Silo...

[lostrebel]

I've got acouple questions for ya'll, as i hope to soon be the owner of my very own Silhuette(sp?).

What is a fair price for a used one?

What year did they first start using the oiled necks as opposed to the laquered ones?

Are the necks very different from the axis model? (the only ernie ball ive played for an extended period of time, but i find that its tonal range is not versatile enough for me, and its price range not versitile enough either) I loved the thin neck on it. I dont know if thin is the right word? Not like a wizard neck, but thin from the low strings to the high strings, if you get what im saying.

Is it possible to have a tech retrofit a floyd rose into a hardtail model without completely destroying the guitar? ( i think i saw a user on here who said he had done that to one of his?)

Is there a reason for the recessed neckplate on some of the models?

Thats all I can think of for now.
Thanks.

 

[Jimi D]

What is a fair price for a used one?

Hard to say really, but I guess anywhere from 50-75% of the new price depending on condition would be fair...

What year did they first start using the oiled necks as opposed to the laquered ones?

Somewhere in early-mid 1992, I believe...

Are the necks very different from the axis model? (the only ernie ball ive played for an extended period of time, but i find that its tonal range is not versatile enough for me, and its price range not versitile enough either) I loved the thin neck on it. I dont know if thin is the right word? Not like a wizard neck, but thin from the low strings to the high strings, if you get what im saying.

Silhouette necks are a little shallower in the back I believe, and they are a symetrical soft C shape, as opposed to the Axis' asymetrical soft V - they do have the same nut width, though...

Is it possible to have a tech retrofit a floyd rose into a hardtail model without completely destroying the guitar? ( i think i saw a user on here who said he had done that to one of his?)

I can't think of anyone who's done that - Norm? The Floyd-equipped Silhouettes I've seen on eBay and elsewhere appear to be top-routed for a floyd specifically, so I don't think that adding one to a vintage trem equipped guitar would be straightforward...

Is there a reason for the recessed neckplate on some of the models?

As I understand it, EB used to do that with the neckplates on all their guitars, but stopped after a few of years because of some finish cracking issues that were occuring around the plate... I have a couple with the recessed neck plate, and I wish they still featured this touch on their guitars...

 

[NorM]

Here is a picture of the Black Silo that started life as a hardtail. The MM Floyd was about $170 and the installation was about $200. I got my moneys worth out of the luthier that did it and it took him about 2 months to get around to it. He also installed the locking nut on the guitar (issues). So as far as I know this is the only Silo with a lowers pitch only Floyd. So the D-Tuna works well on it too. It is what I really wanted so that's what I did. I do NOT recommend it though. There is a nice Floyd equipped Natural Silo for sale on ebay right now. If I needed another silo I would get it. My thinking is the EBMM piezo trem is the best thing out there right now.

Click for picture

 

[lostrebel]

I don't particularly have any need for a floyd rose, i just would like a tremelo, and the particular guitar I'm looking at is a hardtail model. Could i put the EBMM piezo trem in?
This particular guitar is a '96 model w/ maple fretboard, recessed neckplate, and steve morse pickups for the humbuckers with a seymor duncan single coil. The guy is asking 600 for it.

 

[Jimi D]

Could i put the EBMM piezo trem in?

No. Ernie Ball do not sell any parts aftermarket, and will not do aftermarket modifications to any of their guitars at the factory. If you want one with an EB/MM piezo trem, you have to buy it that way new. You could add one of the Fishman or other aftermarket piezo trems to the guitar, but converting any stoptail to a trem is a HUGE mod, and the potential for disaster is quite high. You're much better off buying what you want in the first place, imho...

 

[lostrebel]

Oh well. I know, but to get precisely what I desire in a guitar I generally find to be more expensive than what I can afford.
Thats ok, I don't really need a tremelo all that much.

 

[peter71]

If you are in the market for a Silo, I can't reccomend them enough. I am not as tech savvy as most of the other people on the board, so I cannot speak to what tone or sound you are looking for, but I cannot seem to put my Silo down. I have a '95 that has a laquered neck and it plays like a dream. I am able to get most of the sounds that I want out of through my Tech 21 practice amp, but I also tend to like pretty straight forward clean tones without a lot of effects (mostly just reverb and different tonal settings). I will say that the only part of my Sil that I don't like as much as, say, a Steve Morse is the access to the tone knob isn't great for doing manual Wah stuff. Also, my tone knob tends to fall off, so that could be part of the problem as well. (I banged it and have not gotten an replacement yet, so don't take that tone knob bit as being a flaw in the Silo)

Anyway, I hope that this helps you with the decision. I don't think you will be dissapointed, but again I cannot speak in terms of the tone or sound you want, just overall playability. I hope that this helps!

 

[NorM]

Peter,
Is your tone knob the metal one. If you need one I will send it to you. I know I have chrome and I might have a black one. Just email me with your needs and snail mail address and I get that to you.

NorM

 

[lostrebel]

norm,
on the silos in particular, do you like the maple or rosewood fretboards better?
which do you like better on other guitars?
I generally prefer rosewood, but man, i love the maple on the axis my friend has.

 

[NorM]

I like the maple better. I think the denser wood gives a better response to the way it feels. Also the maple is a little brighter in sound. If it is to bright I can always just roll off the tone knob a little. The maple also feels a little faster to me. When I got the piezo trem on one I thought the maple might make the piezo sound to bright. Not true. The piezo sounds natural and clean. Maintanance is a little easier on the maple necks from the standpoint of it's all one kind of wood. I did the oil and wax treatment to one of my maple necks and I just did the entire neck. Fretboard and all (except the headstock). I can't wait to have to pull the neck off my other maple silo so I can finish it too. From a routine stand point maple is harder to keep clean. When I change strings I have to apply a lot of elbow grease and EBMM guitar polish to get the fretboard clean. Also, I wash my hands before I play.

The Rosewood is so comfortable to play and the sound is beautiful. When I'm playing I find myself saying, I understand why people like these so much. Dirt hides real easy on rosewood. If you play them enough and your hands are oily enough you will never have to lemon oil it. (Play every string on every fret every day.) There is a reason Morse and Petrucci only play on rosewood. I think it's the same reason Eddie and Albert play exclusively on maple. What ever decision you make is the right choice.

 

[lostrebel]

Yeah,
I don't like the varnished(is that the right word?) fretboards on some of the fender maple necks. Some have it and some don't. Me, I gotta feel the wood.

 

[lostrebel]

What kind of music do you play?

 

[NorM]

Anything but country, my Brutha

 

[puppiesonacid]

is it hard to find one around with a floyd? i know they stopped making them but im thinking about trying to aquire one.

God bless,

Tony

 

[lostrebel]

Anything but country, my Brutha

lol.
Me too. However, i sometimes find myself playing country when i try to delude myself into thinking that i can play Steve Morse's stuff. Eventually.....

 

[NorM]

I can play Steve Morse tunes. In fact you can see me play Vista Grande and Take it off the top this Saturday night. See the thread Norm preforms live on the world wide web for the details.

 

[lostrebel]

Yeah I saw that, but out here on the east coast thats about impossible. Is it gonna be recorded? I would love to hear it.