Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

[sunflash]

So the stock pickups in my Aerodyne strat crapped out on me and I need to replace them (exciting until I realized how much of a pain shopping for pickups can be). Ive got about $250 (Canadian) and I need to get a setup as well as new pups so Im only looking to swap out the neck and middle right now.

Im looking for a classic '58, '62 strat sound. Something very versatile and pliable. I hate to do this (Im not trying to ape anybody but its the best way to explain you the sound Im looking for) but I want that Hendrix-y sparkle and Frusciante-like tones.

The pickups Im most interested in are:
-SD antiquity I Texas Hot (labeled as a classic '50's style but Im slighty put off by the 'texas hot' nickname)
-SD antiquity II surfers (labeled as '60s, early sixties? late sixties? Is there a difference?)
-SD vintage staggered SSL-1

Now in an interview with Frusciante it seems as though hes had his vintage strats loaded with SSL-1s but Ive heard someone describe the Ant.II surfers as if you could demo 100 SSL-1s and pick the best of that 100. I really liked that description so Im leaning more towards the surfers.

Another question I had was regarding the RW/RP middle pup, is it necessary? Whats the difference between putting in 2 neck pickups as opposed to a neck and the RW/RP middle?

Im playing a CIJ fender aerodyne strat (basswood body and they told me an ebony fretboard but It might just be dark rosewood) into a limited edition lacquered tweed NOS blues Jr. by Fender if that makes a difference.

Sorry for the novel of questions but I really appretiate any help you can give me! Thanks

 

[jeremy]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

welcome to the forum!

if it were me i would go surfers, at least in the neck and middle. i prefer a bridge with a little extra push so would get the custom bridge

the texas hots are alnico II magnets which give the mids a chewier tone. great but not traditional fender to my ears and wont do quite as good a job at getting those tones as the other two.
the surfers are like a great set of '62 strat pups
the ssl1's are nice too but i prefer the surfers for the classic fender strat sound

you dont need rw/rp, so you can absolutely get two 'neck' pups. if you get a rw/rp middle pup then you will have humcancelling in the 2 and 4 positions

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

+1

One of my favourites is the Fender Custom '54 set. No RP/RW on those. Just bags of Stratty tone.

Another of my favourites is the SD Five-Two for Stratocaster. These use a combination of rod magnet materials to give wiry twang on the wound strings and smoothness on the plain steel ones. In my opinion, this might compensate for the natural tonality of the basswood Aerodyne body.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

I'm not really sure how basswood would translate traditional stratty tones. I've got in my old Korean plywood bodied strat (which is unbelievably resonant) an SSL-1 neck and middle, RWRP, and then an APS-1 bridge. The A2 in the bridge brings in a little more thickness than the SSL in the bridge did, and I bring it pretty close to the strings. I'd say it's traditional strat with more character in the bridge. It's not a huge change, but it's enough to really make a difference in where it sits in a mix.

Frusciante was kind of my inspiration for the SSL set, so I think I know what you're thinking of. That said, the Antiquity pickups are completely amazing, and I don't think you would be disappointed with their quality at all.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

From what I can tell, everyone who has had a set of Surfers has raved about the tone. Its like taking the vibe of a great '62 strat and putting it in a new guitar.

The ssl 1's are very similar. They are like a new version of the Surfers with less depth (but still a great pup). Frusciante apparantly has had a few of his strats loaded with ssl 1's after the originals died. One of his fave guitars he actually discovered already had them in too - he assumed they were stock 60's pups they sounded so good.

Oh, and people rave about the twangbanger as a bridge pup too. Its a bit more beefy than a normal strat pup - it aims to sound more tele-ish

 

[sunflash]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

Thanks for all the help guys! Alright so Ive decided on the surfers, now the only question is do I go for the RW/RP..

 

[jeremy]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

i did and dont regret it at all

 

[saladin]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

I would definitely get the RW/RP mid pickup. If your caught on stage with screaming 60-cycle hum, the 2 & 4 positions will save your ass!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

i like the sound of non rwrp pickups.....fantastic stuff. Heres the thingtho , if you really cant live with hum in the single pickup positions then you may be better off with some kind of noiseless set. If you have made your mind up to go true single coil tone then go all the way and get 5 great sounds rather than 3 plus two hum cancelling ones...

