Welcome me to the Sil club...

[dwf1004]

Welcome me to the Sil club...2/25 IT'S HERE!

Looks like I'm adding to my EVH duo, yet this time I'm joining the ranks of you (now) fellow Sil owners...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...3&category=2384&sspagename=STRK:MEBBI:IT&rd=1

I've always looked at an option for single coil, and did NOT want to go the Strat route. I've heard nothing but good feedback (pardon the pun) about these guys from all of you, including from our man Norm, leader of "Norm and the Silhouettes".

So, after all of this time, past and present, as a humbucker guy, I'm taking the next step. Anyone care to offer me opinions/advice as to how this neck differs a la the EVH? Am I going to be having to readjust a lot, or is there anything that is going to p*ss me off, etc.?

Other than that, I am so excited...I'm looking forward to getting this guy!

 

[Jimi D]

Nice looking early SS you won there Darrell... I used to have one almost exactly like it! The Wilkinson trems on these ones is pretty cool... They're awesome "Strat"-style guitars; I think you'll really like the tone of this axe... Congrats!

 

[GWDavis28]

DWF1004,

Congratulations!!! I was just eyeing that bad boy the other day!!! Just watching it to see what happened. These instruments are awesome!!!

The 3 single coils paired with the MM maple neck and silent circuit are better than any strat in the world. Plus the purple sharp!!

Mine doesn't have a trem, but I'm not really a trem kind of guy.

Best of luck, for I am also a member of this awesome club.

 

[ex3.8]

Good job man!

I love mine. the only thing wich is not much now is... the neck was not responding well to 9-42's and the truss rod was loose!!!I put 10 to 46 on mine and filed down the nut a little.
I added a mix of vasoline and lock graphite at the nut, this helps it stay in tune.

Love it!

 

[NorM]

There are a few changes you will have to get use too. Sure the sound will be way different. Humbuckers vs single coils and all, but you know that already. The wood may be either poplar or ash. If you can’t tell by looking inside maybe Derek or Jon can look it up for you. I’m curious to know myself. The other changes include the neck shape. The silo neck will be thinner. IMHO it’s more comfortable. Knowing you have enjoyed the EVH’s as much as you have it may take some getting use to. I do think the axis neck is fun to play too. Especially EVH type stuff. Next is the body contours. You will probably be asking yourself, how come EVH didn’t do this to his guitars. If the contours are to round for you just strap it on or sit classical. (with the guitar on your left leg) Also, you will have to get use to having such a wide array of sounds with the five way switch. Oh, you will also have to schedule more time in your day to play because you love your new guitar so much. (These are not the droids you are looking for) There is also the fact that you will say now I see why norm has such a good feeling for these guitars. You were the last person I expected to get a silo (Mr. I play an EVH or I don’t play) so I am really happy you are getting one. The purple is awesome. When you bust it out let me know and I will come to Scottsdale to hear Ya. (there’s a 7% chance of that happening)

 

[dwf1004]

These aren't the droids we're looking for...move along.

OK, so now that I've been picked on re: my quote for the second time (first Estin, now norm), I've updated it...leave me alone.

For the record, the quote's in place not because I'm finicky (lie), picky (another lie), or what not; it's because the EVH, to me, is comfortable (truth), and anything else that I pick up is hard to adjust to, or I just don't get into as much (SO true). This is why, though hearing nothing but excellent feedback (pardon the pun) about the playability and comfort factor of the Sil Spec., I still approach my newest acquisition with interpidation.

I figured my man norm would come through with great insight, on top of that already provided, on the differences a la EVH and Sil. It puts me at ease about some things. I like the thinner neck aspect, sounds like that could be fun to getting used to, possibly open up some speed doors for me? And, as before, I am SO excited to add a single coil aspect to the arsenal at Camp Darrell. I do love the sound of my neck p/u in my EVH's, but after jamming out (a little uncomfortably, mind you) on a friend's Strat, it was inevitable that single coils would be in my future. According to the description, it lists the body as alder...is that far fetched? (Could've sworn that that was used in the day by EBMM for these guys, but I could be wrong.)

