Fiore' ... or Music Man Luke?

[DreamTheaterRules]

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 played an HSS Luke 10 years or so ago, that was at GC used, for a good price. It still haunts me to this day. That thing was KILLER! and I should have bought it. Went back two weeks later to do just that and it was gone.

So skip to the neck question... I too thought the Fiore' may be my next guitar and might replace the Silver Sky. I've picked one up twice and while I'm sure every other thing about it is great, I didn't like the neck... bigger than I like. I figure I'll find one next time in a more relaxed setting and sit down and play it for 10 minutes or so to see what I think. Both times I checked out out it was basically pick it up, move around on the neck and play a few chords and notes and not be in love so quickly move along. In fact, the exact opposite of the last Luke I played. I picked it up and loved it within seconds.

For perspective, my C24 and NF3 both have pattern regular necks and that is my favorite neck ever. But, I have a JP12BFR and an Axis as well. JP obviously has a thinner neck. I LOVE IT! Axis has Eddies preferred C shape. LOVE IT! Those two necks are different, and both GREAT! The Fiore was a quick disappointment for me, but I do need to give it a more legit tryout before that becoming a settled opinion. Luke was instant love and every one I've played since was similar, but that first one was magical.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

@jfb brought a sparkled red HSS (IIRC) Luke to my place once, lovely guitar.

The EBMM necks are just so tiny for me, squashed the desire for a Silhouette that I’ve always had.

 

[ruger9]

So skip to the neck question... I too thought the Fiore' may be my next guitar and might replace the Silver Sky. I've picked one up twice and while I'm sure every other thing about it is great, I didn't like the neck... bigger than I like. I figure I'll find one next time in a more relaxed setting and sit down and play it for 10 minutes or so to see what I think. Both times I checked out out it was basically pick it up, move around on the neck and play a few chords and notes and not be in love so quickly move along. In fact, the exact opposite of the last Luke I played. I picked it up and loved it within seconds.

I know what you mean... the Luke didn't feel like that to me (the gun oil finish did, but the smaller nut and small V carve definitely felt small-in-hand), but it was comfortable, and I could do things on it easier than the DGT because of the small neck. But sometimes, playing chords down around 1st position, it can sometimes feel a bit cramped. For me the opposite with the DGT: more comfy at 1st position, but got to be a bit too fat up at the 12th. Neither neck screamed "I'M THE ONE" when I first played them. I'm probably making too much out of it... the difference between a DGT and Modern C aren't THAT different, and while the Luke IS smaller it's not tiny (but it's close LOL)...

In the end, I might just have to take the hit, buy a Fiore, and see.... then eat return shipping if I don't like it.

 

[ruger9]

@jfb brought a sparkled red HSS (IIRC) Luke to my place once, lovely guitar.

The EBMM necks are just so tiny for me, squashed the desire for a Silhouette that I’ve always had.

I thought it would be better for me, because I have bigger palms/shorter fingers.... and the Luke neck does allow me to do thing easier, but 1st position can feel a little cramped. I've never tried doing a 3-hour gig with it. Or the DGT for that matter. I'm probably making too much of it...

I'm just tired of shopping, looking, buying-and-trying... I just want to find THE ONE and play the damned thing forever!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I thought it would be better for me, because I have bigger palms/shorter fingers.... and the Luke neck does allow me to do thing easier, but 1st position can feel a little cramped. I've never tried doing a 3-hour gig with it. Or the DGT for that matter. I'm probably making too much of it...

I'm just tired of shopping, looking, buying-and-trying... I just want to find THE ONE and play the damned thing forever!

Yeah, I don’t have particularly large hands, and I don’t care for wide necks but they gotta be deep/thick or I cramp up.

While I can totally tell if a neck shape isn’t for me right away… I won’t know if it’s something I can love forever without having it awhile.

 

[ruger9]

Yeah, I don’t have particularly large hands, and I don’t care for wide necks but they gotta be deep/thick or I cramp up.

While I can totally tell if a neck shape isn’t for me right away… I won’t know if it’s something I can love forever without having it awhile.

