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Silhouette Special ?

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progfan2

Active member
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Messages
31
Location
Bainbridge Island
Hi,

I'm a newbie here and in truth to playing the guitar again after taking about a lifetime off. Bought a Brian Moore i2 last year and have been happily plucking away in the den, trying to remember all the Classic Rock songs I've forgotten. A couple of weeks ago I played a friends G&L and thought I might like to get one or a fat strat (I'm a humbucker fan). So, I start reading reviews and suddenly this name Silhoutte Special appears with a great review. A few more great reviews later I'm at this site reading great post after great post about this guitar. Well, with my current bedroom playing abilities I can quiet justify a new guitar yet, so, I'm going to start looking for a one used.

So, here's where I could use any help you may have to offer. The current production specs look great. Has the Special changed much from year to year? Any year that should be avoided? Any thing else that I should watch out for? Or, anything other thoughts you would like to share?

Once again, thanks for any help.
-Mark
 
candid_x

candid_x

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Messages
3,272
progfan2 said:
Hi,

I'm a newbie here and in truth to playing the guitar again after taking about a lifetime off. Bought a Brian Moore i2 last year and have been happily plucking away in the den, trying to remember all the Classic Rock songs I've forgotten. A couple of weeks ago I played a friends G&L and thought I might like to get one or a fat strat (I'm a humbucker fan). So, I start reading reviews and suddenly this name Silhoutte Special appears with a great review. A few more great reviews later I'm at this site reading great post after great post about this guitar. Well, with my current bedroom playing abilities I can quiet justify a new guitar yet, so, I'm going to start looking for a one used.

So, here's where I could use any help you may have to offer. The current production specs look great. Has the Special changed much from year to year? Any year that should be avoided? Any thing else that I should watch out for? Or, anything other thoughts you would like to share?

Once again, thanks for any help.
-Mark
Click to expand...

Sounds like another old timer/hobbyist :). Welcome. Maybe you'll become another Silo Special lover; that is if the AL lovers, JP lovers, Morse and Axis lovers don't win you over first.

Just curious, if you're more of a bucker guy, wouldn't a full on bucker ball be more to your liking? Like a JP or Axis or 20th Anniversary Silo?

Not that much has changed from the original EB Sil Special. The only difference I know of, other than some color options, is the humbucker on the HSS models. They used to use a Di Marzio PAF Pro. Sometime around 2000 (not sure exactly when) they switched to a Dimarzio Virtual PAF. Hugely versatile guitar.
 
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progfan2

Active member
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Messages
31
Location
Bainbridge Island
Hi Candid_x,

Just listened to your clips, and after hearing the neck pickup may not need a humbucker anymore:)

My current guitar has humbuckers, so I figured a HSS configuration was a good way to go. Also, the neck radius on Special interesting since I mostly play chords.

-Mark
 
paranoid70

paranoid70

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
2,647
Location
Long Beach, CA
I bought a Silo Special a few months ago, and it is an awesome instrument. If you like Stratocasters, you will love a Sio Spec! One thing I always liked about Strats was the feel of the neck... but the SS feels even better. The sound however is a major improvement.
 
robelinda2

robelinda2

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Joined
Nov 10, 2005
Messages
9,330
Location
Diamond Creek, VIC, Australia- at Rancho Alberto
yep the silhouette special is a monster axe, you would be well advised to get one! It offers great tones, very versatile, and kills a strat any day. plus you get the greatest neck finish on the planet! You may want one with a rosewood fretboard, if you want to rock out with it.

hangin for my dargie silo!
 
Last edited:
candid_x

candid_x

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Messages
3,272
progfan2 said:
Hi Candid_x,

Just listened to your clips, and after hearing the neck pickup may not need a humbucker anymore:)

My current guitar has humbuckers, so I figured a HSS configuration was a good way to go. Also, the neck radius on Special interesting since I mostly play chords.

-Mark
Click to expand...

The neck and it's 10" radius is my favorite feature, and it's what sold me. Love the frets too. Never liked jumbo frets, and vintage frets were just too skimpy. It's just so freakin' easy to play, even in little paws.

It's also like buying 2 or 3 guitars, in that it's so versatile.

From what you've described, Mark, I think you'd really dig it.

If you budget around $700, you can find one on eBay in great condition. Under priced, imo, but who is complaining?
 
OrangeChannel

OrangeChannel

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
2,686
Location
Long Island NY
candid_x said:
Sounds like another old timer/hobbyist :). Welcome. Maybe you'll become another Silo Special lover; that is if the AL lovers, JP lovers, Morse and Axis lovers don't win you over first.

Just curious, if you're more of a bucker guy, wouldn't a full on bucker ball be more to your liking? Like a JP or Axis or 20th Anniversary Silo?

Not that much has changed from the original EB Sil Special. The only difference I know of, other than some color options, is the humbucker on the HSS models. They used to use a Di Marzio PAF Pro. Sometime around 2000 (not sure exactly when) they switched to a Dimarzio Virtual PAF. Hugely versatile guitar.
Click to expand...

I don't they used the PAF Pro on those ever...that was the 24 fret version...2004 is when they switched to the Virtual PAF on those. THe VPAF hasn't been around that long either to my recollection. The one thing that they did change from the late 90's run of Sil Specs was using the MM vintage bridge in lieu of the wilkinson. PAF Pro would be indicitive of a double allen row of polepieces. The Sil Spec always had a screw row and a slug row. Mostlikely a custom wound deal for that guitar since the beginning by DiMarzio.
 
Sweat

Sweat

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Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
7,322
Location
Texas Finally!
Sounds like another old timer/hobbyist . Welcome. Maybe you'll become another Silo Special lover; that is if the AL lovers, JP lovers, Morse and Axis lovers don't win you over first.


Hey dont forget the Luke Lovers and 20th Lovers:)
 
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progfan2

Active member
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Messages
31
Location
Bainbridge Island
Thanks everyone, looks like a SS is in my future. Time to start watching Ebay, Craigslist and TGP. Any other good sites to monitor?

-Mark
 
kompressaur

kompressaur

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Messages
667
Location
Buckfast wine and Knife country,Scotland
the earliest Specials had the wilkinson trem and also Grover front locking tuners before changing to MM vintage trem and Schaller back locking machines.

Hugely versatile guitar,the one I have coming back to me :D had 3 single coils but I put a JB jnr in the bridge last time for some extra poke.

as well as the Special,a regular 24F used Silo from around 86-96 may well have 3 single coils or 2 singles and a humbucker.I also have a hardtail s/s/sc from 89 and it largely does what the Special does as far as my ears can tell

hope you find the right guitar

Komp
 
candid_x

candid_x

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Messages
3,272
OrangeChannel said:
I don't they used the PAF Pro on those ever...that was the 24 fret version...2004 is when they switched to the Virtual PAF on those. THe VPAF hasn't been around that long either to my recollection.
Click to expand...

hmm, not what I was told here awhile back.
 
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