Question Silhouette Special and general EB string question :)

[Movielife]

Hi all

As mentioned previously, I'm obviously more than sorted for basses and I'm writing/playing more guitar now and enjoying having two options for instruments.

I've recently sold an old guitar as well as order an Albert Lee HH. The HH is scratching my humbucker fix, but I'd really like a more, dare I say, 'Strat/Tele like' guitar as well with the usual Musicman QC.

I know the Silhouette Special is its own guitar (and I've seen one in stock HSS), but will it deliver really bright/clean and funky tones from the single coils?

Strings - Well, I know my EB bass strings, but what recommendations do you have for guitar strings? What is the usual EB strings that people use? I imagine from previous experience I'm a 9's or 10's guy.

Thanks

 

[ozzyrules]

Check this guy out:

Music Man Silhouette Special HSS - YouTube

Or this Silhouette:

 

[guitvai1]

Absolutely, in my opinion my Silo specials sound more like strat like than a strat.

 

[DrKev]

As Elmer Ferrer points out, the middle position on the HSS models is not the middle pickup but a combination of the neck pickup and one of the bridge coils. It gives a sound not a million miles away from the tele middle position. A very cool and funky sound indeed.

 

[gregc]

Damn, that's pretty cool. Nice tones. I didn't know it was wired that way. GREAT idea, IMO.

 

[DrKev]

Damn, that's pretty cool. Nice tones. I didn't know it was wired that way. GREAT idea, IMO.

Yep, I don't miss the standard middle pickup at all!

This evening, I've just taken it one step further - re-wired my Silo Special for full bridge humbucker in positions 2 & 3. Position 2 (middle and bridge) sounds similar, just louder and richer and a little warmer, but now the middle position sounds like a tele on steroids. It's big and rich and deep and clean and yet it's so nasal squanky that when I first heard it I laughed out loud.

I'll post a video tomorrow or Thursday.

 

[1Lskynrdfan]

I have a HSS Silhouette Special, I play it ever day, for the last 3 years. It really does that fender Stratocaster thing very convincingly. I play it through a smaller older fender champ and the tone is typical fender. Also, I have compared the tone directly to a more (newer 2000s Amer Std Stratocaster) and the Silo Spec seems a bit warmer to me.

To me overall the Silo Spec is just a much better and more of an easier guitar to play well than the Stratocaster, of course - that's my biased opinion, hope the info helps

 

[1Lskynrdfan]

Also as far as bright/clean and funky tones, you probably know it really matters a lot what amp are playing through.?

 

[Spudmurphy]

Just get a AL SSS. Game over.

 

[Movielife]

Also as far as bright/clean and funky tones, you probably know it really matters a lot what amp are playing through.?

AT the moment, Orange PPC212 (Closed Back) and Orange Dual Terror. The setup is definitely staying but I might opt for a nice Vox AC15/30 at some point or one of the Fender 1x12 combos.