👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
  • Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
    If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.
Axis 30th Anniversary

Silhouette Special bridge pickups...

GrooveHT

GrooveHT

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 14, 2002
Messages
218
Hey guys,
I have a silhouette special that I love dearly, but the bridge humbucker pickup needs just a little more beef to it, so I have some questions. First, what stock dimarzio is the bridge most like? Has anyone tried a V-PAF in the bridge on their sil? If you have comments on any others, I'd love to hear them! Oh, and for those of you that like guitar pr0n, this is what I've been scoring on EBay...

Newguys.jpg


Enjoy!



Jeff
 
I put a duncan distortion in the bridge of my silo special and I couldn't be happier, but I play hard rock, you might wann consider a custon custon or a JB if your looking for just a bit more beef, the duncan distortion is pretty hot pup but it sounds great in an alder guitar, bright but thick -
 
lock-ny said:
I put a duncan distortion in the bridge of my silo special and I couldn't be happier, but I play hard rock, you might wann consider a custon custon or a JB if your looking for just a bit more beef, the duncan distortion is pretty hot pup but it sounds great in an alder guitar, bright but thick -
Click to expand...


How does it sound in the split positions? Know the balance probably changes substantially right?
 
it sounds better than I thought in the split position and the volume and power dofference between pups is not as bad as I had thought either but the bucker is clearly more powerful than the single coils -
 
GrooveHT said:
Hey guys,
I have a silhouette special that I love dearly, but the bridge humbucker pickup needs just a little more beef to it, so I have some questions. First, what stock dimarzio is the bridge most like? Has anyone tried a V-PAF in the bridge on their sil? If you have comments on any others, I'd love to hear them! Oh, and for those of you that like guitar pr0n, this is what I've been scoring on EBay...
Click to expand...

Hey,

I have duncan JB Jr. with my silo - i have some solos record on it. I have solo record on silo with floyd and dimarzio EVOLUTION too. Both solos record on bogner XTC - let me know if you want hear it!
 
Tim O'Sullivan said:
How about a Tone Zone?
Click to expand...


Hey Tim,
I was looking to keep the pickup balance for the split positions...I really dig the #3 position tone...would just like the bridge a little beefier; about the same level of output though.
 
I think i may be able to help with this one.
I remember reading in a Guitarist (UK) magazine review of the guitar that the humbucker in the Silhouette Special is very close to the Dimarzio the Air Classic.

I also have a silhouette Special and have the same issue with it.
I would not go for a virtual PAF - the output will be very similar to what it is now. But i also totally agree with you point about pickup balance. The answer is to go with a humbucker that is in the region of 9k-10k. The Dimarzio Virtial Hot PAF would be a possibility, or the PAF Pro would be though that would be the maximum I would advise going in terms of output. I dont know of any other dimarzios that fit that bill. By far the best humbucker I have tried of that sort of output is the Lindy Fralin humbucker. They make them at 9k, 9.5k and 10k. I had a 9.5k one which waswonderful. It had the extra beef you want, but also balance great with vintage output single coils. The only thing with those is that they are a fair bit more expensive than the dimarzios.

Actually I have a question for you as well. How would you say the output of the bridge MM90 you have in your axis supersport compares with the output of the bridge humbucker in the silhouette special.
I have been considering buying an MM90 axis sport or supersport for a while.
Zak
 
The Dimarzio virtual PAF only came out in 2001 according to the Dimarzio website, and as far as i know the silhouette special is older than that (can anyone confirm this?), so this seems unlikely.

Dont get me wrong, I am not doubting they told you this, just doubting whether this is correct.

On the other hand, I guess its not beyond the realms of possibility that they designed a pickup for the Silhouette Special, then were so happy with it they turned it into a standard commercially available humbucker, thou i'd be surprised.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Classic Rock N Roll Slinky
Back
Top