Dirty lowdown on Breed in Silo Special

[candid_x]

I just replaced my Silo Special HB with a DiMarzio Breed. I’ll get to the meat and ‘taters in a minute, but first a pic with the cream covers, knobs and Breed HB.

We all know this stuff is very subjective, so please mentally add a big IMO to anything said here. I’ve just tested it for two hours, clean and dirty, straight to amp, and here’s my observations so far.

Pickup height makes a big difference with this one, and can go right to some nice gainy tones when raised pretty high. By nice I mean musical, while pushing a meaty rockin’ rhythm. A cool thing about this is that the alnico 5 doesn't rob much sustain when the mags are very close to the strings.

High End is really kicked up a notch, from my stock pickups. Note: my stock HB’s were the custom DiM EBMM ones, before they went to the Virtual PAF in S. Specials. Anyway, I was a little concerned at first because my ears were getting signs of fatigue from the high end, put out by the Breed. I solved this by finding the sweet sounding pickup height, which became rich in harmonic content in its place. It responds well to pick attack, and cleans up and smooths out when guitar’s volume is rolled down.

Here’s the bonus for me: I’m liking the Bridge Breed by itself. It growls and sings real nice – both deeper and brighter than the stock HB did. But the kicker is the difference it makes in positions 2 and 3! First off, it sounds MUCH more Stratty in position 2 (has that strat edge), and the mind blower is what it did to position 3!!! I ain’t kidding, it just kills in position 3!

Anyway, those are my impressions, after just a couple hours of playing it. YMMV.

Bruce

 

[candid_x]

I'll try to post something in the next day or two.

Rob, I was thinking of you a lot when testing this. You don't need that in-between position to catch that edgy stratty sound, with the Breed. I'm really a bit shocked how much of a difference it makes to the whole guitar, especially position 3 - split hum/neck. Interesting too cuz it's been discussed on another thread recently. The difference is huge.

None of this is in any way intended to down the stock pup. It does what it does, this does what this does. Better is a matter of opinion. The Breed makes a viable alternative. I've also heard where the neck Breed has worked great in the bridge.

 

[Ripper]

Nice job Bruce. Awaiting the clips man...

 

[TNT]

Bruce,

Thanks for the info. Looks like you're keepin' the Breed!!

Yeah, tryin' out comparable pickups isn't always the easiest thing in the world, with the time, cost, labor, etc..., involved; searching to find that elusive tone your "minds eyes" is looking for.

Looks like you were successful in at least part of that venture.

 

[whitestrat]

Dude... Both your Silo Specs are gorgeous... I can't stop staring at them everytime I see one...

 

[Assumer]

What color is that guitar? I love it.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

Awesome. I love to hear how different pickups work in the Silo. I've owned one that had a Tone Zone in the bridge position, and it was great!! It was tonally very much like the Axis Bridge tones to my ears.

I'm dying to get some of the hum cancelling strat pickups from Dimarzio (a la Billy Corgan) and put them in a SIlo.

 

[whitestrat]

I'm dying to get some of the hum cancelling strat pickups from Dimarzio (a la Billy Corgan) and put them in a SIlo.

Why do you need hum cancelling singles in a Silo when it's got the Silent Circuit?

 

[candid_x]

Ok, sound-card recorder and a mic, nothing fancy. It's recorded cold, so the breakup you hear at the end is the pickup responding to the pick. Sequence is 1 - 2 - 3, then 1 - 2 and 3 out. No pedals, preamp on edge of od. If I drive the amp I peg the little built in recorder.

SoundClick artist: Candid X - page with MP3 music downloads

 

[Ripper]

Why do you need hum cancelling singles in a Silo when it's got the Silent Circuit?

I think he is referring to those single-coil sized dual-blade humbuckers from dimarzio.

 

[candid_x]

Dude... Both your Silo Specs are gorgeous... I can't stop staring at them everytime I see one...

Fortunately I'm not sensitive about people lookin' at 'em. At this age, I'm just glad I have 'em.

 

[whitestrat]

The Silhouette doesnt have the silent circuit does it, seeing as it has humbuckers, i thought it was just the special?

I believe it does... there's still a middle single, remember?

 

[candid_x]

Woops, sorry. I edited half of that out before uploading it. It's just 1 - 2 - 3 out...

Pretty skimpy, huh...

If ya want I'll work getting a better recording of it.

 

[candid_x]

I don't think the Silos have SC, except possibly when they were crossing over, before the name Silo Special.

 

[whitestrat]

Woops, sorry. I edited half of that out before uploading it. It's just 1 - 2 - 3 out...

Pretty skimpy, huh...

If ya want I'll work getting a better recording of it.

Hmmm... that was nicer than I expected... Retained the organic feel, and yet has some nice crunchy sparkle... Nice! I'll have to remember this as an option in the future!

 

[RocketRalf]

Current HSH Silhouettes don't have the silent circuit. I like mine that way, gives me more of a strat feel on position 3.

 

[candid_x]

Rob, I confess that I haven't been much of a listener or follower of guitar players for a very long time. My early influences ranged from Randy California (from Spirit), Steven Stills' Super Session stuff, Hendrix, Clapton, and the one note soloist: Neil Young. When I was in the thick of it I was more involved with the singer/songwriter folky acoustic side of things, opening for guys like John Prine, Leon Redbone, and Johnathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. I've played in a very few cover bands, and it was torturous for me. Not that it's beneath me, but that I just suck at copying anything. Always been this way.

I'm not going to get a great sound from the recorder I have. I have the mic plugged into the computer speaker mic input, and the software is what comes with the standard sound card. But, if you'd like to hear hear something specific, i.e. clean position 2 - I'll see what I could do.

I'm still liking the Breed as an alternative. It's less tame, thinner and more brash/fizzy in position 2 and 3.... translated: it has teeth and grit. Since I can still get the warm and fat sounds from 4 and 5, I'm good with the brightness off the Breed. The stock pickup was more even, across all positions, tone wise, and I still like it. But I'm not disappointed with the mod. Oh, I notice no discernible difference in the actual volume jump between the stock and Breed p'ups, but the Breed is fatter. ---- Just realized I need to qualify what sounds like a contradiction. The Breed by itself is fatter than the stock HB was, but position 2 and 3 has that thinner/vintage stratty sound.

 

[Ripper]

Hey man you are modest .. You are playing real good my fren. The pickup really sounds raw and powerful. Enjoy the new pickup you!

 

[candid_x]

You are too kind, Jimmy.

Say, are you noticing any differences between your two Specials?

 

[Ripper]

I dont really hear any difference there, since both are of rosewood/HSS/trem config.

This may sound real DUMB though - the Autumn one has older set of strings which I am too busy to change (therefore sounds a bit dull..), while the Blue Dawn sounds spanking clean and mean!

Both guitars needs proper setup (shipping > climate difference > changes in action/neck angle..), only then I will be able to give a better review.