SILHOUETTE Vs. STRAT

[potion80]

Hey everybody!!!

I'm gonna buy a new six string. Oh yes a beautiful and exciting time. BUT, can't decide what the hell to get. Narrowed it down to a Silhouette and.....nothing else really.

I want to know how similar the feel of the Silhouette is to the strat. Obviously very similar but I can't play a Silhouette coz no goddamn store stocks them here in London. If I order I have to pay.

I know they have slightly different neck radius measurements but how about the rest of the neck and the way the thing feels hanging off you.

Strat is perfect for me but prefer knob positioning and bridge on Silhouette.

Let me know!

Cheers

 

[Hookpunch]

I have both a Silhouette and a 60s re-issue Strat - go with the Sil -it blows the Strat out of the water - hands down every comparable component of the Sil is better than the Strat, including the modern ones.

As for the neck - Its a 10 inch radius but they feel somewhat smaller than the traditional Strat, it fits nicely in the palm of your hand, the wood is generally nicer (I have a rosewood board), the frets are top quality, the shape is a traditional D shape.

My take on it after years of struggling on a wide classical is that the smaller neck of the Sil is a great plus.

 

[Lew]

Silhouette or silhouette special?and what pup config?

 

[Hookpunch]

Silhouette or silhouette special?and what pup config?

Me or potion80? Mine is the Silhouette with HSH pup configuration - I got it when they would still put a floating Floyd on them - back in '97.

I think I posted a picture of it on the thread where everyone was posting pics of their axes

 

[Lew]

sorry i meant potion,i thought a special would be more comparable(to a strat) because of the number of frets and pickup config.

 

[potion80]

Oh sure. Would be going for the Special no doubt.

One thing that bugs the hell out of me is the radius though. I'd much prefer a strat neck with 15" radius. I like to play fast sometimes and feels easier and more natural with a flat fretboard like on my Ibanez, but the Ibanez neck is too thin. Can't win.

I know the Sils have a 10" which is flatter than the strats 9 or whatever, but are they bascially the same???

Anyone checked out the blackout showmaster or blackout tele? They have the 15" radius. Very interested in those.

 

[PurpleSport]

Oh sure. One thing that bugs the hell out of me is the radius though. I'd much prefer a strat neck with 15" radius. I like to play fast sometimes and feels easier and more natural with a flat fretboard like on my Ibanez, but the Ibanez neck is too thin. Can't win.

I know the Sils have a 10" which is flatter than the strats 9 or whatever, but are they bascially the same???

Understandable, until you try an EBMM!

I generally like flatter boards myself, but find the EBMM 10" quite incredibly comfortable, much more so than Fender's version IMHO. Had a Clapton strat which is 9.5" or 10" (there's not a huge difference between 9" and 10" radii to me), and there's no comparison, MM's board definitely felt better and string bends are no prob at all due to the excellent fretwork.

Unfortunately, now when I play my old Ibanez JEMs or 540 or my Kramer Classic Tele clone, my fingers feel like they're playing up against a wall, so many of the guitars in my collection are basically unplayable now!

What's funny is that many of us here find ourselves going up to .010 strings from .009s when we switched to MMs, because the playability really is that easy on these guitars. This is completely against the conventional thinking of most guitarists, I know, but it shows that there's been a helluva lot of attention paid to improving the playing experience by the design team and the setup crew, God bless 'em all...

 

[BIG GINGER GIT]

I ain't had my EBSS long but it's already one of the best guitars I've ever owned
I think this and my PRS Custom 22 are all I'll ever need as I can get any sound I want between the two of them.

I was really looking for a strat but most Fenders I've played I hated, fancied a Tom Anderson but couldn't get to play one, tried a couple of Tylers and couldn't see what all the fuss was about and they were way too expensive. Then I really had my heart set on a Luke II but everyone wanted silly money Then I discovered on this board that Pman was selling his gorgeous looking SS on eBay, I was first gripped by it's looks ...... awesome !! So I emailed him a couple of times and he agreed to pull the guitar from auction and it became mine.

It plays beautifuly, especially since I put 10's on it and tweaked the truss rod as it's so easy to do on this guitar. Through my Boogie DC 5 the clean tones are amazing, nice and woody and warm through to sparkling, bright and full of bite.
The neck is really comfy and easy to play, great for wide bends and fast runs. Strapped on the guitar hangs well balanced, in fact it hangs better than any other guitar I've used and I can even be a bit more rock n roll as I can play it hung lower than usual.
There's a great range of tones from the five way switch and the humbucker rocks, I love the single tone control as I never liked having two on a strat. Throw in the locking tuners and a traditional tremelo that stays in tune and you've got one of the best super strats available today.

