Silo Special HSS vs SSS

[candid_x]

I'm on the fence on converting one of my HSS to SSS. The main thing I'd be going for is a better position 2 sound (bridge/middle - split HB/middle).

I was under the impression, based on a set of SSS Silo Special pickups I've had in another strat type guitar, that there isn't much difference in position 2 between the HSS and SSS. However, Rob and GuitarHack have both said there's a big difference. It's been about 4 years since I've heard the SSS, and so I'm second guessing my old perceptions.

What say you? Which is or would be your preference? And if you've had both a HSS and SSS, what say you about the difference in tone in position 2?

 

[paranoid70]

I don't know about position 2, but I would keep it HSS for the full bridge bucker. I don't use position 2 much... but I definitely use position 1 alot!

 

[glockaxis]

+1

 

[GuitarHack]

Candid, you know my thoughts!

 

[lenny]

I don't know about position 2, but I would keep it HSS for the full bridge bucker. I don't use position 2 much... but I definitely use position 1 alot!

+1 thats what makes the silo so versatile in my opinion the HSS combo

 

[candid_x]

GH, yep, b'lieve I do.

Paranoid, thing is, I do use position 2 a lot, more than the HB in 1 even. I like the sound of position 2 in the HSS (unlike some seem to express). Question is, is pos 2 that much better sounding in an SSS?

Thanks, guys.

 

[greenwizard]

I won't actually vote in the poll, having never played a silo, but I will say that personally I need to have a humbucker in the bridge position. If that's not important to you then go for the SSS, but I really can't stand the tinniness of a single pup in the bridge position.

 

[Jimmyb]

SSS got my vote.

Why not see if you can pick up another pickguard and give it a whirl?

 

[candid_x]

SSS got my vote.

Why not see if you can pick up another pickguard and give it a whirl?

That's what I'm in the process of doing, ordering a new SSS pickguard assembly, but I'm waffling on it. I really don't mind the sound of position 2 on my HSS, but trying to decide if it would sound even better with an SSS.

I doubt I'd ever use the bridge S by itself, or at least I never have with past SSS guitars. I'd still have one HSS, so I suppose making the other an SSS can't hurt.

 

[Jimmyb]

Go for it!

Cheaper than buying a whole new guitar!!

Maybe one day I'll apply that logic to myself

 

[John C]

I went with sss - however, I like to keep my guitars either single coil or humbucker, but that's just me. Of course, I also like Gilmour's Strat bridge tone so I think I'm an outlier.

 

[candid_x]

Thanks, John. Input appreciated, perhaps from outliers/deviants most of all.

 

[dojo]

I think the bridge pickup is coil tapped in the 2 position on your guitar.

 

[GuitarHack]

It is...

http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/techinfo/controls/cfd_silhouette_special_hss.gif.

I guess the tapped humbucker coil in parallel with the middle p/u is less "genuine" from what we think of in the SSS format than two singles in parallel...

I'm an HSS Silo guy. I bought an HSS pickguard to try in my SSS Silo Special, and overall, I prefer the HSS for it's versatility. That said, I liked two things better about the SSS: Position 2 like Candid is referring to, but more importantly for me, Position 3. The SSS is just the middle p/u, while the HSS is the tapped bridge hum in parallel with the neck single. I like the SSS switching better.

That said, on the whole, the HSS is much more versatile for me. I'm keeping both my HSS and my SSS, but am ordering a new one for the piezo option, and that'll be HSS.

 

[dojo]

I'm on the fence on converting one of my HSS to SSS. The main thing I'd be going for is a better position 2 sound (bridge/middle - split HB/middle).

Ok, sorry. I see you know it is split. I do think there is a difference between a coil tap and a single coil bridge with middle. Have you heard Wayne Krantz?

 

[Astrofreq]

Never heard either one in person, so I can't say much.

 

[whitestrat]

GH, yep, b'lieve I do.

Paranoid, thing is, I do use position 2 a lot, more than the HB in 1 even. I like the sound of position 2 in the HSS (unlike some seem to express). Question is, is pos 2 that much better sounding in an SSS?

Thanks, guys.

Position 2 on a SSH doesn't have to be what most people take it to be. Most guitars at position 2 will give you coils 2 and 3. You could wire the SSH to give you coils 1 and 3 instead. That might give you a nice alternative...

Position 2 in an SSS for me seems always to have a bit more meat compared to an SSH. This is propbably due to the pickup position for the bridge. So, I think the closest you can get for a SSS type position 2, would be to wire it as coils 1 + 3 for the SSH. I think that might work better.

OR, you could get an SSS, and go for stacked humbuckers...

 

[candid_x]

Ok, sorry. I see you know it is split. I do think there is a difference between a coil tap and a single coil bridge with middle. Have you heard Wayne Krantz?

What's in the back of the back of my nasty mind is, dropping a set of of Fralin vintage hot SSS's in, which would actually get close to Krantz's fusion tone.

 

[robelinda2]

why choose, have one SSS and one HSS.

 

[candid_x]

why choose, have one SSS and one HSS.

Yup, that's what I'm thinkin', Rob.