Question Has anyone swapped stock for 500k volume and tone pots on a Silo?
- Thread starter Wahoonc
- Start date
beej
Moderator
Haven't tried it with those pickups but have with many others. Expect the pickups to be a tad brighter. If you want to see what it's like, disconnect your tone pot. (Or put it on a push/pull.)
DrKev
Moderator
I tried it once on a strat and didn't like it at all. Single coils can become harsh and brittle with a 500k volume pot so I don't recommend it for singles. The pickups became a hair brighter and the tone control just felt nicer. The stock Silo Special singles are not particularly bright and might perhaps handle it better but I'd not do it. I do prefer the 500kOhm in the tone pot on my strat.
Oddly enough the way the Silo Special is voiced, with the 250k volume pot the stock bridge humbucker sounds really close to the stock bridge humbucker (with 500k pots) on a buddy's '71 LP Custom and very similar to a clients '78 335. Go figure!
Oddly enough the way the Silo Special is voiced, with the 250k volume pot the stock bridge humbucker sounds really close to the stock bridge humbucker (with 500k pots) on a buddy's '71 LP Custom and very similar to a clients '78 335. Go figure!
Thanks for the info guys. I need to cogitate more, I suppose. The concern I have is that the output of the Silo pups is noticeably quieter than my GC, and I'm guessing also quieter than the AL HH I ordered. Since I sold everything except these guitars, I have one odd duck (volume-wise). I don't have a problem with the tone, it's just a pain to reset my amp every time I want to change guitars. Total first-world problem, but there it is.
beej
Moderator
If you like the tone then you probably won't want to swap pickups. You could run a booster or EQ pedal in front of the amp, for the Silo.
DrKev
Moderator
It will be noticeably quieter. Virtual PAFs are pretty low output, clean vintage style pickups. And I'm not sure changing to 500k will significantly solve that problem. As you have a regular Silo and not the special the humbuckers could stand to be brighter and to hell with the middle pickup. You may enjoy the mod. Certainly cheap to do.
If it doesn't work, I'd go back to stock and think about a clean boost pedal to use with the Silo. TC Spark Boost is great and gives you some EQ, or spark mini for a straight volume jump that takes up minimal space on the pedal board?
Or go for new pickups. Many round here have done and you'll get no end of suggestions from them too.
If it doesn't work, I'd go back to stock and think about a clean boost pedal to use with the Silo. TC Spark Boost is great and gives you some EQ, or spark mini for a straight volume jump that takes up minimal space on the pedal board?
Or go for new pickups. Many round here have done and you'll get no end of suggestions from them too.
Siddius
Well-known member
500k pots are great in the silho. I thought the guitar was a little dull before em.
B2D
Well-known member
I use 500K pots in mine, but then again I'm running an HH setup. The tone knob has a Sprague Orange Drop cap.
I like it... gives the guitar a more hi-fi quality without being strident. I would use a 250k in stock form, though.
I like it... gives the guitar a more hi-fi quality without being strident. I would use a 250k in stock form, though.
paranoid70
Well-known member
I had 500K pots put in mine, but I also had a Dimarzio Air Zone pickup installed in the bridge at the same time. Guitar is much hotter now that's for sure.
I bet. How is the blend in positions 2 & 4?
paranoid70
Well-known member
It's fine. I never care much for position 4, so I rarely use it. Position 2 on the other hand sounds pretty good. Quite tame.
Siddius
Well-known member
Yes, tone knob will work fine. You could, potentially, disengage the bridge pickup from the tone knob and keep the tone knob as a 250K pot. I don't know if there are any problems with that, you would have to ask someone else.
DrKev
Moderator
The spark boost is cool. Even if you decide it doesn't work for this application, I think you'll be glad it's in the arsenal. Great pedal.
I think so. I'm not so much for effects and like to just plug the guitar into the amp, but trying to play at low levels (recently integrated households with fiancee) and drive the tubes to get a raw tone is difficult--especially with the Silo. The cleans are great, but the drive not so much.
I experimented with a HD500X, which I use to simulate drive when I can't crank an amp. I like it for what it is, the simulations are as good as I've heard, and it has it's use, but it's not like driving an amp. All this to say, I believe this is something I've been needing for a while and just never thought about. Not only for the silo either.
I experimented with a HD500X, which I use to simulate drive when I can't crank an amp. I like it for what it is, the simulations are as good as I've heard, and it has it's use, but it's not like driving an amp. All this to say, I believe this is something I've been needing for a while and just never thought about. Not only for the silo either.
