👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Should I swap out the emgs in my luke?

H

hikarateboy

Active member
Joined
Feb 12, 2010
Messages
26
After getting my LIII HSS I am loving the passives. Thinking of swapping out the emgs in my black sparkle Luke. Anyone think this is a bad idea?
 
I'd say go for it. There are some great pickup offerings out there. I've personally never been too keen on the EMG variety and understand why you'd prefer the passives. I'd say research a set you could get excited about, do the swap, and fall in love with your Luke all over again!
 
Ok, I'll take the other side. I don't think it's a bad idea, I've changed pups with great success, but unless you need a back up guitar with the same set of pups, why not leave the EMG's in the black sparkle for the tonal options it offers. Unless you are absolutely done with the EMG sound. I have some killer passive pups as well as EMG's in several guitars and enjoy having all of them in my arsenal for whenever I need them. Good luck with your choice.

my 2cents.

Cheers,

Tom
 
Did anybody convert a Luke 2 ta a LIII or (2,5) with an active preamp and all?
I love my Luke2 but I think I would love it even more with passive pickups.
 
I'd say go for it as well. Some people love EMG's, some not so much. I think passives on the LII would sound great. Dean Wells has swapped out his EMG's for passives and absolutely loved the swap.
 
Just got back from traveling thanks for all the replies looks like its confirming what I was thinking especially sell it and get a luke III. Thinking one with H/H combo since I have the HSS.

Is black sparkle with matching headstock rare? Seems as though I havent seem more than a couple like it. Its a shame really that I dont just keep it but I have a floyd strat with the SL20 set so covered doubly on the lukather emg thing. Maybe I should sell that instead as I LOVE the soft v of the luke
 
Last edited by a moderator:
DrKev said:
It's no worse an idea than swapping out pickups in any guitar. Perhaps put the LIII HSS set in there?
Click to expand...

Can you buy the LIII HSS set? I know that you can buy a transition Hum from Dimarzio but understand that the singles are a modified version of injectors. It is luke of course and we cant be putting normal stock pickups in anything can we? :) Havent seen transition singles.
 
Last edited:
I put Seymour Duncan's in my BFR luke, the tone is insane, I'll never go back to emg, the sound of those beautiful woods comes through so much nicer with passive.
 
dwells said:
I put Seymour Duncan's in my BFR luke, the tone is insane, I'll never go back to emg, the sound of those beautiful woods comes through so much nicer with passive.
Click to expand...

This is why I prefer passive pups, too.
 
dwells said:
I put Seymour Duncan's in my BFR luke, the tone is insane, I'll never go back to emg, the sound of those beautiful woods comes through so much nicer with passive.
Click to expand...

What Seymour Duncan's did you put in?
 
Sh10 bridge, JB jr middle, sh1 neck, tone variety I love it but I'm sure u could go with something not as high gain and would be amazing.
 
dwells said:
Sh10 bridge, JB jr middle, sh1 neck, tone variety I love it but I'm sure u could go with something not as high gain and would be amazing.
Click to expand...

Oh, I'm all about the high gain. Any videos of you playing the Luke with the Seymour Duncan's. All the videos I've seen of you playing a Luke have the EMG's.
 
hikarateboy said:
Can you buy the LIII HSS set? I know that you can buy a transition Hum from Dimarzio but understand that the singles are a modified version of injectors. It is luke of course and we cant be putting normal stock pickups in anything can we? :) Havent seen transition singles.
Click to expand...

I also am wanting to know this. I know you can get the bridge pup, but can you get those two awesome single coils for the middle and neck positions? I don't think you can.
 
dwells said:
Sh10 bridge, JB jr middle, sh1 neck, tone variety I love it but I'm sure u could go with something not as high gain and would be amazing.
Click to expand...

That Full Shred must sound incredible in that guitar. I love that pickup and I always have at least one guitar with a Full Shred in the bridge. I always loved my Luke when I had it, I just couldn't come to terms with the EMG's. I wish I would have had access to a tech to refit my Luke a couple of years ago, I'd probably still have it!
 
Hi,

I also swapped the EMG's for Seymour Duncan's: APS 2 in neck and middle and an TB16 in the bridge.
I cannot say that you have to do this: it is all a matter of taste and personal preference.
But to me, the Luke is awesome. The sounds are incredible.
A famous luthier here in Holland made it possible. The APS 2 have 'wings', so they would not fit into the narrow space of the EMG's. But, they managed to put in the SD's and you cannot see it at the surface.
I cannot tell for you, but for me, this is has been a swell job with great result! I did not regret it a second.
Succes!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Flex Capo
Back
Top