Is Silhouette special right for me?

[candid_x]

I did have a Deluxe Reverb RI a few years ago; I like the new Princeton RI much better than the Deluxe RI.

Well, I guess that says something about how you like the Princeton RI. Thanks.

 

[candid_x]

I'm still waiting for mine to arrive. Ordered it in August...

Nice! Hope you let us/me know how you like it.

 

[Colin]

THAT'S HOT!!!!!!!!

looks better in person, I really need to learn to take better shots. Also is extremely light in weight.

 

[John C]

I'm still waiting for mine to arrive. Ordered it in August...

These things are kind of hit and miss; we have 3 Fender dealers here - the place I got mine from received a shipment of 3 in early September - one was pre-sold, one sold the day they came in, and I got mine about 3 weeks after they came in.

Another dealer has had them come and go pretty quickly, and the 3rd dealer is a Guitar Center wannabe/mall store that has had theirs sitting around for about 3 months. This place sells a lot of Fender and Peavey solid state as they cater mainly to beginners.

 

[John C]

Well, I guess that says something about how you like the Princeton RI. Thanks.

The Princeton RI is a bit warmer than the Deluxe RI; it seems to add that Fender "clang" that you talked about seeking in your pickup change thread while the Deluxe RI was more transparent and sounded better with other guitars than it did with the 2004 Silo Special I used to have. I also have to say that while I should never have sold off the 2004 Silo Special, I think the 2007 Silo Special I have now is even better. It just seems like my current Silo Special and the Princeton RI work really well together for low volume practice/home playing.

 

[whitestrat]

The Princeton RI is a bit warmer than the Deluxe RI

ARRGGHH!!!! Enough! You're killing me with these comments!!!!

These things are kind of hit and miss; we have 3 Fender dealers here - the place I got mine from received a shipment of 3 in early September - one was pre-sold, one sold the day they came in, and I got mine about 3 weeks after they came in.

This local dealer of mine doesn't look after the small guy. They USED to be the EBMM dealer here, but gave it up because they found no commercial value to carrying the brand. They carry Gibson, Fender and Ibanez. Nothing else for them is important. They don't care if the delivery takes 1 year or 1 month, as long as you've paid the deposit. I heard from the sales guy that my amp is coming in with their next shipment, which is in JAN!!!!!!

 

[candid_x]

Thanks for the additional info, John.

I love the originals, and it's surprising that they can manage to get close to the original sound while going from ptp to circuit board technology. I think they're pretty pricey for what they are, as all the Fender MIM reissues, imo. Still a very nice amp, though.

 

[whitestrat]

I love the originals, and it's surprising that they can manage to get close to the original sound while going from ptp to circuit board technology. I think they're pretty pricey for what they are, as all the Fender MIM reissues, imo. Still a very nice amp, though.

I'm stoked man... I just won a bid for a set of John Mayer Big Dipper pups online. These are going in my Silo Spec for sure and not coming out! I was worried initially that his nice tone was due to the amp and pedals. Until I tried his guitar with a Laney VC30. his tone was 95% there. The 5% remaining was due to his very clean Two Rock amps, but I'm not about to spend $6,000USD on a head without a cab!

I ALMOST bought a John Mayer strat just because of these pickups. Thank God I don't have to now. I still love the SSS Silo Spec too much.

 

[GWDavis28]

looks better in person, I really need to learn to take better shots. Also is extremely light in weight.

Colin, nice Silo Special man!!!! Sweet hardtail, very, very sharp.

Glenn |B)

 

[candid_x]

I'm stoked man... I just won a bid for a set of John Mayer Big Dipper pups online. These are going in my Silo Spec for sure and not coming out! I was worried initially that his nice tone was due to the amp and pedals. Until I tried his guitar with a Laney VC30. his tone was 95% there. The 5% remaining was due to his very clean Two Rock amps, but I'm not about to spend $6,000USD on a head without a cab!

I ALMOST bought a John Mayer strat just because of these pickups. Thank God I don't have to now. I still love the SSS Silo Spec too much.

I think the Big Dippers sound pretty nice too, under-wound and vintagey. Good luck with them! They should sound really sweet in the SS through the Princeton. Though I'd say more than 5% of Mayer's tone is from those Two Rocks.

 

[whitestrat]

Though I'd say more than 5% of Mayer's tone is from those Two Rocks.

Heh... Go try this:

Go to your nearest GC, take a JM Strat. Plug it into a Laney VC30. Turn the gain channel on. Gain at 50%. Bright button ON. Treble, Bass and Mids FULL ON.

Play.

That's the tone!!!

I'm not saying the Two Rocks are redundant. I just think that the diiference in price does not equate the the corresponding improvement in tone.

 

[candid_x]

I'm not saying the Two Rocks are redundant. I just think that the diiference in price does not equate the the corresponding improvement in tone.

Ha! No disagreement there!

But I am surprised, because the Laney VC30 is a class A EL84 amp, and Mayer's TR's are 6L6 A/B's, and there's marked differences in tone right there. But I trust what you're saying is true. A lot must have to do with his pups.

