Anyone ever try a Steve's Special in a Silhouette Special?

[roburado]

Has anyone ever tried a Steve's Special in a Silhouette Special? It's kind of a dream of mine to have a JP6 HSS, which may be a stupid dream, but why not a Steve's Special in an HSS guitar? Anyway, I was hoping someone had tried this and could share their feedback.

The I'm hoping for out of the guitar is Petrucci-esque distortion tones with the gorgeous single-coil cleans out of the Silo Spec.

 

[Roubster]

Well I just recently had it in my 20th Silo, so that is not really the same thing. It is a good pickup, very clear and great for leads. Well I guess that's why Petrucci used it. However it has the scooped Mids and I prefer more like in my current Evo 2. However I'm sure it will sound great in the Silo Special too, but you might have a problem balancing it with the single coils, as the Steves Special is a high output pickup. I think it would be great with a Fast Track 1 in the neck, or you can even do a Air Norton Single if you wanted...that is if you dont mind leaving the great single coils behind.

 

[crywolf71]

I use a steve special in my SS for 4 years. Works great for me. More distortion agains stock pickup. It works good for clean (I mostly use the single coils for clean sounds). I like the clearity the steve special gives me on distorted sounds. Never played a petucci but i gues the alder bodie on the SS makes a difference in sound.

 

[whitestrat]

I mostly use a Steve's Special for many of my bridge positions. Whether it's the JP6 itself, or the 20th Silo. I like it, but I do find it a bit too wild if I'm going to pair it with a low output single coil... I'm thinking a FRED would be a better pairing.

But the SS is a great pup to use as a shocker... sweet neck tones on a lead, and you suddenly flick the switch, and you scare your neighbour's mom... whahahaha...

 

[roburado]

Okay. Thanks.

 

[candid_x]

Has anyone ever tried a Steve's Special in a Silhouette Special? It's kind of a dream of mine to have a JP6 HSS, which may be a stupid dream, but why not a Steve's Special in an HSS guitar? Anyway, I was hoping someone had tried this and could share their feedback.

The I'm hoping for out of the guitar is Petrucci-esque distortion tones with the gorgeous single-coil cleans out of the Silo Spec.

Keep in mind that the HB is going to dramatically affect positions 2 and 3, whichever you choose.

The Breed can deliver the thick and biting *chunk chuck* in drop tunings very well, but delivers tasty goodness across all combinations. Wish someone else here would give it a shot so we can compare notes. According to DM, they designed it specifically for the long-scale trem guitars.

 

[whitestrat]

According to DM, they designed it specifically for the long-scale trem guitars.

Really? I thought it was designed for Vai mainly? And he doesn't use baritones. When the Ibby baritones came out, they were mainly blaze and paf pro mods. Then the Mike Mushok came, and I can't remember what that was...

 

[candid_x]

Oh, sorry, long scale was probably the wrong term. I just meant 25.5" scale, as opposed to 24.75" scale length.

Yes, I guess Vai does use it, but only on one of his guitars, for a more classic humbucker sound.

"Tech Talk: The Breed™ was designed to warm up and smooth out the sound of 25 1/2 scale trem guitars. It's got a lot more power than a PAF®, but it also has a finer "touch" than high-output models. Picking hard will generate a lot of voltage, but a softer attack will clean up the sound of an overdriven amp."

It's true, the Breed is very touch sensitive, and can clean up or punch hard, depending on your attack. I rarely play gainy sounding stuff, so most high power buckers would not work for me at all. The Breed lets me go there, if I wish a gainy sound, but it also does the classic and even the clean thing very nicely. It's pretty focused in the mids, but with more bottom and balls than the stock SS HB. Very versatile and good sounding HB , imo. Nice harmonics too, even with mild distortion.

 

[whitestrat]

Oh, sorry, long scale was probably the wrong term. I just meant 25.5" scale, as opposed to 24.75" scale length.

Hahahaha... That was strange, I thought... Because I consider 25.5" scales as NORMAL scale, and LPs fall under short scales to me... Baritones would be long scale. But it's just a matter of intepretation...

The Breed sounds interesting. But it's very midrangey and low treble... I like something with a bit more bite. Will have to check it out though...

 

[roburado]

Hmmm...maybe the Breed is the one I ought to think about trying.

 

[candid_x]

The Breed sounds interesting. But it's very midrangey and low treble... I like something with a bit more bite. Will have to check it out though...

It's got plenty of bite, lots more than the stock setup. I know the sound chart shows it heavy in the mid and bottom, but there's nothing at all lacking on the top end, nor is it in any way muddy. Brighter over all in all three positions.

 

[whitestrat]

Brighter over all in all three positions.

What do you mean all 3 positions?

 

[candid_x]

What do you mean all 3 positions?

The HB is engaged in positions 1, 2 and 3, where it splits and combines with the neck p'up.

 

[whitestrat]

The HB is engaged in positions 1, 2 and 3, where it splits and combines with the neck p'up.

Ahh... because of the HSS wiring config. Now I get it... I'll probably rewire mine because I like the middle pup tone too much.

 

[candid_x]

Ahh... because of the HSS wiring config. Now I get it... I'll probably rewire mine because I like the middle pup tone too much.

I understand, but if you decide to go with the Breed, check it out first with the stock wiring, you may change your mind - seriously.

 

[whitestrat]

I understand, but if you decide to go with the Breed, check it out first with the stock wiring, you may change your mind - seriously.

Honestly, I doubt I'll get the chance. The only SS with HSS I got coming is the LE08. It's got gold bobbins... If I change the pups, I lose that..

 

[candid_x]

I wouldn't mess with a new LE08 either.

 

[whitestrat]

I wouldn't mess with a new LE08 either.

yeah... I guess I'll have to find another HSS to mod then...

 

[candid_x]

Yup

 

[GHWelles]

Keep in mind that the HB is going to dramatically affect positions 2 and 3, whichever you choose.

The Breed can deliver the thick and biting *chunk chuck* in drop tunings very well, but delivers tasty goodness across all combinations. Wish someone else here would give it a shot so we can compare notes. According to DM, they designed it specifically for the long-scale trem guitars.

I put the Breed in the 20th silo and put the chrome cover on it so it looks stock. I put a coil tap on. Very good single coil bridge tone. And gives a thick and powerful bridge tone. THicker than the stock Virtual paf hot. Depends on what you want. The virtual Paf is brighter.