Early Silhouette SSS

[Mimasu]

New on the forum. But not new to Music Man.

Was at the Frankfurt Musik Messe when they introduced the Silhouette in Europe. Not sure but must have been 1988 or 1989. They had Biff Baby's All Stars doing shows to promote. Don't remember all but there was Albert Lee, Steve Morse on guitars and Sterling Ball on bass.

Being a fan of Albert Lee I needed to have a Silhouette. Couldn't wait till the SSS fixed bridge were available overhere and bought a SSS with Shaller tremelo. Saw that Albert Lee had a telecaster PU mounted in the bridge position so did the same. Played that guitar for a lot of years but switched to telecaster after some time (playing country at that time) and sold my Silhouette.

As things often go after a 20+ years I wanted a Silhouette again. Searched for a SSS fixed bridge but again could't find one. Bought a SSS with tremelo, and a HSH fixed bridge (All pre 1992). Didn't work for me and sold them again.

Last week I found a 1990 fixed bridge SSS. Great guitar. Love the sound and feel. Feels like coming home

One thing is bothering me: the weight of 3.5 kg (7.7 lb). Don't remember the weight of the earlier Silhouettes I had but I've seen recent Silhouettes as light as 2.6. or 2.7 kg.

Is 3.5 kg a normal weight for an early Silhouette? Seems I hoped they were lighter.

Leon

 

[DrKev]

Welcome to the family, Leon, and congratulations on your guitar! Please post photos if you have the chance.

Last week I found a 1990 fixed bridge SSS. Great guitar. Love the sound and feel. Feels like coming home

One thing is bothering me: the weight of 3.5 kg (7.7 lb). Don't remember the weight of the earlier Silhouettes I had but I've seen recent Silhouettes as light as 2.6. or 2.7 kg.

Is 3.5 kg a normal weight for an early Silhouette? Seems I hoped they were lighter.

Leon

Wood can vary greatly in density and therefore weight, even between trees of the same species from the same forest! 2.7 kg (which is about 6 lbs) is exceptionally light, and almost unheard of. Most guitars will be somewhere between 3 kg and 3.4 kg (6.5 lbs and 7.5 lbs) but there will always be guitars outside that range too. My Silhouette Special weighs 3.55 kg (7lbs 13 oz).

 

[Pink]

Hi Leon,

I have a couple of early 2000 Silhouette Special hardtails (fixed bridge). One is about 6.3 lbs and the other is 6.75 lbs. (2.85kg and 3.06kg). My father has a 2007 hardtail that is 3.3kg.

Weight was a factor in my purchases.

 

[Mimasu]

Some pics that go with my first post:

First introduced to the Silhouette by Biff Baby's All Stars at Frankfurter Messe 1989:



The year after that same place, now with Steve Morse:



My first one in 1990:



A SSS but not a hardtail so I switched:



Not what I was looking for. Let's try one more SSS, again no hardtail:



And then, at last, a SSS hardtail:



Let's hope it's a keeper.


Leon

(BTW: all guitars were 1990 or 1991).

 

[Mimasu]

Hi Leon,

I have a couple of early 2000 Silhouette Special hardtails (fixed bridge). One is about 6.3 lbs and the other is 6.75 lbs. (2.85kg and 3.06kg). My father has a 2007 hardtail that is 3.3kg.

Weight was a factor in my purchases.

Saw an early 90íes Music Man spec sheet. The specified the Silhouette weight as "6 pounds 5 ounces, varies slightly". Reading all the weights in this tread I'm afraid it varies more than slightly and you'll need a long search finding one as light as the specified 6 pounds 5 ounces (2.8 kg).

Leon

 

[Sweat]

Very cool , lots of history with the Silo model(s)

 

[GoKart Mozart]

Great pics!! Thanks for sharing. That's Sherwood Ball on guitar, right?

 

[tbonesullivan]

Great pics!! Thanks for sharing. That's Sherwood Ball on guitar, right?

Wait... is that BIG POPPA on bass?

 

[GWDavis28]

Wow nice collection you've got there!!! Super pics for sure, I remember seeing BP's Biff Baby bass and hearing about Biff Baby's All Stars.

Glenn |B)

 

[Mimasu]

Great pics!! Thanks for sharing. That's Sherwood Ball on guitar, right?

Yes, as far as I know Sherwood on guitar and Sterling on bass. Correct me if I'm wrong. One thing I'm sure of: there were two Balls in that band.