Silo Spec vs. Axis SS

[Volt]

I'm wanting to get a 2nd Ball (all guys should have two Balls) and have so far decided on an Axis SS HH with trem, perhaps in the fall when I hopefully will have some money saved-up.

Since there aren't any local music shops that have any Axis SS's that I could play (bastages!), I need your guys help. Any comparisons between a Silhouette Special HSS with trem and an Axis SS HH with trem will be greatly appreciated.......especially those of you that are familiar with both. How does a basswood body compare to alder for instance. I've never played a basswood guitar. I have read that they are strong in the midrange.

I love the pickup options that are available with the ASS. How does the tone, sustain, neck shape and feel compare?
Thanks in advance.
FYI: I play rock, blues, jazz, country.

 

[Colin]

You won't be making a bad decision including the Axis into your collection. It will improve your pallet of sounds especially in the rock area. I could easily go to my gig tonight with an Axis a pull off everything I need.

 

[zyx345]

I agree about the Axis's versitility. I chose it over the Silo due to the neck carve, Floyd option, and lack of a pickguard. I'm primarily a prog. rock and metal player and my Axis covers it fine. I also have an SG Standard and I find myself playing the Axis more.

I find Alder to sound similar to Basswood but its a little less dark. The maple top on the Axis does brighten things up a bit.

You should be able to cover rock, blues, jazz, & country no prob. with the Axis SS.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

Both are very versatile. You can easily cover the ground you're looking for with either of the two.

The basswood in the Axis does love the midrange, but the maple top helps bring the high's out better.

The Axis SS has THE best neck ever made, and can get some great single-coil-ish sounds out of the 5-way switch. The lack of a forearm contour is a hit or miss with some folks. I loved it at first, but had to give up on it due to some RSI problems with my right arm. But that's just me. I'd still have an Axis if it weren't for the arm trouble.

The Silo Spec is a Jack of All Trades. THe neck is really comfortable, slightly thicker than the Axis, but only slightly so. Great upper fret access, super comfy forearm and belly contour. You'll nail all the tones you're looking for with this one as well.

The Axis wins on humbucker sounds, the Silo Spec wins on singles.

Again, both are great, and will serve you well.

 

[Volt]

Yep, I love the HSS versatility of the Silo Spec, and I'm going to be adding a series/parallel pickup selector switch soon to give it even more versatility with more humbucker-type tonality.
It would be difficult to imagine a neck that feels better or plays easier than my Silo.

I'm pretty much sold on the notion of making an Axis SS my next guitar purchase.

Thanks for your helpful responses.

 

[whitestrat]

I'm pretty much sold on the notion of making an Axis SS my next guitar purchase.

Logically, an Axis added to your collection does make sense. But I tried more over the last week in Thailand. It does not get anymore comfortable than a Silo Spec. They had both.

So, while it makes sense that the Axis is a great addition, it's no where near the levels of comfort for me from the Silo.

If I want a HH guitar with the same playability? I'd stick to a Silhouette...

 

[candid_x]

After playing a Special awhile, I didn't adapt well to my Axis Sport, which had a standard Axis neck, which is really anything but a standard carve. The shape is thicker by the thumb and tapers toward the fingers, asymmetrically. I sold it and got a second Special.

 

[candid_x]

Silo Special HSS wins for me, I think the humbucker actually sounds better than the Super Sport, more of a higher midrange tone.

I preferred the Axis humbucker by far, even tried to find one for a Silo but went with the Breed instead. The Axis humbucker seemed lots more versatile and can get some great rockin rhythms; something I couldn't get from the Silo Special custom (pre-Virtual PAF) humbucker.

Everything's a compromise, dag nabbit Would have liked to keep the humbucker sound of the (ash) Sport while having the rest of the guitar a Special. Or maybe a Special neck on a HSS Axis Sport? That's getting into HSS AL country.

 

[lock-ny]

I had both for years, sold the axis and kept the silo special, strictly because of the comfort factor, I hurt my shoulder and the axis ss wasnt getting played anymore for the lack of forearm contour, the neck on the axis was narrorer but fatter - as for the pups the axis is awesome! I got incredible single coil and humbucker tones out of it, its a wonderful guitar, wish they made a silo special with those pups in a HH config - I changed out the pups on my silo and its my fav guitar now, go play one and see if the body suits you, if you like it then go for it, its more of a tele feel in the body than a strat feel like the silos -

 

[fsmith]

I've had 3 silo specs in the past but really bonded with the Axis SS and decided to get one in every combination of pickup and trem/hardtail to cover my bases. I did swap out the bridge pickup on the black one for a DiMarzio DLX to give it a little more zing though. It's still not as hot as the stock HB's in the least. The 5-way on the HB version is very versatile.

Since you already have a Silo Spec I'd say go for an Axis SS, but be aware that the body shape and neck are not for everyone, but I happen to love both. The lack of a forearm contour doesn't bother me in the least and it's comfortable sitting or standing. If you could try one you'd know for sure.

And the MM90 version has an ash body...

 

[Volt]

I don't have any issues with lack of forearm contour, I have a few fat-bodied Gretsches that I can get perfectly comfortable with.

I like variety. All of my guitars sound different.
I'd own 50 guitars if I had the money and storage space. It's an incurable mental disorder.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I am completly in the ASS sound and versatility. Could be HH or MM90 The piezo is really great too and fact you can switch from Acoustic to Elezctric in one switch is really useful while giging

I gave up the Silo Spec SSS because of the neck (realy love Axis neck) but was lucky enought to find a Axis Sport with SSS configuration so now I have all the sounds I need with my 7 EBMM