Overall, I can't wait, but unfortunately I have to. I don't have the coin immediately for this beauty, but after a discussion with the seller, I was able to pull off a "bid/win now, pay later" coup. I pay the cat on the 13th when the green is there for me, and should expect to see her come home on the 20th or vicinity. I will post some much better pics at that point for all to awe at that point.

I'm just so happy to get the ball moving towards this finally, and wanted to share my soon-to-be acquisition with everyone. I've been on the search for a Sil like this over the last 3 months, and one at Corner Music, though gorgeous in Carbon Blue Pearl, was a tad out of my range. Another one similar to this slipped out of my hands due to proxy bid loss by TEN DOLLARS! (For suggestion, you want to stay awake when you're expecting an auction to end!)

Thanks so much for the insight provided! (And norm, if we look at your 7% theory, I should expect to see 7% of you, which would be just your feet and ankles, at my doorstep soon, right?)

Take care all!

 

[Estin]

well well well what can i say great looking axe my friend. one thing is i think the silhouette neck is a tad wider than the evh neck. *hell even the axis neck is wider than the evh* norm should be able to validate that, if not then he played his silho's too much and wore the necks to a shadow of their former selves.

 

[Estin]

that gave me a idea for a new sig for norm. that is if you don't mind norm.....


"play untill you turn your silhouette necks into saw dust!"


what do you think?

 

[dwf1004]

Hey guys...

Just wanted to let you know that the excitement is building here at Camp Darrell. I just fired off my money to the cat that I'm buying this Sil from, and I would expect to see this beauty in the next week or so. I'M GETTING EXCITED!

Also, for the sake of being more general, and to shut some of you guys up , I've changed the 'ol sig. Hope you like it.

I'll let ya know when it gets here!

 

[NorM]

I like the new signature so much that I just couldn't shut up about it

_______________
NorM Burnes -- Tucson AZ
----------
"I play Ernie Ball, or I don't play."
----------
-1993 Silo. T_Teal, Maple, Floyd, EMG's
-1998 Silo. Black, Rosewood, Floyd, EMG's
-1998 Silo. VSB, Rosewood, Floyd, HH
-1999 Silo Bass Guitar, Pearl Purple
-2000 Steve Morse, Blueburst, Autographed
-2000 Axis Sport, T_Purple, MM90, Piezo Trem
-2003 Silo. BlueDawn, Maple, Piezo Trem
-2003 Axis, Pacific Blue Burst, Crushing Quilt
-Ernie Ball 6166 Volume Pedals
-Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings exclusively

Vote Here!!

 

[Scotty]

Very nice guitar.

Is that a standard Silo case, I got a rectangle one with mine????

How much do they go for on ebay ($$$$)

I've never thought about buy one from ebay before, do you have to be careful who you get them from???

Anyway, good choice with the guitar but then again it's hard to make a bad choice with a silo (perhaps pink with a purple headstock)

 

[dwf1004]

Scotty, glad you like it. I'm rather fond of it myself. And thanks for the input on the sig, norm (you copycat! )

I don't believe that it's the original case, unless that was the type of case that EBMM offered previous to the "new style". As long as it will transport and protect 'er without shifting all over the place inside, etc. that would be just fine with me.

I've been watching these for months before I finally was graced with the pleasure of winning one to my liking. I've seen Sil's on eBay go in the range of $500-700. When it comes to eBay, make sure that the seller has either a lot of feedback/has been around there for a while, or that the feedback is overall positive. (On each auction, the upper right square will give you a background on the person, ie. registered since XX-XX-XXXX, XX% overall feedback, etc.)

I got lucky, and hit them both at the same time; almost 2800 reports for feedback, 99.7 overall positive feedback. You don't want to let things go by just because you're looking for the same combo, but the overall is the best thing to look for.

 

[dwf1004]

TOMORROW

I am getting so giddy at this point...I may not see ya'll until Thursday because of this, so fair warning.

