Would you do this? Have you done this? Should I do this?

[Edgarallan]

Hi guys. I absolutely love my Luke III in all terms except the pickups. I know a lot of the appeal of the LIII is precisely the pickups being that they are an "organic", Dimarzio version of the EMG's Steve regularly uses. But that is not my sound, it's his. My sound is more like a Dimarzio Tone Zone (which I miss), or from the sound clips, what a Pearly Gates/Cool Rails combo sounds like.

Questions are: Would you mod your LIII?
Have you modded it? If so, how was the outcome and what pickups you used?
Should I do mod it or sell it and get something better suited sonically?

Answers are deeply appreciated!

 

[koogie2k]

Your guitar. Modify to suit your needs. I have done so with a JP before.

 

[FantasyMetal]

I ordered an LIII BFR and I fully intend on putting some BKPs (I'm thinking a Painkiller and two Cobras) in it, as Luke's sound is not my sound.

 

[haymez]

I have modified almost every guitar I have ever owned (and that is a bunch at this point) - sometimes it's pickups, other times it's tuners or other hardware. Whatever mod makes me want to keep playing, I do.

 

[Jorge ven]

Totally. I kind of fell into the whole "that's what the guitar came with, that's how its supposed to be" thing. Well since I didn't do anything to it, i haven't picked it up in the last two months, and as you know, the LIII is a KILLER guitar , but even thou the sound is lovely, it's just not "mine".. So I too will be ordering a pair of new hums for my LIII..

 

[canuck6string]

Yes, I would. No, I haven't. If you are debating it here, wait until you are absolutely sure you want to.

I'm in the same boat; love the EBMM, but I like the vintage 50s tones of the single coil guitars. Swapping pickups would be a win-win.

 

[Edgarallan]

Totally. I kind of fell into the whole "that's what the guitar came with, that's how its supposed to be" thing. Well since I didn't do anything to it, i haven't picked it up in the last two months, and as you know, the LIII is a KILLER guitar , but even thou the sound is lovely, it's just not "mine".. So I too will be ordering a pair of new hums for my LIII..

What are you planning on getting? I'm thinking either a ToneZone/Air Norton or a JB/Pearly Gates.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Mod away. Its a tool not a museum piece!

 

[mtrejo]

I'd have no problem modding it to my taste. I happen to really like these pickups but if I didnt, I'd definitely go on the quest.

 

[nopicknick]

I have changed pickups often, and might change the neck pickup on my AL to ironically a Transition. When I change pickups (with the same brand) I do not use a soldering iron. I snip the wires with just enough length to use quick connects. Makes it easier.....especially if you want to go back to the original set up.

 

[Tollywood]

I agree that a pickup mod is a great idea. It won't hurt the guitar.

The Luke III is an ergonomic masterpiece so it is worth changing the pickups to get it to sound the way you like to sound. Good luck!

 

[Edgarallan]

I snip the wires with just enough length to use quick connects. Makes it easier.....especially if you want to go back to the original set up.

I did a quick search on "quick connects" but couldn't find anything. Can you illustrate/elaborate? As you can tell, i'm not that handy with a soldering iron and would rather not pay $50 per pickup installed.

 

[Astrofreq]

Totally!

 

[ZeroFivefour]

Mod away. Its a tool not a museum piece!

+1

Modify it so you'll play it or sell it and buy something else you will play.

I consider pickups to be similar to motorcycle tires in this regard. Get the ones you want to "roll" with.

If I ever get a luke 3 I will modify it to my hearts content. I will rout out the bridge, slap a Floyd in it, slap some EMG's or BKPups in it and fire it up. Then I will send it to a paint guy and paint it some obnoxious color and call it a day! But hey that's just me.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[TSHOW]

I totally understand. .If you don't like them..Change them..

 

[nopicknick]

I did a quick search on "quick connects" but couldn't find anything. Can you illustrate/elaborate? As you can tell, i'm not that handy with a soldering iron and would rather not pay $50 per pickup installed.

You can buy individual connectors or one like you would find under the pick guard of say an Albert Lee. I call them quick connects, but a more proper term may help. The idea is you feed a wire from the controls in one side, crimp it, feed the wire from the pickup in the other side, crimp it and the connection is made. They are small and I find them at Spectronics.....perhaps Home Depot. They are small though.

 

[Jorge ven]

What are you planning on getting? I'm thinking either a ToneZone/Air Norton or a JB/Pearly Gates.

I was thinking a Suhr ssh+/ssv combo, but might go with a 59 and another Duncan, not sure what yet... The JB/Pearly would be a killer combo for the LIII in my opinion...

 

[Larry]

My opinion, mod away! Just keep stock parts!

 

[Oh3AreSicks]

Your guitar. Modify to suit your needs. I have done so with a JP before.

This!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I think EBMM uses or used Molex connectors.