Hey everyone, I'm new on here so I guess I should be introducing myself.
I'm 23, living in Luxembourg (google it, and when you can't find it, look between Belgium and Germany with a magnifying glass) which has a grand total of 3 guitar stores (rock on!), of which none sell Music Man.
Fortunately enough we're pretty close to Brussels, Amsterdam (where I lived) and Paris (where I'm from, but don't tell anyone) which all have shops which carry Music Man (I think I saw one Silhouette and one Axis in Amsterdam, and roughly the same amount in Paris... le sigh).
However this means that wherever I get my guitar, I'll have to spend even more to actually GET there (I don't drive and taking the car is often more expensive than taking the train over in Europe).
Since I recently found employment I decided to treat myself to an upgrade to what I already have (my main guitar is an incredible sounding HW1 Strat which I rewired with Bareknuckle/Duncan pickups).
I tried a Custom Shop Fender which was just about the best guitar I ever played, but which is also just about 1,200 euros more than I could ever afford... :|
So I've been thinking again about those dreamy moments spent with a Silhouette once (SSS, Floyd, the second best guitar I ever played).
The neck was just PERFECT. Narrow nut, nice C shape, just filled the palm of my hands. Never had anything so comfortable.
The only issue is that they're on VERY short supply in Europe and VERY expensive. About 1,700 euros for a Silhouette Special (22 frets, the version I want). Heck this one is pretty much what I'd like but look at the price... http://www.musicmanuk.co.uk/stock_silhspecial.htm that's 2,400 dollars.
What I DO know about the MMs:
They WILL be an upgrade on both US Strats and my current HW1.
They're cheaper than CS Strats.
They play like smooth, delicious strawberry jello.
Their fret dressing out of the factory are second to none.
Their Silhouette sound like Strats, feel like the Strat of the future and look like awesomeness mixed with a bit of extra awesome.
What I do NOT know:
Hardware quality
Finish quality
Every one of them I've tried had the strings set very low. Can you go fairly high on string height with the provided bridge? For instance with my HW1 Strat and the bridge all the way to the body, I had to get new saddles to get the strings where I wanted them. I'd either go for a S Special hardtail or with the two points trem. No Floyd.
I guess that's everything... I should be able to by the end of the summer... to celebrate the end of my trial period by the beginning of October maybe
I don't mind buying second either but the market in Europe seems very small... Buying from the US is becoming very not worth it now, what with the dollar being worth a lot more than even just 6 months ago and customs + charges...
Anyway, thanks if you guys can help out, and I'll try to stick around and be a member of the Ball family. Even though I could never use their strings. May as well us their guitars!
I'm 23, living in Luxembourg (google it, and when you can't find it, look between Belgium and Germany with a magnifying glass) which has a grand total of 3 guitar stores (rock on!), of which none sell Music Man.
Fortunately enough we're pretty close to Brussels, Amsterdam (where I lived) and Paris (where I'm from, but don't tell anyone) which all have shops which carry Music Man (I think I saw one Silhouette and one Axis in Amsterdam, and roughly the same amount in Paris... le sigh).
However this means that wherever I get my guitar, I'll have to spend even more to actually GET there (I don't drive and taking the car is often more expensive than taking the train over in Europe).
Since I recently found employment I decided to treat myself to an upgrade to what I already have (my main guitar is an incredible sounding HW1 Strat which I rewired with Bareknuckle/Duncan pickups).
I tried a Custom Shop Fender which was just about the best guitar I ever played, but which is also just about 1,200 euros more than I could ever afford... :|
So I've been thinking again about those dreamy moments spent with a Silhouette once (SSS, Floyd, the second best guitar I ever played).
The neck was just PERFECT. Narrow nut, nice C shape, just filled the palm of my hands. Never had anything so comfortable.
The only issue is that they're on VERY short supply in Europe and VERY expensive. About 1,700 euros for a Silhouette Special (22 frets, the version I want). Heck this one is pretty much what I'd like but look at the price... http://www.musicmanuk.co.uk/stock_silhspecial.htm that's 2,400 dollars.
What I DO know about the MMs:
They WILL be an upgrade on both US Strats and my current HW1.
They're cheaper than CS Strats.
They play like smooth, delicious strawberry jello.
Their fret dressing out of the factory are second to none.
Their Silhouette sound like Strats, feel like the Strat of the future and look like awesomeness mixed with a bit of extra awesome.
What I do NOT know:
Hardware quality
Finish quality
Every one of them I've tried had the strings set very low. Can you go fairly high on string height with the provided bridge? For instance with my HW1 Strat and the bridge all the way to the body, I had to get new saddles to get the strings where I wanted them. I'd either go for a S Special hardtail or with the two points trem. No Floyd.
I guess that's everything... I should be able to by the end of the summer... to celebrate the end of my trial period by the beginning of October maybe
I don't mind buying second either but the market in Europe seems very small... Buying from the US is becoming very not worth it now, what with the dollar being worth a lot more than even just 6 months ago and customs + charges...
Anyway, thanks if you guys can help out, and I'll try to stick around and be a member of the Ball family. Even though I could never use their strings. May as well us their guitars!
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