Fiore' ... or Music Man Luke?

ruger9

ruger9

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I realize this is a PRS forum, so I know what the likely answer will be LOL

I have a Music Man Luke 3 HH. Of course there is also an HSS model. After owning the Luke awhile, I have decided I definitely am a single coil neck pickup guy. Which means my quest for a "do anything" guitar will likely be either a Luke HSS or the Fiore. I LOVE all the demos and tones I have heard from the Fiore, and the Luke also sounds great (plus I'm a huge Lukather fan; I only just discovered Lettieri.)

The 2 guitars are extremely similar... I think the Fiore may be lighter, the Fiore has many more switching options of course, but really 95% of the time I'll either be on the bridge or the neck. Both do the in-betwen (strat) sounds really well. I like the idea of the Fiore NOT requiring a battery (the Luke has a preamp in it).

I can compare all the specs, but what I'm really hoping for is someone who has compared them in person, or at least tried both... especially regarding the NECK PROFILE of the Fiore.... I have a DGT and find it's neck comfortable but a little bigger/fatter than I prefer (the Fender Modern C is pretty much where I live.) And the Luke neck is SMALL... small at the nut, and small profile. Almost feels like a kids guitar in my hands (I do not have large hands, and it still feels small).

Any input/discussion appreciated!
 
I neither own a Luke nor a Fiore, but played both.
As a comparison to my 513s.
Both necks felt comfy to me, so they have Pattern Regular or Wide Fat similarities
Before I share my recommendation, I go to hardware appearance.
And here EBMM wins: look and haptic is more even. First of all: I don't understand, why it isn't possible to give the Fiore's singlecoils not the same chromish look like the humbucker? And why they didn't install their highly acknowledged and reputated vintage vibrato system?

Deciding between both I would go with the Luke. It's the neck feel of this baked maple. Therefore I like to grab my EBMM Kaizen 7 as often as possible.
 
I think I'd go Luke. It's all about that neck. You're right, it feels small, but it's also perfect (for me). Plus, I don't really like the 3 knob location on the Fiore. They look too close, to me.
 
I will say the gun oil finish on the back (of the Luke) is my favorite EVER. ALL guitar necks should be finished this way.

The volume knob on the Fiore is pretty close to the bridge pickup, and I have had issues with that on Strats, actually bumping and changing the volume while playing. Hmm
 
But @sergiodeblanc's contribution is sheer evidence, that PRS was able to make appropriate even hardware to HSS guitars in the past!
I won't sound bad, because of its age. My second 513 was 18 yo at the time I bought it.
 
Maertl513 said:
But @sergiodeblanc's contribution is sheer evidence, that PRS was able to make appropriate even hardware to HSS guitars in the past!
I won't sound bad, because of its age. My second 513 was 18 yo at the time I bought it.
Click to expand...

These things aren't a hangup for me. The Fiore sounds great, I don't really care that the humbucker is chromed. It's the same thing on the Lukes, UNLESS you get a Luke 4 with the black humbucker cover. Which honestly I'm not a big fan of, never have been.
 
i owned both. I had a luke 3 BFR HSS and i still have a fiore.

the Luke was heavy but sounded great. the preamp makes every position equal volume and the onboard boost is super cool. Im a pretty tall guy and a luke body feels like 80% the size of a strat, so it looked really tiny on me. Plus the neck felt tiny. Basically always felt like andre the giant with it.

the fiore is...just too good. Its every bit of a strat but more and has better tones to me. I wore out the frets on mine and went for a stainless refret. Fiore neck is very much fender C feeling. The Luke neck is a soft narrow V.
 
veinbuster said:
Come on. That was a good year.
Click to expand...

Having graduated high school in 1987, I concur that 88 was a VERY good (and fun!) year!

vhalen50 said:
i owned both. I had a luke 3 BFR HSS and i still have a fiore.

the Luke was heavy but sounded great. the preamp makes every position equal volume and the onboard boost is super cool. Im a pretty tall guy and a luke body feels like 80% the size of a strat, so it looked really tiny on me. Plus the neck felt tiny. Basically always felt like andre the giant with it.

the fiore is...just too good. Its every bit of a strat but more and has better tones to me. I wore out the frets on mine and went for a stainless refret. Fiore neck is very much fender C feeling. The Luke neck is a soft narrow V.
Click to expand...

Fantastic, thanks for the direct compare. I was hoping someone had experience with both, as I won't be able to play a Fiore anywhere locally, I'll have to buy sight unplayed.... and I already know what the Luke is, so buying an HSS Luke is "safe" (to get the single coil neck).

I actually considered just buying a single for my Luke 3 HH for the neck, using an adaptor to mount it, but that's UGLY and a permanent mod. I won't do it. I'll by a Luke4 HSS first.

Have you ever played a DGT? Wonder how the Fiore neck compares to that?
 
I had an early Luke.
(EMGs and a battery).
Dead quiet single coils.
Best neck carve I ever had on a guitar.
I ended up selling it because I'm not a single coil person.
 
ruger9 said:
Having graduated high school in 1987, I concur that 88 was a VERY good (and fun!) year!



Fantastic, thanks for the direct compare. I was hoping someone had experience with both, as I won't be able to play a Fiore anywhere locally, I'll have to buy sight unplayed.... and I already know what the Luke is, so buying an HSS Luke is "safe" (to get the single coil neck).

I actually considered just buying a single for my Luke 3 HH for the neck, using an adaptor to mount it, but that's UGLY and a permanent mod. I won't do it. I'll by a Luke4 HSS first.

Have you ever played a DGT? Wonder how the Fiore neck compares to that?
Click to expand...
I have. the DGT neck is a smidge slimmer. Felt more full to me, but the specs on PRS website show its the same except the depth at the 12 1/2 fret.
 
ruger9 said:
Having graduated high school in 1987, I concur that 88 was a VERY good (and fun!) year!



Fantastic, thanks for the direct compare. I was hoping someone had experience with both, as I won't be able to play a Fiore anywhere locally, I'll have to buy sight unplayed.... and I already know what the Luke is, so buying an HSS Luke is "safe" (to get the single coil neck).

I actually considered just buying a single for my Luke 3 HH for the neck, using an adaptor to mount it, but that's UGLY and a permanent mod. I won't do it. I'll by a Luke4 HSS first.

Have you ever played a DGT? Wonder how the Fiore neck compares to that?
Click to expand...
Oh, I’d absolutely buy the Luke then.
 
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