Wired for Sound
Tone is in the hands, but the tools matter. From the signature Ernie Ball Music Man Luke 4 to the ever-evolving pedalboard that powers his stadium sound, get under the hood of Luke’s signal chain.
Guitars
Guitars
Luke 4
The Signature
Thirty years ago, Steve Lukather and the Ball family began a conversation about what a guitar could be. The Luke 4 30th Anniversary is where that conversation ends up – black limba body, figured maple top, roasted maple neck, and the new HT pickup technology that took over a decade to develop. Each one ships with a tremolo cover signed by Luke and a certificate of authenticity.
Luke 4
30th Anniversary
Luke 4
SSS
Luke 4
Maple Top
Luke 4
HH/HSS
Other Guitars
Yamaha LJX
Electro-Acoustic
Luke III
Sammy
Guitars
Pedalboard
The Signal Chain
Luke's board runs in stereo, built up over years on the road. It starts with compression into a two-loop switcher, then wah and volume into a Bogner, with a stereo delay section feeding back into both sides of the amp – seventeen stages from guitar to returns.
Strymon BlueSky
Hardwire DL-8 Delay/Looper
Keeley Halo Delay
Dawner Prince Boonar
TC Electronic 2290 P
TC Electronic Flashback Delay
Xotic XW-1 Wah
TC Electronic Stereo Chorus+
Strymon Lex
Keeley MK3 Driver
Rodenberg SL-OD OD Deluxe
Boss FS-5L Latching Footswitch
Gigrig QuarterMaster QMX-2
Xotic SP Compressor
Xotic XVP-25K Volume Pedal
TC Electronics Polytune 3
Guitars
Amps
Bogner Speaker Cabinet
Bogner Helios
The Man
Behind The Sound
Jon Gosnell
Jon Gosnell is Steve Lukather’s longtime guitar technician and a key force behind Luke’s live rig. A guitarist since age 12, Gosnell brings decades of musicianship together with extensive knowledge of guitar theory, electronics, amplifiers, effects, signal flow, and tone. He builds and continually evolves Luke’s pedalboards and touring systems, managing every detail from guitars and amplification to routing and stage integration.
That technical depth, paired with an intimate understanding of Luke’s playing and preferences, allows Gosnell to anticipate needs, solve problems in real time, and keep a complex rig performing seamlessly. His work brings musicianship, technology, and performance together.
Gear & Guitars
