Who says Silo Specs should be conventional?

[whitestrat]

Mine's got a Dimarzio Timmons !!!

Yeah... I considered the AT-1. I decided to go for the FRED because I'm more of a fan of Satriani's tone in the chorus of "If I Could Fly", which is 100% FRED.

Besides, I wasn't going for the AT setup or tones. I was going more for a JS styled tone set, but couldn't find a similar neck single to compatre to the PAF Joe. the Cruisers are the closest I've heard so far...

 

[whitestrat]

Any quackerino in positions 2 and 4 with this set up?

Surprisingly? Yes.

I initially had 250k pots left in there, but they proved to be a tad warm, which is why they're meant for pure singles, which are brighter. These sound "correct" with 500k pots, and while you don't get 100% single coil shimmer, it's close enough that with the right gain levels, you still get SRV type of tones.

 

[whitestrat]

Like Lionel said awhile back, you run out of silos to try stuff in. I'm happy where mine are at and don't want to mess with them. But another one for cheap... might get out the torch and brine and relic that mother f*****.

I'm actually still trying to get round to putting one of mine under a router to get HH configurations...

 

[whitestrat]

I just picked an SSS Silo Spec up off of craigslist with one of those Dimarzio rails at the neck, standard in the middle, and a Seymour Duncan rail at the bridge.

Thing is, not many modern bladed singles sound close to the real thing. The cruisers so far are the closest I've found to replicate that high end squish under distortion. Even the Kinmans, for some reason lack that.

 

[josheyre]

Thing is, not many modern bladed singles sound close to the real thing. The cruisers so far are the closest I've found to replicate that high end squish under distortion. Even the Kinmans, for some reason lack that.

My pickup tech knowledge is pretty lacking cause I've never swapped before, but I'm pretty happy with the way these sound so far. I was kind of bummed when I saw the dude had taken the original ones out, but I think I'll be ok.

But, I haven't plugged into a decent amp yet, so the real jury's still out. Either way, this Silhouette is amazing. God, I love these guitars.

 

[whitestrat]

What was installed? What DMs and what SDs were put in?

 

[josheyre]

What was installed? What DMs and what SDs were put in?

I think the SD is a Hot Rail and the DM is a Cruiser.

 

[whitestrat]

I think the SD is a Hot Rail and the DM is a Cruiser.

I think they Hot Rail should be nice in the bridge. Let us know what it's like when you get it?

 

[josheyre]

I think they Hot Rail should be nice in the bridge. Let us know what it's like when you get it?

It's awesome. I haven't really cranked it up yet but, even at lower volumes, the tone feels a bit more... how should I say, bully-ish. I am no expert, especially since I've never been one to swap pickups, but it sounds meaner than my other Silhouette in the same position (the hot rail is a mini humbucker, right?). I've only had it for several days though, so I'll have more to say as I have more time to really compare.

 

[B2D]

Here's my modded Silo Special. I've since changed it to one 500K volume knob and removed the tone knob. I'd like to get some stainless medium jumbo frets on there. currently the guitar is in need of a fret dressing at minimum, frets 1-5 are in pretty rough shape. I'm thinking about some slightly fatter sounding pickups as well, something with more bass and less mids. I've got a PAF Pro in the neck and a FRED in the bridge. It's my #1 player but still a work in progress.

 

[candid_x]

Nice HH!

 

[B2D]

Nice HH!

Thanks! It's a 2001 Gunsmoke Pearl Silo Special. It's my #1 baby.

 

[whitestrat]

I've got a PAF Pro in the neck and a FRED in the bridge. It's my #1 player but still a work in progress.[/IMG]

nice one! i've actually got one like that in the works, but with a PAF Joe, and preferably a Mo joe...

Where'd you get that pickguard from? Care to share?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Here's my modded Silo Special. I've since changed it to one 500K volume knob and removed the tone knob. I'd like to get some stainless medium jumbo frets on there. currently the guitar is in need of a fret dressing at minimum, frets 1-5 are in pretty rough shape. I'm thinking about some slightly fatter sounding pickups as well, something with more bass and less mids. I've got a PAF Pro in the neck and a FRED in the bridge. It's my #1 player but still a work in progress.

As I have always said - two humbuckers is all you will ever need....

 

[B2D]

nice one! i've actually got one like that in the works, but with a PAF Joe, and preferably a Mo joe...

Where'd you get that pickguard from? Care to share?

Very cool. I've actually been contemplating getting some pickups that are a little higher output with more bass, especially for the bridge. I've got a few candidates from Duncan and Dimarzio I'll begin experimenting with soon, including a JB I've modified with an Alnico 8 magnet.

Chandler made the guard for me. Cost about $40-50. i just called 'em up and asked for it, they were real nice! Chandler Musical Instruments - Custom Manufacturers of the World's Best Guitars

As I have always said - two humbuckers is all you will ever need....

Word. Plus the 5-way super switch gives me split coils in positions 2 and 4. Makes for some cool tones, it does. I'd like to move it to a 3-way switch and use a push-pull pot to split all the coils at the same time for 6 sounds total. Since I've taken this pic I've removed the tone control and am now using one 500K volume pot. Made a good guitar sound even better.

 

[candid_x]

I've actually been contemplating getting some pickups that are a little higher output with more bass, especially for the bridge.

Don't know why the DM Bridge Breed gets no recognition here. It's always the same 3 or 4 HB recommendations. What you describe is exactly what the Breed delivers.

I started a Breed thread on TGP last night, just curious to see what the deal is with others on this pickup. Still early but feedback is positive so far.

For me, on the Silo Special and this p'up, the key was lowering it more than I normally would. The signal is still all there, but it losses the bit of "hardness" of a higher gain pickup. But the signal is all there, full'a piss and vinegar.

No DiMarzio Breed love? - The Gear Page

 

[B2D]

Don't know why the DM Bridge Breed gets no recognition here. It's always the same 3 or 4 HB recommendations. What you describe is exactly what the Breed delivers.

I started a Breed thread on TGP last night, just curious to see what the deal is with others on this pickup. Still early but feedback is positive so far.

For me, on the Silo Special and this p'up, the key was lowering it more than I normally would. The signal is still all there, but it losses the bit of "hardness" of a higher gain pickup. But the signal is all there, full'a piss and vinegar.

No DiMarzio Breed love? - The Gear Page

Thanks a bunch for that link! The Breed and the Norton were my two main candidates from DiMarzio, possibly maybe an Evolution. I was gonna try a Custom 5 and a JB-8 from the Duncan camp.

 

[candid_x]

Thanks a bunch for that link! The Breed and the Norton were my two main candidates from DiMarzio, possibly maybe an Evolution. I was gonna try a Custom 5 and a JB-8 from the Duncan camp.

Out of interest I emailed DiMarzio and asked them about it? Really responsive folks over there. He said Breed sales were pretty good, and thought it was one of their best HB's. He also mentioned of the AT-1: "which is pretty similar to the Breed but more organic. It has less power and a more open sound than the Breed," I happen to like the tighter focus of the Breed in this particular guitar, but an AT-1 is going into my next HSS Silo Sp, should there be one in the future.

 

[whitestrat]

Don't know why the DM Bridge Breed gets no recognition here. It's always the same 3 or 4 HB recommendations. What you describe is exactly what the Breed delivers.

The breed is nice, and would have been my choice for something that growls a bit mre than the FRED. But I'm itching to try a Mo Joe...

 

[candid_x]

The breed is nice, and would have been my choice for something that growls a bit mre than the FRED. But I'm itching to try a Mo Joe...

Have you tried the AT-1 (Andy Timmons) yet?

PS: Growls is a good word for it.