Luke advice and insight...

[SGMan88]

I have recently been hooked on the MM Luke's and I want a little more insight from anyone such as how it stacks up against other MM guitars, what is it mainly used for or sounds the best at (rock, metal, blues, jazz, punk ,etc.) May be a future purchase over my summer, just wanted a little more insight before I buy my first MM. Or if you have any other MM guitars that you would recommend for metal,blues,punk etc. I would greatly appreciate the advice for the Luke or another MM that you migh be able to recommend to me.

Have a nice day

 

[kbaim]

I prefer the Luke over all others.

Though about 70% of my playing is clean. 30% distortion.

You might try searching LUKE in this thread to get the best overview.

KEITH

 

[lock-ny]

A silhouette special with a pup swap, and a bucker in the bridge obviously is very versatile, I have a duncan distortion in the bridge and I get tons of tones out of it, with the luke you can only have EMG's, also I prefer the neck shape of the SS ove the luke, but again thats just my opinion -

 

[SGMan88]

I was originally looking at a silo spec, then the luke popped up and now I can't decide between the following...

Silo Special
Axis
Axis SS
Luke
JP
or possibly even an AL

That's like every guitar MM has to offer and it is pathetic I know, I am so confused!!!!!

Please help

 

[OrangeChannel]

Pick one! Or All!

Seriously tho', you'll need to figure out which one is the best for you. And then get it and play it.

 

[SGMan88]

As much as I would LOVE to pick all, can only get one for now. I can afford any one of them just want to find the right one that plays well for all types of rock.

How are your Petruccis OC? I've been lookin at them too.

 

[OrangeChannel]

Pretty good, Jongitarz should be giving one of them a once over one of these days whenever it gets to SLO Ca. The other is great. When the Koch gets here it'll get plenty of playing time.

 

[SGMan88]

Are they worth the 1300$ +???

 

[OrangeChannel]

Sure. It;s al in the build quality. I don't have the Piezo models, just plain jane magnetic pickups and one has a matched headstock, while the other has a natural headstock, dot inlays too.

 

[koogie2k]

SGMan....you are having the same problem I had. I went to get a new axe and happened to play a MM. I did not know anything about them until I picked one up. I played every model that they had. I loved them all but had to decide on which one. I kept going back to the Petrucci model. Just felt right to me. So much so, I have two of them. Looking at a third. I play all kinds of styles and this is the one for me. I definitely like my Pets for the what I do. I have one set up different than the other. Play them all until the one "hits" you. You may have to go to a different store to find it, but keep looking until you find the one you like. When I try out guitars, I close my eyes and play it unplugged first. This will tell you alot about the guitar. Sound and especially feel. Do this for about 1/2 hour minimal. Then plug in and do the same thing. You have to be honest with yourself and go through the likes and dislikes. I have always said, if there is one thing you dislike, do not get it. You will find that you will dislike that certain area more and more and find reasons not to play it. I disliked my first Pet at the store but found another one that fit me perfectly. It is YOUR money that you are spending. Do not compromise on YOUR investment. Even if you do not get a EBMM (surely that would not happen I hope), you will have purchased what is best for you. Good luck on your hard decision. Hope this helps.

 

[SGMan88]

Thanx for your great amount of help and encouragement koogie and OC and everyone else who posted. I will take your advice to heart in my grueling quest to find the right MM for me.

 

[lock-ny]

SG the other thing you need to consider is the pups and the wood and the shape of the guitar and its features, the SS and the luke are both alder and the petrucci is made of basswood as is the axis is basswood with a maple cap, I have 2 axis as well but my favorite is the SS because it is so comfy and I was able to swap out the pups to the ones I like, I wouldn't do that with the luke or the axis, and the petrucci was out for me because I drop D tune on stage and I needed a guitar with a bridge that lies flat on the body while the petrucci is a floating bridge, also for some reason when I pick I hit the middle pup so the luke was ruled out because the pups are screwed into the body, which is great for tone, but I lower the middle pup considerably on my SS, so I guess my point is that you need to consider options, Oh and I left out the AL, its comes with singles or p 90's and its made of ash, only available with a maple neck, as I like rosewood this week so do some research, fortunately or unfortunately they all play great, the morse guitar rocks too but I like the drop of the SS, good luck -

 

[JDouglee]

I've never had a problem with the middle pickup on the Luke model, they're screwed into the body, but the pickup height is relatively low. And my right hand technique is not all that subtle either

 

[SGMan88]

Thank you for that great bit of advice JD and lock-ny, I will take it into consideration in my ongoing search for my perfect MM

 

[DML]

Luke is a nice guitar but if you don't like EMG............ Our second guitarist has got a Luke but swapped the pups. Now he's got 2x Seymour Duncan SSL1 and 1x Dimarzio ToneZone. Now it has more twang, dynamics and balls than with EMG's.
If you want some nice active pups you've got to try Seymour Duncan Livewires, they sound really nice, lots of dynamics, hi-fi tone with vintage characteristics.