I just wanted to thank everyone here on the forum who've helped me with their advice and opinions over the past year or so. I'm a very middling player, with small hands to boot, so I have to admit that I've always struggled with the guitar. In the past several months, I've made a concerted effort to find a model that would be both versatile and make playing a bit easier. I had pretty much given up hope, but just in the last week, I stumbled across a near-new black Luke on the Bay. I didn't really want a black guitar, and I've always preferred maple fretboards, floyds, and jumbo frets - but for $950, it seemed like too good a deal to pass up. I never thought I'd say it, but this guitar actually makes playing seem easier. The neck is fantastic (for everyone with small hands, let me tell you, this is THE guitar!), and everything else about it exudes EBMM quality. Even bending strings is easier with this guitar - can someone tell me how that's possible?!? I know now that if I don't become a better player, I have no more excuses. It was advertised as a 2005 - serial number 689715 - maybe I can get a DOB? - and it seems to be in near-perfect condition. Thanks again for all your help, and if there's anyone who needs more details about the Luke, I would be happy to talk to them...
-
Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.
Thanks!
- Thread starter kenneth
- Start date
SteveB
Well-known member
kenneth,
Congrats on finding an EBMM guitar that suits you. They sure do make great instruments. I swear my own playing improved after I got acclimated to my Petrucci.
Congrats on finding an EBMM guitar that suits you. They sure do make great instruments. I swear my own playing improved after I got acclimated to my Petrucci.
lenny
Well-known member
SteveB said:
i agree my own playing is smoother and i find i have a better feel because my hands are not fighting with the painted necks!
threeminutesboy
Well-known member
heeeeeeeeeeeeey you were faster than me on this one !!!
congratulation and enjoy this Guitar.
BTW, I have seen Steve Lukather is still using this one on the current Toto tour
I am sure you will like it
congratulation and enjoy this Guitar.
BTW, I have seen Steve Lukather is still using this one on the current Toto tour
I am sure you will like it
slukather
Well-known member
The Luke is one fine instrument, it's my favorite axe. Yes it is the most comfortable guitar you'll probably find, even with guys with big hands like mine, but you know what they say, big hands, big....
Gloves.
Enjoy.
Scott.
Gloves.
Enjoy.
Scott.
koogie2k
Well-known member
Great to see another EBMM in the hands of the people. Glad you like the Luke....so, when are you getting the next one?!?!!?
threeminutesboy
Well-known member
koogie2k said:....so, when are you getting the next one?!?!!?
that's a good question ?!!
Why after the first purchase of an EBMM you want another, then another, then another, then ... it's endless !!!
Can someone explain ?
because I can feel that on this forum everybody is suffering from the same desease
brentrocks
Well-known member
Good job man!!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
As another player with small hands, I can understand the joy of finding a suitable guitar. I just got a new Luke in Carbon Blue Pearl earlier this year. I also recommend the Petrucci. The neck is actually a bit thinner due to the Luke's V shape. Both are super comfortable to play.
Jonny Dubai
Well-known member
I am with you on the small hands front...thats why i got 2 EBMM. They just take the pain away.......like drugs they are addictive!!!!!!
Jonny.
Jonny.
PeteDuBaldo
Well-known member
Congrats, the Luke guitars are lots of fun!
kbaim
Well-known member
kenneth said:
This is exactly how I felt after buying my first Luke. And second Luke, etc.
And for learning all these new chord inversions in Chord Chemistry by Ted Greene, the really small neck on my Blue Dawn Luke is essential.
jabba
Well-known member
Kenneth - what style of music do you play?
I'm just wondering......see.....I too am in the small hands camp and I've thought about getting a Luke before but I'm mostly a blues player and I've wondered if the Luke would be a good guitar for playing the blues...
anyone have any thoughts??
I'm just wondering......see.....I too am in the small hands camp and I've thought about getting a Luke before but I'm mostly a blues player and I've wondered if the Luke would be a good guitar for playing the blues...
anyone have any thoughts??
Luke - Blues
Hi Jabba,
I play in a power pop band and my soloing style is a very middle-of-the-road, "commercial" style, perhaps similar to Neal Schon in his Journey days, or ironically enough, Steve Lukather with Toto. My first love has always been metal, though - I grew up in the 80's with Van Halen and all the hair bands. That being said, I think you will find that just about any rock playing style still has a pretty firm base in the pentatonic or blues.
In response to your question, I would say yes, most definitely, if you have small hands and play the blues, I think the Luke would be a good fit. My hands are on the small side and I've always had trouble not only with the wider stretches required for the post-Van Halen modern metal legato styles, but also with the basic rock and blues "thumb over the top of the neck" bending and vibrato technique. Right before I bought the Luke, I got a 1994 Ibanez S540 equipped with their famed "Wizard" neck because I had read so many raves about how thin and easy to play it is. It is thin - although not as thin as I expected - but it's quite wide as well, and that extra width makes the "thumb over the top of the neck" technique difficult to execute if you have small hands. I stayed away from the JP for that reason - I was told that the neck is similar to a cross between a Wizard and an Axis, which makes sense, since JP used to play an Ibanez.
