Help! My Luke's quiet

[paulstew64]

Fellow forumites

Can I ask your advice please?

I play my favourite guitar of all time, a radiance red Luke, purchased just over a year ago.

Before seeing the light and making the switch to EBMM guitars, I played an EC strat.

As I always take 2 guitars to a gig, one has to be my EC. Whenever I test the EC after setting up, it's always way louder than my Luke. So much so, I was thinking of getting a new amp as the Luke seems to lack the volume compared to EC.

I play a lot on clean and the only time I hear myself is when I'm playing a solo.

I'd rather not buy a new amp. Is there anything I can do to my Luke (via a pro repairer) which would boost the volume?

PS On a good note, it's my 1st wedding anniversary today. Last year my band played the evening reception and yes, me and my Luke were onstage. What a night!

Anyway, hope you can help answer my query.

Best wishes

Paul

Radiance red Luke
Gassing for:
BFR Luke in tobacco sunburst
BFR Al
25th Anniversary

 

[KungFu Grip]

The EC has the midboost circuit, am I right?

Do you run the midboost wide open?

If so, you'll find that pretty much ANY guitar will sound quiet next to it. That midboost circuit pumps a ridiculous amount of dbs.

Just a thought.

 

[bkrumme]

You may have already checked, have you replaced the battery in your Luke in the last year? Ignore me if you have, but EMGs are well known for getting extremely quiet when the battery is dead.

If the battery isn't the issue, then I concur with KungFu Grip. The midboost on an EC Strat can boost by something like 25 dB. That's a pretty significant boost. I don't know if it's variable, but if it is, I'd turn it down a bit and see if you can level off the volumes.

Another solution is putting a clean boost pedal in your effects chain. Something like a BBE Boosta Grande or MXR Micro-Amp. Put it right after your guitar and switch it on when you're using the Luke. I've heard that this can be a noisy solution, though.

 

[paulstew64]

Guys

Thanks for your thoughts. The EC does have a mid boost but it's only on if I use it for a solo.

I check and replace batteries frequently so I know this isn't the issue. Should I be looking to change the pots or just accept it's a quieter guitar and change my amp?

I use a Boss equaliser in my effects chain mainly for solos. Don't wish to leave that on as it's a great asset to my sound as it is.

Paul

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I have a Boosta Grande. It'll add 20dB of boost to your signal. I don't notice an excess of noise when it's engaged. It's true bypass, so it's fairly tansparent in your signal chain when it's off.

Might even be willing to part with it if you're interested . . .

 

[bkrumme]

Guys

Thanks for your thoughts. The EC does have a mid boost but it's only on if I use it for a solo.

I check and replace batteries frequently so I know this isn't the issue. Should I be looking to change the pots or just accept it's a quieter guitar and change my amp?

I use a Boss equaliser in my effects chain mainly for solos. Don't wish to leave that on as it's a great asset to my sound as it is.

Paul

Yeah, I figured the battery wasn't the issue. The Boosta Grande is a "clean boost" pedal. All it adds is what most would consider volume and you could use it only when you are using the Luke.

 

[spkirby]

Hi Paul, been a while!

My Luke and Luke BFR are both a little quieter than my SSS Albert Lee and Axis...not hugely so but there is a slight difference. As others have mentioned the easiest way is to simply use a clean boost pedal, there are hundreds on the market but on the cheaper end of the spectrum I can recommend the MXR micro amp, if you are feeling flush then I highly rate the zvex "super hard on" or "super duper" pedals. Clean boost pedals can also give overdrive pedals a seriously good kick too...I play my Luke sometimes with a zvex going into a Fulldrive 2 and the guitar just screams!

If you are into modding then I believe the EMG's can take 18v so if you add another battery into the circuit...I vote clean boost route though! I have boosts before my amp (for quieter guitars or for hitting the overdrive) and one in the effects loop for solo volume boosts when the amp is gained up...

 

[bkrumme]

If you are into modding then I believe the EMG's can take 18v so if you add another battery into the circuit...I vote clean boost route though! I have boosts before my amp (for quieter guitars or for hitting the overdrive) and one in the effects loop for solo volume boosts when the amp is gained up...

Nope. Running your EMGs at 18V won't increase your output. All you get is a bit more headroom and crisper transients. This is per EMG.

 

[beej]

Okay- I think the important thing here is to figure out whether your guitar is functioning properly or not.

If the volume is extremely low compared to your other guitars, there may well be an issue. Your best bet is going to be contacting your local dealer or EBMM customer service and walk them through what you're doing.

If it were me, I'd want to figure this out first before modding anything or rushing out and buying a clean boost pedal.

 

[Volt]

I also own an EC Strat, and yes, it has very high output pickups - even in the non-boost mode.
I use an EMG 20db boost control that I installed in an old stomp box that I wasn't using to boost some of my guitars' outputs, for a variety of reasons. Works great..

EDIT: I just compared my Luke to my EC Strat. Using the middle pickup on both, the EC is slightly louder.......the Luke sounds like it has wider frequency response bandwidth though, which is a definite win for the Luke, to my ears.