Btw, I have 3 Laneys, and have had others. With right tubes and speakers, they can sound surprisingly good. (Have an LH50R 6L6 amp for sale, in case anyone's interested, IM me.) I know, two demerits for shameless plug .

One thing we do definitely agree on: we'll take our booteek strat pups in a Silo Special, tyvm!

 

[whitestrat]

Btw, I have 3 Laneys, and have had others. With right tubes and speakers, they can sound surprisingly good. (Have an LH50R 6L6 amp for sale, in case anyone's interested, IM me.) I know, two demerits for shameless plug .

One thing we do definitely agree on: we'll take our booteek strat pups in a Silo Special, tyvm!

The LH50R is nice, but the gain channel is quite high compared to the VC series. It's like distortion vs overdrive. So it doesn't deliver that nice warm bluesy tone ala John Mayer. heh...

Yep! Special pups in SS!!!!!

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Pete Dubaldo has a black one that I'm sure he'd make you a deal on. Rosewood with white pearloid guard.

Dubaldo Music Black SS HSS

That's the one that Ana Popovic played and enjoyed...

It has certainly been here long enough, maybe I need better photos of it. It is a great playing and awesome sounding axe.

 

[candid_x]

The LH50R is nice, but the gain channel is quite high compared to the VC series. It's like distortion vs overdrive. So it doesn't deliver that nice warm bluesy tone ala John Mayer. heh...

You may be thinking of the GH50L (Gain Head Lead), which I also have. That amp has 5 gain stages and "can" get into JCM800 land without breaking a sweat, and that's before kicking in the high gain switch! But it cleans up beautifully as well, can get sweet blackface tones.

The LH50R (Laney Head Reverb) is the head version of their LC50 (Laney Combo), which between the ratty sounding stock HH speaker and crappy sovtek 12AX7WA's and 6L6's, sounds like a poor Vox wannabe. But with a good choice of tubes and speaker, it's quite amazing what it can transform into. It's a classic, and spongier sounding amp.

The VC30 doesn't have to deal with those horrible Sovtek 6L6's, and in fact the stock EL84 Sovteks sound way better (to my ears) than the rather lifeless JJ EL84. But the amp is designed to be a poor man's Vox. Which is why I was kinda surprised that you were getting Mayer tones from one. But Laneys are nearly always underestimated.

One of my little tricks with Laneys is to use an NOS JAN Phillips (also Sylvania labeled) in V1. It smooths the whole amp out. But have to careful to get tested ones, as their longer plate makes them susceptible to microphonics. The best run is mid 80's military grade. I have some from 1966 too, and they sound great, but all are a tad microphonic.

Ok, must be the early morning coffee!!

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Sorry got here late. Yes is the answer!!! Here is why,

Cheeers,

J

 

[candid_x]

When I was a kid, I used to tool around in a friend's 62 Volvo, and I've always loved the color of that auto. Every time I see your Silo Special, it reminds me of that Volvo.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2252385

 

[whitestrat]

The VC30 doesn't have to deal with those horrible Sovtek 6L6's, and in fact the stock EL84 Sovteks sound way better (to my ears) than the rather lifeless JJ EL84. But the amp is designed to be a poor man's Vox. Which is why I was kinda surprised that you were getting Mayer tones from one. But Laneys are nearly always underestimated.

One of my little tricks with Laneys is to use an NOS JAN Phillips (also Sylvania labeled) in V1. It smooths the whole amp out. But have to careful to get tested ones, as their longer plate makes them susceptible to microphonics. The best run is mid 80's military grade. I have some from 1966 too, and they sound great, but all are a tad microphonic.

I've tried the LC50 and the LH50R as well. Both are pretty similar, though I must say the LH50R sounds a bit more gritty, but perhaps that's due to the cab it was paired with.

But you're right. Comparing the VC15 and the LC15, both having very simiar specs, I've always wondered why the VC sounded much bigger and warmer. I always thought it was something to do with the schematic. You seem to have solved that mystery for me. Heh.

Yes, the VC30 is pretty much a poor man's AC30 with a drive channel. But it's still a very nice amp, and for it's price, I can't think of a better alternative.

My incoming Fender Princeton Reverb on the other hand, is a different story...

P.S. you recommend me swapping out the tubes on my VC15?

 

[candid_x]

P.S. you recommend me swapping out the tubes on my VC15?

If the preamp tubes are Sovtek 12AX7WA, I definitely would. JJ EEC83S's are always a good bet and are inexpensive. Another one I would try in the LC15 is the Tung_Sol Reissue, especially if you want a little more gain, maybe just in V1.

In the output tubes, I'm not at all impressed with JJ EL84, and I don't understand why people automatically replaced their 84's with them. Flat and lifeless, has been my experience with them. Surprisingly, Sovtek, especially the study "M" (military) ones, are an excellent sounding EL84. If cleans are your man thing, the EI's are also a good choice.

 

[whitestrat]

If the preamp tubes are Sovtek 12AX7WA, I definitely would. JJ EEC83S's are always a good bet and are inexpensive. Another one I would try in the LC15 is the Tung_Sol Reissue, especially if you want a little more gain, maybe just in V1.

Alright man... So... how do I tell what tubes they are?