Pickup for LIII rosewood neck

[Da Vinci]

Hi Guys,

this is my first post on this forum! Hope you can help my out

After playing my Luke 2 as main axe for about 10 years I bought a LIII HH because I love to have a humbucker in neck-position. I managed to buy a awsome Olive Gold LIII with, ofcourse, the all rosewood neck. I really digg the looks and playabillity of this guitar, only....

the sound is to middy for my. I like a more tight and straight to the bone sound. In fact, soundwise I like my Luke 2 over the LIII. I think the combination of the rosewood neck with te mids of the Transition pickups doesn't work for me. I'm thinking of swapping the bridge pickup with another one, but I don't know witch one. To narrow the choices down, could you guys give me some advise of pickups I can think of?

Thx in advance!

 

[jzeijen]

Not really your question, but have you tried the LIII version with the roasted maple neck? That may just provide you with the sound you need. Had the same experience with the AL HH, allthough it didn't bother me that much. Ended up selling the rosewood one and keeping the one with the roasted maple neck. Has more of a bite to the the sound.

As far as pickups are concerned, I don't know. I mostly am satisfied with the stock pickups on my MM's...

 

[canuck6string]

Welcome.

How long have you had the LIII guitar for? Can you return/exchange it? Have you exhausted your patience trying to adjust your amp to get anything remotely resembling an acceptable tone?

Look through DiMarzio's website for HB's that are more suited to your tonal preference, or even contact their Tech Support for recommendations based on your playing style, amp type, musical tastes.

Not a direct "here's the pickup I use" answer, sorry 'bout that.

 

[Da Vinci]

Not really your question, but have you tried the LIII version with the roasted maple neck?

Not yet, but maybe it will do the trick. Unfortuanatly there a not many Music Man dealers here in Holland so it's hard to find a LIII with maple neck to try. And if I will buy one, it will not be a black or Bodhi Blue one because I don't like that colours, so that wil make it even harder ;-)

 

[Da Vinci]

Welcome.

How long have you had the LIII guitar for? Can you return/exchange it? Have you exhausted your patience trying to adjust your amp to get anything remotely resembling an acceptable tone?

Look through DiMarzio's website for HB's that are more suited to your tonal preference, or even contact their Tech Support for recommendations based on your playing style, amp type, musical tastes.

Not a direct "here's the pickup I use" answer, sorry 'bout that.

thx for the tip. I have it for about a year now. I orded the guitar in the US, because it's hard to find one here and even with import charges it saved me a lot of money.
I'll tried a lot of things one my amp, but I can't find the sweetspot where my LIII sounds fine and my Luke 2 and Les Paul do to. Mabey I should try a EQ pedal just to back down a few frequenties when using my LIII....???

 

[canuck6string]

The EQ pedal might work as a quick fix, if you already have one or can borrow one or looking for a reason to buy one.

Both DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan have Pickup Selection Help on their websites. You input the type of guitar, music style, amp style, bridge type and the program recommends pickups based on your input. It's not definitive, but it'll give you some suggestions.

If you are not a fan of DiMarzio or SD, at least their recommendations will point you towards output, type of magnets, number of winds and wire thickness. You can then use that information to look for similar pickups from other manufacturers.

A more drastic option is to put the rosewood neck (or the whole guitar) up for trade here on the forum. There are some conditions (you'll need at least 25 posts before placing a "for sale/trade" thread), but it's an option if the rosewood neck isn't for you.

I'm sure as the day progresses, you'll have several more members providing suggestions and greater insight. It's still early in North 'Merica and coffee is still brewin'.

 

[DrugDM]

Hello. I had the same guitar and the rosewood neck does have an impact on the sound but I would say you would be hard to find a pickup that is clearer that the Transitions though they do emphasize the mids. Sicne the pickup height cannot be changed another thought could be to change the individual pickup screws on the strings that bother you the most. For example on my Axis Super Sport, I find the neck pickup to be a little bassy so I lowered the pickup screws on the lower strings and it seemed to help. Good luck.

 

[luiscesaripad]

Or you could order a roasted maple neck from the MM factory. I believe they will ask you to send the rosewood neck back to them.

 

[Tollywood]

Or you could order a roasted maple neck from the MM factory. I believe they will ask you to send the rosewood neck back to them.

No, they will only replace what was originally on the guitar with the exact same item.

Welcome to the forum, Da Vinci. You may need to swap active emg pickups into the Luke III to get a similar sound as the Luke II.

 

[DrKev]

You may need to swap active emg pickups into the Luke III to get a similar sound as the Luke II.

Agreed. Pickups are the greatest part of the sonic difference between the two models. I don't think there is any passive equivalent to the EMG sound.

 

[Da Vinci]

Thx. I was already thinking a set of EMG's is s good option. I think it's going to be a nickle cover 60x - 85x set.

 

[Craiguitar]

One of the reasons I bought an LIII was for the neck HB, as I didn't have a guitar with a humbucker in that position. A year later, I realise I rarely use that position. Even though it's nice. The Transitions took a lot of getting used to. Now, when I switch between LIII and my other Luke's, I find I prefer whichever one I'm playing at the time, but for different reasons. It's a strange thing, but it justifies my owning each guitar, when a lot of my family think they all look exactly the same.