Please help me compare Silo SSS & AL

[fogman]

thanks.

 

[candid_x]

To me, suited for blues (in the typical or traditional sense) would mean a Strat and a tweed or blackface amp, maybe a TS, but not even necessary. I've been urging for just such a traditional sound lately, and frankly have been questioning if there's even a way to get there with MM guitars.

Now before you start jumping up with terms like "Strat killers", I'm not talking about a Strat killer, I'm talking about a real Strat sound. Silo Specials have a different body, a lot less wood below the bridge especially. Can I really get a convincing Strat sound from changing pickups in my Silo Specials, or from an AL, stock or modded? I haven't heard it yet. Close, but not the same. Maybe someone has the secret......

 

[banjoplayer]

I assume there is no compromise: getting a real Strat Sound means playing one - the same with the tele. I don´t think there´s a way with EBMM for purists.

Maybe there will be the day when I drool for a real Fender Strat or Tele. At the moment I´m more into the fact that I like the sound of my silo SSS (minus the neck single coil as mentioned) more than any Fenders I´ve played so far. Added the fact that it´s so comfortable and smooth (body + neck) makes it more attractive than any other. But maybe the day comes where I want the original thing...

 

[beej]

My two cents: there is no one Strat sound; so many different variations of wood and p'ups over the years. Not to mention how inconsistent Fenders are off the production line.

That said, the classic Strat sound is in both Ash and Alder flavours. I don't see why you can't nail the exact sound with the AL or Silo Spec. Pickups might require some tweaking to get where you want.

I personally think the AL nails the vintage strat vibe pretty damn well, except that the bridge p'up is too twangy for it. But that's easily fixed if that's where you're going.

 

[candid_x]

I think you hit the nail on the head, Banjo, and that's the legitimate side of "Strat killer", because in regards to the playability factor, I doubt I'll ever find a Strat which plays like Silo.

 

[whitestrat]

Now before you start jumping up with terms like "Strat killers", I'm not talking about a Strat killer, I'm talking about a real Strat sound. Silo Specials have a different body, a lot less wood below the bridge especially. Can I really get a convincing Strat sound from changing pickups in my Silo Specials, or from an AL, stock or modded? I haven't heard it yet. Close, but not the same. Maybe someone has the secret......

I've been discovering several differences between the Silo Spec and a strat. Size being one. But the key difference seems to be the pickup positions. The Silo Spec seems to have a narrower grouping of pickups than a strat. The neck pickup is still a bit off the 24th fret mark, mainly due to the full 22 fret neck and the truss rod wheel (remember, strats have a 21 fret neck with a 22 fret fretboard, and no wheel. the neck pup is EXACTLY there.) and the bridge pup for the Silo Spec seems to be farther from the bridge than that of a strat. The old strats used to have no tone knob connection for the bridge pup, but the SS does.

Having said all this, I've never had problems getting my Silo Spec to sound like a nice vintage strat. I really don't think it's magic. Just the right pups in the right wood, right form factor, and the guitar will sound like that you want. Stock? I doubt it. The stock pups just don't do it for me. There needs to be a bit of tweaking. Even the same set of pups in my strat and my SS didn't sound the same. And that's due to neck wood and body weight. But that's just 2 specific examples. When you add more variety of strats into the pot, my SS definately sounds like some of the older "vintage" strats I've played out there.

 

[whitestrat]

That said, the classic Strat sound is in both Ash and Alder flavours. I don't see why you can't nail the exact sound with the AL or Silo Spec. Pickups might require some tweaking to get where you want.

There IS something I've noticed that does separate a maple strat and a maple SS with the same pups. The trem block. The newer Silos come with brass blocks (or so my LE08 did). The strats are generally steel (or even sometimes zinc). This alters the tone quite a bit. For the better for sure, but it's still a different tone.

This is why my old white Silo Spec sounds more like a strat than my new LE08. It's got a steel block in it.

