Harmony Silhouette w/Bigsby Vibrato Long Term Review & Demo

[@Puisheen]

Lol whoops I misspoke about the neck: I can get along fine on the slightly LARGER neck on the Bigsby model, but in truth my gold one is slimmer overall.

[@reynoldswrap36]

I have missed your face, your playing, your humor, and your love of knobs these past few months. I am elated to see you back and I 100% respect you for taking the time you needed for your mental health. The grind should always take a backseat to the heart

[@TomCarmony]

Welcome back Mike! And holy moly whatever your camera setup is these days look GREAT! That beard looks magnificent in 4K!

[@jackw.2084]

Glad to see you back Mike! My favorite youtuber of all time!!

[@Formlessrecording]

Ok that sound at 11:50 has me sold

[@lazercheesecake]

Glad to see you back Mike! Keep up the great work and take care of yourself!

[@jfturner67]

Hey, I just wanted to say that while I’ve missed your videos, I really respect your decision to pull back take care of yourself and take the time to grieve. We lost our Saint Bernard, Denali, about three years ago, and while we have four other pups in our home, there’s a hole in my heart that belongs to Denali, so I understand your pain. Take care.

[@Puisheen]

Frank! I'm so sorry to hear about Denali. What a loss. Thanks for your kindness and understanding.

[@mcfontaine]

The thanks are all from us Mike. We love having you and your amazing guitar skills & knowledge back with us.

[@RS2KR]

Good to have you back!

[@bucko5427]

our ol' pal Mike "loves a good nob." That deserves a thumbs up. Glad to see your back ol' pal!

[@matthoemann7400]

Man, I love when you throw your signal chain on the screen. I'm constantly wondering about peoples tone. You just subliminally answered me.

[@sleepskateboards5710]

Welcome back Mike!!! We all missed you!

[@DGoetz26]

I was just watching your first video of this last night wondering when we’d see the long term, and today - BOOM. Great vid.

[@rayclenshaw9997]

Great to have you back Mike - and that Harmony is a beauty 👍

[@SlimeyGuitarStrings]

I love the playing in this so much. It sounds pretty good in all the tone samples. Never realized I might want a bigsby.

[@automaticfantastic]

ive been searching for months for the bit at 9:07... and finally found it. thanks buddy, i needed the lulz today 😂

[@chinnarciso]

These are the kinds of reviews that makes me wanna buy stuff. Great job. Love your style

[@hotrod54chevy]

Your use of a car analogy was not lost on me, sir! Always happy to see ya, Mike!

[@rossamundbrennan7248]

Beautiful work! It's great to see your brand of in-depth guitar knowledge combined with excellent humour again. 💜

[@Puisheen]

I am always delighted to see you pop up in the comments! Appreciate you!

[@JasonTMays]

Glad to see you back.

[@Puisheen]

Jasonnnnnnnnnnn

[@buymagicfish]

That pickup change at 16:06 is so smooooooth

[@elliotgoodine954]

Always good to see your thoughtful and thorough looks at cool guitars, Mike! And who doesn't love a good knob?!

[@jasonswitzer1748]

This is cool. The Harmony that has most caught my eye is the Jupiter Thinline. The thing is frequent,y inky 5.5 lbs and sounds great. It’s mind blowing when yiu hold a guitar that is that light. Your riff when you first start playing this Silhouette is great, man. Good demo.

[@Xandanwar]

Happy to see you back, we missed you....

[@triniep82]

He's back!

[@peterjg1952]

"I love a good knob" Hilarious. Great to see you and the world of offset guitars back.

[@existDFN]

Never had any guitar other than fender/squier and didn’t really want to. But this guitar is a piece of art. Must buy it!

[@LightspeedFieros]

I like comparison between the old beetle and new beetle. Cars and guitars are similar in alot of ways, and it really conveyed the idea to me in a good metaphor. Glad to see you're back!

[@Puisheen]

Oh good, I was worried the car people might come for me on that one lol

[@Aniki82]

Hellow Puisheen :) :) :) Nice to see you and ear you play ! You brought some serious guitar today!! It sound really good!!!!

[@jltrem]

Regarding those cupcakes, I have a '67 Harmony Rocket H59 (the triple pickup). In the mid Seventies I replaced the cupcake knobs with black speed knobs because it kind of decreased the "there's six friggin' knobs on this thing" vibe. I have, of course, since put them back.

