Changing Humbucker on my Silhouette Special

[Cello]

Hello, given that even if i've tried to appreciate the Dimarzio pu, i've usual always played with seymour duncan cause i like much more the tone, in my opinion is more round and less flat.
So i want to change the Humbucker, the guitar is of 99 i've known by Music Man that in that period this instrument has been equipped with a custom wound that is similar to virtual PAF.
I don't want to denaturalize so much the guitar, i have a jb, but i have the doubt that with the wood density (the silo is balanced and sound like strat, so is not dark), it could sound too much bright, so i had the idea to buy a Duncan Custom (SH-5), it's like a PAF sound but with ceramic magnet should be more powerful.

Many thanks!!

Cello

 

[Cello]

Up, please give me an advice!!

 

[lock-ny]

Hey Cello, I have a Duncan distortion in one of my silo specials and as it is on the brighter side its not too bright at all, has tons of chunk but at the time that's what I needed, I think the custom might work but you should also check out some of the suhr pickups, I have a dimarzio transition in my other silo special but I agree it lacks the bottom end but it is clearer and tighter...what kind of tone are you looking for and what kind of output do you need??

 

[Ishmun]

Hi Mate,

I've got a JB in my sil special - sounds great on its own! Only issue is I feel its a bit overpowered for the 2 single coils, so something with a little less output would be ideal (imo)

 

[Cello]

Thank you Guys, basically i like classic rock sound of '80/90 for distortion tones, but i want also a decent clean tone.
Before this guitar i've had a Brian Moore I9 with jb in the bridge, but consider that the body of this instrument is mahogany, more warm and fatter than alder, i've found a comparison between these 2 pu, and from sound example is quite easy to understand that Duncan Custom has a more beautiful clean tone but the distortion sound is more full of bass than JB.

http://www.netarhia.com/seymour-duncan-jb-vs-custom-sh-5.html

 

[Cello]

Thank you so much guys for your support, please tell what do you think about this review.

 

[Ishmun]

Hi Cello,

I think the biggest differences you will notice is that the JB is an Alnico 5 magnet, whilst the Custom is ceramic.....IMO, the alnico 5 mag works better for me with cleans as the treble/high frequencies are less 'ice-picky'. Another side effect is that there will usually be less bass with a A5 magnet compared to the ceramic.

If 80s rock is your vibe, the JB pretty much hits that (pretty sure most super strats of that era utilised the JB). I've never tried the Custom, only used the Custom 5 (which is great!) but I'm sure either way you will be fine. I'm also pretty sure that the Custom will have a higher output.

Cheers

 

[Steve Nukather]

The stock humbucker in a '99 Silhouette Special is not really like a Virtual Vintage PAF. It is an older design without the virtual vintage and airbucker technology. Newer Silhoustte Specials have the Virtual PAFs. I prefer the older version because it has slightly more output.

 

[Cello]

Hi Cello,

I think the biggest differences you will notice is that the JB is an Alnico 5 magnet, whilst the Custom is ceramic.....IMO, the alnico 5 mag works better for me with cleans as the treble/high frequencies are less 'ice-picky'. Another side effect is that there will usually be less bass with a A5 magnet compared to the ceramic.

If 80s rock is your vibe, the JB pretty much hits that (pretty sure most super strats of that era utilised the JB). I've never tried the Custom, only used the Custom 5 (which is great!) but I'm sure either way you will be fine. I'm also pretty sure that the Custom will have a higher output.

Cheers

Yeah, you're right, surely alnico V is more warm than ceramic, but i'm afraid that jb is too much aggressive, maybe a custom/hybryd is the better choice, alnico V with quite output.

 

[Ishmun]

Yeah, you're right, surely alnico V is more warm than ceramic, but i'm afraid that jb is too much aggressive, maybe a custom/hybryd is the better choice, alnico V with quite output.

Hi Cello,

Was thinking about this last night and realised I've got a studio recording of my Silhouette Special using a clean tone.

All rhythm guitars in this are the silhouette with a JB in the bridge: https://myspace.com/notquitevelvet/music/song/sitting-here-waiting-25621805-25422990

(signal chain is a Boogie Mark III head into a Achillies 4x12 Cab (Aussie made), V30s)

Forgot this is still available (on myspace!) Hope this helps,

cheers

 

[Cello]

Thank you so much Ishmun!

 

[ozzyrules]

My silo special has a Suhr DSH+ in the bridge. Very warm sounding pup.

 

[Stratty316]

My silo special has a Suhr DSH+ in the bridge. Very warm sounding pup.

What singles are you using?

 

[ozzyrules]

What singles are you using?

Neck is DiMarzio Air Norton, middle is stock. Very nice tonal variety.