Which would you keep? (Luke Content)

[silence.speaks]

This maybe blasphemous here, but I'm thinking about moving one of my Luke 3's. I have an olive gold full rosewood neck HH and a hazel burst quilt BFR HH. Which would you keep? Would the OG be more valuable later due to the limited run?

 

[TripHazard]

I’d keep the olive gold, principally because i think it’s the more interesting and appealing finish and rosewood necks are lovely

 

[JasonT]

I’m the wrong guy to ask because I have a number of LIIIs. But if you’ve decided to sell, which one do you enjoy playing more? What’s more important to you? Feel? Tone? Looks? Whichever one fits that bill, keep it and sell the other.

If you are wondering about value, do the research on Reverb/eBay. My sense of casually watching LIII values on those sites is that a BFR will typically go for more money than a non-BFR, even if it’s a rare or unavailable color/spec combo. There are always exceptions, of course. Ymmv

 

[xjbebop]

Those are both beautiful!
But if it were me, I'd move them both and get some Albert Lee's...

 

[DrKev]

I don;t think the Olive gold wiil garner any extra value. It was not a limited edition color, it was a production color for a couple of years.

Personally, much as I like the all rosewood necks, olive gold was not my cuppa tea. I'd keep the Hazel burst.

 

[Magic Jason]

I've owned 3 different Olive Gold (long story). I twice made the mistake of selling them,

Before buying n°3, I also bought a Hazel Burst BFR and a Bodie Blue "regular line".

They are long gone because they lacked the "magic sweetness" of the rosewood neck.

The Olive Gold is also a rad colours that only gets better when a few "stage lights" ignate it!

PS
And I'm sorry to differ with Sweat but the Hazel Burst colour was boring as ****! And OG prices are going up! Bought my first one for 1500 € (second hand) in 2014. Below 2000€ would be a bargain now!

 

[mikeller]

Assuming you enjoy playing each one equally, I'd keep the Olive Gold/Rosewood without a second thought. There is something extra special about those models....

 

[silence.speaks]

Thanks everyone for your input. I've got a Luke 2 that I got in a trade, that was my gateway into EBMM. I'm keeping that one. The Olive Gold needed a bit of TLC when I got it, it's way heavier than the BFR, but that neck is something else. The BFR is pristine so I don't gig with it that often (or at all right now) but it's a joy to play when I pick it up. Decisions, decisions...

 

[JasonT]

Thanks everyone for your input. I've got a Luke 2 that I got in a trade, that was my gateway into EBMM. I'm keeping that one. The Olive Gold needed a bit of TLC when I got it, it's way heavier than the BFR, but that neck is something else. The BFR is pristine so I don't gig with it that often (or at all right now) but it's a joy to play when I pick it up. Decisions, decisions...

At the risk of potentially making it more complicated, couple additional thoughts based on your response:

I hear you on the pristine BFR and gigging. I once had a PRS Custom 22 many years ago and I was not comfortable playing out with it. I got a Standard 22 instead, which actually was more suitable to my ears tonally anyway, and sold the Custom 22. No regrets. (Of course, I love my LIIIs more.)

I also don't like heavy guitars. If the weight bothers you, you might consider getting rid of that one, too, and get another rosewood necked LIII, especially if you don't love the Olive Gold. The rosewood necks are sweet. Back when the LIIIs came standard with the rosewood neck, you could get Olive Gold, Black, and Vintage Sunburst. They come up used from time to time, fairly reasonably priced.