 

[aníbalsantander]

Will the neck PUP on the AL give me what I want? A real warm, bluesy - sometimes meaty sound? I mean AL is often compared to Tele, which I think refers mainly to the metal-plated bridge PUP. Will the AL neck PUP give me the tone a Strat neck PUP would give? The Silo SSS neck PUP does not

I think you guys are going too far away from the original question, the answer is yes, absolutely yes.
About youre discussion about the real thing and Ebmm's, i think that There's no fender that compares to an AL, the silent circuit, the truss rod construction, the quality of the pup's, electronics, body wood, and more important, the way that the neck fits on the pocket makes it a no brainer.

 

[banjoplayer]

I think you guys are going too far away from the original question

what was it ?
aaah, the thing about the AL neck single coil tone like a Strat? Thanks.

Anyway, an interesting discussion, I´ve learned alot. hijacking was not too bad

 

[candid_x]

My tone quest returns me to this site often Acme Guitar Works - Guitar Parts, Pickups, Electronics, and Prewired Assemblies . Some concise samples of some of some well respected pickups.

To my surprise, my last two visits there had me shying away from the vintage winds, which is what I thought I was after, and going in the complete opposite direction of seriously over-wound Texas Specials - a pickup I never would have even imagined liking.

Anyway, thought you might enjoy the samples.

 

[whitestrat]

About youre discussion about the real thing and Ebmm's, i think that There's no fender that compares to an AL, the silent circuit, the truss rod construction, the quality of the pup's, electronics, body wood, and more important, the way that the neck fits on the pocket makes it a no brainer.

Yes, but lets not again forget, that if there were no strats, we wouldn't be hunting for that tone either... Strats, as simple as they may be, are (I like the way BP put it) "Standard Bearers". This is pretty true. They still are much the basis for single coil comparisons today. The EBMMs were obviously the way to go when it came to improving that original design by Leo Fender and his team (Eddie Travares, etc etc...).

And furthermore, not everyone (including me) can get used to that odd shaped AL body. I'm prepared to forget that body shape everytime I pick it up to play, because it's just so damn nice to listen to and interact with. But off the shelf, I think most people would still pick conventional designs.

Which is why I wish EBMM placed more concentration on pushing the Silo Spec... I think that is such an underappreciated guitar...

 

[candid_x]

For me it's a paradox. I've never met a Strat I liked. There's so many little annoyances I have with the layout and the feel. Someone used the word "clangy", and I like that word to describe that special Strat something. So for me, Strats are a love/hate thing.

The Silo Special corrected every detail I didn't like about the Strat, as though I was sitting there with them at the original planning stage. There's honestly nothing I don't like about the Silo Special. However, I think no matter what pickups I drop into it, it will never sound like that awful clangy Strat. I've not heard an AL clip that has it either. But it appears that the AL's shape is much closer to that of a Strat, so I'm curious what potential might be there. I've also wondered what an alder AL would be like.

 

[robelinda2]

Yes I think the Silo Special is a strat perfected, i feel the same as you Bruce. Even strats ive played that I like the tone, I hated the feel, the playability etc. But the silo special has the perfect body shape, and best wood comination for strat tones, plus you get both maple and rosewood board options, which is tremendous. The AL is great too, but I keep coming back to my LE 06 Silo Special, it just has that woody stratty tone that I love. My rosewood SSS AL is close, but it must be the ash that makes it sound a little brighter and not as raunchy.

 

[colinboy]

might be a stupid question but what the difference between the silo and the silo special guys?

 

[fogman]

might be a stupid question but what the difference between the silo and the silo special guys?

Silo has HSH pickup config. It's more modern sounding.
The SS has either SSH or SSS pickups and is more on the vintage side of things. Plus they have the silent circuit.

 

[Mikey]

...not to forget about the necks!
silo has 24 frets
silo special has 22 frets

 

[candid_x]

Just to clarify, I use the term "clangy" endearingly. It's the one thing about Strats I do like.

 

[fogman]

...not to forget about the necks!
silo has 24 frets
silo special has 22 frets

oops! forgot.
thanks for watching my back!

 

[whitestrat]

Someone used the word "clangy", and I like that word to describe that special Strat something.

Thats one thing I get!!!

 

[candid_x]

Lionel, so do the CS69's clang yer balls?

Btw, can anyone explain the "candid_x has no status. Edit " under my handle?

D'uh, I get it, never mind.