The Luke has a very narrow neck - but it's also quite thin, much thinner than the Wizard. The V-shape worried me prior to buying it, but I find that it's hardly noticable, and may in fact help bending and vibrato because the back of the neck is slightly asymetrical as a result of the V, which gives your thumb a bit of leverage when you hook it over the top of the neck. As a point of reference, I owned an Axis Sport for a short time - another guitar that many players with small hands recommend - and while I greatly admired the obvious EBMM quality and workmanship, I found the back of the neck too round and chunky. To my feeling at least, the Luke is much easier and more comfortable to play than the Axis. Not only is the neck smaller, but unlike the Axis, it also has a back-of-the-body contour similar to a Strat, which makes it fit more comfortably to your own body, the Strat-like flared left "hip" which allows you to rest your elbow on top of the guitar while you play, and a longer lower horn, which provides more support when you play sitting down. Pickups are a personal choice, but I also much prefer the Luke pickups to the Axis, which I found somewhat muted. People love or hate EMG's - they're perhaps a bit "sterile" - but let's face it, it's Luke's guitar, and they provide a very processed, studio/commercial sound, which is his sound. I like them because the singles are noiseless, and along with the humbucker, provide great sustain. I'm sure it'll be a perfect guitar for recording.
Sorry to be so long-winded - I just wanted to help, the way others on this forum have helped me. Hope this was of some aid to you in making your decision!
Hi Jabba,
I play in a power pop band and my soloing style is a very middle-of-the-road, "commercial" style, perhaps similar to Neal Schon in his Journey days, or ironically enough, Steve Lukather with Toto. My first love has always been metal, though - I grew up in the 80's with Van Halen and all the hair bands. That being said, I think you will find that just about any rock playing style still has a pretty firm base in the pentatonic or blues.
In response to your question, I would say yes, most definitely, if you have small hands and play the blues, I think the Luke would be a good fit. My hands are on the small side and I've always had trouble not only with the wider stretches required for the post-Van Halen modern metal legato styles, but also with the basic rock and blues "thumb over the top of the neck" bending and vibrato technique. Right before I bought the Luke, I got a 1994 Ibanez S540 equipped with their famed "Wizard" neck because I had read so many raves about how thin and easy to play it is. It is thin - although not as thin as I expected - but it's quite wide as well, and that extra width makes the "thumb over the top of the neck" technique difficult to execute if you have small hands. I stayed away from the JP for that reason - I was told that the neck is similar to a cross between a Wizard and an Axis, which makes sense, since JP used to play an Ibanez.
The Luke has a very narrow neck - but it's also quite thin, much thinner than the Wizard. The V-shape worried me prior to buying it, but I find that it's hardly noticable, and may in fact help bending and vibrato because the back of the neck is slightly asymetrical as a result of the V, which gives your thumb a bit of leverage when you hook it over the top of the neck. As a point of reference, I owned an Axis Sport for a short time - another guitar that many players with small hands recommend - and while I greatly admired the obvious EBMM quality and workmanship, I found the back of the neck too round and chunky. To my feeling at least, the Luke is much easier and more comfortable to play than the Axis. Not only is the neck smaller, but unlike the Axis, it also has a back-of-the-body contour similar to a Strat, which makes it fit more comfortably to your own body, the Strat-like flared left "hip" which allows you to rest your elbow on top of the guitar while you play, and a longer lower horn, which provides more support when you play sitting down. Pickups are a personal choice, but I also much prefer the Luke pickups to the Axis, which I found somewhat muted. People love or hate EMG's - they're perhaps a bit "sterile" - but let's face it, it's Luke's guitar, and they provide a very processed, studio/commercial sound, which is his sound. I like them because the singles are noiseless, and along with the humbucker, provide great sustain. I'm sure it'll be a perfect guitar for recording.
Sorry to be so long-winded - I just wanted to help, the way others on this forum have helped me. Hope this was of some aid to you in making your decision!
jabba
Well-known member
kenneth said:
Cool...thanks for the detailed response...I appreciate your insight.
I guess the best thing to do is to try to find a Luke to play to see if it suits me (easier said than done).....I'm intrigued though.....it just could be the right guitar.
i was blessed with big hands and short fingers (go ahead and laugh
), so when i heard about EBMM's slim necks i had to have one. the comfortable neck on my Sub, combined with the lessons i am taking, my playing has improved so much since this summer. i truly believe that music man guitars can bring out the potential in anyone if they are willing to work for it 
), so when i heard about EBMM's slim necks i had to have one. the comfortable neck on my Sub, combined with the lessons i am taking, my playing has improved so much since this summer. i truly believe that music man guitars can bring out the potential in anyone if they are willing to work for it 
jchalas
Well-known member
threeminutesboy said:that's a good question ?!!
Why after the first purchase of an EBMM you want another, then another, then another, then ... it's endless !!!
Can someone explain ?
because I can feel that on this forum everybody is suffering from the same desease
It's "G.A.S." == Guitar Acquisition Syndrome and it's highly contagious among EB instruments. You know what's always said about Lays potato chips--you can't eat just one? It's sort of like that... only better. Too late! You've already been exposed.
And what's worse? The folks who don't even own a Ball yet have G.A.S. Right, Foggy? Janice
