docteurseb
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2018
- Messages
- 1,063
Curiosity got the better of me when I was able to get a Silver Sky SE in Stone Blue at a no-risk price.
Having owned two of the Core models in the past I would never again get a USA rosewood model after playing this SE.
Don't get me wrong, the USA one is great too, but the SE has my preference in terms of feel and playability; the fact it's now 1/3rd the price with no downside (excite the somewhat unexciting colors) seals the deal.
Summary:
- satin neck finish feels drastically better than the nearly gloss one they put on the RW USA models. It's similar to the USA male neck one.
- slightly flatter radius definitely is welcome.
- it's as resonant as the best bolt-on guitar I ever had (so were the USA ones).
- pickups are fantastic. I compared them to the Genesis clones of the Silver Sky USA pickups and I would personally not change them. They do exactly the very thing they had to do: nail the USA SS JM tone with those great in-between tones.
- fretwork is impeccable, and the fret slots not extending all the way to the edges of the fingerboard is also a plus compared to the USA one.
- fingerboard edges are rolled though it does not always look like it (I can expand but bottom line: it feels great).
Setup was a mixed bag:
- string nut slots were perfectly cut, at the right height.
- Intonation was spot on.
- Action/bridge setup: awful.
Bridge saddles' height was maxed out to the point where one of the height adjustment screws was completely out of the saddle.
Even after adjusting the neck relief, which is to be expected of any guitars and especially on that has travelled that much, the action was very high (around 6/64"-7/64").
That well could be to JM specs as I recall my past USA ones to be equally uncomfortable out of the box.
Once the action was where I wanted to be (typically 4/64" on the e, 5/64" on the E) the guitar was perfect for me, easy bends, no choking.
While I no longer have it, I expect I'll get one again once I sell my Strat...
If you can get one and like the colors, don't hesitate.
Having owned two of the Core models in the past I would never again get a USA rosewood model after playing this SE.
Don't get me wrong, the USA one is great too, but the SE has my preference in terms of feel and playability; the fact it's now 1/3rd the price with no downside (excite the somewhat unexciting colors) seals the deal.
Summary:
- satin neck finish feels drastically better than the nearly gloss one they put on the RW USA models. It's similar to the USA male neck one.
- slightly flatter radius definitely is welcome.
- it's as resonant as the best bolt-on guitar I ever had (so were the USA ones).
- pickups are fantastic. I compared them to the Genesis clones of the Silver Sky USA pickups and I would personally not change them. They do exactly the very thing they had to do: nail the USA SS JM tone with those great in-between tones.
- fretwork is impeccable, and the fret slots not extending all the way to the edges of the fingerboard is also a plus compared to the USA one.
- fingerboard edges are rolled though it does not always look like it (I can expand but bottom line: it feels great).
Setup was a mixed bag:
- string nut slots were perfectly cut, at the right height.
- Intonation was spot on.
- Action/bridge setup: awful.
Bridge saddles' height was maxed out to the point where one of the height adjustment screws was completely out of the saddle.
Even after adjusting the neck relief, which is to be expected of any guitars and especially on that has travelled that much, the action was very high (around 6/64"-7/64").
That well could be to JM specs as I recall my past USA ones to be equally uncomfortable out of the box.
Once the action was where I wanted to be (typically 4/64" on the e, 5/64" on the E) the guitar was perfect for me, easy bends, no choking.
While I no longer have it, I expect I'll get one again once I sell my Strat...
If you can get one and like the colors, don't hesitate.
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