OLDER HSH SILO or NEW 2H AL

[peterd79]

Before i get started i would like to thank BP and the Gang at EBMM for slipping something into the finish of the neck that manages to get into our blood and captures our hearts... i've never had a guitar change the way i play, practice and think about muisc. Since buying my first EBMM a few weeks ago i have not picked up anything else and im now in the market for a second EBMM...
here's the delima... i'm looking at a used Silo (early 90s) with a HSH configuration- ideally i would like a SSS i've heard that i can buy the loaded pickguard from EBMM; however, with the release of the 2H AL being available so quickly i'm really tossed... Please help me out with thoughts and suggestions.

 

[Slav123]

You really have to hold them and play them. There are so many feel, look and sound differences between the two guitars that you can't really make a decision without playing them. Plus, there's a pretty big price difference between the two guitars and your talking about an older used guitar vs. a brand new guitar.

Good luck though,
Slav

 

[patpark]

2H AL all the way!

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

My choice over all the new stuff would be the HH AL. If you are dead set on a 24 fret model, get the Silo.

 

[peterd79]

one thing i didnt mention was the price-
there is a "slight" difference in price and i'm not opposed to paying for the AL if in the end i would be just as pleased. The problem is i've never seen an AL in any of my local GC's. With my 20th silo i can get just about anything tonally but would like to have something to fill in where my previous SSS guitar was... and since i don't play those "F" word guitars anymore i'd like to throw in a EBMM... and if an AL can get there and more i'm not opposed to it... but if a SSS or HSH (in this case) can replicate that tone a bit closer then thats the direction i should probably head...

 

[Stratty316]

Played the 2HB AL at Guitar Center last night and I can't stop thinking about how well it played and how versatile it sounded... just wish my playing didn't stink Zombi out of the place. I would go for the AL... I am trying to figure out how to get it since I am not collecting any money from work at the moment (ah, the down side of being 1099ed)

YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED BY THE 2HB AL... but you may regret not getting one.

 

[fogman]

well the 2H AL is a sexy beast, but very few of us have had the opportunity to play one, and therefore cannot comment accurately.

my guess though is that you having a 20th Silo (though different) might have the 2H thing covered.

A Silo HSH have the dual humbuckers as well, but you gain positions 2 & 4 for that quack tele type sounds.

A SSS config will probably add more variety to what you currently own over the above 2 options.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[D.K.]

Just my 2 cents - I've always been a fan of used guitars. The better the guitar is built and the more it gets played, the better it sounds with time (good maintenance provided). And, You can't get a guitar quite like this anymore, while a new AL is gonna be around for a while, I hope.

As good as any brand new EBMM sounds, it will sound better in a couple of years. Besides, You already have the best 2HH guitar EBMM has come up with so far.

So, if it was for me, if all the other factors are equal (shape, sound possibilities etc) I would go used and try it. probably You'd be more than happy with it. If not, You can sell it without loosing money and buy a new AL. If You do it the other way around and want to go silo after the AL, You'd have to loose couple hundred bucks.

 

[peterd79]

) YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED BY THE 2HB AL... but you may regret not getting one.

over the last 20 years of playing (i'm now 30) i've played and owned a lot of guitars my very first was a '56-'57 LP Junior (still have it). About a month ago i was looking at 13 electrics in my music room (mostly famous SSS) and looking back i experienced buyers remorse with just about all of them (but its what i knew). When i bought my 20th Silo it was the first time i wasn't disappointed or regretted my purchase so i know either direction i won't be disappointed...
I know that ultimately i need to be hands on to tell what will work for me and that neither one is better than the other and all preference at this point. Just getting some input before i pull the trigger.
thanks guys!

 

[Slingy]

You know a SSS Al might just be the ticket. Don't forget to try a Luke though.

 

[zombi]

Played the 2HB AL at Guitar Center last night and I can't stop thinking about how well it played and how versatile it sounded... just wish my playing didn't stink Zombi out of the place. I would go for the AL... I am trying to figure out how to get it since I am not collecting any money from work at the moment (ah, the down side of being 1099ed)

YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED BY THE 2HB AL... but you may regret not getting one.

My playing has been much worse as of late. You'd think I'd get to play a bit more working at a guitar store but not so much... Haha!

 

[zombi]

But my 2 cents is this. If you want your old strat sound at the neck, the hsh silo doesn't quite get there. The silo spec will, but the hsh won't. The 22 fret neck on the silo spec puts the neck single coil at the sweet spot. However the HH AL in the 2nd position from the neck is something to behold!

 

[mb99zz]

Definitley try both if you can. It's all a mater of taste for the sound, ergonomics, and looks. With that said, here are my two cents:

I have two Silo's (20th and Silo Special SSS) and an AL w/MM90's. For ergonomics, the AL neck is better but the Silo's body is slightly more comfortable when sitting down. Standing up the AL feels slightly better balanced.

For sound, I actually like the AL SSS over the Silo Special SSS. So, if you're after an SSS config, I'd vote for the AL. I haven't sampled the new HH AL. So, I can't compare it to the 20th or an HSH Silo.

Don't sleep on the MM90's. I wish I had tried them years ago. Since I got my AL MM90, my Silo SSS has been seriously neglected. I really love the MM90 tones.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Sounds to me like you'd be happiest with a good 'ol SSS Al.

You could order it through GC and if you decide that you really would rather have the silo.....or HH Al, you can bring it back in 30 days. I predict that you will keep it.

 

[guitfiddle]

Here's my 2 cents.

Whenever I'm playing stuff that calls for a stratty sound, unless I use my actual '74, I use the SSS AL. I don't use the 20th or the HSH Silo.

Whenever I play anything that doesn't need a stratty sound, I use either the 20th or the HSH Silo.

So, I would steer you towards the SSS AL for that single coil stratty type of stuff.

I have not tried a HH AL yet, but I do plan to buy one as soon as I can find one in Canada. However, it's my intent to use it for humbucker stuff and keep the SSS AL for the single coil stuff.

 

[Sweat]

Peter,

I am going to biased on this one but get the 2H AL, I do like silos dont get me wrong there, but the 2h AL is a very special axe, I think you would be suprised at what you get from the pups, and is voiced totally different than a 20th., Check your PM's.

 

[Lukesilo]

Dude that HH AL is so sweet looking and I bet sounds amazing.

 

[paranoid70]

Peter. Here is my $.02 for what it is worth.

Like you, I love my 20th - it can cover so much and plays just great... but if you are looking for that stratty single coil sound, I would recommend the SSS AL. I also love the 2H AL - it's a wonderful instrument. But, from what I am reading from your posts the SSS AL would be something you should really check out.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Hate to open another can of worms, but how does Silo SSS sound compare to the AL SSS?

Do they both quack and twang about the same?

 

[Sweat]

Hate to open another can of worms, but how does Silo SSS sound compare to the AL SSS?

Do they both quack and twang about the same?

Nope 100 % different pickups, Silo DiMarzio, Al Seymor Duncan and different tone woods as well.