NGD - Silo Special - no birdseye

[Rufedges]

Sorry guys, no pictures right now.....haven't even been able to plug it in yet, tonight, it is still sitting in my car, it is black, white pickguard, nothing to really flash in any pictures.

Question: I know it isn't a BFR, and the only other EBMM I have to compare it to is my Axis SS (2008), which I know is not only a few hundred $$$ more, but flamed maple top, but has a pretty nice birdseye neck, etc......but I have a question on the neck: This guitar is brand new, probably 2011 or maybe even 2012 build....Does MM only use birdeye on the necks of their premium model? Mine has absolutely no birdseye, just a little wavy grain running through it. Hope she sounds good, she just looks very average at best. Got to put some oil/wax on the neck and fretbaord, think that will change the look a little, she is still a virgin. Thanks.

 

[DrKev]

Good figured maple is harder and harder to come by, for quite a few years now. Yes, it does tend to be reserved for the signature models, and there is many an Axis out there with a neck plainer than yours. It doesn't matter one bit - the Silhouette Special is an absolute joy of an instrument! Congratulations!

Now, get that guitar out of the car on get some photos up here!

 

[Rufedges]

Good figured maple is harder and harder to come by, for quite a few years now.
Now, get that guitar out of the car on get some photos up here!

Yeah, I know a LOT has changed with the economy, business, stock market alone since 2008, I was just wondering. My Axis SS doesn't have a ridiculous amount of birdseye, but a goot amount, very pretty after 4 years of use and treatment.....stuck at work right now,...been waiting for this guitar since it was shipped on 6 March by Musicians Friend,...I have NO idea why it took so long, but not only that, but we have our annual visit from our big-level bosses here this week, and the guitar had to arrive today and not Friday where I would have played it all weekend,...oh well.....I'll try it out tonight.....probably post some pictures when I get my Graph-Tech saddles, strap-locks and maybe even a pearloid pickguard on it.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

No birds eye on my silo. Sounds sweet as anything though. I think only the much older models have the birds eye but I could be wrong.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I had a Silo Spec from 2002 that had a plain white neck

This should not affect you sound at all

 

[DrKev]

I'll try it out tonight.....probably post some pictures when I get my Graph-Tech saddles, strap-locks and maybe even a pearloid pickguard on it.

Wait a little with the graph techs. The vintage style saddles on the Silo Special add a little magic to the sound.

 

[Gerry]

No tone difference at all and plain is preferred by many such as Eric Clapton. Some do say that birds eye is less stable than plain but I do not think anyone has ever proved it. From my experience looking prettier and sounding better are not related although some would argue the contrary.

 

[DrKev]

Some do say that birds eye is less stable than plain but I do not think anyone has ever proved it.

There is no proof because it's simply not true. People have making guitars for long enough to know better. I don't know of a reputable manufacturer on the planet that avoids figured neck woods because of stability issues. After a quarter of a century do we think EBMM would give the less stable necks to their artists?

Myth busted!

 

[Gerry]

There is no proof because it's simply not true. People have making guitars for long enough to know better. I don't know of a reputable manufacturer on the planet that avoids figured neck woods because of stability issues. After a quarter of a century do we think EBMM would give the less stable necks to their artists?

Myth busted!

Sorry did I say something I shouldn't have? I didn't think that I accused EBMM of using unstable wood or indeed perpetuated a myth.

 

[luv]

from my experience, neck figuring is just luck of the draw. i had an axis sport once that had the CRAZIEST flame neck on it. i also owned an axis that didn't have much of any figuring on the neck.

......also one of the disadvantages of buying a guitar online.

 

[DrKev]

Sorry did I say something I shouldn't have? I didn't think that I accused EBMM of using unstable wood or indeed perpetuated a myth.

No apology necessary. Sorry if I worried you! It's just one of those empty myths that pops up from time to time, here and elsewhere, and I can't help myself but shoot them down.

