anyone using an SSL5 in the neck or middle position?

[appar111]

If so, how's it working out for you? I have a spare SSL5 here and was wondering how it sounded in the neck or middle positions. I'm not a 2 & 4 position guy on a strat, so I was thinking of swapping the guard on my strat (currently just a single humbucker at the bridge) and doing an SSS or an SSH setup with a 3-way switch.

If I go SSH, it would be the SSL5 in the neck, a Fender Lace Sensor Silver in the middle (because I have one laying around too) and a Duncan Distortion in the bridge. If it ends up being an SSS setup, it would most likely be a Dimarzio Chopper at the bridge position... maaaaaybe a Dimarzio Billy Corgan bridge model.

Would the SSL5 balance with a Distortion at the bridge? How about with the Chopper or BC at the bridge?

 

[FuseG4]

Re: anyone using an SSL5 in the neck or middle position?

I used the SSL-6 flat in the neck of a S-H yamaha strat, with a C5 in the bridge.

I thought the SSL-6 was a decent match in volume with the C5 so it should be fine with the DD. The neck pickup solo tones were smooth and tubular without sounding too much like a bucker. It's not that jangly and can be a little dark for chords (I'm used to vintage output neck pickups), but man that lead tone is pure kicked up strat.

The C5 didn't have the mids to match the neck pickup but I think I remember the C8 being fantastic. If the DD doesn't work out with some tweaking and possibly a mag swap, I'm sure you could find a custom to trade for.

 

[thrashmonkey]

Re: anyone using an SSL5 in the neck or middle position?

I have an SSL-5 in both neck and middle positions with a custom in the bridge. I think they match up well with the custom. I agree the neck can be a bit dark, but tweaking the height and tweaking my amps tone controls helps. I've even been thinking about switching the volume pot to 500k. They are a lot less hot than I imagined they would be, not that I thought they'd be super hot, and are beefy, but still very stratty.

 

[staybobo]

Re: anyone using an SSL5 in the neck or middle position?

I use a SSL-5 Custom staggered neck with a twang banger in the middle they sound great, ballsy, and twangy.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: anyone using an SSL5 in the neck or middle position?

I use the SSL-5 in the neck all the time. Also I flip it around to the Hendrix stagger sometimes, to make the B string stronger. I love it. Punchy, gutsy, etc. loud enough to hang with a hot bridge humbucker.