You can't go wrong with a SS, they're INCREDIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hookpunch]

Hey guys - what is the advantage of a larger radius? I have only played 9.5" (Strat) and 10" (Silo), and almost flat classicals. Why would a flatter radius allow you to play faster? I found my I could play faster on the smaller Silo than I ever could on the wide/flat classical, barre chords were a lot easier on the Silo too.



thanks

 

[PurpleSport]

Hey guys - what is the advantage of a larger radius? I have only played 9.5" (Strat) and 10" (Silo), and almost flat classicals. Why would a flatter radius allow you to play faster? I found my I could play faster on the smaller Silo than I ever could on the wide/flat classical, barre chords were a lot easier on the Silo too.

I think the biggest advantage of those flatter radii is they allow easier bending, obviously because the notes won't fret out like they will on a rounder one.

As for playing fast, well, that's really all in the skill of the player. Yngwie Malmsteen plays all that rippin' stuff of his on vintage Strats, which have a 7" radius - severely round and guaranteed to cause fretouts faster than a flatter board. Yes, I know some of his boards are scalloped, but the radius remains the same unless the frets are removed and the board is flattened as well.

I'm taking a break from restringing my Kramer Tele clone right now, and it's really funny how that guitar feels after months of exclusive EBMM twangin'. It feels like a wide flat job (it has a 15" radius and a thin depth), however, I was shocked to find that it had a 1 5/8" nut - after playing my EBMMs, it feels like it's a 1 3/4" classical!!

 

[Lew]

I ain't had my EBSS long but it's already one of the best guitars I've ever owned
I think this and my PRS Custom 22 are all I'll ever need as I can get any sound I want between the two of them.

I was really looking for a strat but most Fenders I've played I hated, fancied a Tom Anderson but couldn't get to play one, tried a couple of Tylers and couldn't see what all the fuss was about and they were way too expensive. Then I really had my heart set on a Luke II but everyone wanted silly money Then I discovered on this board that Pman was selling his gorgeous looking SS on eBay, I was first gripped by it's looks ...... awesome !! So I emailed him a couple of times and he agreed to pull the guitar from auction and it became mine.

It plays beautifuly, especially since I put 10's on it and tweaked the truss rod as it's so easy to do on this guitar. Through my Boogie DC 5 the clean tones are amazing, nice and woody and warm through to sparkling, bright and full of bite.
The neck is really comfy and easy to play, great for wide bends and fast runs. Strapped on the guitar hangs well balanced, in fact it hangs better than any other guitar I've used and I can even be a bit more rock n roll as I can play it hung lower than usual.
There's a great range of tones from the five way switch and the humbucker rocks, I love the single tone control as I never liked having two on a strat. Throw in the locking tuners and a traditional tremelo that stays in tune and you've got one of the best super strats available today.

You can't go wrong with a SS, they're INCREDIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What BGG said, but i think he forgot to say that in particular the Autumn sparkle finish's tend to sound better.
Im sure he will agree

 

[BIG GINGER GIT]

What BGG said, but i think he forgot to say that in particular the Autumn sparkle finish's tend to sound better.
Im sure he will agree

Too right mate !!

 

[W.Suitor]

Silhouette For Sale

Hi There,
I have a Silhouette in rare White Sparkle in virtually unplayed condition that I may part with. It is a trem model with H/S/H pick-up configuration in original case. If you would be interested in it, I am in the UK and would sell it or trade it for an Axis.

 

[GWDavis28]

W.Suitor, post a few pics!! Let's see it. What are you looking for in the Axis??

Later, Glenn |B)

 

[potion80]

Where??

Hey Suitor dude, where in the UK are you based? Definately interested. I'm in London.

Cheeeers

 

[W.Suitor]

Silhouette White Sparkle at last!!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post these pictures. Better late than never.Ernie Ball Silhouette ImagesSilhoutte White Sparkle Finish

(sorry Suitor, I tried to edit link to work, but the URL is no good... You don't have to use HTML to link to your site, you should just use the link button up top of the posting box and enter the info requested, a link description and the URL - NO HTML. The original URL was erroneous to start with tho' - Jimi D )

 

[W.Suitor]

Link of above thread editted due to mistake

Sorry about the incorrect link above. I have fixed it now so it should work OK.

 

[Lew]

Love that finish!

If it was a RW Neck i might ask how much you are asking.

But i have to know are you a smoker?

 

[W.Suitor]

Definitely not a smoker!!

Hi Lew,
I'm definitely not a smoker, but I assume you have spotted the slight discolouration on the scratchplate at the selector switch? I've never been able to figure that out, it doesnt look like a smoke stain although it is yellowy in colour. It is on both sides of the opening for the switch about 1cm in diameter, yet the switch and the little switch cover are not affected. I've also checked the switch and it is the original switch, basically I'm stumped!

 

[Lew]

Yeah That is why i asked

That is odd,strangely enough i have the same colours(discolouration) on the swith tip and around the perimeter of the guard,but it is only slight.