Silo is nice but... what's next?

[ghunter]

My Silhouette hardtail arrived today. Plays like a dream, and is better suited to my playing style than my US Standard Strat in every way. Smoother, more sustain, richer tone, more versatility in the tone, weight, balance, everything!

The problem (if I can call it that) is that I've been spoiled with my Axis Super Sport. Locking tuners, even more powerful and versatile pickups, and construction that is simply entrancing with a gorgeous flamed honeyburst. The Axis SS is clearly better than every other guitar I own (except the Ric ) by an order of magnitude, and I'd like to continue that trend.

I tried the Luke and JP this week, and although I liked them there wasn't the same "wow" factor as the Axis SS. With that said, the GC I was in was pretty crowded and I didn't get a great picture of the tone, just the feel.

So here's the question - what's next? What's the best complement to the Axis SS? I only wish that the whole range of EBMM guitars was available near me to demo, but they're not.

Should I revisit the JP or Luke in a more quiet environ? The Steve Morse intrigues me, both the original and the Y2D. The 20th Silo still hasn't grown on me looks-wise, but the tone might make me think again. Piezos would be a nice option for versatility.

Where should I target my quest next, o great EBMM gurus?

 

[ghunter]

This may help some more...

I love the hard, crisp, driven tones of the Axis SS but am looking for something a little smoother and more subtle. I use my Strat for dreamy solos and spacey rhythm parts, and would like something from EBMM that would excel at that kind of tone.

 

[kbaim]

Probably the Albert Lee then. Very strat like. Better neck.

 

[phatduckk]

Probably the Albert Lee then. Very strat like. Better neck.

with MM90s

 

[NorM]

This may help some more...

dreamy solos and spacey rhythm parts, and would like something from EBMM that would excel at that kind of tone.

Funny I was thinking the Luke espically for the EMG's. To me, dreamy solos and spacey rhythm parts imply flangers phase shifters and chorus effects. Wait until you hear how clean they are with EMG pups. If you haven't tried a piezo then save up.

 

[pauldogx]

Ive recently played both an AL and a silo,and I'm a recovering strat guy,I found the silos neck much closer to a strat-------I found the alberts neck to be a bit skinny at the nut---like my Luke-----the silo and the Morse seem to have the wider neck strat guys with big paws like myself prefer. I love my Luke the only thing that has taken some gettin used to is that skinny-ness at the nut. The Luke is certainly capable of getting most strat type tones---the neck pickup kills!!!!

 

[ghunter]

The AL has never quite floated my boat with the retro-future style, but in some colors (and with the funky MM90's) it looks pretty cool. I think I'll keep my eye open for one.

I'll try to play a Luke again soon, in a quiet room though! I did notice the difference in the neck on the last one, at first pass it felt more comfortable to me.

 

[beej]

Personally, I *love* the bridge pickup in the SSS AL. I'm normally a humbucker guy, but I'm playing a lot more single coil stuff these days. That bridge pickup is just soooooo twangy - it's such a fun guitar to play. And the body style, odd as it looks at first, is incredibly comfortable.

So that'd be my vote to compliment an Axis.

 

[ghunter]

I've just added a poll. Unfortunately, my GAS has forced me to allow multiple choices

 

[RichW]

Voted for the JP, not only because I have one and therefore it's mega-cool cool: ), but it plays like a dream once you get it set up right. The neck is blisteringly fast and I can almost blow my strings onto the fretboard, the action is that low (amazing fretwork).

The pickups are also really, really good. The modified Air Norton in the neck position delivers more mids for a creeaaamy lead sound and has a bit less output than the modified Steve's Special (more scooped sound, perfect for rhythm, as I find it keeps definition very well in crunch modes) making it a bit cleaner when it comes to controlling large amounts of gain (assuming that's how you like your leads). The middle position, combining the 'inside' coils of both pickups, is like a darker Strat sound; very clear and/but less trebly.

Combine this with a piezo and... we have a winner!

Did I mention that the shape of the guitar is insanely comfortable, and that it's very light? There you go.

For me and my playing style, it's a bit like I've gotten my own super deluxe custom shop guitar for the price of a (really expensive) normal one. It's perfect, for my needs... but to each their own, obviously.

 

[ghunter]

According to the inventory pages there isn't a single JP in all of Washington State! I'll be in Vegas the week after next and the GC on Tropicana is listing two units with piezos. I'll definitely stop by to check it out.

There are a few AL models around here, but at least an hour's drive away.

 

[ex3.8]

I have 2 silo's. Love'em both. I also like the Axis except for the shape that has that "les paul" edge to it. I see the JP as a cross between a silo shape and an axis heart.
Definitely one of my next purchases.... Once i sell the kidney

 

[fsmith]

I'd say go for the AL...

Based on the tones you're looking for that would do it.

I wish I could remember Jon's quote about strats and Al's... I'm too lazy to do a search...

Whoever said the JP was a light guitar never had both hanging on the wall to choose from. The AL is hands down the most comfortable guitar I have. Perfect balance and weight. When I walk in and grab a guitar to work out something more often than not I grab the AL unless it's something that only a humbucker will do.

fred

 

[kbaim]

I'd say go for the AL...

Based on the tones you're looking for that would do it.

I wish I could remember Jon's quote about strats and Al's... I'm too lazy to do a search...

Whoever said the JP was a light guitar never had both hanging on the wall to choose from. The AL is hands down the most comfortable guitar I have. Perfect balance and weight. When I walk in and grab a guitar to work out something more often than not I grab the AL unless it's something that only a humbucker will do.

fred

I bleeb it was "A strat can't carry Albert's jock" or something like that. I forget.

 

[kbaim]

According to the inventory pages there isn't a single JP in all of Washington State! I'll be in Vegas the week after next and the GC on Tropicana is listing two units with piezos. I'll definitely stop by to check it out.

There are a few AL models around here, but at least an hour's drive away.

that's a store that sometimes stocks 5 or 6 ernie balls.
I hope to stop in sat 7/22 when I'm there.
The had a black Luke that played and sounded f'n fantastic. Not a lot of birdseye though.

 

[ghunter]

Keith, 7/22 - too bad my flight arrives late Saturday night, sounds like we'll just miss each other.

Fenders are wonderful instruments, but every time they're compared to Music Man products there's always a "but" in the sentence. The more I play the Silo, the more I'm appreciating what it's capable of for simply being a basic Strat variant.

 

[kbaim]

Yeah. Leaving sun 9am

 

[ghunter]

Let me rephrase the question a different way, now that I've had some time to think (and I think an MM90 AL is also in my future, once I find one to play).

There are three (other) two-pickup guitars in the EBMM lineup:

- Silhouette 20th Anniversary
- Axis MM90
- John Petrucci

Would someone care to explain the tonal differences between these three models? Where do each of them shine, and where do each of them not excel?

 

[bovinehost]