[@joelshields8807]

Great review. I typically play seated, and I almost always reach for my Jazzmaster for both comfort and tone. But I do kind of want a humbucker offset, and Fender's offerings in that department do nothing for me. This seems to check all the boxes. And if I have to do a little filing and replace a spring, that would probably be the least modding I've ever done on a guitar (at least one I liked), so I'm good with that.

[@matthewdavis473]

Gorgeous opening track.

[@louisaccardi2268]

I didn't realize that Harmony guitars were now made in the U.S. The gold foil pick-ups are cool.

[@edwoodvine6793]

Its so good that you're back. I really missed these videos. Have you considered doing a video on your hx stomp presets or how you use it?

[@Puisheen]

I have! I worry they're all too bare bones though, I basically use it as an amp sim for outboard pedals!

[@rogermccuaig3889]

If I wanted to install a Bigsby on a Harmony Silhouette that was purchased without one, do I have to change the original bridge?

[@bretolson8484]

Cool cool COOL! I love that this guitar looks like a College student guitar (WSU?) and your complex chording doesn’t get lost, it all rings true through the signal chain. I bet that is an unexpectedly good-playing guitar at the price. But I agree your insights could be next-level spec’s for Harmony to explore. ‘Glad you are back 🙏

[@dylanclay5267]

That progression around 7:00 is everything I love about guitar! I assume the drive is the fuck? This makes me want to bust out my old harmony

[@joshfreeman7999]

Mike is the BEST!

[@redcomn]

Got this and talman. Now if only i could try those new guild surfliner deluxe

[@taylormoon3561]

Hell yeah gimme that old pal Mike content. As much as I like for my favorite creators to be able to take some personal time, the KZbin feed has been just a little less fun without you. Looking forward to more videos, at whatever pace you put them out.

[@TheBbrothers224]

This is just too cool.

[@flapjack413]

I just instantly noticed that this guitar has a forearm contour! As much as I love my 1964 Silhouette, I'm just not a huge fan of how slab bodies feel when playing in a seated position.

[@slidepiece]

Ended up purchasing the bigsby version first and I tried a lot of things you did in the first video. The vibrato was way too subtle for my taste and the angle is what ultimately didn't work for me. Put a mastery on there for a future vid? Ha! Would that even work? Swapped it for the hard tail in slate and great googly moogly, it's such a great guitar! The neck and feel are absolutely sublime.

[@benlogan430]

I have been eyeing the Juno! But, I think Harmony is all done as GC and the Sweetwater have very few left. And GC just blew some out at $300 off. Hopefully they stick around for a bit longer.

[@TheArmedHermit]

I bought a Juno recently from Sweetwater. Absolutely fantastic guitar that totally scratched my Stratotone itch.

[@lenbones7940]

Such a cool offset... i think it would be a great design to do a reverse model as well harmony should get on that lol keep up the good work buddy... your playing is top tier and your expertise in review is bar none...

[@Puisheen]

I would love this in reverse!

[@MsDamonlee]

Excellent and entertaining review. I love these. I have an original Bob kat. I want a bigsby on it !!!

[@_-_Michael_-_]

I today realized you ask us if we are happy and safe because you are paying tribute to lyrics of Octopuses Garden by The Beatles. How nice of you. Cheers mate. ❤️ Yes I’m happy and safe.

[@Puisheen]

Sadly that is not the case but I'm glad for the connection anyway! And glad you are!

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

You're making Pancake jealous lol! 😮

[@ChadWork1]

Great in-depth look/listen at a cool guitar Mike! I'd so love it if you could get your hands on a Johnny Marr Jag. It's the only Jag I would consider due to all the issues he worked out in making his sig model. Best.

[@jackgreenwood1817]

The Marr is a great guitar, but stick a Staytrem or Mastery bridge on any Jag and you've cured the issues the Marr solves. Or just shim the neck and set it up ;)

[@ianjarrold6423]

The Marr also simplifies the more complicated pickup switching approach of a standard Jag, so not just the “bridge issue”, innit. (Yes so does the American professional).

