OLP LUKE...Opinions?

[Dakbri]

I owned a Luke when I worked for Line6, and my ex fiancee made off with my old collection...I've gotten my tele's and Prs's back(well, I got replacements), but am having a problem finding a decent used Luke..(one on ebay was dinged and old and they wanted 1100 USD!)...does anyone have an opinion on the Luke by OLP? What about an OLP upgrade project? Change the locking tuners, possibly change the pickups? Ideas anyone???
Lukeless in Wilmington

 

[Sub1 Zero]

If it were me, before I'd dump all that money into an OLP, I would just keep saving and get a Music Man Luke. You already have some pretty nice guitars to comfort you until then, so go for the real deal and get something that will be worthwhile

 

[Dakbri]

I just got a gig and I pretty much HAVE TO HAVE a Luke for the gig...which is the only reason I'm thinking OLP...anybody ever played one?

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Not sure about sound, I think they are EMG copies. Quality-wise it will be like your other OLP. What is it about the gig that makes a Luke necessary? (curiousity )

 

[Pablo]

Well, I have played various OLPs (albeit not the Luke) and whilst they are decent enough beginner guitars, they simply don't compare to the real deal - and nomatter how much money you waste modding it, it'll never make you as happy as the original.

I honestly doubt that a Luke is essential to your landing the gig, so I suggest that you use your PRS whilst saving for a real Luke.

So that was my sensible advice... However, if I truly felt that I needed a piece of gear in order to get the job done, I'd find a way to get it NOW (that's why I have credit cards) - but that's just me

Cheers

Eske

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Well, I have played various OLPs (albeit not the Luke) and whilst they are decent enough beginner guitars, they simply don't compare to the real deal - and nomatter how much money you waste modding it, it'll never make you as happy as the original.

I honestly doubt that a Luke is essential to your landing the gig, so I suggest that you use your PRS whilst saving for a real Luke.

So that was my sensible advice... However, if I truly felt that I needed a piece of gear in order to get the job done, I'd find a way to get it NOW (that's why I have credit cards) - but that's just me

Cheers

Eske

+1 that PRS should get the job done (although a MM Luke would do it better )

 

[Dakbri]

Toto tribute band...that's the gig.

 

[Larry]

Got to be a real Luke to be a "real" tribute.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Yeah man, I think with the kind of money you would be spending... about $300 for guitar then another $300 or so for pickups, then installation, short term it seems like an ok idea but in the end I am afraid you will be disappointed. I would go with your PRS and and dial in your sound; it's likely no one is going to notice

 

[paranoid70]

Really, unless they are guitar freaks like the rest of us, most people would be thinking about how well your vocalist sings "Rosanna".

 

[candid_x]

I'd sell the PRS (good resale value) and buy a new (or great condition used) Luke.

 

[kbaim]

Well, you didn't hear it here, but the best solution would be to find a GC near you that is stocking them (good luck though) and buy it, gig it, and then return it...or keep it.

Lukes show up around here from time to time. Keep your eyes peeled.

 

[ba2m]

Hi Dakbri,

I have one OLP Luke and one ebmm LUKE 1,
i'll give some review of my olp luke by comparing it with my ebmm..

(+)
Price
OLP is a lot cheaper than EBMM (of course)
Sound
OLP's pick up sound's good IMO.. they try to copy the sound of emg slv and emg 85 on the bridge.. well you can't compare it with the musicman luke (the olp quality is far below musicman) .. but i think OLP sounds better than other china made guitars.. and they are quiet too..
color finishing :
OLP have a very neat finishing and the color really looks like(not the same as) the color on ebmm.. and OLP also has the pearl finish
The neck and body shape
the body is exactly the same as ebmm luke, the size and the shape
the neck shape is different , OLP has a thicker neck , and a deeper V shape than musicman.. OLP also has a small fretboard.. and the frets are also low profile(like ebmm luke)

(-)
fretwork
some frets are buzzing.. and there are some dead spots(the fret that don't sound), so maybe you need to take your new guitar to local luthier if you buy OLP
the Bridge
actually the bridge is not bad.. but they put it not in the right place.. so it stuck on the wood(the tremolo block is touching the body of the guitar) i think it is a very fatal mistake on their production

OLP LUKE use basswood but musicman luke use alder for the body(i don't know the exact differences of it)

but i still think that guitar(OLP) is a great guitar for 300$.. i think you don't have to buy new pick up or new hardware.. but you need to bring that new guitar to local luthier for some setting.

but.. if you afford for a musicman, i think you should buy the real one..
i suggest you take that one on the ebay even they have dings allover the body , i think it's still has better quality than OLP

Btw, Dakbri .. i have one question for you, why do you prefer to use POD2.0 rather than PODxt(the newer one).. well it's out of this thread topic .. sorry..

good luck..
abraham

 

[paranoid70]

Ever thought of trying to find an OLP or an EBMM Luke guitar to rent for your gig?

