Buying advice needed please?

[pjaydee]

Hi Guys,

I need some advice on which guitar to go for, a Silhouette Special HHS, or a Silhouette HSH or maybe a Luke? Im looking for good Strat tones as i mainly play Hank Marvin, Gilmour, Knopfler stuff. Any help or advice welcome...

 

[mb99zz]

Based on the style of music you describe, I'm thinking a Silo Special HSS would be ideal -- maybe even an S-S-S. The Silhouette (HSH) is a pretty dynamic guitar with lots of sound options. Some folks here have stated that the Silhouette can't quite get the Strat like tones because of the pickup placement....wheras the Silo Special can. I can't comment on that personally.

Don't sleep on the AL (SSS) -- that's a fantastic guitar. If you have the opportunity to try one, do it. I can't provide too much insight on the Luke. I tried a cuople but didn't seem to gel with the Luke's neck profile. It did sound fantastic though.

 

[joe web]

if you are looking for a strat tone, i would go with a HSS silo special.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Go for an SSS. I got one with a JBjr in the back and it sounds class.

J

 

[guitfiddle]

I go with the AL SSS. Lot's of folks (including BP I think) consider these to be the most "S like".

 

[kbaim]

I'm a dedicated Luke Player, but if its strat tones you're after I'd lean towards the AL sss if you can live with the design.

This being said I've always felt that Gilmour's sound always transcended the instrument and it may be due in part to the EMG pickups...which the Luke also has though not exactly the same ones.

Depending on where you are you should go try them out if possible. The AL will be harder to come by.

And as a side note, if you play clean a lot of the time, look into the piezo option which really adds a nice dimension to the sound.

 

[Slav123]

Here's the HSH Silo in action by our very own forumite Dizzy.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPBAeYxEG-c"]YouTube- Sultans of Swing Solo - Dizzy[/ame]
You can't go wrong with a Silo. Plus, it has 24 frets which the other two don't. Johnny Hiland plays and loves them! If you can get one with a Piezo that would be awesome.

 

[straycat113]

You are talking about three players who all play single coils, so I would shy away from anything with more than one humbucker if any humbuckers at all. Plus you are also talking about very defined tones, Knopfler sounds nothing like Gilmour. I personally would lean towards an AL s-s-s and rely on your amp and what pedals you have on the floor to get you close to those tones.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I would recommend either :

Silo Spec SSS with trem for the a modern sound ala Gilmour on Pulse (shine on on the neck pickup is very convincing )
Albert Lee SSS with trem for a more vintage sound (Knopfler, Hank Marvin)
Albert Lee MM90 could give you excellent single coil sound

The Luke can make it as well my only restriction is that pos 2 (bridge & middle) is not stratty at all as the bridge humbucker is not splitted. That being said you can install a EMG89 that can solve that or swap the EMG89 with an EMG H single coil in a Humbucker format

whatever you decide, you can't go wrong

 

[browndog]

When I was at my shop a few weeks back they had a Candy Red SSS Silo Special on the cheap. Just a gorgeous guitar.

The AL SSS is nice too. Good luck choosing.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

The SSS Silo sounds right up your alley!

If you are located in the US we have a Silo Special in both SSS and HSS Dargie II with ebony board...

 

[paranoid70]

I would go for the Silhouette Special, either configuration. You will love it!

 

[DrKev]

Silo SSS or AL SSS would seem like the obvious choices, particularly where Marvin and Knopfler type stuff are concerned. But I'd put the Luke ahead of the Silo Spec HSS, because I love the extra power and bark of the Luke's position 2 (full humbucker with single coil) and I'd rather keep the position 3 middle single coil instead of the HSS Silo Spec's neck + bridge thing. It's also a cool sound but I do love a nice middle single coil. A very underrated sound IMO.

Of course if you ask me tomorrow I'll probably favour the Silo Spec again.

 

[Shadowbox]

I don't own any of those guitars, but I did play Mikeller's Silo Special. Those are special guitars indeed. There is just something about them. Check one out.

 

[andynpeters]

Be aware that SS trems come set for downward movement only.....which will severely limit your Marvin impressions

 

[Roubster]

Be aware that SS trems come set for downward movement only.....which will severely limit your Marvin impressions

You can easily set it up to float...the LUKE is set-up this way from the factory and I have all 3 of my Balls set up this way. Even Albert Lee has his set up to float slightly as per a recent interview.

I would go for any of the Silhouette line as they are VERY versatile in general...but you definitely can not go wrong with any of em. You just have to try them out and see which suits YOU.

 

[ZeRaskolnikoff]

go with Silo Special SSS maple neck. I have one and I never played a guitar with a better maple sound.One thing you might wanna consider after you buy it is to change the pups. The stock pups are great DiMarzio Single coils, but soundwise they're in between Strat an Tele - very versatile, but if you like the real Strat sound - those pickups are not exactly what you need.

Based on your description I wouldn't go with Silo HsH - it's not a Strat really.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I forgot to mention - if you were to get an HSS Silhouette Special for a little more beef in the bridge position, you can always get an extra pickguard assembly and swap in SSS for a change of flavor. It is easy enough to do while changing strings, and no soldering required!

 

[pjaydee]

Guys i want to thank you all so much for the replys it really helped me a lot, this forum is the best, friendly and very informative. OK im pleased to say i ordered my new Silhouette Special HSS today, Black with rosewood fingerboard..its coming Monday and i cant wait!! WAHOO! OK i know it dont exist til i post some pics so i will try and do that asap.

My choice was fairly easy as i wanted to retain some of that single coil Stratish sound..but have the option of a humbucker too so the Special was the choice...the Albert Lee isnt really for me, im sure its an awesome guitar but im not keen on the shape..i guess you love it or hate it..lol!

It seemed the right choice for me for my styles as i do like to play a lil Bonamassa from time to time so the bucker will come in very useful i think.

Thanks to all!!!

 

[pjaydee]

I forgot to mention - if you were to get an HSS Silhouette Special for a little more beef in the bridge position, you can always get an extra pickguard assembly and swap in SSS for a change of flavor. It is easy enough to do while changing strings, and no soldering required!

Wow! No soldering? is it connectors Pete?