Does anyone have experience with the Suhr ML single coil?

[RockinProf]

Hi all,

Just because I'm a compulsive tinkerer with too many guitars and can't leave anything alone... Does anyone have any experience with the Suhr ML single coil? I have a couple Suhr pedals and they impress the hell out of me, but the closest Suhr dealer to me is a serious drive... plus I'd likely play a modern, buy it and the wife would kill me, so looking for the subjective views of others on this pickup.

Generally, how is this thing for relative heat? In the range of say a Texas Special, SSL5/SSL6, SDS1? Compared to a vintage Strat pickup what are the voicing differences asides for more output (e.g. more mid range, less top, tighter bass...)? Any comments on the top end traits? Harsh, suppressed, balanced?

Anyways, thanks again!

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Does anyone have experience with the Suhr ML single coil?

The suhr ML is quite a hot strat pickup. It has a lot of mids, but also some chimy highs as well. They are nice and have an interesting character, but personally I think ithe ML gets too grainy when modest gain is used. Its like its already using a tube screamer. I prefer the standard suhr V60 ( regular peak version), which seem to be closer to texas specials and is also quite high output.

 

[RockinProf]

Re: Does anyone have experience with the Suhr ML single coil?

Thanks for your perspective. Looking for a traditional single coil-ish vibe, so the ML isn't where I want to go. Sounds like you're saying that it kind of goes in to P90 territory.

Do you think that a V60 could keep up with a Duncan Custom (SH-5) in a way that's musical, or still not enough omph?

Thanks!

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Does anyone have experience with the Suhr ML single coil?

Some people will use Texas specials or other pickups similar to V60 in HSS guitars. There will be a sizable step in output volume between the humbucker and the single coils.
I think you would be better off with rails pickups in the neck and middle if you want the output levels to be closer. Also there will be less magnetic string pull than true single coils.

 

[RockinProf]

Re: Does anyone have experience with the Suhr ML single coil?

I see where you're going and if I didn't have a couple HH and SSS configured alternates I'd consider rails or stacks. In this case, I'm going for a bit of versatility so in mid-tune I can go head on series humbucker with lots of overdrive in one bar to a low crunch jangley true single neck sound in the next bar... but at the same time I want to be able to put the gain up a bit (granted I did the big hair, spandex, huge rack shred thing in the late 80's early 90's) but not really over the top and have the trade off between the bridge pickup and the neck sound musical when I want so texture change between phrases.

With that said, doe the V60 sound good like a good match for a slightly hot bridge... or am I just crazy? haha

Thanks!

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Does anyone have experience with the Suhr ML single coil?

Since you are ok with a boosted output from the bridge pickup, I don't see an issue with choosing V60 single coils. You just need to sort out some wiring scheme to make it work.
Normally with single coils you will need to have a 250k Volume control. You can setup different tone controls for neck/middle, or possibly leave the bridge without any tone control.

Suhr ML would also work for the HSS combination that you are looking at. You should probably listen to some demos of the ML singles played with gain and judge if they are stratty-sounding enough for your usage.