 

[brokenvail]

My SS which was made pre compensated nut is plain as day. For what it's worth Every Reflex I have ever played had a plain neck too

 

[John C]

Over the years I've owned 3 Silo Specials - a 2004, a 2007 (that one was the '07 LE in Blue Dawn), and lastly a 2010. All had plain necks. From what I gathered over the years the Silo and Silo special get plain maple necks and the other models get the more figured maple. On the other hand, I also had an Albert Lee in the mix that had very little figuring on the neck; that is really luck of the draw.

Caveat: I've not seen any Reflexes in person; from what brokenvail says they might also be getting the plain necks.

 

[Rufedges]

Wait a little with the graph techs. The vintage style saddles on the Silo Special add a little magic to the sound.

Plugged it in last night, was expecting a radically different sound than my Axis SS, radically different it was not though, that is mostly good. Strings were brand new, action was good on the nick, little high on the bridge, will fix that, but sounds good, a little brighter and a little different than my SS, at least the neck pup. Wife likes it too, it is a keeper. Put the strap-locks on it, no problem,.....got half-way through installing the graph-tech saddles (2-3/16),.....they are too wide....wierd,...got the 2-1/16 set on order,..........unfortunately after putting the original saddles back on, intonation is off,...was going to fix it but I don't have a proper sized hex key....should get one today. Gotta order some gun-stock oil and wax too, ASS needs some as well. But, looking forward to what she can do once I get her properly situated. Do like the ease of getting to the upper register with the cut-outs compared to my ASS.

Question: how long (hours) will the 9V battery last? Thanks.

 

[DrKev]

Question: how long (hours) will the 9V battery last? Thanks.

I change mine once a year.

 

[paranoid70]

Silhouette Specials don't seem to ever have birds eye necks. No big deal though.

I put Graphtech Saddles on mine. It works fine... but I still break strings now and again. I think it was a rather superfluous addition to the guitar.

Regardless, the Silhouette Special is still my favorite, go-to guitar and I just love playing it. I had to get the frets leveled over the weekend. The luthier looks it over and says, "Yep, this guitar has been played a bit".

 

[peterd79]

it's really the luck of the draw when it comes to the figuring of the necks...

my 20th has a hint of figure where as my standard silhouette had a bit more figuring...

I've seen some wicked figuring of necks but really its all based upon what they have available and when its made...

 

[peterd79]

Silhouette Specials don't seem to ever have birds eye necks. No big deal though.

I put Graphtech Saddles on mine. It works fine... but I still break strings now and again. I think it was a rather superfluous addition to the guitar.

Regardless, the Silhouette Special is still my favorite, go-to guitar and I just love playing it. I had to get the frets leveled over the weekend. The luthier looks it over and says, "Yep, this guitar has been played a bit".

I'm excited about this... i have a Silo Special coming in...

 

[Rufedges]

Not worried about the lack of birdseye, I am just tying to get used to playing it compared to my ASS......the nick feels thinner, but I measured and they are exactly the same......it is lighter, and I do like the contours though, actually have been playing them back to back, the ASS is a little "plankish" compared to the sleek Silo......I think the ASS would do well with at least an arm countour, and getting to the upper register is a little easier. My ASS is just worn in like an old friend, it will need a fret job in a year maybe, but there is something special about that "broken in" guitar, but the intonation the frets and intonation on the Silo are spot-on...... I'v been using an EQ to boost the pups on the ASS a little, I'd like to keep my rig identical and be able to swap guitars, so I have been lowering the pups a little....too many options =) Glad I won't have to change the battery every 4 hours or anything. Have a white-pearl pick-guard coming, that should make a big difference visually.....the plain white PG just looks like cheap paneling or something........anyway, but, the Silo is a bit brighter than my ASS (should be), will have to adjust treble on my rig. Very lound and punchy even unplugged. Very happy, she may actually overtake the # 1 spot in my small arsenal eventually, especially once I set it up a little better and undo what i did trying to chage to saddles that were too wide (intonation is a PITA).

 

[nosajsam]

Silhouette Specials don't seem to ever have birds eye necks.

Maybe the newer ones don't but the older ones definitely do. I currently have a Silhouette & Silhouette Special (& had another Silhouette Special a long time ago) ALL had Maple Necks & are LOADED w/ Birdseye.