Help me decide on my second EBMM guitar purchase!

[menvafaan]

Why would I replace the bridge pickup? The Super Sport covers all my humbucking needs!

 

[robelinda2]

Buy the Luke.
Buy the Luke.
Buy the Luke.
Buy the Luke.
Buy the Luke.

Seriously, though, you probably can't go wrong with and AL or a Silo Spec. I guess it's a matter of which feels better to you.

Frankston will be rocking to the tune of my AL's and Silo Specials in May and June every Saturday night, make sure your windows are open at home, I play nice and loud.

 

[DavidOfOz]

Frankston will be rocking to the tune of my AL's and Silo Specials in May and June every Saturday night, make sure your windows are open at home, I play nice and loud.

Excellent! Let me know where and when...I'd love to see you do your thing.

 

[whitestrat]

I believe the unofficial name for the Luke model is "Strat Killer". Or was that the Silo Special?

It would have to be the Silo Spec. Because the Luke, for what it's worth, especially with those direct mounted active pups, sounds nothing like a strat.

 

[whitestrat]

Why would I replace the bridge pickup? The Super Sport covers all my humbucking needs!

Get a Silo Spec in SSS, then order another pre-wired pickguard assemply in HSS. Then swap whenever you want. Thing is, the ASS humbucker tones will not be the same as the humbucker in the Silo spec.

1. Different woods - One is basswood with maple, the other is a full alder body
2. Different pickups - one is a Tonezone, the other is a Virtual PAF. (If I'm not wrong)

Also, do take note that what many people forget, or don't realise, is that the classic strat tone is a result (non-exclusive) of the pickguard and the front routed pickup cavities. It adds a certain spank to the tone. Which is why I said that the Luke cannot sound like a strat. I don't mean it sounds worse or better, just different.

I'm one of the few anal retentive strat owners who believe that a proper strat tone can only come from a guitar (regardless of brand) which has 21/22 frets, 25.5" scale, a pickguard, front routing, and trem cavity in the rear (non-floyd rose), regardless of whether you use the trem or not.

That's why I ordered a Silo Spec... So I can put my RW (round lam) 65 Custom Shop Relic into cold storage. I might even sell it. Because no matter what bells and whistles it comes with, for some reason, Fender CANNOT compare against the EBMM construction quality...

 

[travs]

The saying is the Albert Lee is what a strat only dreams it could be.

My first inclination, and part of my official oath of office as CIC ALOC, is to tell everyone to get an AL - They are great guitars. But either way you cannot go wrong. If you feel you need the humbucker in the bridge the Silo Special rocks. I don't have experience with the Luke myself as I'm not into the floating trem or emg's and the neck is not for me - but that is individual choice as it is a great all around cover any base guitar.

I'd also check out the forum based dealers - Pete Dubaldo, JeffreyB etc. if your looking for a purchase with great prices and service. And Pete has a cople of AL's in stock now.

I must add my .002cents that the Al is the choice sss or the mm90. its the real deal with comfort and tone.

 

[beej]

These are all good suggestions. Here's my take.

Albert singles: vintage strat vibe, plus a touch of tele twang at bridge.
Sil Spec singles: more of a modern strat vibe.
Luke: even more modern. very flat across the frequencies, like EMGs are.
Anything with MM90s: meatier single coil twang to thicker sounds.

So take your pick, but the necks are all so different.

If you *love* your Axis neck, then get the Axis MM90 or find an Axis Sport MM90- it's all ash and less expensive, will be closer to that Albert MM90 sound. And you're set. But no "quack" in the in-between positions because you only have to pickups. (For that, the AL MM90.)

If you don't care so much and really want the single coil sound, AL SSS or Sil Spec SSS. Necks are close and you could EQ either to be the guitar for you.

 

[darchirnoj]

This one:

Albert Lee MM90

Pete's an awesome guy who's always on the forum.
Plus, that guitar is smokin' hot, too!