Are other Strat pickups faithful to "that strat sound?"

[Dave]

I'm curious to hear what you guys think about this, namely the SSL-6 and SSL-3's.

I don't read too many posts or recommendations about them, which is surprizing to me because the SSL-6's are "Seymourized" (better right?!) and the SSL-3s are hot, which can be love hate, of course.

Are we all just purists and will not let go of the vintage strat sound???

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Are other Strat pickups faithful to "that strat sound?"

Make 'em hotter than 6 - 6.6K and they won't sound exactly like a vintage Strat pickup...they'll sound thicker and not as bright.

I actually like a hotter than vintage bridge pickup, but for me the neck and middle have to stay within vintage specs. That means: raised alnico 5 polepieces & no hotter than 6.4K.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Are other Strat pickups faithful to "that strat sound?"

Make 'em hotter than 6 - 6.6K and they won't sound exactly like a vintage Strat pickup...they'll sound thicker and not as bright.

I actually like a hotter than vintage bridge pickup, but for me the neck and middle have to stay within vintage specs. That means: raised alnico 5 polepieces & no hotter than 6.4K.

Listen to the man! Lew speaks the truth!

 

[daCaT]

Re: Are other Strat pickups faithful to "that strat sound?"

What Lew said. I didnt like the 3 or 6 but the 1/4 pounder was a really cool pup! I am a ssl-1 guy, and I like all the pups to be the same output and polarity.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Are other Strat pickups faithful to "that strat sound?"

before the twangbanger came along i used to use a ssl5 custom flat in the bridge with either aps2 or ssl2. still think its a great bridge pup, still bright and stratty.
the hot is much more middy with a smoother high end. some people love the lead tone of this pup in the bridge
like lew said, neither sounds like a vintage strat pup. the ssl5/6 is brighter than the hot but not as thick in the mids but both are much beefier sounding than something like a ssl1/2

 

[Curly]

Re: Are other Strat pickups faithful to "that strat sound?"

I've recommended the SSL-3 many times for the bridge.

it's certainly not a vintage strat tone, but that's what my Antiquities are for