Silhouette Special purchase sadly tending to bounce - how to proceed...?!

**Axilla** · 06-12-2007, 06:27 AM

Valued forumites

May I introduce to you the preassembly of my "new" babe:

It is gonna take some time and a lot of work now to get the neck back into a good working condition.
As I was pretty undecided about the pickup combination & setup I first of all ordered 2 replacement pickguards to start with, one SSS in White Pearl, one HSS in Black Ice.
Like I already mentioned a while ago, I really love Chris Kinman's pickups and will first have a MKII set installed in the white pearloid PG to start with. The HSS Black Ice PG will be the optional & interchangeable heavier setup for that guitar featuring a DiMarzio AirZone HB in the bridge and still TBD single coils in the neck and middle position.

If somebody around here is interested in the original white SSS pickguard with the full stock PUs and electronics in pretty much like-new condition: PM me. I'll make some more photos of it.

I'll regularly post updates to the progress on this fine guitar and I really think you'll love the outcome

Mick does a great job !

**fsmith** · 06-12-2007, 07:06 AM

Axilla,
Looks nice! I hope everything works out with the neck...

PM sent about original pickguard and electronics.

fred

**beej** · 06-12-2007, 08:10 AM

Congratulations! I'm really happy that one finally worked out. I'm sure it'll play great once you get the neck fixed up.

Myself, I prefer the white pearloid so I'm looking forward to seeing it all assembled.

What's with the bar? Is that original but missing the tip?

**Axilla** · 06-12-2007, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by beej

Congratulations! I'm really happy that one finally worked out. I'm sure it'll play great once you get the neck fixed up.

Myself, I prefer the white pearloid so I'm looking forward to seeing it all assembled.

What's with the bar? Is that original but missing the tip?

Yeah, the white pearl will be fitted to the body first, equipped with a Chris Kinman MK2 single coil set. Should be ready by next week or so and I am reeeaaallly looking forward to see it in the flesh !

The bar, the tip... Hmm, really dunno. The bar cannot be locked in the hole, but gets tightened quite nicely by the spring wire. I'm not sure if it's original, though. The end of my SUB trem arm looks different - has a grove at the end where the spring wire snaps in to hold it...
Strange thing... the tip however is not there...
I'll have Mick have a look at that...

**Bill Palmer** · 06-12-2007, 01:19 PM

Axel... Cool axe mate, so happy it's finally coming together for you.

Interesting though is that it's got the modern Music-Man bridge but the old style Grover locking tuners... Weird. Be interested to know what year exactly your guitar was made and left the factory.
My Sil-Special when purchased new ('96) had the same tuners but came stock with a Wilkinson VSV trem which I just never got on with (6 screw vintage type trem that was a pain to adjust for intonation etc) that I have since changed out for a Gotoh one.

Bill

**Tim O'Sullivan** · 06-12-2007, 01:27 PM

When this guitar is finished, it really will have some extra special mojo about it!

**ivanmihaljevic** · 06-12-2007, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Bill Palmer

Axel... Cool axe mate, so happy it's finally coming together for you.

Interesting though is that it's got the modern Music-Man bridge but the old style Grover locking tuners... Weird. Be interested to know what year exactly your guitar was made and left the factory.
My Sil-Special when purchased new ('96) had the same tuners but came stock with a Wilkinson VSV trem which I just never got on with (6 screw vintage type trem that was a pain to adjust for intonation etc) that I have since changed out for a Gotoh one.

Bill

Just to remind you, only the body of the guitar was in the original eBay auction, so maybe the neck isn't from the same guitar. So, maybe it's a modern Silo body and the old Silo neck.

**Mick** · 06-12-2007, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Axilla

Yeah, the white pearl will be fitted to the body first, equipped with a Chris Kinman MK2 single coil set. Should be ready by next week or so and I am reeeaaallly looking forward to see it in the flesh !

The bar, the tip... Hmm, really dunno. The bar cannot be locked in the hole, but gets tightened quite nicely by the spring wire. I'm not sure if it's original, though. The end of my SUB trem arm looks different - has a grove at the end where the spring wire snaps in to hold it...
Strange thing... the tip however is not there...
I'll have Mick have a look at that...

