Silo vs JPM

[charlie7]

Real quick story for ya.

I used to own a EBJPM6 Lava Pearl w/piezo and matching headstock. I absolutely loved that guitar. I remember the day I picked it up from GC. The laser beam down the fretboard was blinding, yet so beautiful. This guitar played like no other, which I think is a testament to EB's amazing fret work. Just to test the waters, I wanted to see how low the action could go. I measured 1/32 12th fret. Didn't buzz, didn't fret out, just perfect. I did raise it a tad, to 2/32" as this was more to my liking. Was amazed though at how effortless it played, was just phenominal. And as many know, sounds great too! I also had a Boogie Nomad 2x12 w/wine vinyl and tan wicker grill. Was a great, yet simple rig.

Now the sad part. I was in such a financial bind, I had to sell them both.
I parted ways and have been playing on my brothers cheapy guitar ever since. Well my finances are in check now and it is time to get an Ernie Ball back in my life.

I have had this ongoing debate with myself though.
Should I go back to the JPM which I know I will love or should I try my luck with a Silo?

I have always wondered as a performing musician if I would be looked upon as a "copycat" because I play a signature model?
Or should I just not care?

This is where the idea of getting a Silo came to be, cause while many guitar players play a Silo, it is not a signature guitar. It is made by Ernie Ball and I love their work. About 4 years ago I worked at a local GC here in Dallas and we had a Blue Pearl Silo Special and it played very well too, so I know there would be no difficulties with this guitar. Maybe a bit getting used to a good pickup combo, cause my all time fav neck pickup is JP's in the EB's. That buttery smooth tone for solos is dead on to what I look for. Also I have never been a pickguard guy. Mainly cause my guitars have been direct mounts, but this is more of a cosmetic thing to get over, even though their is a tonal difference from floating to direct mount.

So maybe some fellow Ernie Ball enthusiasts could give me their opinion on my little debate.

 

[Dizzy]

Copy Cat - Shmoppy Cat.

I have an EVH, 2 JP's (1 BFR / 1 Standard), and a Satriani - I like all of their music, but never bought one because of the sig.

A great guitar is a great guitar, signature or not.

But if you want a guitar that will become YOUR guitar and feel like YOUR guitar, get a Silhouette.

I'm biased, but mine packs SO much more mojo than all of my other guitars combined.

 

[charlie7]

Copy Cat - Shmoppy Cat.

I have an EVH, 2 JP's (1 BFR / 1 Standard), and a Satriani - I like all of their music, but never bought one because of the sig.

A great guitar is a great guitar, signature or not.

But if you want a guitar that will become YOUR guitar and feel like YOUR guitar, get a Silhouette.

I'm biased, but mine packs SO much more mojo than all of my other guitars combined.

Yeah I hear you man. I was so attached to that JPM, guess part of me misses it. But yeah, I am looking for a guitar to call my own as an artist. I guess I could still do that with the JPM model. So many things I liked about the guitar, the flatter radius, direct mount, floating bridge, no pickguard, etc.

Such a tough decision, but I do believe all of the Silo owners who swear by their guitars.

 

[phatduckk]

dude if the JP has your fav neck ever then that's your answer.

you cant mod a neck. screw the copy cat thing and play what you're comfortable with

 

[charlie7]

dude if the JP has your fav neck ever then that's your answer.

you cant mod a neck. screw the copy cat thing and play what you're comfortable with

I hear you man, I am leaning that way for sure.

The one thing I am not sure of is if I should get the piezo. It was and is a great sounding piezo, but I really didn't use it that much. It is quite an upcharge, should I go with it just in case or not?

 

[candid_x]

I could understand some reluctance to play a signature model if you're an original act who is on the verge of breaking through, or who has already broken through. But as a cover band player, who really cares if you play a signature model? Play what you enjoy playing.

 

[Ripper]

If you play a sig model, people will first notice the guitar before looking at how you play.

But if you play a non-sig model, people will look at your playing first.

Anyway, a silo or silo spec will not go wrong - understated, but cool in whatever way!!!

