Axis Super Sport change to..? Luke/Silhouette?

[JacekH]

Hi,

I've bougth Axis Super Sport almost a year ago. I like it bridge HB sound - a lot of mids, but neck HB is... too muddy. I tried with push/pull (splitting neck HB for single coil) and that's not what I've expected. Now I play more clean/blues/funk staff so I need really nice clean guitar sound. Also I need good bridge HB for rock music. Music Man has three models I'm interested in: Luke II, Silhouette Special, Axis with SSH pickups. The problem is I cannot listen to all these guitars. Could anybody describe sonic differences between them? I played Silhouette Special only. But Axis susitain was much better and bridge HB sounded more the way I like. Unfortunatelly silent circut was demaged - I got loud hum when using neck coil. How about this Silhouette sustain/clean sounds compared to Luke II? And how about that Axis with SSH?

Best regards,
Jacek

 

[kbaim]

I have the same reaction to my axis ss hum. Neck pup too muddy imo. Also severe volume drop on split coils a minor problem as well.

The Luke (I own 3 but you can't try any ), has wonderful sustain, crystal clean and clear sound (emg's), feels great to wear and play, and can also rock like a mother.

Hands down my fave to play among my strat, lp studio, prs custom 24, ibanez st50, and 2 axiss ss and a steve morse.

Man, too many guitars. That's it. I'm done buying, gotta unload a few of these.

KEITH

 

[jongitarz]

Wait....you can own too many guitars Keith, if my wife sees this you are in trouble

 

[kbaim]

KEITH

 

[lock-ny]

well the luke is essentially a silhouette special with EMG's screwed into the body, I went with the silhouette special over the luke because the V shaped neck was getting to me a bit, and I love the look of the black pearloid pickguard on my SS. Also, the reason why the SS you played had poor sustain had a lot to do with the bridge bucker, I immediately chaned that out to a duncan distortion and I have a rock machine now, I use the bucker for rock and I can split it, and I use the neck single coil for clean and bluesy stuff, either way your gonna win, my other issue was that the middle pup seems to get in the way of my picking so I needed a guitar where I could lower the pup a bit and the luke pups are screwed in place, so that wasnt an option for me, but I love my SS, its my main guitar right now and I am playing in a metal funk band, sort of like rage with a singer, no rapping, the SS gives you more options, if you dont like EMG's then you fan put them in your SS, with the luke your kinda stuck with them -

 

[JacekH]

Thanks to all. So it looks that Luke can give me a sustain from Axis and clean from Silhouette Special... But Silhouette thanks to its pickup mounting and wood used gives more straty sound. Am I right?

Do you think that I can find Silhouette or Luke II with hardtail bridge and piezzo? I'm afraid I have to look for used guitars only. In my country I have to wait about six months for EBMM guitars

I've never used tremolo I played my friend's JEM555 and didn't like its tremolo - very heavy and a lot of problems with staying in tune. But yesterday I played an old Fender Jaguar - very nice tremolo Really, soft in use and easy to vibrate strings. So my question is about Silhouette Special with vintage tremolo. How about string sustain in guitars with/without tremolo system? And does it stay in tune (vintage tremolo) when using only for small vibrating? Does Luke and Silhouette Special have the same tremolo system?

Look at this MM SM - what about it vs Silhouette Special?

Regards,
Jacek

 

[kbaim]

LUke's only come with trems as far as I know since their production began. 2 different systems depending on when made.

I also prefer hard bridges for tuning stability (alternate tunings), but the Luke trem can be blocked to mimick a hardtail.

KEITH

 

[kbaim]

BTW The only 2 luke piezos I know of...besides mine and Jdouglees, are a white one at WILD WEST GUITARS in RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA USA, and a beautiful blue dawn one at PEELER'S MUSIC in TOLEDO, OHIO USA. Don't know the phone #'s

Both will run you around $1600 US.

KEITH

PS you should probably get both

 

[JacekH]

PS you should probably get both

I'll wait for 12 string version instead two 6 ones

Jacek

 

[NorM]

There is a Luke Piezo here in Tucson at Rainbow Guitars (in Luke Blue). I didn't play it as I played Kieth's guitars earlier this week. SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!!

 

[JacekH]

There is a Luke Piezo here in Tucson at Rainbow Guitars (in Luke Blue). I didn't play it as I played Kieth's guitars earlier this week. SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!!

I'm wonder how many miles far from me... ;-) I live in Poland. Do they ship outside US?

Regards,
Jacek

 

[kbaim]

Go to Hungary...and hang a right



KEITH

 

[kbaim]

Jacek,

If you don't already know, Luke Blue is actually a light gray metallic.

 

[JDouglee]

Ahh the LUKE Piezo club!!

Yes the Silo Special & the Luke have the exact same vintage tremolo. The Luke's body is also more rounded, and has the Bird's Eye maple neck. Silo is quartersawn.

I have a Silo along with my Lukes. Similar in construction sure, but each has it's own vibe.

 

[NorM]

I don't know if Rainbow will ship outside the US or not. But if you are serious then give them a call and ask them. The number is 520-325-3376

 

[JacekH]

I have a Silo along with my Lukes. Similar in construction sure, but each has it's own vibe.

Could you describe the difference? I collect as many opinions as possible... Also EBMM Steve Morse guitar looks nice. I've bougth Steve DVD with two shows (Connecticut 2001 and New York 1992) to look and hear his live setup, not studio one. The guitar sounded quite diiferent from Silhouette I played a time ago. It's also nice - I like blue guitars {here is mine ;-) }

Regards,
Jacek

 

[JDouglee]

That's a nice Axis. Have you considered replacing the pickups?

On the differences, I would say the Luke overall is a fatter sound than the Silo, which is slightly more Strat-like. If you're looking for thinner cutting type funk clean sounds, you may not like the Luke. The mids cut real nice though.

The Silo is brighter, although I don't care so much for the DiMarzio PAF that it comes with. It lacks a bit of bottom for my taste.

Also note the Silo & Luke necks are totally different from the AXIS series.

 

[JacekH]

That's a nice Axis. Have you considered replacing the pickups?

Yes, I asked people about it but I'm not sure if it can change the sound. The wood used in body, neck gives a character to a guitar, I think. Bridge HB is what I like. According to tech data from DiMarzo site neck HB (Air Norton) has a lot of mids, not too much lows but I can feel that it has a lot of lows and has strange highs/mids. It's not as bright as Silhouette. Positions 2/4 are much darker, have less low responce than Silhouette. And I don't know how to solve the problem with volume problems in positions 2/4 vs 1/3/5.
I've decided to go to Frankfurt at MusikMesse. As far as I know Ernie Ball/Music Man is gonna visit Messe, too. So I hope to play Luke's. Unfortunatelly I cannot buy more guitars now, I have to sell my Axis to buy another

Regards,
Jacek