock, and which also has an EBMM vintage bridge, is from the second generation.

If I have understood correctly, here is a summary of the four generations:

1. First generation: Floyd Rose bridge; 'Luke' printed on the headstock; marketed as 'Luke', but commonly called 'Luke 1' or 'Luke I'.
2. Second generation: EBMM vintage bridge; 'Luke' printed on the headstock; also marketed as 'Luke', but commonly called 'Luke 2 or 'Luke II'.
3. Third generation: EBMM vintage bridge; 'LIII' printed on the headstock; marketed as 'Luke III' and 'LIII'.
4. Fourth generation: EBMM vintage bridge; 'L4' printed on the headstock; marketed as 'Luke 4' and 'L4'.

 

[beej]

Generally, yes. The LIII and L4 are also available in packages that feature a Floyd Rose, and have a slightly larger body than the original Luke or Luke 2. (Not to mention the various electronic differences, etc.)