Sterling By Music Man Luke LK100D Is Here!!!

[SBMM]

We are proud to announce to you our newest Sterling By Music Man Artist Signature Series.

This Artist is one whose talent resides in the upper echelon of Grammy Award winning musicians, known world-wide, a true "players player".

Ladies and Gentlemen: Luke

Please welcome to our fine family of Artists, the new for 2014 Sterling By Music Man LK100D Steve Lukather Artist Signature Guitar!

Available worldwide February 2014

The new LK100D is based on the newest incarnation of the Music Man Luke III. It features two DiMarzio Luke Signature "Transitions" humbuckers, a "push-push" Active volume boost based on the original Music Man design, 5 position pickup selector, Vintage Tremolo factory set for full step and a half pulls, locking tuning machines, and will, for now, be available in Luke Blue and Metallic Black.

We have done an early roll out in Japan due to overwhelming demand.

...and yes, the neck profile is exact. Luke was blown away by the guitar when I took it to him for our photo shoot, so the proof is truly in the pudding on this one. We are looking at about an $869 USD street price, but will be finalized early January.

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[SBMM]

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[banjoplayer]

sweeeeet

 

[BrickGlass]

How long have many of us been hoping for this? This place always seems to deliver the goods.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

That is very interesting!

 

[mtrejo]

They definitely look killer Brian! Nice work on the details.

 

[GWDavis28]

Brian, very nice is the trem arm going to have the white tip?

Thanx, Glenn |B)

 

[dav]

i'm seriously thinking about buying one when it will be on stores!!!

 

[SBMM]

Brian, very nice is the trem arm going to have the white tip?

No, it will have chrome trem arm tip and selector switch.

I knew someone would catch that!

 

[atomicpig]

very niceeeee!!!! Want!

 

[GWDavis28]

No, it will have chrome trem arm tip and selector switch.

I knew someone would catch that!

Hahahahahahha, Brian, excellent man, it'll look excellent!!!

Any idea what these will be going for?

Thanx, Glenn |B)

 

[kimonostereo]

No, it will have chrome trem arm tip and selector switch.

I knew someone would catch that!

So the only thing that is different visually is the jack plate? Very cool!

 

[xjbebop]

So, I gotta ask, what are the differences between this and the 'real' LIII ??
What did I get in mine that makes it cost over twice as much...??

*don't take this wrong, I love my LIII, but it sounds like this Sterling is almost an exact copy for way less $$...

 

[kimonostereo]

So, I gotta ask, what are the differences between this and the 'real' LIII ??
What did I get in mine that makes it cost over twice as much...??

*don't take this wrong, I love my LIII, but it sounds like this Sterling is almost an exact copy for way less $$...

1. All EBMM guitars and basses are designed, built, hand crafted and setup at the factory in San Luis Obispo, California. That means it's totally made in the USA.

2. Sterling has parts manufactured overseas by various different manufacturers. The parts are then sent to PraxisMusical in USA, and probably assembled and setup by the techs there. Although these are made overseas, they are using either very close specs or the exact specs of the real deal to cut and build bodies and necks.

3. Sterling guitars, aside from the pickups, use different hardware. The switches, bridges and tuners are different that what would be found on EBMM. There are many parts that are comparable or just as good as a brand name part and they use them for these models.

4. The Sterling model doesn't have the EBMM logo. This is similar to a Fender Squire. This differentiates the brands and helps folks keep in mind that you are still getting a quality made instrument at a lower price than an American made guitar.

If you are an EBMM fanatic like me, you will know the difference. When EBMM came out with the OLP series, it was close but not really great. The current Sterling line, with the actual pickups used in the American production models are almost exact. I'm very picky about the details, so seeing the correct pickup cutout and correct neck heel on the Sterling Axis line amazes me. The OLP models didn't come close. A fantastic line of guitars at a lower price with the same look and feel of the American made EBMM is fantastic.