And therein lies the rub; I'll likely end up buying a Fiore, and have to keep it awhile (unless it's love or hate at first strum), before I'll know if it's going to be the Fiore or a new Luke HSS. But even the new Luke will still have that small neck... it's SO CLOSE to perfect (for me), but not quite...

I have come to the conclusion that, besides the pickups (the main tone-generators), THE NECK it's what it's all about. That's what marries you to a particular instrument or not.

 

[bodia]

@jfb brought a sparkled red HSS (IIRC) Luke to my place once, lovely guitar.

The EBMM necks are just so tiny for me, squashed the desire for a Silhouette that I’ve always had.

It was. That was the day I bought it from him (and White Westie Day). I eventually sold it back to him because he missed it. That neck reminded me of a BC Rich Eagle that I had back in '86.

 

[vhalen50]

I will say that i played a l4 the other day at my friends store and the neck profile feels less....V and more C. At least compared to what my L3 felt like. Same width but the shape felt a smidge diff.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

It was. That was the day I bought it from him (and White Westie Day). I eventually sold it back to him because he missed it. That neck reminded me of a BC Rich Eagle that I had back in '86.

Man, it’s a wonder I can even recall anything else from that day.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

While I can totally tell if a neck shape isn’t for me right away… I won’t know if it’s something I can love forever without having it awhile.

That's usually the case for me as well. Sometimes though, I know right away and that feeling never changes. (C24, NF3, JP12BFR and Axis all fall into that category. The Axis I got from Brian's and the NF3 are the only two I didn't play before buying, but I knew right away with both of them).

 

[bodia]

Man, it’s a wonder I can even recall anything else from that day.

It was an epic day!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

It was an epic day!

For one of us it was the best day.

 

[pjdude]

For me, it would have to be the Luke. I just can’t get past the Stratocaster control layout. Actually, given my ‘druthers, I’d probably go for the SSS Cutlass. What I ended up with was an SE NF3, and I’m really very happy with it. Gets played every gig.

 

[ruger9]

For me, it would have to be the Luke. I just can’t get past the Stratocaster control layout. Actually, given my ‘druthers, I’d probably go for the SSS Cutlass. What I ended up with was an SE NF3, and I’m really very happy with it. Gets played every gig.

The volume knob (on the Fiore) being SO close to the bridge pickup DOES bother me a little. That's one thing I never liked about Strats. The Luke's volume knob is in a perfect position. But the more guitars I play, own, live with for awhile.... it seems to me it comes down to the neck more than anything.

 

[TFC]

The Fiore neck is more D-shaped than C. It has bigger shoulders and I couldn't get along with it. For reference, my favorite neck carve is regular/standard, which I believe is pretty close to the DGT carve.

 

[ruger9]

In the end, I'll have to play it I guess. I just wish I could find one locally so I didn't have to eat return shipping.

 

[ruger9]

Someone mentioned if I buy one, to buy from GC online... because I can then RETURN it to a local GC, and not have to ship it back. Good idea.

Except I do like the idea of seeing the ACTUAL guitar I am purchasing, especially since it would be the RED one where you ca see the wood grain through the stain...

 

[ruger9]

I see the Fiore has a 2-point trem, but it's not a knife edge... I watch Lettieri do Jeff Beck type stuff with it, but does anyone know if you can dive bomb it? Not sure with those screws-through-the-bridge-plate style trem bridges... (the Luke has knife edges, it feels like a Floyd)

 

[vhalen50]

I see the Fiore has a 2-point trem, but it's not a knife edge... I watch Lettieri do Jeff Beck type stuff with it, but does anyone know if you can dive bomb it? Not sure with those screws-through-the-bridge-plate style trem bridges... (the Luke has knife edges, it feels like a Floyd)

yes you can dive it. It is a knife edge. It just looks like a vintage style plate.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Someone mentioned if I buy one, to buy from GC online... because I can then RETURN it to a local GC, and not have to ship it back. Good idea.

Except I do like the idea of seeing the ACTUAL guitar I am purchasing, especially since it would be the RED one where you ca see the wood grain through the stain...

My guy at GC told me that if I ever want anything they have new or used online, to tell him and let him know get it shipped there. That way, I can try it out before I buy it. That’s how I bought my NF3 and one of my Mesa Boogie amps (TA30)