Luke 3 Bridge Pickup

Paulg2uk · Mar 16, 2025

Hi guys,

I hope you are all well. Just trying to find out some info! I have L3 that I've owned for a few years now. Would anyone know what type of Alnico magnet is used in the bridge pickup at all? And also what the rating of it is?

I did ask Music Man but I don't think they gave me the correct info. They said the rating was 6.9 k ohms which I know isn't correct and is more than likely the middle or neck pickups. I'm assuming we still can't buy these separately? I'd love to install these in both my Suhr guitars.

Any ideas what might be similar?

Many thanks

Paul

beej · Mar 16, 2025

That has to be for the singles- they're in the 6k range. (Same pickups as in the Cutlass.) The Bridge is Alnico, somewhere in the 13k-14k range.

They aren't available separately. I did manage to score a used set, but that seems like a fluke.

DrKev · Mar 16, 2025

Magnets: If I had to guess it's AlNiCo 5, which is all MM ever used for their own pickups guitars or basses on any other model I can find it specified. AlNiCo 2 was was only used on some Dimarzio and Duncan pickups.

@beej There are two numbers listed in different places the stats sheet, 6.9k and 13.8k. I think that 6.9k number is per coil. I'll email CS tomorrow and get them to check.

msquared · Mar 16, 2025

Sometimes the Luke III came with DiMarzio Transitions, sometimes it came with stock Music Man pickups.

Paulg2uk · Mar 17, 2025

Thanks guys! Appreciate the feedback! I definitely have the MM set in my L3 as it was one of the newer finishes at the time. I have a sunburst HSS! I did have a Boysenberry burst a few years ago and that had the transitions in and I remember I was able to order a set of the L3 MM pickups from distributor over here in the UK and swapped them out, Sadly I sold the guitar.

DrKev · Mar 17, 2025

msquared said:
Sometimes the Luke III came with DiMarzio Transitions, sometimes it came with stock Music Man pickups.

The changeover from DiMarzio to Music Man pickups on the LIII was in 2020.

Paulg2uk · Mar 17, 2025

DrKev said:
The changeover from DiMarzio to Music Man pickups on the LIII was in 2020.

Got it! I bought mine in 2021 so it definitely has the MM pickups installed.

Rbg · Mar 17, 2025

The humbuckers routing is different on guitars with DiMarzios.

Paulg2uk · Mar 24, 2025

I've made a decision to sell a couple of guitars and buy an L4! Instead of trying to find pickups close to the L3 and trying to make other guitars sound like the L3 and wasting money on pickups that might sound close to the L3, I might as well go for a new L4. I'm used to the spec of the L3 anyway and find it so comfortable to play so makes sense really.

I'm going for a L4 Grape Slushie HH. Reminds me if the Boysenberry Burst I used to own.

Paulg2uk · 2025-05-02T05:30:44-0700

Hi guys,

So I ended up buying an L4 which has finally arrived today at the store! I should get it tomorrow. I sold the other Suhr and Ibanez I had that I was trying to make sound like my L3 bridge pickup. Not sure why I put myself through all of that pickup swapping to be honest.

Anyway enough of my rambling. You guys obviously want to see some pics right? Here's a few the store sent me through and one of Mr Lukather playing his one in that finish!

Enjoy!