Luke questions

[candid_x]

Even with all the cheers for the AL, there's still something about the Luke which grabs me. Tyler's video post has stirred the pot again. My questions:

Is the trem/bridge the same one that's on the Silo Special? For some reason I thought it had a floating bridge.

Is the V neck a radical or soft V? Thick or average?

How often does the active p'up battery need to be replaced?

If you own both a Luke and a Silo/Special, which do you personally prefer and why?

What are you thoughts on the EMGs?

Thanks, mates!
Bruce

 

[dfrady]

I will try to answer your questions as best i can.
1. Yes, it's the same trem/bridge as on the silo spec, just set up to float, if i'm not mistaken it's set to raise the pitch 1 1/2 steps.
2. In my opinion it's really not a radical V but not a soft V, it's one of the best feeling necks you can put in your hand. It's alot like the Axis neck only with the V contour, if that helps any.
3. I've heard it said as far as battery replacement goes is something like every 6 months, or when you notice your clean tones aren't so clean anymore.
4. Can't commit hear because i don't own a Silo Spec.
5. My thought on the EMG's are they are amazing. The 85 has a hot/warm tone that's just and the front single coil is also you can really nail the Kenny Wayne Shepherd tone with the front single coil on an overdriven clean tone. I haven't been able too set mine down since it has arrived, my main guitar which was my Axis has not been getting any love as of late. I can really see my Luke becoming my Main guitar and the Axis becoming a backup.

 

[candid_x]

Thanks, Dfrady for such a clear report.

Are there any issues with setting up the bridge to not float? I usually lock mine down with springs.

Had to chuckle at your EMG tone expressions, lol. So I take it you like them ?

 

[robelinda2]

Candid, stick with your Silo Special, but if you get the chance to try a Luke go for it, but my gut tells me you will like the raw tone of the silo special more. The neck pickup on the silo special nails the bluesy SRV/KWS tone ( as you will know) a hell of a lot better than the EMG, but they can still do it of course. I had my Luke for 2 years, but it always took a backseat to my silo special, especially on stage where the silo cut through so much more, I had to tweak the EQ A LOT for the Luke to sound the same.

Best thing about the Luke is the neck, its crazy nice. I still may even get a BFR Luke, cos any ball is great!

 

[candid_x]

Thank you, Rob. Yeah, I know what you mean about the more raw or organic tone of the Special, not from playing a Luke but just being somewhat familiar with EMGs. I don't wail and scream, like the Luke seems amazingly fit for, but I do drool when I hear the Luke's neck pup doin' the blues thing, just slightly over the edge of distortion. The kind of sound you feel in your gut more than hear with your ears?

 

[candid_x]

Rob, I'm surprised that you say the Luke didn't cut through as well as the Silo. I would think it would be more focused, cleaner around the edges than the Special. Interesting.

 

[robelinda2]

the luke does cut through of course, but i found the silo to have more dynamics to the tone, whereas the Luke by comparison ( due to the EMG's) was more compressed. Hard to really tell unless you hear the two played side by side or through the same amp. Dont get me wrong the Luke has GREAT tone and has a great feel, but i think the silo special is better, for me anyway. For recording i used my Luke plenty, its a great studio axe, very quiet.

 

[GWDavis28]

Candid, you should really try one man. I really like mine, I've been playing it quite a lot lately. I'm not crazy about the floating trem myself and I think I'm gonna block it.

As far as the EMG's go, I like them, though my ear, of that's right I don't have an ear.

Locate one, either it be a forumite or a dealer and try one.

Glenn |B)

 

[GWDavis28]

Rob, you sold the rare Burnt Apple Luke yes?

Glenn |B)

 

[roburado]

There's something about the Luke that's so smooth and so refined that I can see why Rob is saying that the Silo Spec cuts through more. The Silo Spec, for me, is more in-your-face. It's more SRV than say...uh...Luke. As much as Luke and his guitar can rock and rip, there's something really refined about his sound.

I think the Luke is fantastic, but the thing that I really like about it is the cleans from the single coils. They're clean-tone heaven to me, but so are the Silo Spec singles. Just a different kind of heaven. I want a Luke, but I think I'll be more happy with the Silo Spec overall.

The necks? Well, the Luke necks I have tried have all been different--not surprisingly. Some have a more pronounced V than others. Still, I find them all pretty comfortable. I just prefer my Silo Spec. There's a little more to grab on to. Maybe, it's just a subjective thing, though. I like a wider fretboard. That's what I feel I get on the SS vs. the Luke. It might just be an illusion caused by the V, but still, I'm more comfortable on the SS.