I haven't picked up a Sterling for myself, but I may pick up a Sterling Luke. Now if they came out with an Albert Lee model, I'd be all over that! Albert Lee's are the closest thing to an EBMM stratocaster and I'd definitely get one to mod and tinker around with.

 

[Mid Life Crisis]

Been lurking here awhile and this guitar has me forced me to join the conversation (this is a good thing)

Can somebody educate me on the differences between the Sterling Petrucci bridge and the the Sterling Luke bridge? I mean besides the obvious vintage style. I currently have a JP60 and I'm impressed how much I can can use the trem, up and down and including flutters and still stay in tune. Wondering if I can expect similar performance here. In other words is it strictly looks?

Funny but the Petrucci model is what got me to try out MM guitars in the first place. Side by side I actually liked the Luke better but Sterling had a JP model and no Luke. My skill level doesn't dictate higher priced guitars, so the JP came home with me. I like the JP60 better than the JP100 because of the neck/frets which feels closer to the Luke. Now we have a Luke option, can't wait!

 

[SBMM]

So many questions to answer while on vacation...I guess I did it to myself !

First off, Sterling By Music Man and the real deal USA Music Man guitars are worlds apart! Kind of reminds me of the old advertisement that Beatlemania used in the 70's: "Not The Beatles, but an incredible simulation!"

The LK100D uses a basswood body, standard maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. All of the hardware is Asian made. The boost circuit does not have any settings that can be modified and is Asian made. The only USA parts are the DiMarzio Transitions pickups and the Ernie Ball Slinky strings.

All SBMM instruments are built in Indonesia. We don't do any assembly at our facility in Orange, CA, only setups.

We do stick to the different models with an almost religious fervor. We get many requests for floating Floyd's on the AX series, maple fretboards on JP's, so on and so forth. Bottom line is, if the EBMM counterpart doesn't have it, an SBMM surely won't either. Also, things such as piezo bridges, multi pickups on basses and such won't happen. When you get into that level, buy the USA model! SBMM also makes it possible for the working musician who may not want to take #1 out on the road to have a great platform to modify to their personal taste without a lot of investment, or use it stock and not worry about loss or theft of #1.

That being said, our SBMM instruments are in my opinion, the best value for the price available, period. We work closely with EBMM on all of our models, and get alot of input and assistance from the EBMM staff when it comes to design, specs, and circuitry.

We offer a high quality yet affordable, licensed version of the different Music Man proprietary body styles. This gets them into the hands of players who may not be in the economic means of the USA models, very similar to how Epiphone works for Gibson, Squire for Fender, etc., except that SBMM and Praxis Musical are a separate corporate entity from EBMM. SBMM also greatly reduces the probability of an overseas non-licensed knock off of these proprietary trademarked designs. There's a lot of thought behind SBMM in the big picture of the world marketplace.

I hope that this gives a bit of insight and clarity. Feel free to ask more questions though, that's why I'm here

 

[look_at_her]

Yes,yes,yes,finally!!!!
My Luke2 is my #1 axe,used to have L3 but have to sold it due to some financial issues,but now I'm ready to order one of these- have the "real deal" L3 hss on order but I'm ready to embrace the SBMM HH option in Luke Blue!!!

 

[ToTo Man]

Nice! Be interesting to see what the UK retail price will be...

 

[threeminutesboy]

congrats on this new baby in the SBMM family.

Will try to test one when it will be around here

 

[DrewH]

Question... why the use of basswood versus alder? I have a L3. Part of what makes a luke a luke is the alder body. Basswood and Alder are similar but still worlds apart in many ways. I think this is going to be a big detriment. I understand you are trying to hit a certain price point... but... Charvel has proven you can make a guitar with USA pickups and alder body outside the US and still hit that 850 to 900ish price range. I was all excited about this until I heard about the body wood and I would think others may be put off as well. I would actually have preferred the non-dimarzio pickups and lack of boost for the correct body wood. The appeal of buying an overseas guitar is that if its structurally what you want (woods, etc) you can mod it to what you want it to be...or not...depending on what your vision is.