Silhouette Special HSS pickup options

[floyd99]

hello again fellow eb'ers..

i've done some searching and haven't really got the info i'm after.

I love my sil special, and i particularly like the option of having the humbucker for when i kick in distortion or overdrive.

however, the 'strat' tones whilst good aren't as nice as i'd like.

To give you an idea.. on my strat, I use the 2 and 4 positions all the time - pos 2 (bridge/mid) for funk and pos 4 (neck/mid) for "pretty" chorused rhythm work, and pos 5 (neck) for other rhythm. I never use the middle on its own and only use the bridge for lead.

on the sil, those rhythm and funk tones are good but don't have the same clarity or feel.

so, if i felt like spending some money and replacing the pickups, what would you folk suggest? and, is wiring them in just a simple replace wire for wire? i'm not sure how the silent circuit factors in here.

thanks guys
dave

 

[candid_x]

I feel ya, Dave. SSS is always an option to consider. Position 2 is a different beast from the HSS, and the single bridge pickup is usable by itself for those nice rolled off high-end chucks. The middle position (3) is also wired different from the HSS.

 

[floyd99]

Maybe. i hadn't thought about that. For me, it's about versatility - I want the guitar to do everything and that's why I got the HSS instead of the SSS.

I previously for some shows was swapping from the strat to an ESP because the ESP had humbuckers and a floyd rose for the heavier stuff... but i'm finding the silhouette is not too bad for that, so it saves me having to swap guitars. I do kinda like having the humbucker as that seems to work heaps better with distortion than my strat's single coil bridge. The muted stuff sounds better and pinched harmonics happen more easily. Maybe if I got a hotter single coil...

 

[TimSz]

Why not look into getting a three single coil pickguard and then throwing a stacked humbucker into the bridge position? Coil tap that beast, and you have the best of both worlds. I think Dimarzio makes some pretty good stacked humbuckers.

 

[psy501]

..i have a seymour duncan hs-2 in the middle..
..its a stacked humbucker and i can split it..
..i think it sounds great and can be well combined with other single coils as well as with other humbuckers..
..anyway..i think exchange pickguards are fine to experiment with switches pots and pickups without doing any hassle to the silo itself..

 

[candid_x]

Maybe. i hadn't thought about that. For me, it's about versatility - I want the guitar to do everything and that's why I got the HSS instead of the SSS.

I totally understand that, which is why I bought two HSS's. Thing is, I found something I was missing when I converted one of them to SSS. Sorry if I'm sounding like a broken record about that bridge-S by itself, but with a touch of tone roll off, and through a little compression or sustain pedal, it's wonderful sounding. I've never found use before for a S bridge pup by itself, not even Fralin's with a bass plate. This is the exception. From what I've heard around here, the AL bridge pup is also usable by itself. They both employ a bass plate.

 

[Ripper]

Hey Bruce, say you got money for only ONE pickguard assembly, which one will you choose? HSS, or the SSS? You can only choose one

 

[GWDavis28]

Can you coil tap and split the hum to give you that single sound your looking for?

Glenn |B)

 

[psy501]

Can you coil tap and split the hum to give you that single sound your looking for?

Glenn |B)

..if this was aimed at me...yes i can...the hs-2 is nice when humbucking and even nicer when split...true single coil that is and it indeed is juicy and fat or twangy depending on the settings..

 

[floyd99]

some interesting thoughts coming through guys, thanks- keep em coming!

i'm not entirely happy with the posn 4 either.. it's nice but could be better. So i'm thinking maybe swapping all three.

If I do that, i want it to be as easy as possible in regards to wiring and install.

Any thoughts on what to get? What about EMG? (i've never used EMGs..)

 

[floyd99]

how about the same pickups that come on the LUKE? (EMG-SL20) ?
I've not played a Luke... does it have any of the strat vibe? or 'quack' as i've heard someone else describe lol.
The Sil already has a battery compartment so installing them wouldn't be too hard?

I've also read elsewhere that the Sil regains some of the vibe if you remove the silent circuit battery... i'll give this a try tonight and see if there's a noticeable difference. Although - the pickups being silent is important to me.

 

[candid_x]

Hey Bruce, say you got money for only ONE pickguard assembly, which one will you choose? HSS, or the SSS? You can only choose one

I'd have to say the maple/SSS. I've just been diggin' the heck out of it. But you know how things go in cycles, so it wouldn't surprise me if I'd answer differently in a couple of months, when I rediscovered HSS/rosewood love .

