Need some help choosing Music Man Luke Guitar

[pieceofchum]

Hello,

I have played a 2016 Luke 3 guitar and I love it, easiest neck I have played yet and very comfortable. Now I want to purchase one and not sure if I should get a newer Luke 4 HSS guitar. I play mostly classic rock like stairway to heaven, dust in the wind, driver's seat, some Maiden etc. I have a chance to buy the guitar I played which is in very good condition for $2k but there are no newer ones near where I live to try. I saw the Luke 4 is newly released and I read that it would be better for the classic rock. I was hoping someone that had both and plays similar music could recommend which one might be best.

Thanks
David

 

[beej]

I'm of the opinion that you can make most guitars work for most styles of music. It's how you play, and the whole signal chain that counts- guitar, pickups, pedals, amp, speakers, etc.

That said, I'd think either the L3 or L4 would be great. The pickups are going to be a little different between guitars, but then again there are two different sets of pickups in different versions of the LIII. Beyond that, they're pretty much the same guitars. Pick the one that you love at a better price

Fyi, I play in a cover band that does everything from R&B to pop to hard rock and I play a L3. Does it all. The built-in boost is a super-handy feature as well.

 

[GWDavis28]

Dude Mass representing!!!! Welcome check out Pete Dubaldo down in Manchester CT, great guy and dealer of EBMM's (Electric Guitars | DuBaldo Music Center). Sometimes he gets a line on them.

I've never played the Luke 3 or 4, I had a EMG Luke 2 a long time ago and the Lukes are a great guitar choice. In our area there aren't too many dealers that stock EBMM's anymore.

Good luck with your search, Glenn |B)

 

[opaz]

The pickups (especially the bridge position) sound quite different between the 3 and the 4. The bridge pickup on the 4 is a lot smoother and mellower than the bridge pickup on the 3.

 

[pieceofchum]

The pickups (especially the bridge position) sound quite different between the 3 and the 4. The bridge pickup on the 4 is a lot smoother and mellower than the bridge pickup on the 3.

I have noticed that about the model I have. I was able to adjust everything to get L3 to have the sound a I am used to from the bridge but I had to fiddle more than I had to with my Sabre. I was going to buy a new Luke 4 HSS and just compare it to the used Luke 3, I figure I can return the Luke 4 if it doesn't sound the way I want but I hate doing that stuff.

 

[pieceofchum]

Dude Mass representing!!!! Welcome check out Pete Dubaldo down in Manchester CT, great guy and dealer of EBMM's (Electric Guitars | DuBaldo Music Center). Sometimes he gets a line on them.

I've never played the Luke 3 or 4, I had a EMG Luke 2 a long time ago and the Lukes are a great guitar choice. In our area there aren't too many dealers that stock EBMM's anymore.

Good luck with your search, Glenn |B)

Yea I know I am bummed that there are not more EBMM dealers as I have had different guitars and the Music Man has been by far the best playing and feeling guitars that I have played.

 

[opaz]

I have noticed that about the model I have. I was able to adjust everything to get L3 to have the sound a I am used to from the bridge but I had to fiddle more than I had to with my Sabre. I was going to buy a new Luke 4 HSS and just compare it to the used Luke 3, I figure I can return the Luke 4 if it doesn't sound the way I want but I hate doing that stuff.

It did take a while for me to adjust the EQ settings to accommodate the pickups in my Luke 4 but once that's done, it smokes all my other high end guitars out the door. As the Luke 4 is quite dark (the bridge position), you can really experiement and be ambitious with introducing more highs and presence in your amp's EQs.