Sub to Silo transformation?

[Jack FFR1846]

Since buying the Axis and putting 5 guitars up for sale (pause pause)... I'm looking at....and re-set up (much nicer) and looking again at my Sub 1 and thinking......I've already seen how nice the neck can be done by removing the paint.....maybe I should.

Then I think more.....(yah, I know, I should stop).....I wonder..... I've done my own paintwork in the past (painted my Cobra) and the key once the paint is laid down is simply the blocking, buffing and final polishing. Has anyone done this on the krinkle paint on a Sub?

Of course, my next step would be to go all out and work in all of the contours in the body and (my thoughts) flatten, polish and clear coat the aluminum pickguard.

1) has anyone done all of this?
2) am I nuts to consider any of it?
3) should I just call Pete DuBaldo and ask him what a trade up to that silo he has would run me?
4) requisite "other".....you tell me.

jack

 

[beej]

If you want to do it for fun, why not. But it's probably nuts, and it certainly won't be cost-effective when you look at a second hand silo.

An easy mod would be a pickup swap though. I remember when an old forum member (Raz) did this with his Sub. He routed for a middle single, and installed a HSS Silo Special pickgard. Pretty inexpensive way to get an EBMM with the SC p'up combinations.

 

[paranoid70]

I have thought about added a forearm contour to the SUB1 to make it more like a Silo. I don't know if I could go through with it though.

 

[GWDavis28]

Jack, so it sounds like your trying to make a Silo or Silo Special out of a Sub?

Just call Pete man, that would be a pretty time consuming project and like Beej said, I think in the end it's gonna cost you a wicked lot more. Plus think of it this way, you do all that work to the Sub and then once it's all finished, you don't like it?? You'll never get your $ for it man, and you might have a wicked hard time selling it as well.

Just my $.02 worth. Glenn |B)

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Since buying the Axis and putting 5 guitars up for sale (pause pause)... I'm looking at....and re-set up (much nicer) and looking again at my Sub 1 and thinking......I've already seen how nice the neck can be done by removing the paint.....maybe I should.

Then I think more.....(yah, I know, I should stop).....I wonder..... I've done my own paintwork in the past (painted my Cobra) and the key once the paint is laid down is simply the blocking, buffing and final polishing. Has anyone done this on the krinkle paint on a Sub?

Of course, my next step would be to go all out and work in all of the contours in the body and (my thoughts) flatten, polish and clear coat the aluminum pickguard.

1) has anyone done all of this?
2) am I nuts to consider any of it?
3) should I just call Pete DuBaldo and ask him what a trade up to that silo he has would run me?
4) requisite "other".....you tell me.

jack

Yes!

 

[fbecir]

Don't do it, you will regret it !
SUB are not produced anymore, thus they are now rare beast that we have to protect ... Your grandchildren will damn you if you do it !

 

[Slingy]

I've thought about a refinish and/or contour too but I could never go through with it. I wouldn't mind adding a compensated nut and possibly some new pickups or wiring it for 5 way.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Sounds like a great project! And if it all goes wrong, its not like you have messed up a BFR!

 

[luv]

must be something in the air. I was looking at my sub 1 last night thinking the exact same things. it would be so easy to do. it wouldn't cost much...except for the new pickguard assembly...I'm assuming you'd just order a whole new pickguard and pickups/switch/pots etc....I heard EBMM will supply them (not sure if that's true or not). I don't think replecating a flat black paint job would be that difficult....you could just work a relic into the whole process and not worry about the repaint. since the pickups are not mounted into the wood, I doubt the sustain or tone would suffer from the routing or arm/body contour.

it could be easily done....but making the decision to do it is the hard part. resale value shot once trigger is pulled, but you may end up with a guitar that you'll be so bonded to that you'd never part with it.

keep posted!

i even have an Axis that is going to get a refinish...i was considering adding arm contour prior to refinish....now that is a tough decision.

 

[Sticky1973]

must be something in the air.... you may end up with a guitar that you'll be so bonded to that you'd never part with it.

Totally agree, brother

Just like you guys, I have considered both minor and major mods.

The Sub is such a great guitar; it's almost a blank canvas, just waiting to be tweaked.

 

[fogman]

An easy mod would be a pickup swap though. I remember when an old forum member (Raz) did this with his Sub. He routed for a middle single, and installed a HSS Silo Special pickgard. Pretty inexpensive way to get an EBMM with the SC p'up combinations.

Here's the Razcaster!!!

here's another simple pup mod.

 

[beej]

Wow, nice Foggy- the Razcaster!

That p/g started life on my old Silhouette Special. I wired it up with some Bill Lawrences, then later sold it to Raz for his project. Very neat.

 

[Sticky1973]

Loving the black Sub finish.

Just when you think about a refinish, you fall back in love with the original paint

Robust.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Don't do it, you will regret it !
SUB are not produced anymore, thus they are now rare beast that we have to protect ... Your grandchildren will damn you if you do it !

Quoted for truth.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Wow, some great things to think about. (I thought I was supposed to think less...)

The first thing I realized while reading is that I am no carpenter. So, as much as I know how to paint, I know that prep (body work) on a car has to be done well or the paint won't matter. Knowing that limitation, as much as I want the countour, I'm not doing woodworking.

Nice pics with the various pickguards....the emg's look awesome. You guys must have great cameras....or know how to take good pix. I can't. Oh well.

I also remembered 2 of the things I really liked about that Silo......24 frets and a maple fretboard......

I think at this point, I'll have to just put the sub in the trunk on my next CT trip. (unless it sells before then).

Thanks for all the help guys......and don't let me stop you from pointing out more things around this madness.

jack