Sterling Silo 30 mod

[OLPlayer]

Can anyone help with some advice? I want to mod my Silo 30, changing the HSS configuration to a SSS set up. Not knowing anything of modding guitars, can someone advise me,
. Will a silhouette pickguard fit the Sterling model
. Do the pick-ups attach to the pick guard,(like a Strat), or the body
. What single coil ,pick ups would suit the Silo 30 best.
. Lastly, can it be done?????

Thanks in advance for anty replies

 

[jamminjim]

Yes, it is fairly straightforward and easy to do. A Silhouette Special pickguard would be the one that fits. The pickups would mount like they do in a strat. As for type or brand of Single coils.... the sky is the limit, there are literally hundreds of them out there. But you really just need one if you are going to transfer all the electronics and the neck and middle pickup to the new pickguard. I'd probably get a DiMarzio Injector Bridge DP423. But there are many choices. You could just buy a strat 5 way switch and a couple of CTS 250K pots and wire it up like a strat; I have and it sounds super excellent.
Here's what a Silhouette Special S-S-S strat style guard looks like. Notice there are 4 screws on the left side
of the pickguard, not like a Silhouette which only has three. And it should fit a Silo30 too. I purchased this white SS SSS pickguard from EBMM customer service. Give them a jangle mate. Oh, I did have to countersink the pickup mounting holes for these particular pickups because I used beveled vintage screws.

 

[jamminjim]

Or one with all DiMarzios

I also built this loaded pickguard Strat style that would fit your guitar. It has a DiMarzio Blue Velvet in the bridge position
which has a Fralin bassplate installed, and the the neck and middle pups are stock Silhouette Special DiMarzio.
It now resides on a Silhouette Special somewhere in England.

 

[GHWelles]

or, get one of those single coils in humbucker size pickups

 

[DrKev]

or, get one of those single coils in humbucker size pickups

LOL!

As Jim said, a Silhouette Special pickguard should fit but not a Silhouette pickguard (it's shorter because of the 24 frets on the Silhouette). To the best of my knowledge, the screw holes might not line up. Try the forum search function and see what comes up; I'm sure Pat Park has answered this question somewhere.

 

[luv]

or, get one of those single coils in humbucker size pickups

seymour duncan phat cat

 

[jamminjim]

or, get one of those single coils in humbucker size pickups

absolutely, and the SD phat cat is one selection. Here's another
Mean 90 Gloss Black- TRUE Alnico P90- FAT and Loud!

NOTE: the humbucker opening in the Silo 30 pickguard (or EBMM SS or Sub1) will have to be modified to make this option work. The corners of the humbucker opening are not "square" enough to accommodate the hum size P90's. The mod will require that you break out the round and flat files to get the opening squared up. I actually made a tool using a wooden paint stirring stick about and inch wide, taped sandpaper to it and used it to do this after getting the corners done to size with a small round file.

I installed some Brian Gunsher True 90's in a Dbl. Subbie guard. Will show it to y'all when I get it 100% complete. BG Pups True 90's, love em'.

 

[OLPlayer]

Thanks for all the advice. Think I will get the SS pickguard and stick to the 3 single coil upgrate. I will post pics when completed.

 

[peterd79]

the mean 90's are great... i've actually used a lot of the GFS stuff and their pretty good for the money.

 

[DrKev]

And Bill Lawrence's Wilde pickups are possibly the best bang for the buck on the market, IMVHO.

 

[jamminjim]

And Bill Lawrence's Wilde pickups are possibly the best bang for the buck on the market, IMVHO.

right on! Forgot I have used a set of his Keystones and they were excellent too! this OP is in the UK and will probably be shopping in that market...... Strings n Things?

 

[Another Noob]

Thanks for all the advice. Think I will get the SS pickguard and stick to the 3 single coil upgrate. I will post pics when completed.

Yeah I know... Back from the dead...

Considering this same mod...

OLPlayer, did you ever do this upgrade? If so how did it work out?

Can anyone confirm that the Silo Spec pickguard fits a Silo30/30D?

Anyone know if the factory humbucker route in the Silo 30/D will take the single coil ok?

 

[jamminjim]

I would say that a Music Man SS pick guard should fit, but since it is a Sterling it might not be exact. Between you and me, I think it would fit A OK >
As for the route, it should be similar to any other humbucker route, and I've had not problem installing singles in hummer routs. For instance on my Sub 1 I've done it without any fuss.

 

[DrKev]

See here, Brian from Sterling says 'no'...

http://forums.ernieball.com/music-m...lhouette-special-pickguard-fit-new-silo3.html

 

[Another Noob]

Lookie what I did!

Also included a pic of the routes and the back of the loaded SBMM Silo30D OE pick guard if someone is curious as to whats there.

I need to go back into it though and at the very least put in a stereo output jack on it so there is some kind of switch for the battery. Maybe I'll even add a battery compartment at some point.

In the end the MM SSS pick guard needed just a hair filed off around the trem, truss rod adjuster and neck cutouts to line everything up just right. Not that big a deal at all.

Edit...The plastic was still on it when the pic was taken. The filing job is really better than it looks.

 

[jamminjim]

Looks great! I figured it could be done rather easily. And thanks for the pics under the hood.

 

[Another Noob]

Looks great! I figured it could be done rather easily. And thanks for the pics under the hood.

You were correct, Sir!

Thanks for all the help here, there and everywhere!