 

[NorM]

Darrell,

If you want to bring your new sil to the vegas GC shredfest finals I will give you a ride. Did you sign up for Guitarmeggedon yet? There is a GC near you!

 

[dwf1004]

Heh...thanks norm, but I think I have talent to warrant my presence at that event as something on the lines of a towel/water boy.

I was thinking about making a trip up there to check that out on a side note, but not sure if my work schedule would permit it. We'll see what magic could come into play, though.

 

[dwf1004]

First take/insights/observations!

Wow, what a beauty! She arrived at Camp Darrell, as planned, this afternoon. I was so excited that I had to pee. Unpacked 'er (the guitar, that is) as soon as I got home. DOB is 8/21/96. Thanks Scott! (Also, note the correction of the color in my signature; this is actually candy red. The seller must have been color blind. )

The first thing I did was toss the old battery out of the Silent Circuit and all it's active goodness, and drop a brand new Energizer in. Now, exactly how does one "store" this when done playing? Do I have to physically remove the battery every time I'm done, or will the little swing out be sufficient?

I gotta tell ya...I never thought that I'd be comfortable with another guitar/neck. I was wrong. This neck feels just like home. I can't believe how comfy I felt pounding out chords and other related noise I call playing on this neck. Just a thing of beauty. And I'll tell you what...I'm surprised at how well she sounds running through my 5150, both clean and dirty. I thought that it was going to be messy. Not at all.

I've decided that the Grover tuners on the stock are pure and absolute sh*t, IMHO. Try as I might, that darn thing wouldn't stay in tune. Old tuners or old strings? You make the call...I'm thinking strings, but I already had intentions on updating at least the machine heads with pearloid, and the good man Dan in sales helped me to get the ball rolling with a set of new Schallers, as well as the "classic" volume and tone knobs to replace these God-awful metal knobs that are on there now. I'm still at odds about whether or not to swap out the Wilkinson trem with a MM one, or to stay original. She's pretty rusty, and could use a replace. Any input (no pun intended) on what YOU would do?

Cosmetically, as I said, finish is perfect, except on the back, but whatever. I can deal with that. However, I've given the neck a nickname: Pig Pen. Time to break out the Murphy's Oil and a toothbrush, and go to town, then it's oil/wax time!

I'm getting a little crackle here and there, and I'm wondering what is causing it; it's a good cable, the one that I use when I break out an EVH with zero issue. Wonder if something's just loose/dirty inside. Dunno...but I'll live with it for now, as once my parts are delivered to my man in town, he's gonna set 'er up real nice with my custom gauge, install the tuners, knobs, and clean everything up and go over it all with a fine toothed comb to make 'er more of a happenin' beast than she already is.

So, there you have it...my first observations and experience with something other than an EVH in the last 13 years. Am I disappointed? Not a bit...am I comfortable? You bet your a** I am. I can't wait until she's a lean mean, set up to my full liking machine.

Well worth noting as well...hats off to the continually amazing and friendly staff at EBMM, namely Scott and Dan, who got me my DOB and got me on the right track with my parts, respectively. They answered all of my questions, as smart or stupid as they were, with the greatest of ease, and gave me the answers I needed/wanted to hear, and/or didn't, but either way it got me on the path to happiness. Thanks gents!

 

[Jimi D]

hehehe... talk about enthusiasm!! Funny how these guitars illicite these kinds of responses, eh Darrell?

re: storing the guitar - you don't have to worry about the battery on teh Silent Circuit so long as you unplug the guitar; no need to remove it or slide out the battery cage... Heck, even if you leave the guitar plugged in, I think there's something like a 1000 hours of battery life in this circuit....

Enjoy!

 

[dwf1004]

Thanks for the insight, Jimi. Dumb question, I'm sure, but I've never had to "power up" my guitar before. I see that it's pretty much the same as the "input jack on a footpedal" approach, ie. remove from input jack to spare the battery. Makes sense...and yes, I always get giddy when it comes to new toys entering the Camp Darrell confines, and this was no different.