(Repost) Some questions about the Silhouette

[Katana6506]

As a total neophyte to the world of EBMM, I figured that this would be the first (and best) place to ask around for information.

I have an opportunity to purchase a 1994 Silhouette in a honeyburst finish with the following features: the MM Floyd Rose trem, rosewood 24-fret neck, and two DiMarzio Cruiser pickups in place of the original single coils. The original bridge humbucker is still in place.

I need to know what the neck feel is like (oil/wax) in terms of speed, width, and depth (I have long fingers, and I don't want a neck that's really small); I also would like to ask about the quality and characteristics of the MM Floyd trem relative to an original Floyd. Any comments on build quality relative to higher-end Ibanez, G&L's, American Fenders, and ESP's LTD series guitars would be appreciated, as I'm also considering those (although I'm sure a Silhouette blows them all away!) Any other general comments you'd like to add would be appreciated.

Thanks for bearing with me!

 

[neastguy]

in my little experience with a silo, they have the smallest feeling necks of any guitars I've played, also, the finish on the neck is great, its my favorite so far, non sticky and easy to play for long periods on time.....I dont know how the neck would be with big hands though.....I know for me, with the EB necks I can make stretches I normally cant do on say a strat neck..

 

[Jimi D]

Katana,

I have a Silhouette and am rather fond of it. You can see pics and read some detailed Silhouette history here:

My Silhouette

I'm a former Jem player with very long hands and I have no trouble at all navigating the Silhouette fretboard. It's 1.625" wide at the nut, which is considerably more narrow than the Ibanez board, but it's a very nice, supportive C shape in back, and the oil & wax finish is super slick - the same sort of feel most people are looking when they sand down the finish on their Jem necks, but better. The Musicman Floyd is Gotoh-made and very good - the rolled steel baseplate is really heavy and solid feeling, giving the trem a smooth, solid action. It's comfortably the equal of the best Schaller-built floyds or the Edge trem in terms of feel and performance, imho. The build quality is, of course, second to none - it's really EBMM's forté... They're great guitars; I don't think you'll be disappointed with it.

 

[mhorse]

in my little experience with a silo, they have the smallest feeling necks of any guitars I've played, also, the finish on the neck is great, its my favorite so far, non sticky and easy to play for long periods on time.....I dont know how the neck would be with big hands though.....I know for me, with the EB necks I can make stretches I normally cant do on say a strat neck..

I guess it's a personal thing, but I thought Silo's neck is rather large, when compared to Axis or Pet. Large and comfy - that was my impression. But again, I have small hands and can't stand large (LP-ish) necks. Silo's neck felt great. My suggestion would be try it before you buy it.

 

[neastguy]

I guess it's a personal thing, but I thought Silo's neck is rather large, when compared to Axis or Pet. Large and comfy - that was my impression. But again, I have small hands and can't stand large (LP-ish) necks. Silo's neck felt great. My suggestion would be try it before you buy it.

isnt the silo neck the same scale as a strat neck in length ? is it not as wide and that why I can make those stretches on it? where are the experts?

 

[mhorse]

I think it's the same 25.5 scale length

 

[John C]

All EBMM guitars currently available are 25 1/2" scale - at least until that prototype JP neck-through that was shown last month makes it into production.

I think you are finding you can make larger stretches because of the nut witdth. If I'm remembering correctly your primary Strat is a Strat Plus Deluxe, which would have a 1.6875 nut width, while the EBMM (except for the JP6) has a 1.625" wide nut, so even though it is deeper than those late '80s-early '90s Strat necks the EBMM neck still plays "smaller".

I have small hands, and can reach so much more on the EBMM neck than on any other becuase of this - I even find my reach is limited slightly by the 1.650" nut width that so many other manufacturers use as their "1 5/8 inch" neck (if you do the math, 1 5/8" really equals 1.625").

The JP6 uses the 1 11/16" (or 1.6875") nut width.

 

[neastguy]

All EBMM guitars currently available are 25 1/2" scale - at least until that prototype JP neck-through that was shown last month makes it into production.

I think you are finding you can make larger stretches because of the nut witdth. If I'm remembering correctly your primary Strat is a Strat Plus Deluxe, which would have a 1.6875 nut width, while the EBMM (except for the JP6) has a 1.625" wide nut, so even though it is deeper than those late '80s-early '90s Strat necks the EBMM neck still plays "smaller".

I have small hands, and can reach so much more on the EBMM neck than on any other becuase of this - I even find my reach is limited slightly by the 1.650" nut width that so many other manufacturers use as their "1 5/8 inch" neck (if you do the math, 1 5/8" really equals 1.625").



The JP6 uses the 1 11/16" (or 1.6875") nut width.

yep I have a 1990 strat ultra that must be why!!

 

[Katana6506]

Thanks guys...

I unfortunately will not be able to try the guitar due to the fact that it and I are in completely different states, hence the rather long list of questions. I'd be fairly confident in buying it sight unseen (beyond what pictures this seller has of it). If the neck is like a Strat neck with the speed/feel of an Ibanez neck, that sounds like heaven to me. I don't want a "baseball bat" neck like that of an LP.

 

[mhorse]

Silo's neck is very different from Ibanez Wizard neck.
Look up a EBMM dealer around you, and go try a Silo there. I don't know if necks of Floyd-equipped Silo were identical to the current production, but I would imagine them being close enough.

 

[Katana6506]

I checked the local dealer inventory, and unfortunately no one has any Silhouettes in stock.


What I meant in terms of neck feel was the speed of the Wizard rather than the dimensions. I just love unfinished/lightly finished necks, and if the Silhouette is built in such a way, I'm sure I'd love it.

 

[mhorse]

All EBMM's except for the SUB have gun stock oil/wax finish. It's not like a paint or laquer of any type, but it keeps the neck more stable relatively to completely unfinished.

 

[Jimi D]

Play any current EBMM and you'll know what the finish is like...

The Sil. neck is sweet - a great transitional neck between shred necks and vintage (read: trad Strat) necks. It's really a very thoughtful "best of both worlds" kind of neck... very comfortable, very fast, very smooth...

 

[Katana6506]

Perhaps I'll head to Guitar Center and play some of theirs...this would be one situation where I'd like to be rather impersonal, as I'm not actually going to purchase an instrument.
GC seems like just the place for that situation, although whether they'd allow me to even touch something like a Luke or a Pet (both seem to be common locally) is up in the air.
We'll just have to see...

 

[Katana6506]

What was the OEM case provided in the early 90's?