[@roymontero4066]

Mike, im usually a hater on YT guitarist with their sterotypical pentatonic blues noodling. For what its worth. Once i saw your original demo on gold harmony silhouette. I can tell you have the proper feel, clean playing, and timing. Good job brother! I am a fan! Keep uploading vids my man. Its hard losing a dog (as i also have a doggie best friend). Hope you’re time comes when ready to love another pet. Cheers brother!

[@Puisheen]

Roy that's very kind. I try to keep my demos rather simple because I don't want them to be about showing off. This is great!

[@PintsofGuinness]

whats the song at 11:45? love that dissonant style of riff

[@ohpotatoesandmolasses]

Reminds me of Deerhoof's "My Purple Past"

[@Formlessrecording]

Wow, I did not realize that they were made in the US. For a guitar with bigsby and good case that’s not bad.

[@benford1726]

9:05 well that's a thing you said, on the internet, for everyone to hear 😀❤️

[@BenKrogh]

Lovely! What are your thoughts on the Jupiter? I've had my eye on one for a minute...

[@mikehardy2418]

R2 is chillin in the back

[@aislingayers0451]

I would love to see you follow this up at some point with a video on the updated/reissue Silvertone 1748's, just to see a comparison between two very different takes on the same concept.

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Awesome jam man

[@igavehimadollar3354]

i havent seen these before im a receny convert to offsets but that looks amazing

[@TriGrutt]

I love seeing bigsby and someone playing with it. But... Myself? Well, let’s say that the Theater of life has put Bigsby and I in very different roles and our paths should only cross by chance... For now.

[@Puisheen]

All of life is a stage and we, we are merely the [guitar] players

[@ESANANIKONE]

Hey, I got a Jupiter just before they released this one. The fit and finish is so good. The neck is chuuuuunky though and if I knew I would have bought the later silhouette with bigsby. Btw, what amp/pedal did you use for the video ?

[@ryanmortenson9445]

All the best to you Mike! I love your videos hope all is well and you are staying happy, healthy and safe. I really like the new Silhouette, really nice to play! Thanks for the review.

[@Puisheen]

Thanks, Ryan!

[@Opry99er]

Lovely guitar. 😊

[@KP-vr6ft]

Great playing

[@starshineraiser6729]

I love what Harmony is doing and need a Silhouette. I just bought one of their fantastic 6 series amplifiers. I do wish they’d use Kluson, vintage style tuners, though.

[@GuitarGearGyan]

Nice. Would love to review one for Indian audiences one day. The thicker spring sounds like an interesting mod.

[@Puisheen]

Hey I'd be happy to try to hook you up? Shoot me a message on IG

[@twinchicken69]

beautiful sounding🤘❤

[@connorbuck4936]

Is a helix video ever coming down the pipe? Your helix tones make me wanna sell my amp and I'm dying to know how you do it and what your thoughts are towards modern amp modelling!

[@Puisheen]

My Helix died ;( But I would love to when I get a replacement. There's a lot of interesting things about that and I'd also like to help folks like me who kinda get lost in menus!

[@jessejafrnd]

Does anyone know if the Juno P90s are really goldfoil, I played one at Guitar Center and went back the next day to play it some more.. and Mike you are the absolute best, you always answer questions and comments for many years too. I'm sorry for your loss

[@musicforyou2010]

THANK YOU, MIKE. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS. GREETINGS FROM GERMANY. JOE

[@jacobperry3857]

What is the effect at 6:36???!

[@Taallyn]

You need a blue one so you have one for each service branch.

[@ericjohn1908]

What amp/effects are you using at the 6 min mark? Sounds fuzzy and glorious in just the right way 🙌🏼

[@verbageddon]

Wow, both Mike Adams and myself have played this same guitar. Curious how much it'd go for at auction.

[@Random909]

How do you feel about floyd Rose's?

[@Puisheen]

They're fun! And not nearly as tough to set up as a lot of folks say, but that's just my experience. I'd love to have one at some point

[@Random909]

@@Puisheen yeah I really think they aren't as bad to restring or set up as some people say

[@jimmymc10021]

Silhouette or MIJ traditional Jazzmaster.......which one?

[@JohnBrown-z2u]

When these came out I was kind of disappointed they weren't budget guitars.