 

[sunflash]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

Really good points for both cases, I think Im gunna go with 2 'neck' surfers and if I find myself wanting a RW/RP later on then Ill buy one and keep the other 'neck' as a spare (cant ever have too much gear, right?). I think Ill be fine though, the hum doesnt bother me.
Thanks again for all the advice guy! Ill see you again in a couple of months when Im deciding what to put in my bridge haha.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

I'm another big fan of the Surfers....I use them in the Neck and Middle spots,but prefer a Twangbanger in the bridge...I didn't care for the hotter Antiquity single coil bridge versions,but the TB is perfect for me.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

I also have the Twangbanger in two different guitars. The one that is relevant to this thread is a basswood Squier JV series Stratocaster. The other two pickups are an APS-1 in the centre and an APS-1L nearest the neck.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

I also have the Twangbanger in two different guitars. The one that is relevant to this thread is a basswood Squier JV series Stratocaster. The other two pickups are an APS-1 in the centre and an APS-1L nearest the neck.

I'm very fussy with the bridge position pickups I put into my strats...The Twangbanger is perfect and it has stayed in this particular strat along with the Surfers.

 

[sunflash]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

^^ did you get replacement covers? Its not the deciding factor by any means but I do kinda llike the idea of the vintage look, even if its artificial.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

^^ did you get replacement covers? Its not the deciding factor by any means but I do kinda llike the idea of the vintage look, even if its artificial.

Yes they are Fender Parchment covers..

 

[sunflash]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

Looks nice!
I had another quick question.. This will be my first time replacing pickups, Im doing it because along with the hum Ive noticed a 'clipping' type sound (Im hard-pressed to describe it), kinda like a radio station that isnt quite in. This noise happens mainly while strumming and not quite as often during single note playing. Does this noise just mean the pickups are on there way out, or is this part of 60 cycle hum?
I feel dumb for asking this but I want to make sure new pups will remedy the situation.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

A crackly noise while playing your strat? A ton of them do that. Its static on the pickguard.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

One thing I will add about making your strat as quiet as possible is to add a pickguard shield. Lots of guys will say it's not necessary; just use shielding tape in the control cavity....whatever. On every strat I have owned for the past 8+ years I have installed one of these from Callaham Guitars. Callaham makes the finest vintage correct strat hardware and general replacement strat hardware on the market.....IN MY OPINION.

Callaham Full Aluminum Pickguard Shield

These are made from 0.014 thick 6061-T6 aluminum just like what was used on the early 60's strats. We have made them more versatile by incorporating both the 50's 8-hole pattern and the early 60's 11-hole pattern and you can easily modify it to fit other patterns. It is designed to work with almost anybody's traditional strat® guard, with slightly larger holes for clearance. This shield is far superior to foil by allowing you to tighten pots and switches firmly without fear of breaking through a thin foil. You will no longer need ground straps from pot to pot thus eliminating a potential ground loop and unwanted noise. (13 holes)

$15.00

Worth the $15 bucks in my opinion and every one of my strats have been noticably quieter if not nearly dead quiet. I don't keep many strats around because I hate the 60 cycle hum, but this helps a bunch. Takes less than 5 minutes to take your strat apart and put it on, and you'll have yours apart replacing pickups anyhow.

Take a look at the rest of his site for other replacement parts and see if anything stirs your fancy. I bought the complete vintage strat assembly hardware kit for my last strat build, and I will put at least his bridge, saddles and block on every strat I purchase in the future.

Just my humble opinion and YMMV....all that good internet stuff.

 

[sunflash]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

A crackly noise while playing your strat? A ton of them do that. Its static on the pickguard.

Thats not good news.. I feel like its been getting worse though. Is there anyway to get rid of it? The pickguard shield looks great but the body on my aerodyne is quite different than a standard strat, Ill have a look at the website but I wont get my hopes up haha.

 

[tommy_owen]

Re: Ant. II vs. Ant. I vs. SSL-1: Classic strat tone showdown

Hi.. Did you end up buying the Antiquity II?
How did it go?
I think I'm having the exact frustration. I'm looking for hendrix/frusciante kind of tone.

It would be much appreciated if you can share some thoughts.

Thanks