Difference between Silo & A.S.S. pups

[hour9]

My first post here. I'm in the market for a Axis Super Sport with trem & rosewood board. However the Silo HSH is tempting as well.

Can someone describe to me the sonic differences between the dimarzio's in the HSH Silhouette and the HH Axis Super Sport?

 

[Roubster]

The Silo pups are the DiMarzio Virtual PAF humbuckers (bridge and neck) and the single is I believe like the Blue Velvet. They are definatly low output pups and are definatly for more of a vintage style of playing. Dont get me wrong, they sound awesome, but they definatly did not have enough poer for me. Plus the Volume and Tone pots are 250K. In the ASS I think the pups are very simillar to what Van Halen used in his EBMM, so they are definatly more powerfull and you will also have the 500K pots in the ASS. I switched the humbuckers in the Silo for a Pair of Breed pups and also put 500K pots into it, and now it's a versetile BEAST. I left the single in there and the splitting is awesome, and I almost get a piezo like clean sound in position 4. The ASS has more wood and I believe is gonna sound more darker, with more output comparing it to the STOCK Silhouette w/ the Virtual PAFs and 250K pots. Best thing would of course be to try them both out, because they are different in other aspects as well, like the neck, body contours, front mounted electronics and rear mounted, and 22 or 24 frets.

 

[hour9]

Thanks,

That's good info. How do the pups in the ASS compare to the dimarzio Tone Zone?

 

[Roubster]

That I cant say, since I've actually never used a Tone Zone. Either way, you will not be dissapointed with any of the Music Man guitars. And of course if the pups dont suit YOUR style, than you can just switch em like me .

 

[beej]

I'm with Robuster- they're great pickups and you can swap 'em if you don't like 'em.

If it were me, I'd make the decision based on the physical factors- 24 vs 22 frets (and thus neck HB position), neck dimensions, HSH vs HH (no quack sounds from the Axis, but the Axis SS has some fenderish tones with the 5 way switch), body size and comfort, etc.

You can always change the sound for a few bucks worth of new pots, capacitors or pickups.

 

[hour9]

Well I'm not big on 24 frets and I like the neck shape of the ASS. I just haven't been able to play many Super Sports but I've played many Silos. That's why I'm asking.

Here's another question:

Does anyone here own or have played one of the HH Super Sports with the rosewood neck and rosewood top? I've seen a few on ebay and Magdon Music has a couple for sale as well. That's a sweet looking guitar!! I'm wondering how it sound acoustically??

 

[DaveB]

The rosewood ASS is one sweet guitar.

The feel of the neck is awesome and it has great tone too.

I love mine

Dave

 

[Colin]

Thanks,

That's good info. How do the pups in the ASS compare to the dimarzio Tone Zone?

Here is a quote from Dimarzio that may answer your question.

"These pickups were only available as original equipment on the EVH MusicMan guitar. MusicMan replaced the Van Halen guitar with a very similar model called the Axis, which uses the same pickups. The closest-sounding pickups we offer are the Air Norton™ for the neck position and the Tone Zone® for the bridge position."

 

[hour9]

That sounds good, I really like the Tone Zone paired up with my JSX head. I bet the rosewood neck and top would sound great as well.

Thanks to all who have replied.