[@Aurichu]

Hey Mike. I was wondering if there would be any chance to see a G&L Doheny in your hands someday ? :)

[@Puisheen]

I'm not particularly interested in the model but if one happens by I'll have another look

[@existDFN]

Mike how would you describe these pickups in comparison to JM pickups / Gibson like pickups or other humbuckers?

[@staycrashed]

Love. So much love.

[@Puisheen]

Kyle. You're the best

[@igavehimadollar3354]

dam they look amazing

[@Azoteac]

I've got one of the Samick made Silvertone 1478 Silhouettes (from the first run they did in the 2010s) that I'm currently upgrading parts on. I'd be interested to know how these classy new Harmony Silhouettes compare to Silvertone's budget offering- $1,500 vs $500, Bigsby B5 vs licensed B50, MiniHumFoils vs P90ish surface mount pickups. Obviously the Harmony is an objectively higher quality instrument, but the Silvertone retains a bit more of the original model's budget mojo.

[@Puisheen]

I don't have the fondest of memories of the previous Silhouette reissues, but I also fully acknowledge that they were a lot more in-line with the '60s models. If that had been at the level of quality of this one, I mean damn, that's a no-brainer for me!

[@paulwilliams1045]

Please make a Tom Waits instrumental album. I will buy all of them.

[@Puisheen]

That's actually a great idea

[@j.d.lawrence1222]

@@Puisheen I thought I recognized that intro.....dirt in the ground, right?? Sounded excellent!

[@mastermachetier5594]

If you getting into bigsby land I’d love to see you take on some of those Korean made gretschs :)

[@ClassicalQuack]

I doubt you’ll see this. You ever get past that problem that these have with bending the E string on the higher frets? My string keeps hopping out of the saddles

[@tendingtropic7778]

do you think these guitars are better for ambient than telecasters?

[@drothberg3]

I'm wondering if you've tried or reviewed the G&L Doheny. That seems another modernized take on the offset concept. How would that compare?

[@Puisheen]

Maybe someday, I'm warming up to the idea a bit, but I genuinely have no interest in the model and if I do review it, I want to give it an actual fair shake. Maybe worth lumping in with, say, the American Performer Jazzmaster which also has a Strat style vibrato and different pickups

[@conblurgh]

This dude plucks.

[@Puisheen]

LOL

[@jdallar]

Hey there, do you think a Bigsby combined with a TOM bridge is a no go and that a Bigsby - or a Duesenberg - vibrato require a roller bridge to keep tune, or do you think that's just "bridge" sniffing nonsense?

[@Puisheen]

I don't personally like rollers -- too much that always seems to go wrong with them from my repair person's perspective -- but no, a TOM/AOM and a Bigsby can be a great fit. Like everything else, make sure the nut and saddles are cut for the string gauge used, smoothed out and lubed as well. Should be great!

[@michaeltherion7459]

Harmony used to make left handed versions. Please tell that company to make one model left handed

[@Puisheen]

Ahhhh this is a great point and I'm sorry I'm prone to overlooking it as a privileged righty. I will never understand the lack of options for lefties out there. I will pass along this request! I have literally no power but hey, let's see!

[@mrkrud]

Agreed on the lite bigsby. Dive range Should exceed what you can do with your left hand alone. Otherwise why bother with the weight and extra maintenance? Then again my arms are Chonky as well so maybe I’m not speaking for everyone there

[@aaronmajchen982]

So the Bigsby was functionally defective from the factory given the body rubbing, and the vibrato range is so subtle its nearly pointless. Im glad I saw this before I bought one!

[@bbdeffect]

positronic matrix!

[@tyrander1652]

Do all the old VW bugs have the same funny "plastic upholstery" smell?

[@taylornutt]

If you buy that guitar, you should call it Picard....color reminds me of the Next Gen Command uniforms.

[@Puisheen]

Okay this is a great idea

[@natearchuleta2003]

algorithm food

[@TheUnknownReject]

"I love a good knob"

[@liarcity]

I so badly wanted you to start singing Dirt in the Ground. Top-five Tom Waits banger.

[@Puisheen]

Same for me, I love that thing

[@AndrewStottisTheIndiWerWlf]

That color should be called sangria.

[@Puisheen]

YES

[@Nathan-d7t]

The HX stomp kills all the life out of all your demos. sorry.

[@MrKadidle51]

I apologize in advance. I'm totally ripping off your riffs around 7 mins