About to pull the trigger on a Silhouette Special - 2 Quick questions

[Decreed One]

Hey all! Have not been on here for a while, hoping to get back in the fold here shortly.

So about to order a Silo but had a couple of questions.......

I have not played a Silhouette Special but have owned a few Axis Super Sports. I cant get my hands on one because I recently moved from the Dallas area out to the woods of East Texas. It's about 165 mile round trip to the closest GC and most of them do not carry any Silhouette Specials anyways.

1. I noticed that the Silo has the same nut width but the string spacing gets wider as you get to the bridge than the Axis SS do. Which is a good thing for me because I need a little more room than the Super Sports I owned due to some ulnar damage in my fretting hand (actually elbow). Is the fret board itself actually a bit wider as it looks in the pics as you get past the 7th fret or so? Does the Silo actually offer a bit more fretboard real estate in regards to string spacing vs the Axis Super Sport?

2. And the most important question for me is about the neck shape. How does it compare with the Super Sport? Is it more of a C shape with shoulders, thicker or thinner than the ASS? The Super Sports I had and loved had my hand a bit cramped so I guess I am looking for a bit more shoulder and overall room front to back.

Please let me know as I am thinking about ordering today. Thanks so much!

Edit: One more question, how long does the battery last for the silent circuit? I know to unplug the guitar when not in use. Thanks!

 

[Jack FFR1846]

The neck is pretty much a C shape. I would not say that it feels like an Axis, which is unique to itself. Similar to an Al which probably won't help you. It's not unlike a standard strat shape wise. It, of course, feels more nimble and easier to play than a strat because of the shorter headstock.

I bought my SS about 6 months ago used and have not changed the battery yet. Come to think of it, my Al's battery is going on maybe 3 years and still good. But I rotate through a lot of guitars, so I'm not playing either everyday. The nice thing is that when the battery does go (happened to me once with my Axis SS MM90), you still have the sound...you simply lose the noise cancelling. Of course with a SS, if you're using the humbucker, the silent circuit is off.

 

[DrKev]

Neck width - they have the same FRETBOARD width a the nut, the Silo is slightly wider at the last fret. The bridges are the same (to the best of my knowledge) so the string spacing is too. Just that there is a little extra room at the edges of the fret board on the Silo Special. That might just make all the difference for you.

Silo Special is a classic medium C-shape. A little thinner than a standard strat. Not having played an Axis for a while, I'll let those guys chime in here.

I change my battery once a year. If the battery is flat or even disconnected, the pickups still work but the neck pickup will be a little noisier.

 

[Decreed One]

Thanks for the reply guys!

 

[guitvai1]

I have a EVH Wolfgang and Axis copy (i made)with an asymmetrical Warmoth neck that feels very close to an Axis neck and have had no issues when going to my Silhouette Specials. The neck on the Silo Spec is so slick and nice to play that I had to go out and get another. My friend Elmer Ferrer turned me onto these guitars and I'm glad he did.

 

[ozzyrules]

Thank GOD for this post; I'm also looking at a silo special. Is the neck more like the Reflex than the Axis?

 

[Decreed One]

Want to thank yall again for the comments and info. Just ordered and it will be here on Tuesday 9-17.

Cant wait to be back in the family here! I have missed feeling part of the greatness that is Music Man and all the kind folks on this forum!

I will post pics and a personal review when she arrives. Here is a stock pic of the exact model I ordered.

How you been Ozzyrules? Long time since I have been around the forum? I see you still have that jaw dropping Tobacco Burst SuperSport that haunted my dreams for so long ....... I will make sure and address your question on the neck when the eagle lands.

Yall have a fabulous weekend and thanks again for the replys!

 

[DrKev]

Thank GOD for this post; I'm also looking at a silo special. Is the neck more like the Reflex than the Axis?

Same width at nut and last fret and have a similar C-shape. I've never tried them side-by-side but my impression was that the Reflex neck is a little thicker.

Want to thank yall again for the comments and info. Just ordered and it will be here on Tuesday 9-17.

Great news! Congrats!

 

[Decreed One]

Thanks Dr Kev!

I am excited BIGTIME!

 

[ozzyrules]

How you been Ozzyrules? Long time since I have been around the forum? I see you still have that jaw dropping Tobacco Burst SuperSport that haunted my dreams for so long ....... eagle lands.

Hey bro, I was thinking of thinning the herd a bit. I thought about putting the tobacco burst up for sale. Ironically, I played it this morning and it is awesome. Don't know if I could part with it. Let me know the details of that Silo.

 

[ozzyrules]

Same width at nut and last fret and have a similar C-shape. I've never tried them side-by-side but my impression was that the Reflex neck is a little thicker.

Thanks Doc. I'm having serious GAS for a silo Special, or a Luke III. I assume that the Luke neck is the same as the Silo? I really want to try the Transition pup's.

 

[DrKev]

No, Luke neck is a soft V-shape. Very comfortable but a little different. On vacation last week in Buffalo I tried a LIII (the gorgeous GC limited Bali Blue Burst with all-rosewood neck). Astonishing instrument, the Transition pickups are fantastic and the neck is a joy! Oddly enough, when I got back to Paris and picked up my Silhouette Special, I knew I was home. Love it so much!

 

[ozzyrules]

No, Luke neck is a soft V-shape. Very comfortable but a little different. On vacation last week in Buffalo I tried a LIII (the gorgeous GC limited Bali Blue Burst with all-rosewood neck). Astonishing instrument, the Transition pickups are fantastic and the neck is a joy! Oddly enough, when I got back to Paris and picked up my Silhouette Special, I knew I was home. Love it so much!

Was the neck feel of the Luke III, dramatically different than your Silo Special, or just subtle? I'm trying to make a decicion soon.
Thanks.