Music Man Silhouette Special - Pickup Wiring Modification

[@DejanVukic-xw5mz]

I want back my guitar to original wireing circuit. Do you have original wireing diagram with MM silent circuit? Im buy used guiter and someone before me changed PU circuit.

[@DrKevGuitar]

The pickup selector switch terminal layout changed a few years back. Assuming you have the original switch. Send an email to Music Man customer service ask trhem for the digram, including your guitar's serial number (www.music-man.com/contact). From the serial number they will know which version of the diagram to send you.

[@shysingh]

On the PRS 408 there's no drop in volume, it adds turns to the active coil when split.

[@josebarrosjr95]

Nice. I have a silhouette special, but I would prefer to have position 3 with the middle by itself just like any strat. I just don't know if it would be possible considering it should activate the silent circuit because it was going to work alone exactly like the HSS Cutless. Would be possible to do this on the silhouette? I would really appreciate if you could help me.

[@DrKevGuitar]

Yes, it's totally possible. The silent circuit has different outputs for standard or reverse woudnd pickups. The wiring uses a 4-pole super switch for pikcups selection and and silent circuit control which is less complicated than it looks. Contact Music Man customer service with your serial number and ask them for a schematic.

[@josebarrosjr95]

@@DrKevGuitar Thanks, but unfortunately I tried all I could. I got in touch with them many times but they never helped me. They only said it was possible and advised me to leave my guitar with a good technician. And the three best guys I know in my city didn’t get it. But thanks for your attention anyway. I have no experience in repairing so I won’t try by myself. Cheers

[@DrKevGuitar]

@@josebarrosjr95 Yes, it's not a job for a beginner. But a good guitar tech should be do it with no problem. It's not rocket science!

[@patrikfekete2nd]

Hi! I have a standard Silhouette from 1989, with the stock single coils and upgraded Paf Pro DP151. I have the same positions, exact as your old positions. I put in a push pull pot for tone knob. I want this method: push pull down off: position 1: full humbucker Position 2: full humbucker with the middle single coil position 3: middle pickup itself position 4: middle with neck position 5: neck itslef Push pull up on: Position 1: Splitted humbucker Position 2: Splitted humbucker with the middle pickup And the other positions 3,4 and 5 is the same as when the push pull down, nothing changed in these positions. My question is do you have out of phase problem in position 2 when the full humbucker with the middle pickup? Or rotate the humbucker or solder the North and South reverse?

[@DrKevGuitar]

Rotating the humbucker changes nothing. You will have to reverse the humbucker wires.

[@patrikfekete2nd]

@@DrKevGuitar Thank you, love your videos! :)

[@DrKevGuitar]

@@patrikfekete2nd Thank you!

[@patrikfekete2nd]

@@DrKevGuitar So in the position 2, the full humbucker with the middle pickup none of the humbucker's coil cancel out the middle pickup?

[@DrKevGuitar]

@@patrikfekete2nd Yes. But on a standard silo special there is the silent circuit. Stock wiring has it already wired to the middle pickup. You only need to change pole 4 of the super switch to activate it in position 2 (the yellow wire form the silent circuit goes to pole 4 which shunts the silent circuit to ground to disable). OR, you could use a noiseless single coil. I'd recommend the DiMarzio Area 58 and in fact I replaced the stock Silo Special singles with Area 58 and 67 a few years ago.

[@enderleego7539]

I'm interested in do the same with my silhouette, can you help me with the wiring?

[@DrKevGuitar]

Sure! Next time I have the pickguard off I'll take a photo and draw a schematic for you. Remind me in a few weeks if you don't hear from me.

[@enderleego7539]

Kevin Kretsch thx, I'll be in touch.

[@andricic994]

I would be also very interested in that. Did you actually have any problems with the five way switch to have a dead spot between the third and fourth position?

[@vasco2109]

I'm having a hard time getting the wiring diagram. Can you post it here?

[@DrKevGuitar]

Here ya go! forums.ernieball.com/threads/silhouette-special-re-wired-video-inside.58903/

[@davidkronehall247]

Interesting video, I have the same problem as you with the volume drop. I’m kind a curious, which pickup heights do you have?

[@DrKevGuitar]

I change pickup heights constantly! There is no correct answer. But a volume drop is un avoidable when a humbucker is split to one coil (and slighty worse with the coils in parallel). Can I adjust the humbucker height to avoid the drop in the split coil selections? Yes, but then the full humbucker on it's own is too loud for my liking.

[@enderleego7539]

Something about the wiring?

[@DrKevGuitar]

Have photos! Will need to do a diagram though. Are you starting from the stock wiring, with Dimarzio humbucker and EBMM silent circuit?

[@enderleego7539]

Yes, this is the original wiring with the silent circuit.

[@DrKevGuitar]

Here ya go! forums.ernieball.com/music-man-guitars/58903-silhouette-special-re-wired-video-inside.html#post970365

[@enderleego7539]

Kevin Kretsch Great, thx.

[@furynight7861]

참 말 많네 ....

[@DrKevGuitar]

Yes, there are but the sounds are linked (go to 4:50). :-)