Best Strat Bridge Ever

OlinMusic

New member
EDIT:

Sorry have to tell you this is a DECLARATION that the SSL5 is THE BEST EVER! Does it all, balanced well in the notched position, can come in tapped versions, does everything from David Gilmour to SRV, has humbucker-ish mids lurking but still sound 100% Strat, and with the tone rolled back it could fake a P90 as needed. Reacts to your hands, and works with Fuzz, OD's, you name it. Can spank an old Marshall, give you some Fender country, and it's classic and modern at the same time.

SD's biggest secret has to be the SSL5!

Guy that invented fire and Rockstarnick totally steered me right!
 
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Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

The one that works the best for the application it's being used for. I don't think I could definitively pick one bridge pickup.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

I hear ya bro!

I got to give it up to wahwah...he pointed me toward the SSL-5 and I am still blown away by that pickup. Still sounds completely like a Strat yet in the bridge alone position is fat and thick enough to play rock rhythm on, get a nice lead tone with some sustain without being thin or harsh.

It really is a great pickup and with a pair of SSL-1's it does everything in a Strat a player could ever want.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

I hear ya bro!
Still sounds completely like a Strat yet in the bridge alone position is fat and thick enough to play rock rhythm on, get a nice lead tone with some sustain without being thin or harsh.

It really is a great pickup and with a pair of SSL-1's it does everything in a Strat a player could ever want.

Bingo!!!
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

I actually stumbled across it by luck. I was looking for a set of strat pups and theodie sold me 2 SSL1s and a SSL5. Best thing that ever happened to my strat, hands down.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

I used to have a SSL-6, the flat pole version, and did not like it very much. It sounded too compressed to me. I've been curious about the SSL-5 but tend to think I'll run in to the same situation that I did with the SSL-6.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

I used to have a SSL-6, the flat pole version, and did not like it very much. It sounded too compressed to me. I've been curious about the SSL-5 but tend to think I'll run in to the same situation that I did with the SSL-6.

I just installed a ssl-6 in my Strat and love it. I don't find that it is too compressed...it does have a nice fat top end (no icepick) and enhanced mids. When tapped it does a good vintage strat bridge thing and behaves well with the middle and neck pups when selected together.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

i love my ssl6, but i also love the twangbanger and my custom shop '53 style tapped jb tele for strat. the antiquity custom bridge models are pretty sweet too
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

I used to have a SSL-6, the flat pole version, and did not like it very much. It sounded too compressed to me. I've been curious about the SSL-5 but tend to think I'll run in to the same situation that I did with the SSL-6.


Not sure about the SSL6, but the SSL5 I have is pretty amazingly open for an overwound pup. I think it's open and balanced vs many of the overwound offerings out there.

I don't find it compressed, but I can see where the bump in mids, rounding of the highs can give that feeling. Less highs, more mids gets away from that chime factor. However in a standard Strat, the bridge pup can sound shrill and thin. I am of the type that puts a tone control on the bridge and maybe rolls it back a notch or three. With the SSL5 there is NO need to roll back unless you want some special tones. It also balanced PERFECTLY with the neck pup now.

If you want old school Strat tone, I bet the Tapped version will allow you to choose at will.
 
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