 

[marduke]

i love the JP neck, but also loved the silo special when i tried one. so maybe the silo special might be one to give a go

 

[RocketRalf]

You speak like you already made your mind. If you love the JP so much, then just get it. Don't "try your luck" with a Silo, try one before buying if you can. The Silo is an amazing guitar, hell, I have one, but one's gotta play what one loves and not what other people think you should be playing. If that were the case, get a F. strat, not a Silo! (obviously don't do that please ). The Silo has it's own different charms, and it's quite an eye catcher too, people will notice it just as people notice a JP so I don't think the argument is valid. If you wanna look different than JP, get a natty headstock, no inlays and some crazy color that you know JP would never use. I've seen the most unlikely guitarists play signature guitars (ie some guy playing a JEM with Alejandro Sanz ) so if they can manage to do that and still feature in a DVD that sells millions, your cover band will manage too.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Get what "fits" you. Everyone has their own values on what a guitar should be. Personally, I love beautiful guitars as an art form.....but when it comes to picking a guitar to buy, I'm cold as ice. It has to play better than the rest or I'm not buying it. Turn out the lights....the thing could look like anything. On the signature thing.....honestly.....I don't think 90% of people looking know that it's a signature guitar and the 10% who do still mostly don't care.

Ok.....copies......I've got an OLP copy of an EBMM Benji Madden guitar. I still don't know....or care who Benji Madden is. Here's my real EB I picked up yesterday along with the copy of the signature.....

The average joe would say they're the same guitar with different colored necks.

jack

 

[paranoid70]

Honestly you won't go wrong with either one. To my hands, they feel a bit different. If you totally love the JP model you may or may not appreciate the difference in the feel of the Silo. I don't think it would be much of an adjustment, just something to consider.

To be honest, I know what you mean about the signature. When I was first contemplating getting an EBMM guitar I was looking for a non-signature guitar myself. I thought to myself who am I trying to kid playing a Steve Morse Model guitar, I am no where near that level of playing. Yes, yes, yes, I know it doesn't matter, but that is what was going through my head at the time.

Lucky for me (and potentially for you) the Silhouettes are incredible instruments. I honestly perfer them to ANY other electric guitar I have ever played including the signature EBMM guitars.

Another nice point about the Silhouettes/Silhouette Specials is that they tend to be a little cheaper than the signature guitars.

Bottom line though: Silo/JP/Morse/Axis/Luke/AL, they are all quality guitars and you will not want to put the sucker down!

 

[Sub1 Zero]

The average joe would say they're the same guitar with different colored necks.

jack

Looks like the SUB is already plotting the evil things it's going to do to the other guitar when you aren't looking

 

[paranoid70]

On the signature thing.....honestly.....I don't think 90% of people looking know that it's a signature guitar and the 10% who do still mostly don't care.

Actually there may be a small minority of people that will think to themselves "A John Petrucci signature guitar - Awesome!"

 

[fatoni]

Actually there may be a small minority of people that will think to themselves "A John Petrucci signature guitar - Awesome!"

thats me...saw the human abstract and both guitarists had jps. it rocked. the only people who would know its a jp arent going to be "impressed" by the guitar, they will listen to your playing

 

[roburado]

Most people don't even know who JP is. I doubt most people have a clue that he plays EBMMs. Geez...most people don't even know EBMM makes guitars. So, who's going to call you a copycat? Moreover, it doesn't matter. Heck, John Fogerty played a JP on a televised award show, didn't he? Who the heck cares?

 

[colinboy]

i can play like JP himself now since getting my BFR!

Why not get a silo and a JP.that what i intent to do longterm,buy 1 of every ball available!

 

[DaPatrooch]

If you like the JP so much, you should get it. But play a Silo first before you decide. I personally think the JP is the greatest guitar in the world, but it might not be the best for you. Or maybe it is, I don't know, though it does sound like it is haha.

But with the whole signature model thing, most people probably won't even know it's a signature model. And personally, if I saw someone playing a Petrucci, I would think it's awesome because...he's playing a Petrucci. Same goes for a Luke, or even a non-EBMM sig. And if you think about it, the Silo was developed by someone or a group of people to their liking, which isn't really all that different from a signature model.

 

[NorM]

Love them both, but I like the SiLO better. If SiLOs didn't exist I would still be very happy with a Pet (and a Morse of course).

 

[mb99zz]

Definitely don't worry about the signature thing. A great guitar trumps the mintia. I would agree with another post that you should try the Silo....try them all I recently played a JP6 and an AL for the hell of it....and I liked them both. Although I don't listen to JP's music (or Albert's), I wouldn't let that keep me from buying either guitar.

 

[beej]

dude if the JP has your fav neck ever then that's your answer.

you cant mod a neck. screw the copy cat thing and play what you're comfortable with

What he said.

If you love the Pet, why mess around? If you happen to play a Silo and fall in love then sure. But the Pet is a sure thing.

I don't understand the hang-up on sig guitars. Lots of guys play Les Pauls and nobody makes fun of them right?