 

[Dakbri]

Thanks for all the opinions and I finally went with a Valley Arts Luke....good question on the POD. I actually prefer the "older" school technology on some of the Line6 stuff...now, the XT rocks...but I find the older one "sounds" better to my ears...I think it has to do with the processor.
See, I don't like to ask a processer to do a ton of things at once...so let's say for example, and I may get techie here, but I'm using a 24 bit processor chip. And I ask it to do 1 thing...delay. It is putting all 24 bits into that one effect. Cool...Even if I ask it to do 3 or 4 things...still, 8 to 6 bits in each effect. Now I'm asking it to do eq, delay, chorus, emulate a amp, emulate a cab, ...still on the same chip..that's alot. So the older one does less, but it sounds better to me. That being said, all the Line6 stuff gets better and better, as far as features, and what it does...but I never found a need to leave my POD, or my AX2....killer amp. Oh, a tone trick for ya...when recording direct (and maybe even live, I never tried that)...we always ran the POD of the AX2 direct out into a tube mic preamp. Always. It warms it up majorly....Now there are sessions where I didn't do this, too...but even the Beringher tube pre warmed the POD on up, and on tape(16 track analog baby) it sounded killer...it also worked great to hard disk.

 

[Jimothy JP7]

Valley Arts? Never heard of it...



I second getting the beat up Luke, even though it's already been decided. You could've just bought it beat, gigged it and then sent it out to get it touched up/repainted.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Thanks for all the opinions and I finally went with a Valley Arts Luke....good question on the POD. I actually prefer the "older" school technology on some of the Line6 stuff...now, the XT rocks...but I find the older one "sounds" better to my ears...I think it has to do with the processor.
See, I don't like to ask a processer to do a ton of things at once...so let's say for example, and I may get techie here, but I'm using a 24 bit processor chip. And I ask it to do 1 thing...delay. It is putting all 24 bits into that one effect. Cool...Even if I ask it to do 3 or 4 things...still, 8 to 6 bits in each effect. Now I'm asking it to do eq, delay, chorus, emulate a amp, emulate a cab, ...still on the same chip..that's alot. So the older one does less, but it sounds better to me. That being said, all the Line6 stuff gets better and better, as far as features, and what it does...but I never found a need to leave my POD, or my AX2....killer amp. Oh, a tone trick for ya...when recording direct (and maybe even live, I never tried that)...we always ran the POD of the AX2 direct out into a tube mic preamp. Always. It warms it up majorly....Now there are sessions where I didn't do this, too...but even the Beringher tube pre warmed the POD on up, and on tape(16 track analog baby) it sounded killer...it also worked great to hard disk.

Thanks for the info

 

[Dakbri]

Valley Arts? Never heard of it...



I second getting the beat up Luke, even though it's already been decided. You could've just bought it beat, gigged it and then sent it out to get it touched up/repainted.

Yeah, I coulda....but I just don't see paying 1100 bucks for a banged up gtr...unless it's like 53 tele someone forgot about, and the like..ha ha...
Valley Arts was one of the "original" custom shops...Larry Carlton had a couple, and Luke's second gtr deal(the first being with Ibanez) was with Valley Arts...he's playing it in his first Starlicks video,,,maple body, flamed top, EMG's one volume...Floyd...

 

[Jimothy JP7]

Ah, sweet. Glad you didn't have to settle for something less than par.

 

[kbaim]

Yeah, I coulda....but I just don't see paying 1100 bucks for a banged up gtr...unless it's like 53 tele someone forgot about, and the like..ha ha...
Valley Arts was one of the "original" custom shops...Larry Carlton had a couple, and Luke's second gtr deal(the first being with Ibanez) was with Valley Arts...he's playing it in his first Starlicks video,,,maple body, flamed top, EMG's one volume...Floyd...

Was that when Luke was sportin' the Richard Simmons Perm?