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toaster51

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May 4, 2013
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I have just got a white silhouette, 24 fret, 5 bolt neck, hard tail, and while I love the guitar I want to switch out the pickups. I was thinking of changing from it's HSH configuration to a HSS or SSS set up, but I was wondering how the different position of the neck pickup on my standard silo (further back to accommodate the extra 2 frets) would affect the sound of a single coil. I would imagine since it is closer to the bridge, a single coil would be brighter than on a strat (or silhouette special). Have any of you done a similar mod? What pickups did you use?
 

skerwo

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Aug 5, 2008
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Bavaria, Germany
Have you tried adjusting the height of the neck pu? I found it important to check out different heights. I love the stock pups on my HSH Silo (mine is the Virtual PAF on the neck).
 

banjoplayer

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i had a silo with SSS once and compared it to my AL which i still have. it´s exactly as you are guessing. the neck pickup is a little bight brighter. but... the neck pickup on my AL is not that fat and beefy as it is on my strat for example. It is warmer than the neck PU of the silo. But it´s still different than a strat
 

custom53

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Nov 6, 2004
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Ohio
Since the OP has brought this up, does anyone know if the Bridge position (Humbucker) pickup is "C-Spaced" (Gibson) or "F-Spaced" (Fender) for my Silhouette.. I am going to replace my Bridge pickup and I'm not sure which way to go..

Thanks all...!

 

toaster51

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May 4, 2013
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I have decided to go HSS. I've ordered a stock, HSS tortoiseshell pick guard from EB and a set of BG Pups pickups (a BG Bucker bridge & 2 of his V60 strat pickups). My silo is a 2000 model without the silent system so should I have the middle single coil reverse wound?

Don't know about custom53's question - I would imagine you would want a humbucker configured for a Fender 25 1/2" scale if it's configured at all, but does this really matter?
 

custom53

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Don't know about custom53's question - I would imagine you would want a humbucker configured for a Fender 25 1/2" scale if it's configured at all, but does this really matter?

I'm not sure if it matters or not.. One person says "Absolutely" another person says "It doesn't matter at all"..
So I am still unsure which way to go..
 

skerwo

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Aug 5, 2008
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235
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Bavaria, Germany
I have decided to go HSS. I've ordered a stock, HSS tortoiseshell pick guard from EB and a set of BG Pups pickups (a BG Bucker bridge & 2 of his V60 strat pickups). My silo is a 2000 model without the silent system so should I have the middle single coil reverse wound?
.....

The reverse wound middle sc gives you hum cancelling in the 2 and 4 position. The middle and neck sc alone not. But it´s a sc and it has to be noisy :).
 

fsmith

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Oct 30, 2003
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Halethorpe, MD
Here's what I did with my '93 Silo. I replaced the original HSH with D. Allen JohnnyBlades pickups and red tortoise shell pickguard from Chandler. Absolutely love the pickups, covers anything I play.

 

toaster51

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May 4, 2013
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Thanks for all the great input everyone. My silo should will look just yours fsmith - I probably could have gone with the cheaper Chandler pick guard, but I didn't want any unpleasant surprises. I will post it when it's finished - it takes several weeks for BG Pup orders.
 

fsmith

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If I'm not mistaken Chandler makes the guards for EBMM. The red tortoise is something not stocked by EBMM so I had no choice. Don't forget to post pics when you get it completed.

fred
 

GWDavis28

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Mass
Here's what I did with my '93 Silo. I replaced the original HSH with D. Allen JohnnyBlades pickups and red tortoise shell pickguard from Chandler. Absolutely love the pickups, covers anything I play.


Fred, very nice man!!!

Glenn |B)
 

toaster51

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May 4, 2013
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Finally getting around to posting a pic of 'The Penguin' w/BG Pups HSS pickup set, Chandler/ EB pickguard and new Tusk nut. This guitar just is aces! Wonderful playability, and great tones.
 

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Mincer

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Mar 11, 2003
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127
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Tampa Bay area, FL USA
I have never gotten any neck pickups in a 24 fret guitar to sound close to those in a 21 or 22 fret guitar. I have always hated the sound of a 24 fret neck pickup- you lose the body and the overtones. This is true with humbuckers or single coils. It bothers me so much that I got rid of my 24 fret guitars. I don't know the physics behind it, but I wish it were possible for them to sound the same. BTW, if your guitar has a trem, get F spaced humbuckers. If not, get the normal ones.
 

toaster51

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May 4, 2013
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28
The BG Pups Vintage 60 neck pickup on this guitar has an absolutely gorgeous sound, both alone and in combo with the middle V60. Mine is wired with a traditional strat 5way switch, with a push/pull split coil bridge. I really like all the different pu options on this guitar, but the neck is particularly sweet.

I just bought a Melancon Pro Artist S type hardtail - SSH like my silo. Pretty heavy competition here, one of them will have to go I guess, but it's going to be hard to give up this silo. We'll see.
 
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