Help! Luke II: increase neck pickup volume

[nathanhny]

Hello

Just wondering if anyone else has found the need to increase the volume on the neck pickup and how they went about it.

I'm running through a mesa lonestar and there's a bit of a volume jump between the bridge pickup and neck pickup, especially on the clean channel.

 

[DrKev]

You'll have to raise the neck pickup (the Luke EMGS are not adjustable from the factory but many people use foam under the pickup or standard pickup springs to allow adjustment).

 

[Craiguitar]

I've known a few guys who felt the need to raise the single coils because they also thought the volume was too low compared to the humbucker. I never experienced this with either of my EMG equipped Luke's though. I wonder if how you play has a bearing on this? I tend to dig in quite hard when I play. There must be lots of other factors as well.

 

[DrKev]

Well, humbuckers are almost always louder than standard single coils and in a HSS situation most people prefer the bridge pickup hotter than the other two. Playing clean maximises the volume difference (as we add gain the volume difference lessens, with high gain, everything is uniformly loud). So, players who spend a lot of time playing clean (as I do) will be more aware of the difference and it can be frustrating if we often change pickup selections mid-song. It took me a while to get the balance right.

 

[BrickGlass]

I raised the neck one in mine. Tried foam and also tried some little plastic washer things that were fairly thick to raise it up. Worked fine either way. That is just about my only complaint with the Luke II. Wish the neck pup was louder, but I raised it and it helped. I don't mind when the middle pup is quieter.

 

[beej]

Like Kev says, this is just how it is when you mix singles and humbuckers. Perhaps consider a compressor for your clean sounds, that will reduce the dynamics and even out the volume levels.

 

[nathanhny]

Thank you very much for the replies

I'll definitely try raise the pickup. It's only mainly on the clean channel there's a noticeable volume drop. I'm using an analogman bi-comp pedal which helps a little.