Ibanez neck to Silo neck how difficult?

[raygun]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and have enjoyed reading may posts b/f I registered. This forum feels great!! I'm glad to be here!

Ok. Now I'm looking to get a Silo special, mainly 'cos I want a "better" strat than wat Fender has to offer. However, being an Ibanez player, I'm used to the flat radius (14") and super thin neck 17mm at 1st fret & 19mm at 12th.

I read that the silo spec has a 10" radius and 21mm at 1st fert & 23.5mm at 12th. My question is have anyone here played both makes and not encounter any problem going thro' & fro' b/w Ibanez & musicman?

Does the 10" radius fret-out often with bends? And how is tapping & sweep picking on it?

I play mainly blues rock/neo-classical rock and I'm concerned the big difference b/w the 2 necks will throw me off.

btw, is there an option to custom order the silo spec neck profile?

I hope to hear some opinions, thks



cheers

 

[Jimi D]

Hey raygun,

I played Jem/Universe guitars exclusively for years before being won over by the EBMM camp, so I have solid first hand experience with your dilema. First up, you can't order any special profiles on EBMM necks - they are what they are for any given model, take it or leave it. IME, I was unable to switch between Jems and my Luke or Axis easily - I needed a period of adjustment (like a few hours) to feel comfortable, and the cramps I was experiencing moving back and forth between neck profiles was ultimately the reason why I initially sold my Luke and ultimately sold off my Jems - but my hands are slightly arthritic, so YMMV... Anyway, the Ibanez Wizard or Jem necks are much wider than EBMM necks, and it would require major surgery - including substantial routing - to get one properly attached to a Silhouette body. And you'd need to use a 22-fret IBZ neck for the Sil. Spec... Ultimately, it simply wouldn't be worth it: the costs would be huge, the results questionable...

The Petrucci is the EBMM guitar with the closest-to-Ibanez neck profile at the moment; but if you've ever played an IBZ JP100, you'll know that the "Viper" neck profile John prefered was actually quite different from a Wizard neck...

As far as fretting out, or having trouble with sweeps or taps, I think it's all a matter of what you're used to... The string spacing on the Ibanez is much wider than you'll find on a Sil. Spec., and as you've noted, the IBZ fretboard radius is much flatter (I remember the Wizard radius as 430mm, which is about 20" actually, so that's twice as flat!). Suffice it to say that the instruments feel radically different. Still and all, playing an "Axis" didn't seem to slow EVH down much, did it.

My advice to you is to get out there and try a few of them for yourself - you won't really know how you feel about these guitars until you play them...

good luck

 

[Bassplyr]

Jimi, I always learn more than I bargained for when I read your posts. Thanks for the info!

 

[Raz]

Jimi, I always learn more than I bargained for when I read your posts. Thanks for the info!

Did I mention how intelligent he is! I'd hang out with him more, but I may dullen his sharpness, plus his wife might not enjoy it

 

[SteveB]

I have two Ibanez guitars with Wizard necks, and I own an EBMM Petrucci signature guitar. I don't have much trouble switching between the two, although I play my Ibanez's less and less.

(I keep an Ibanez RG sitting in a stand in my living room, so that I can just pick it up and noodle when the chance comes up. It's my 'beater' guitar. I keep all my other guitars in their cases when I'm not playing them.)

The Petrucci fingerboard is not quite as flat and wide, but it is still very comfortable for someone coming from a Wizard neck. I find the biggest difference in the first three frets.. the whole neck just feels different down there. I can actually play open chords much easier and cleaner on the Petrucci guitar.

Of course, this is all one man's opinion...

 

[mesavox]

I've had several Ibanez over the years. The Wizard is the neck I have the most experience with other than the JPM....

The SS neck feels very small compared to a Wizard. It does feel beefier in terms of thickness but it doesn't put pressure on your hands the way a Wizard does. It allows your fingers to reach around the fretboard much easier. At least, that is, if you have relatively small hands. If you have Steve Vai type hands, both are going to feel like a stick of balsa wood anyway. lol

Actually, the SS neck is very similar to the Jem neck (which is identical to the JPM neck except that it is 1mm wider at the first fret.) The current JPM neck is still a lot different than a Wizard and has more in common with the old JPM neck still. JPMs and the SS are narrower than Ibanez' typical necks which I like. Once you widdle off that extra on the sides that just causes the knuckles to bind up for a lot of people that I've talked to over the years, A millimeter or two of extra thickness is no problem.

Definately play one... there truly is nothing like a Music Man neck. Of all the things they do so well, thier necks are the masterpiece....

 

[raygun]

Thks so much for all ur replies! I appreciate it.

I've been on the super wizard neck for a long time and taking a step out of the comfort zone concerns me. Its good to hear u guys r having so much fun wif Musicmans and not too much problem wif switching guitars.

I hope the SS is wat I'm looking for as a "better" strat to compliment my mahogany Ibanez in terms of tonal diversity. I'll definitely have to track one down to "test drive" it.

cheers

 

[kbaim]

Or the Albert Lee model if you don't mind the shape.

A fantastic (strat replacement) guitar that flies totally under the radar.

KEITH

 

[edensdad]

The JP model prbably has the wide thin neck you seek. . .

 

[mesavox]

I don't know, the JP model isn't very wide at all. All the EB JPM neck is really is a thinned out Ibanez JPM neck. It's the same width all the way, and the Viper neck(later renamed the JPM neck) was much, much narrower than the typical Ibanez neck.

To my knowledge, nothing in the Music Man arsenal comes close to the very comfort unfriendly Wizard neck. lol. Sure, it's great for speed, but it would get the same vibe happening on that front if it was narrower too and left as thin as it is. I've had two Wizards, and my Jackson JDR 94, with it's cheap Korean made neck was thinner, narrower, and much faster and comfortable. The Wizard is sooooo overated IMO. The Wizard II was just a waste of material on every guitar it came on. YUK.

So, what is the Albert Lee neck like? Similar to the SS? I think they are sweet looking and I'll definately check into them when I replace my stolen strat.

 

[raygun]

Ok. Does anyone knows how does the Silo necks compared wif modern strat necks? Those deluxe strats wif 9.5" radius?

cheers

 

[Ali]

I think I've taken the ultimate jump in necks. From the uber wide and flat Universe neck to the Comapct and bijou Luke. I certainly won't be going back to Ibanez. Never played anything quite so comfortable

 

[kbaim]

So, what is the Albert Lee neck like? Similar to the SS? I think they are sweet looking and I'll definately check into them when I replace my stolen strat.

I'm finding the neck extremely comfortable. Gonna take it in for a tweak today due to all the rain we're getting.

I got small hands and love the Lukes, but the Albert comes very very close and in some ways might be even better. I'm no shredder, but for fret jumping and position changes it feels so accurate and effortless. Great for players that love shimmering clean tones.