Guitar Dillema

[BetaCAM]

Hi Folks,

I'm one of those guitar freaks who constantly change things about their guitar, effects amps and stuff...

My playing has evloved a lot this year, I really got better, things begin to happen for me, gigs, recordings, productions...

I have a real problem. Currently I have two guitar, one is the SUB that I bought at the last November and other is the OLP MM1 which I heavily modified for it to fit my needs, what happened since I finished modding it is that I play it more than the SUB1. Yesterday I had a gig that I only used the OLP, didn't bring the SUB as a backup.

I have these doubts of: what if the SUB has grown on me.
I always wanted to have guitar with a single coil in the middle and a bridge humbucker, and maybe a single on the neck though I'm still more towards the Humbucking turf.

The OLP to me is a much better rocker machine than the SUB, the Dimarzios I installed and the design being an Axis copy makes it sound accordingly.
The pickups on the OLP are: Virtual Paf in the neck and a Norton in the bridge, it's a great combo... I use a standard 3 way switch without splitting.

I had a thought of maybe doing a routing on the SUB to have a single coil in the middle but I felt it's too cruel to do it, as I like the SUB as it is, and I don't know if I'd be pleased of the result...

So, I cannot afford to buy another EBMM... too much money spent already, and I'm afraid that having another one means giving up this one... this thought is difficult to me... What should I do?

Thanks in advance!

 

[lock-ny]

I think you need to find yourself a silo special HSS, when I got mine it replaced all my guitars for live and studio work, including 2 axis guitars , it would be worth selling both of your guitars for one of these in my opinion, the construction of the USA MM stuff will always be better and I noticed that on the US made guitars the stings bend better and they sound crisper and cleaner - get a used one, it will hold its value well - BTW where are you from? my family is from israel, outside of tel aviv and have some family at moshav ha yogev in the north, good luck - russ

 

[MN246]

I understand where you're coming from in asking others for help. It is always valuable to know the opinions of others when making a major decision. But, like most decisions in life, only you can know what is right for you.

I'm absolutely blown away by my Axis, another person could play it like JP, and say it's not his cup of tea. I would suggest taking a piece of paper and listing all the things that are important to you in a guitar. On that list, add second and third columns that show which of your guitars meets what needs. When it is all said and done, you can visually see which guitar is best for you. Then you can consider what you can do to make it even better.

Keep in mind that choosing an instrument is not always an analytical exercise. Sometimes even though everything points in one direction, you still want to go another. I just got rid of a U.S. G&L Invader that was much more versatile than my Axis, because I just like playing the Axis better. Analytically the Invader was the hands down winner, but musically and emotionally the Axis was in a different league. Good Luck.

 

[BetaCAM]

Hi,

Thanks for the helpful words... it certainly gives me different perspective regarding they way I should treat this issue.

I've played a Silo at my local dealer's store. I actually played 3 of them. One was a black one with maple fingerboard, the other two were rosewood fretboards that I tend to like more in this style of instrument, that's why I also love the SUB.

The thing I don't like about 24 frets is the location of the pickups due to the length.
The neck pickup always sounds dark and lifeless on 24 frets guitars...

My wish would be to keep the SUB and buy another EBMM but unfortunately that's simply impossible so I'd have to let go on guitar and I'm afraid it would be the SUB.

It isn't easy to find a Silo Special here, it barely gets here to my dealer.
I actually remember trying a Luke, but I didn't like the V shape neck, and the EMG's aren't my cup of tea...

I like the body shape of the Silo, it's the most comfortable guitar I've played in a while...

As you can see... lots of considerations here... I guess compromising is necessary in this decision...

 

[kissmyaxe]

Why not pushpots for the sub....you can split the buckers that way . I don't blame you for wanting to keep your sub...from what I hear their pickups are very underated. You know Axis Sports show up on ebay somtimes, they have a H-S-S, I imagine they are near impossible to get in your neck of the woods though just another thought.

 

[robelinda2]

The neck pickup always sounds dark and lifeless on 24 frets guitars...

try a 20th anniversary silo ( if you can find one somewhere!), GREAT neck tone, really impressive. The regular Silo has a fine neck tone i reckon.

 

[BetaCAM]

I actually did that trick with trying to split the pickups, it made the whole guitar sound not quite good comparing to the stock position. I switched back to the original components, they simply make the guitar sound better than trying to mess with splitting the coils... and you can't make a split humbucker to sound like a true single coil no matter what...

I could easily go for a strat but I totally dislike its design and feel.
The reason that the Silo gets close to what I want is its Strat alike feel, but much better construction and neck profile... and of course, features...

I wish the EBMM's had bigger frets, especially the Silo as the JP does have bigger ones... and to me it makes a difference as well. I played JP's and I liked it, but it's too similar to what I have now and it's too much toward one style... I'm into multi tasking arena

I wish I could try a 20th silo, these aren't available here in Israel.

Buying a Silo without giving up my SUB would make me much happier... too bad the pocket disagrees...

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Why not buy a new scratchplate for the SUB and fit Silo pickups (or similar) in it. I understand its a direct fit to the SUB.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I've had this crazy idea in my head, to Morsify my sub, by getting a morse pickguard and a couple of single coils...

 

[BetaCAM]

Hey all,

A question: could a Silo Special Pickguard fit into the SUB? if that's the case then it's much easier to do this mod... except the fact that I won't have a Humbucker in the neck... but maybe it could be an interesting change...

 

[lock-ny]

I believe the pickguards are the same, there was a guy named Raz who used to post here alot and he did that mod to his sub, used a silo special pickguard and did a bit or routing - I just think in the long run you might be better off grabbing a used silo special from europe or something -

 

[Astrofreq]

What I did on two of my axis's was to put a Dimarzio Humbucker from Hell in the neck position. The HFH has a single coil type of sound, but with humbucker output. I really like the pickup. It's kind of the best of both worlds.