Question Silhouette neck enquiry

[chrisnarozny]

hi everyone,

Though I am new on here, I have long been an admirer of the original Silhouette guitar, and I have a few obscure questions about it that I hope some of you may be able to help me with.

Although I have played several over the years, I have never yet owned a Silhouette because I found the necks too difficult to get along with. They are simply too Fender-esque for my liking (a narrow nut, pronounced fingerboard camber and small frets.) I have contacted EBMM several times enquiring as to the possibility of having a Silhouette build for me by the custom shop with a wider and flatter neck, but the answer has always been no and I have given up on this idea.

However, I seem to recall reading or hearing somewhere that when the Silhouette was offered with a Floyd type trem (actually a rebranded Kahler Steeler), there was a limited production run made with wider than standard 43mm (1.695in) locking nut. I have never been able to ascertain this personally, and I certainly don't recall ever playing a Silhouette with a noticeably more Gibson-esque feeling neck.

Therefore, I'd like to ask you all is this true? Do any of you out there maybe own a Silhouette with a 43mm or 1.695 inch locking nut? If so, please drop me a line as it would confirm what I have been led to believe, and would certainly rekindle my interest in finding one of these guitars. Who knows, if I come across a Silhouette with a wider than standard neck and rosewood board that just happens to be looking for a new home, i may well be interested if the price is right.

I look forward to reading your replies.

 

[GuitaRasmus]

hi everyone,

Though I am new on here, I have long been an admirer of the original Silhouette guitar, and I have a few obscure questions about it that I hope some of you may be able to help me with.

Although I have played several over the years, I have never yet owned a Silhouette because I found the necks too difficult to get along with. They are simply too Fender-esque for my liking (a narrow nut, pronounced fingerboard camber and small frets.) I have contacted EBMM several times enquiring as to the possibility of having a Silhouette build for me by the custom shop with a wider and flatter neck, but the answer has always been no and I have given up on this idea.

However, I seem to recall reading or hearing somewhere that when the Silhouette was offered with a Floyd type trem (actually a rebranded Kahler Steeler), there was a limited production run made with wider than standard 43mm (1.695in) locking nut. I have never been able to ascertain this personally, and I certainly don't recall ever playing a Silhouette with a noticeably more Gibson-esque feeling neck.

Therefore, I'd like to ask you all is this true? Do any of you out there maybe own a Silhouette with a 43mm or 1.695 inch locking nut? If so, please drop me a line as it would confirm what I have been led to believe, and would certainly rekindle my interest in finding one of these guitars. Who knows, if I come across a Silhouette with a wider than standard neck and rosewood board that just happens to be looking for a new home, i may well be interested if the price is right.

I look forward to reading your replies.

I actually think a shop here in Copenhagen has a Silhoutte with a floyd - I'm not sure if it has a wider neck, but I do remember it having a floyd. Anyway, send them a mail, and find out: [email protected]

 

[Slingy]

Not sure if you are interested in a JP model, but its the only current model with a wide(43mm at nut) and flat(15 in radius) fretboard. The neck shape is also very thin.

 

[chrisnarozny]

Not sure if you are interested in a JP model, but its the only current model with a wide(43mm at nut) and flat(15 in radius) fretboard. The neck shape is also very thin.

hi Slingy,

Thanks for your reply. I never knew that the JP had a neck with a wider nut, although if you describe it as a thin neck then I can already tell you i won't be interested in it. And in any case, I would not be interested in purchasing an artists model guitar as i'd prefer to be seen with either a generic instrument or a personally customised one.

It is a pity that EB/MM do not offer a custom shop which could build a standard spec guitar with a custom neck, but frankly that is their problem. After the my recent customer experience in dealing with them I shall not be contacting them any more period. I'll carry on using my excellent Fender Highway Showmaster as my main FR-equipped guitar but may consider having a silhouette commissioned some time in the future (this would have to be by copy built by a top spec custom builger and not EB/MM.)

 

[banjoplayer]

Hi Chris, welcome onboard.

I have heard/read too that there was an "wider-neck"-option in the early years of the silhouette. but maybe someone "official" can clear it up.

The "custom-shop-issue" is discussed to death...

Nevertheless, maybe you can have some fun here...

 

[John C]

If I'm recalling correctly, the wider nut option predated EBMM using Floyd Rose trems; it was when they were using the Schaller trem circa 1986-1989. These were Schaller's fulcrum design that essentially operated like the Kahler flat-mounts - rollers in the saddles, behind-the-nut string locks, etc.

I don't think EBMM ever used the Kahler Steeler Floyd Rose; they always have used a Gotoh-made Floyd. The Floyd Rose equipped Silhouettes didn't come out until after the EVH model was introduced. Now Steve Morse had a couple of his signature models equipped with Kahler Floyd-licensed designs, but again they weren't the Steeler (the exact Floyd design); they were one of the other Kahler double-locking trem designs that Morse added to the guitars himself.