 

[floyd99]

I like the sound better with the battery in, though at that subtle level, it could just be in my head. Curious what you find.

there is a difference but it's difficult to tell. i'll try without the battery at tomorrow night's show and see if i notice anything.


i've just been reading reviews on harmony central on the SL-20 pickup combo and everyone raves about them.

curious what you guys reckon about throwing those in a sil special

 

[robelinda2]

i think you should spend more time with stock pickups, they are amazing, give them time. Sometimes the more you have to work at them the better the results.

 

[Ripper]

I'd have to say the maple/SSS. I've just been diggin' the heck out of it. But you know how things go in cycles, so it wouldn't surprise me if I'd answer differently in a couple of months, when I rediscovered HSS/rosewood love .

So it can only be maple/SSS and rosewood/HSS? How bout a rosewood/SSS? Not nice?

 

[candid_x]

That's just what I'm working with and like at present. I've usually preferred the crisp sound of maple necks on SSS guitars, unless the pickups are especially bright and vintage. I'm still toying with converting my rosewood to SSS, so I'll let you know what I think then.

In general, I don't think SSS Specials have received their due ink on this forum, so I'm making a little extra noise about 'em.

 

[beej]

I also think the stock Sil Spec pickups are excellent. Perhaps this is an EQ issue with your amp or gear?

"Quack" is about high end, so you may find removing a volume pedal from your signal chain or using low cap cable, etc. might help you in that regard. (Just thinking out loud here.)

The Sil Spec is more of a modern take on a strat. If you're looking for more of that vintage vibe, the Albert Lee is closer to the mark. But you want a humbucker in the bridge, which is always a trade-off (it never sounds as great split as a best-of-breed single does).

But I have to echo Candid's love for the Sil Spec, it really is a great player and covers a lot of ground.

Edit: just looked at your pedalboard pic, seems there's a lot there. How's the sound straight into the amp? Closer to the mark?

 

[GWDavis28]

how about the same pickups that come on the LUKE? (EMG-SL20) ?
I've not played a Luke... does it have any of the strat vibe? or 'quack' as i've heard someone else describe lol.
The Sil already has a battery compartment so installing them wouldn't be too hard?

I've also read elsewhere that the Sil regains some of the vibe if you remove the silent circuit battery... i'll give this a try tonight and see if there's a noticeable difference. Although - the pickups being silent is important to me.

I love the sound of the Luke EMG's and I'm sure they would sound awesome in a Silo Special

Maybe someday I'll get to hear what they sound like.

Glenn |B)

 

[GWDavis28]

Here try this out, he has an Make an Offer button, offer him something, you never know man.

New EMG-SL-20 Steve Lukather Pre-Wired Guard/Pickup Set - eBay (item 150210278931 end time Apr-25-08 09:24:51 PDT)

Glenn |B)

 

[floyd99]

I also think the stock Sil Spec pickups are excellent. Perhaps this is an EQ issue with your amp or gear?

"Quack" is about high end, so you may find removing a volume pedal from your signal chain or using low cap cable, etc. might help you in that regard. (Just thinking out loud here.)

The Sil Spec is more of a modern take on a strat. If you're looking for more of that vintage vibe, the Albert Lee is closer to the mark. But you want a humbucker in the bridge, which is always a trade-off (it never sounds as great split as a best-of-breed single does).

But I have to echo Candid's love for the Sil Spec, it really is a great player and covers a lot of ground.

Edit: just looked at your pedalboard pic, seems there's a lot there. How's the sound straight into the amp? Closer to the mark?

All my gear is down at the theatre so I'll get there early and have a muck around tonight. I hear you re. high end - I have noticed the Sil doesn't have as much high end as the strat, and already boosted the treble on the amp.. will bump it a bit more and see if that helps.

Can't remove the volume pedal.. my foot is permanently on it I use it ALL the time.. probably the most important pedal in the rig LOL. To be honest i haven't tried direct to the amp much, because I need the effects chain, so whatever I use has to sound good though it. I've used all high quality cables and stuff (changing to George L's made a MASSIVE improvement on the quality of the sound thru the effects by the way)... Because of the effects chain, that's one reason why I thought the EMG's might be good idea - because they're hotter and active.