Being pulled in several different directions...

[Katana6506]

My dilemma is one we've probably all experienced at one point or another, i.e. this is probably something you've read before. Bear with me. It's a happy dilemma.

In the past couple of weeks, I've been considering which MM I should buy. The issue is, I like pretty much everything I lay my eyes on. I see a used Morse floating about and I love it. I then see an Axis that blows my mind. Then a Silhouette or a Petrucci comes along and drags me through the mud for a bit. And so it goes.

I'm trying to focus my attentions on one model and one model only. (Unfortunately, buying one of everything isn't possible at this point, or for the forseeable future. )The type of playing I expect to be doing will be virtuostic rock and classic rock, though I want to be able to do pretty much anything that comes my way. The Morse and Silhouette seem to best lend themselves to what I'm after, due to the number of switching combinations that each possess, though I'm leaning toward the Morse because it takes the definition of versatility to another level. (To all you Morse owners out there, I can hear the collective "Duh" from my basement. )

What are the fundamental differences, from a playing standpoint, between a Morse and a Silhouette?

 

[nobozos]

The Silhouette and Silhouette Special both have alder bodies. The Silhouette has a 24 fret neck, while the Special has a 22 fret neck. Both are available with vintage trem, or string through fixed bridge, and have a piezo option.

The Morse has a Poplar body, with no body contours. It has a 22 fret neck with a rosewood fretboard. The Silhouettes have the option of Rosewood or maple, while the Morse does not. The Morse has the option of a stop tail bridge, or a Floyd Rose. I don't believe the piezo option is available on the Morse. Of course, the Morse has the Morse pickup configuration, which makes it unique.

The only advice I can give is to decide whether you want 22 or 24 frets, then try the different guitars you are considering. Get the one that "feels right" in your hands. Don't worry too much about how the electronics sound, because you can always change that. The biggest and most important distinction between guitars in my mind is the neck. Neck contour and fretboard radius greatly determine the level comfort you will experience playing for the life of the guitar.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Get an Axis

 

[Big Poppa]

buy em all poppa needs shoes!

 

[beej]

The biggest and most important distinction between guitars in my mind is the neck. Neck contour and fretboard radius greatly determine the level comfort you will experience playing for the life of the guitar.

+1.

If you're sticking with one main axe, find the neck that suits you best. Pickups/EQ are easy to change, feel is not.

Also, don't rule out a Luke. The neck is out of this world, and the pickups are pretty versatile.

 

[GWDavis28]

buy em all poppa needs shoes!

You don't need shoes you where sandles!!!

Glenn |B)

 

[doubleR]

I have a Morse, and I also have a Silo Special on order.

I love the way the Morse sounds (I play in a cover band and needed a guitar that could cover a wide variety of tones). The neck is a dream...the most playable of any guitar I've touched.

The only thing I don't love about the Morse is that it's not the most comfortable guitar to play. It's heavy, and the body is not contoured or shaped in any way--basically, strap it on and you've got a solid slab of wood around your waist.

I'd advise you to play both before you make your decision.

 

[Colin]

Personally I'd go for the Morse, but without a Floyd this time.

Colin

 

[Katana6506]

My only issue in playing one of these before I buy is that no one in the state of Ohio seems to have any guitars in stock, and I can't drive for hours just to try one. If there was a store that had one of everything MM makes in my area, I would be set.

Gawd...those Axes are looking darn good to me right now as well, Tim...

 

[doubleR]

My only issue in playing one of these before I buy is that no one in the state of Ohio seems to have any guitars in stock, and I can't drive for hours just to try one. If there was a store that had one of everything MM makes in my area, I would be set.

Gawd...those Axes are looking darn good to me right now as well, Tim...

I hear you...even here in Southern California EBMM guitars aren't the easiest to find retail.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I hear you...even here in Southern California EBMM guitars aren't the easiest to find retail.

Hey guys - come over here they are nigh on impossible to find !! and almost twice the price!!

 

[doubleR]

Katana, you could do what I did when I bought my Morse.

I ordered it from Musician's Friend. They have a 30-day return policy, so you can try it out for a month, and if you don't like it, return it (just make sure you keep it in good condition).

 

[Katana6506]

The only reason why that wouldn't work for me is that I'm on a budget-and a new Morse is far beyond my means. I'm looking into used instruments.

It'll be a while before I get a new guitar, so I have some time to ponder.

 

[Larry]

get a axis i love mine i got mine from music 123 in like 2 days and its awsome

 

[Katana6506]

If a nice used one comes up (AND I have the funds available) I might consider an Axis. I find myself looking at Eddie on the Live: Right here, right now liner notes and saying "Man, that's cool!"

Again, if only I could play one...

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Hey guys - come over here they are nigh on impossible to find !! and almost twice the price!!

+1000000000!

 

[nobozos]

Okay Katana, I'm going to try to help you out here by describing the necks, as I interpret the feel.

I have played Silhouettes, and the Morse. My impression of these necks is that they are relatively unremarkable in the aspect that there is nothing about them that feels different than you would expect. Kind of like a standard feeling neck. Not like a Ibanez Wizard neck, but more like a Fender Strat neck.

The Pet's necks are more wide and thin.

The Axis necks are unique in that they have an eccentric back contour that gives the neck a nice "broken in" feel. (my personal favorite)

The Luke neck has a soft-V back contour, like the Fender Clapton Signature. I find that neck hard to get used to, but it is still comfortable.

 

[SteveB]

Get the Morse.

 

[Katana6506]

I'm not so sure about the Morse-the idea of an uncontoured body isn't something I'm comfortable with. The uncontoured front is fine, but the back is not something I'm sure I can live with.

Does anyone here use their Silos for shred work, i.e. tapping? The Petrucci would seem apt for this type of playing.

And here we go again...

 

[kbaim]

My preference is to have a concave guitar since my stomach is convex...


or is it a convex guitar because my stomach is concave?

Point being, it's kinda like trying to stuff a comforter back in its original packaging.
Never looks as good.