Need advice: Having doubts about my Luke III

[phillybri]

I'm ramping up to start gigging again, and for the first time I'm realizing that my Luke III may not be the right guitar for me.

I like a thin neck, but I think this neck is TOO thin! Smaller frets apparently aren't my bag, either.

I'm liking my Valentine more and more, but I also need a guitar with a trem and a bridge humbucker.

What to do???

 

[Keno]

Valentine with trem is coming this year, that's confirmed by EBMM.

Maybe you should try an AL HH with trem? A slightly more C shaped neck that is a little chunkier.

 

[mikeller]

How about a Silo Special or the Cutlass HSS ?

 

[TripHazard]

Albert Lee HH is killer, but if you want the HSS, worth trying the Cutlass. Not tried a Silo so can't comment on that

 

[phillybri]

Valentine with trem is coming this year, that's confirmed by EBMM.

Maybe you should try an AL HH with trem? A slightly more C shaped neck that is a little chunkier.

Good call, but no bridge humbucker in the Valentine, and unfortunately I think the Al is a truly ugly guitar...

 

[Fro]

The Silo has a bigger neck.

 

[Keno]

Good call, but no bridge humbucker in the Valentine, and unfortunately I think the Al is a truly ugly guitar...

I was sure the bridge pickup was a humbucker but you are right, it's single coil.
In that case I' suggest going for the Stingray.

 

[Magic Jason]

Good call, but no bridge humbucker in the Valentine, and unfortunately I think the Al is a truly ugly guitar...

There is no arguing then. AL's shape is truly particular and can't appeal to everyone. If only you knew...

Just adding my two cents : I lusted for a Silo for DECADES and sold mine within two weeks : ultimately versatile guitar, MM quality, great neck, fantastic looks but...I couldn't get any sound I liked out of it : zero mojo. But it was just me, I truly believe more talented ones can make it sing almost any type of music!

 

[beej]

Silo Special HSS with trem

Find a neck you love and go from there.

 

[Fro]

The Stingray neck is pretty beefy and the humbuckers sound great.

 

[ErnieJohn]

Get your hands on a Silo Special, that should tick all the boxes.

 

[mikeller]

There is no arguing then. AL's shape is truly particular and can't appeal to everyone. If only you knew...

Just adding my two cents : I lusted for a Silo for DECADES and sold mine within two weeks : ultimately versatile guitar, MM quality, great neck, fantastic looks but...I couldn't get any sound I liked out of it : zero mojo. But it was just me, I truly believe more talented ones can make it sing almost any type of music!

Crazy how that works huh. In my pre-EBMM days I think I bought and sold more Tele's than I could count. Love what other players do with them, but when I get on one its horrible.

I have found a few really good players on Instagram playing Silo Specials. Look up Roy Ziv - great player, plays a Silo Special and a SBMM JV.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Is it more the size or the soft V shape that is causing issues? I never thought the Luke III had a particularly thin neck. It's in that "just right" territory for me.

 

[fusionid]

very similar situation to yours. I had a luke 3 2015 I sold because I thought neck was too small. One week later I bought another one, lol. I ended up missing the tone, the pickup selection, the looks, the bridge, etc etc. The new one is a luke3 BFR and coincidentally the neck feels slightly bulkier. I am happy again. I can't imagine lukes have much variability in terms of neck size and I doubt it but not all guitars feel the same way.

In terms of looking for a similar to luke kind of thing but bigger neck, I would get an axis super sport. Float the trem and there you go.

 

[larryluke]

I had the same thing with my Luke I. In the end I "shoot" a cheap Axis on Ebay (after seaching for years) and changed the necks.
Now this Luke with the Axis neck is my #1

 

[beej]

That's true- the Axis and Luke necks are swappable, they're the same width at the heel. (I did that as well years ago.)

Another option is the Cutlass HSS. Like the Silhouette Special, it also has a trem, same p/u config, and a larger neck.

 

[Alistair Taylor]

Don’t forget about the Axis! Chunkier neck, massively comfortable to play and an HH configuration. I had the same issue, though I still love Luke’s, but I always ended up with the high E coming off the board.

 

[phillybri]

Don’t forget about the Axis! Chunkier neck, massively comfortable to play and an HH configuration. I had the same issue, though I still love Luke’s, but I always ended up with the high E coming off the board.

Good call. I played an Axis for awhile, but wanted something a little more form-fitting and comfortable...

 

[telemike]

Get another Valentine and swap in a bridge humbucker