I smell work

This one will be reborn in the near future

I´m very curious about the refretted neck with glue marks on it

, I will take care of it. Trust me I´m a doctor

**guertzi** · 06-13-2007, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by Axilla

The bar, the tip... Hmm, really dunno. The bar cannot be locked in the hole, but gets tightened quite nicely by the spring wire. I'm not sure if it's original, though. The end of my SUB trem arm looks different - has a grove at the end where the spring wire snaps in to hold it...
Strange thing... the tip however is not there...
I'll have Mick have a look at that...

Congrats, Axilla! That IS a REALLY great color an I'm glad that things turned out (almost) fine for you in the end!

That vibrato arm is, as far as I know, NOT original, at least not for that type of bridge. For these bridges they usually use the ones with a tip on the one and the grove at the other end, just like on your SUB. Oh, btw: congrats to purchasing that one as well!

Maybe this vibrato arm is from a Floyd Rose type of vibrato?

Anyway, looks like a great instrument, hope you'll have a good time with it!

**Axilla** · 06-13-2007, 12:32 AM

Eha, so many things to comment

Mick, you know I'll trust you with no matter which of my guitars ! Unsurpassed service & craftsmanship at MGC !!!

I got the following info from Dan at EBMM CS:

- the pearl lavender body must be from the short period that color was offered: 1999-2002

- the neck according to the stock Grover locking tuners must be from the mid-nineties

- the neckplate with the s/n: 88818 is from a trans-purple Axis from 1996

Ergo: this guitar will be a complete "bastard", but a really nice one I'd say

**Mick** · 06-13-2007, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Axilla

Eha, so many things to comment

Mick, you know I'll trust you with no matter which of my guitars ! Unsurpassed service & craftsmanship at MGC !!!

Thank you for your kind words. This guitar will get the TLC it requires.

**brentrocks** · 06-13-2007, 03:37 AM

cool color man!!!

hope everything fits just right..

**Axilla** · 06-15-2007, 12:01 AM

HEEEEEELP !

Mick is going crazy !!!

...he's just kiddin'

...at least I hope so...

This babe is mine - all mine - my precious....

Should be finished sometime next week I guess...

**jazzbo jim** · 06-15-2007, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by Axilla

Posted just a few minutes ago. Perhaps it'll be here tomorrow ?!?

Thumbs up !

If I might just bring back to attention, that seeing the tracking info you have to keep in mind that the item was bought the 5th May and paid online by PayPal the 6th... Now if that's not sort of a record !

HOLY SMOKES!!!! 6 days to Germany!!!

I live in Ontario and it took 21 days to get a guitar from New Jersey!! (Thanks free trade

)

**Axilla** · 06-15-2007, 11:14 AM

I just got the news from Dan (5Stringer) at CS that my new little beauty here is THE ONLY ONE OF THAT KIND EVER MADE:

Originally Posted by 5Stringer

Axel, it's OK, you do not dissapoint me, in fact you have proven my point. The numbers inside the neck cavity are never the serial numbers (which are assigned as the instrument reaches completion) but instead are the work order number, and more importantly, the build code. The 9-digit build code represents, in number sequence:

1. The first 3 digits are the type of instrument that it is, in this case a (545) Silhouette Special tremolo SSS.

2. The next two digits represent the finish - in this case (13) means pearl lavender.

3. The next two digits represent the type of neck that is on the guitar - in this case, the number 10 means a maple fretboard, no matching headstock.

4. Last and least, the last 2 numbers represent the pickguard, in this case, 02 means white.

To make my point, here is a partial list of the options: http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/co...available.html Of course the finish number 13 is not on there under Color Options, being discontinued, but you see my point.

The neck is the right neck from all accounts, although it may have been replaced, it is still the same type as it originally left the factory with. Why there is purple finish on the inside of the neck pocket area is hard to know. It could not have come from the factory that way as that is not how our painting process works. It seems someone could have used it as a "paddle" to paint a body, which of course would be disgraceful and something that is never done at our factory. (We use paddles in the painting process, of course, but would never use a neck as one.)

Regarding the electronics, that may have been replaced or partially replaced at some point under some sort of warranty issue.

So I stand by my original statement - and as I said, you are the owner of the only one of these ever made exactly like this one! Enjoy!

- Silhouette Special
- Pearl Lavender finish
- SSS pickups
- vintage trem
- maple neck with non matching headstock

I can't tell you how I feel at the moment... pure bliss... I'm the happiest Axilla in the world right now !

THANK YOU SO MUCH DAN ! ! !

...DAN IS THE MAN, but you already knew that, didn't you ?!