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fogman

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2004
Messages
12,073
Location
ontario
when you decide to buy one, it will be the year 20..?

Yes! That is correct.

The way I see it is it took 5000 posts for the first one. Therefore I'm about a maximum of 4000 post away from the next! ;)
 

candid_x

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Messages
3,272
Hey everyone.

After two weeks of owning an EB. I want another one! I have an EVH and want something that will do strat tones a little more. Would the Silo special do that?? Or a Luke??? Man they are nice.

what do you think? I am new here and never played a luke or Silo

Thanks,


Cheers, Tobin

The basic answer to the actual question is, yes, a Silo Special (or AL) will do "something like strat tones". Will it replicate a vintage strat? No, not with stock pickups, possibly not with any pickups. But if you're looking for the general tonal characteristics, such as quack and spank etc, hell yes, a Silo Sp or AL can deliver that in spades. I personally like the Silo tone better than strats, but that's just a preference thing.

Playability is a whole other matter. No strat I've ever fondled has compared to a EBMM, when it comes to comfort and playability.
 

pjc812

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
420
Location
Evansville IN
We've got a silo SSS with maple right now...it is heaven. Another guy at work who owns a strat and hates it has been caught on numerous occasions noodling around on it during the slow times...
 

Tobin31

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Joined
May 30, 2007
Messages
112
Location
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Oh you guys are killing me. I cannot stop reading about the Silo and the Al and the Luke. I want more of that strat sparkle with the EB feel and neck. I think what I am going to do is hit a major store and try all 3 and go with my ears and hands and start saving. Thanks everyone for posts. Keep em coming.

Cheers,

Tobin
 

beej

Moderator
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
12,328
Location
Toronto, Canada
Oh ... you're hooked!

The AL, Silo Spec and Luke are all great candidates, each one with a bit of a different vibe. The big difference is going to be the necks- so make sure to play each and see which one you bond with. I'm guessing you'll get sold on the feel!
 

Axilla

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Joined
Apr 26, 2007
Messages
1,006
Location
Uelzen / Germany
Not knowing the sounds and feel of the Albert Lee model, but proudly owning Silhouettes:
The Silos might even give you kinda tones a str@t will never deliver...

'nuff said !? ;)
 

paranoid70

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
2,647
Location
Long Beach, CA
My Silo Special plays better than any Strat I have ever tried... and the Strat was my main axe for over 10 years. I don't know if the SS will exactly replicate the Strat, but who cares, it sounds, looks, and plays way better.
 

Axilla

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Joined
Apr 26, 2007
Messages
1,006
Location
Uelzen / Germany
My Silo Special plays better than any Strat I have ever tried... and the Strat was my main axe for over 10 years. I don't know if the SS will exactly replicate the Strat, but who cares, it sounds, looks, and plays way better.

WAY !
WORD !
PERIOD !

:D
 

uvacom

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Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Messages
272
I'd say in general, AL is a little more like a 50's strat, and the Silo special more like a 60s strat. The AL has a little bit of tele vibe, too.

Soundwise they're both pretty much like a really nice strat, or similar. It's not a down on EBMM at all, it's just that EBMM is basically following a formula created by Leo & crew, but very tweaked and refined. Ash/Alder body, bolt-on maple neck, maple or rosewood fingerboard, 3x alnico single coils. In a way, it's really hard to screw up a guitar like that, but in a way it's also really hard to get it as close to perfect as such a guitar can be, and EBMM definitely approach the latter.

Like others have mentioned, the playability and consistency is where these instruments really shine - all of those really subtle tweaks help put you in a place where your only focus is on the sound and your playing, which will (if you are reasonably experienced to begin with) help bring your playing that much closer to whatever ideal is in your mind.

Are they exactly like strats? Definitely not. If you really want a strat, warts and all, get a strat. But if you want a great guitar which will serve the same general purpose of the strat, with similar materials and construction but higher build quality and a lot of extra playability tweaks, then the Silo special or AL are both excellent choices.
 

Sub1 Zero

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Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
2,159
Location
Tulsa, OK
Absolutely. Even if the tone wasn't that much better, EBMM quality blows the doors off F***er. Who need more headaches in life?

My 2005 Limited Edition Buttercream Silhouette Special SSS has more vintage vibe than I know what to do with :)

I'd lick that buttercream silo
 
Last edited:

MN246

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Joined
Jun 17, 2005
Messages
343
Location
Oregon
Ash/Alder body, bolt-on maple neck, maple or rosewood fingerboard, 3x alnico single coils. In a way, it's really hard to screw up a guitar like that...

Hmmm... Can I interest you in a Hondo or a First Act.
 

uvacom

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Messages
272
Hmmm... Can I interest you in a Hondo or a First Act.

First Act actually makes some really nice guitars, they even have a custom shop with instruments exceeding the cost of anything EBMM produces (save perhaps the BFRs) - but I knew what you meant. :) Honestly, there really are plenty of good, cheap $99 guitars, and we owe a lot of that to Leo Fender's innovations that make a playable electric guitar simple to produce. CNC machines and huge advances in overseas manufacturing abilities have just made everything more affordable and reliable. I really don't consider even the cheapest First Acts to be "screwed up", they generally meet and exceed minimum standards of playability like intonation, neck straightness, action, etc. They're a lot better than most of the Harmony/silvertone junk that was made here in the USA in the 60s, and those are starting to become really popular in spite of typically being absolutely abysmal to play.

That's nothing on EBMM though, those cheap asian guitars are just making the instrument more accessible to the next generation of upmarket buyers - better instruments at every price level is something that's good for everybody.

But we're getting kind of off-subject here - we're talking about Silhouette Specials. Great guitars, agreed?
 

Lew

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Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
447
Location
UK
God yes,sell me an AL with a RWboard,I have the money waiting in the bank!
 

MN246

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 17, 2005
Messages
343
Location
Oregon
First Act actually makes some really nice guitars, they even have a custom shop with instruments exceeding the cost of anything EBMM produces (save perhaps the BFRs) - but I knew what you meant. :) Honestly, there really are plenty of good, cheap $99 guitars, and we owe a lot of that to Leo Fender's innovations that make a playable electric guitar simple to produce. CNC machines and huge advances in overseas manufacturing abilities have just made everything more affordable and reliable. I really don't consider even the cheapest First Acts to be "screwed up", they generally meet and exceed minimum standards of playability like intonation, neck straightness, action, etc. They're a lot better than most of the Harmony/silvertone junk that was made here in the USA in the 60s, and those are starting to become really popular in spite of typically being absolutely abysmal to play.

That's nothing on EBMM though, those cheap asian guitars are just making the instrument more accessible to the next generation of upmarket buyers - better instruments at every price level is something that's good for everybody.

But we're getting kind of off-subject here - we're talking about Silhouette Specials. Great guitars, agreed?



I agree. Leo did make great strides in design, and it is a good thing that there are inexpensive guitars for beginners. If it wasn't for cheap guitars many beginners wouldn't get to play at all. My first guitar was a Silvertone.

As for the Silo or AL, I've never had the chance to play either one of them. I do know if they come from EBMM they will play like butter and sound incredible.
 
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