Electric guitars

Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB

The Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB pairs an HSS pickup layout with a roasted maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and vintage tremolo. At $848, it comes without a bag or case, and the available specifications leave some component details unspecified.

★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker

Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB review

The Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB is a Steve Lukather signature-style electric guitar in the Luke range. Its listed specifications point to a familiar combination of a contoured electric-guitar format, HSS pickup layout, and vintage tremolo. The body is nyatoh with a flamed maple veneer top, while the neck is roasted maple and the fingerboard is rosewood. It has 22 frets and a 648 mm scale length. The listed price is 848, with no currency specified in the supplied information.

This is a specification-based assessment, not a report from a hands-on test. No customer reviews are available for this product, so there is no basis for claims about owner satisfaction, long-term reliability, setup quality, or how the guitar feels and sounds in practice. The details below describe what the supplied specification does and does not establish.

Body, top, and neck construction

The body wood is listed as nyatoh. The top is described as flamed maple veneer, an important distinction: the specification does not identify a solid maple cap. The veneer provides the stated visual wood feature, but its presence alone does not establish a particular effect on tone or weight. The Cherry Burst color is the listed finish, though the information does not specify the exact finish process or whether the appearance varies between individual instruments.

The neck is roasted maple, paired with a rosewood fingerboard. These are clear material choices, but the specification does not provide a neck profile, fingerboard radius, nut width, neck joint type, or finish details. Those omissions matter to players choosing a guitar for hand comfort or a specific setup. There is no reliable way to infer those dimensions from the Luke name or the artist association alone.

The guitar has 22 frets and a 648 mm scale. That gives buyers two useful points of reference when comparing it with other instruments, but the fret type, fret dimensions, and upper-fret access details are not included. The scale length is commonly encountered on full-size electric guitars, though playability depends on more than scale alone, including string gauge, action, and setup.

HSS pickups and vintage tremolo

The pickup specification is HSS. In standard guitar terminology, that designation refers to a humbucker and two single-coil pickups. The supplied data does not name the pickup models or provide output, magnet type, wiring options, or control layout. It therefore supports identifying the general pickup arrangement, but not claims about the guitar's tonal range, noise level, or suitability for a particular amplifier or style.

A mixed pickup layout can offer more than one pickup character in a single instrument, but the exact sounds and switching options depend on components and wiring that are not listed here. Buyers who need a particular coil-splitting option, pickup selector arrangement, or control configuration should confirm those details with the seller before ordering. The Luke designation and HSS label do not, by themselves, confirm any additional switching feature.

The tremolo is listed as vintage. That identifies the broad tremolo type, not its construction details or performance. The specification does not state the number of springs, bridge materials, locking features, tuning stability, or whether the arm is included. Players who regularly use the tremolo may want those points clarified, along with the guitar's setup and recommended string gauge.

Practical buying considerations

No gig bag or case is included, according to the supplied data. Buyers should account for the cost of suitable protection and confirm the instrument's fit before purchasing a case separately. The sales unit is one piece, and the item number is 638735. These details help with ordering and identification, but they do not add information about the guitar's condition, accessories beyond the stated exclusions, or current stock.

At a listed price of 848, the Luke LK100HSS HCB should be compared with other guitars based on confirmed specifications and the actual price and currency offered by the seller. The available information does not establish a particular value advantage, since there are no competing prices, warranty details, or included setup services to assess. A careful buyer should also verify the instrument's exact configuration and return terms.

Verdict

The Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB has a defined material and hardware outline: nyatoh body, flamed maple veneer top, roasted maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets, 648 mm scale, HSS pickups, and a vintage tremolo. Its Steve Lukather association and Cherry Burst finish identify the model's style, while the stated details leave several important playing and setup questions unanswered.

On paper, it is a plausible option for someone seeking a Luke model with this pickup format and tremolo type. The specifications alone cannot confirm how it plays, sounds, or holds tuning, and there are no customer reviews to fill those gaps. Before buying, confirm the neck dimensions, pickup and switching details, tremolo hardware, included accessories, price currency, and setup status with the seller.

Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB, front view
7.7/ 10 overall score
$848current price at the retailer
Check today's price price and delivery time at the retailer

Shipping and duties

The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.

Scores by area

Where it shines, where it stumbles

What convinced me

  • HSS pickup configuration offers a mix of humbucker and single-coil pickup types.
  • Roasted maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.
  • Flamed maple veneer top and Cherry Burst finish give the guitar a distinctive appearance.

What bugged me

  • No gig bag or case is included.
  • The listed specifications do not provide details about pickup models or neck shape.

Is it the right one for you?

Good pick if

A good fit for players seeking an HSS guitar with a vintage tremolo and a roasted maple neck. Also worth considering for buyers drawn to the Steve Lukather Luke style and Cherry Burst finish.

Look elsewhere if

Not a good fit for buyers who need an included case or gig bag. Also less suitable for shoppers who require detailed pickup or neck-profile specifications before purchasing.
RockPopFusion

Suggested level: Intermediate

Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB, $848Check today's price →

Specifications

Color
Cherry Burst
Body
Nyatoh
Top
Flamed Maple veneer
Neck
Roasted Maple
Fretboard
Rosewood
Frets
22
Scale
648 mm
Pickups
HSS
Tremolo
Vintage
Incl. bag
No
Including case
No
Artist
Steve Lukather
Style
Luke

Watch and listen

Watch the video demo on YouTube →

Before you decide

Questions players ask

What pickup configuration does this guitar have?

It has an HSS configuration, combining a humbucker and single-coil pickups. The listed specifications do not identify the pickup models.

Does the guitar include a case or gig bag?

No. The specifications state that neither a bag nor a case is included.

What are the neck and fingerboard materials?

The neck is roasted maple, and the fingerboard is rosewood.

What is the scale length and how many frets does it have?

The scale length is 648 mm, and the guitar has 22 frets.

Who is this guitar associated with?

The listed artist is Steve Lukather, and the style is identified as Luke.

The last word from the bench

This Steve Lukather artist-style guitar has a 648 mm scale, 22 frets, and an HSS pickup configuration. Its roasted maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and flamed maple veneer top are clear points of specification. The vintage tremolo adds a familiar vibrato option, though the listing does not identify its exact design or the pickup models. Buyers should account for the lack of an included bag or case when considering the $848 price.

Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB, $848Check today's price →

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Sterling by Music Man Luke LK100HSS HCB

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