To my ears, the EMGs--as I said above--I think, are amazing clean. I don't really favor their sound under distortion. There's something that sounds grainy to my ears that I don't really care for. It kind of bugs me. However, those cleans, man. I love the cleans so much that I don't really give a darn about that grainy sound I hear under distortion. In Dallas, I tried a Luke clean through one of those F-brand '65 Twin Custom 15s. It made me say to myself that I had to have a Luke. Incidentally, I tried a 2006LE AL (the one that got away, as it were) through the same amp, and I decided then that I had to have an AL. Both were marvelous. I have also tried another Luke through a F-brand Pro Jr. Man, that was stellar too.

I don't know that the Luke will be your cup of tea. I don't know how much you'll like it or dislike it, but I think it's a marvelous guitar that deserves to be tried if you have the opportunity. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if you came away thinking that you're happy enough with your Silo Specs to just stick with them and to admire the Luke in the hands of someone else (i.e., Luke, Tyler, Tristan). Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if you fell in love with the Luke.

It's one of those things. You've just got to try it yourself, I think. For me, I like it. I just like some other things better (i.e., Silo Specs, JPs, 20ths, ALs). So, before I get a Luke--unless I get totally blown away by a BFR Luke--I think there are a few things I'd like to get before I get a Luke.

 

[roburado]

Rob, you sold the rare Burnt Apple Luke yes?

Glenn |B)

Yes, he did.

Glenn, is the 20th your #1 now, or still the Silo Spec? How does the Luke fit in?

 

[GWDavis28]

Yes, he did.

Glenn, is the 20th your #1 now, or still the Silo Spec? How does the Luke fit in?

Rob, i thought that he did.

Well it's kind of a toss up really. I love the 20th, it's magical to me. But I've been playing the Dargie Luke a wicked lot as of lately. I try to give4 each guitar a week or two and change. The AL hasn't gotten much love lately and I feel bad about that.

The Silo Special will always have a special place and it'll probably always be considered my #1. Though Rob theres something very awesome with my Axis Sport, that thing is so light and is so sweet.

As you can see picking just 1 guitar for me is tough. Hahahahahahaha.

Glenn |B)

 

[roburado]

I hear ya, man. They're all great!

 

[dfrady]

Thanks, Dfrady for such a clear report.

Are there any issues with setting up the bridge to not float? I usually lock mine down with springs.

Had to chuckle at your EMG tone expressions, lol. So I take it you like them ?

There are really no issues setting it up not to float, that's what i've done to mine. You would just need too add a 3rd spring, truss rod adjustment, check intonation and all of that kind of stuff. I'm glad you liked my description on the EMG's . I have always been a big fan of the EMG's. I've had 2 other guitars in the past equipped with EMG 81's and loved them, but i really do like the 85's a little better. The 81's are balls to the wall hot, where as like i said earlier, the 85's are a warm/hot. Good luck with your decision.

 

[robelinda2]

yeah its gone, i actually sold it to help fund a BFR Luke, but now that money will probably go towards the BFR AL, but then again ill get to play a BFR Luke in a few weeks so you never know! I found i had no use for my old Luke, if i wanted cleans I would go to my AL's, they OWN clean. If i wanted rock i went to the ASS.

Candid, you just gotta go and find one to play, but for the love of god make for sure find an AL to play too, you would LOVE it!

 

[roburado]

I wonder what the 2008LE AL will be like. Hmm...

 

[robelinda2]

LE 08- whatever it is- consider one AL ordered!

 

[candid_x]

You guys are great. It's like having ears all over the world. Very informative stuff, all of it. I know it's all subjective when you get down it, but your comments are all interesting and helpful.

I live 3 hours from Phoenix, almost 2 from Vegas. Unless I want to buy a Squire in Kingman or a Kay in a Golden Valley pawn shop, I'll have to get my butt over to one or both of them, but only after calling ahead for inventory, including the now legendary AL. Until then, ah ain't complaining none about mah Spaycials! Loved on Sundown last night and she didn't disappoint.

Thanks guys

 

[MarcoSilo]

Hi there!

Last saturday I bought my first Music Man, the Silhouette Special. Before buying the Silhouette, I tried the Luke. The Luke seemed like an interesting guitar to me. I really liked the sound, but I found the V-shape to be quite strong. I'm not really into V-shapes. The neck of the Silhouette felt much smoother for my hands. The tone was different, but less different then I expected. I'm not good at describing tonal differences, but the Luke sounded a little more compressed or something. But the REAL reason for buying the Silhouette was the neck.

 

[threeminutesboy]

that's an interesting thread !

I love both Luke and Silo Spec but the AL is really my Favorite