Best Strat Bridge Ever

Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

bungalowbill said:
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.
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OlinMusic said:
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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I think you both just nailed what it is I didn't like. The rolled off highs and bumped mids. I love that with humbuckers, but not so much with single-coils. I like the chime from the bridge and some bite too. That's why I use the Texas Specials in my American Standard. The bridge is just hot enough for me where I can get a great rockin' sound that's nice and full without sacrificing much top end. The mids are enhanced but not as much as the SSL-5.

I can see where others would love the SSL-5 and 6 though. They are great pickups, just not for me. I'm a Texas Special guy when it comes to Strat single-coils. Now, if we're talking humbuckers in a Strat, it's the Brobucker for me. But I also like the Custom Custom, Super Distortion, Air Zone and PAF Pro in the bridge of Strats.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

SSL-5 sounds awesome

If I wasn't still in the honeymoon with my Little '59 Neck (what an excellent accident) in my Strat's bridge, I would try it out.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

I'm kind of partial to the Twangbanger, but the Ant Texas Custom Hot was pretty impressive too.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

My vote is for a P-90 or Phat Cat, but the Twang Banger looks sweet, too. (As do most of the above choices!)
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

A-Ro said:
a humbucker :naughty:
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I've got to agree. I do really like the hotter custom bridge pickup in the antiquity series. BUT my favorite single coil strat bridge pickup that I've ever played is the Fender Jimmie Vaughan bridge pickup. Man oh man what a pickup!
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

have you tried it in other guitars? im wondering if having the tone control on the bridge pup is part of what you like about it. im a big fan of a tone on the bridge pup
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

Has anyone paired the SSL-5 with the Antiquity surfer neck and middle singles?

I keep thinking that this combination would be Fantastic!
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

I've not tried an SSL5. Maybe someday- I guess I'm the kind of person who wants his single coil equipped strat to sound like a strat-not enhanced mids and rolled off top (inherently built in)

These work for me-tone wired to the bridge and it gets me that classic 60s/70s hard rock Strat sound I hear in my head. I've had no desire to change them, but rather build a guitar *around* them. The basic design worked for Hendrix, Trower, Blackmore & Roth so I guess they can work well enough for me :D :shrug:


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Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

JeffB said:
I've not tried an SSL5. Maybe someday- I guess I'm the kind of person who wants his single coil equipped strat to sound like a strat-not enhanced mids and rolled off top (inherently built in)

These work for me-tone wired to the bridge and it gets me that classic 60s/70s hard rock Strat sound I hear in my head. I've had no desire to change them, but rather build a guitar *around* them. The basic design worked for Hendrix, Trower, Blackmore & Roth so I guess they can work well enough for me :D :shrug:


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That's what came stock in my Strat and the bridge was nice, but not quite throaty enough for me. That's why I swapped it for the TB, but the mid/neck stayed and I love them.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

JumpMarine said:
That's what came stock in my Strat and the bridge was nice, but not quite throaty enough for me. That's why I swapped it for the TB, but the mid/neck stayed and I love them.
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Yup, I agree JM- the bridge is not over the top, all 3 are wound to the same 5.8K or what have you. I can understand people wanting some more push, but I like the " authentic" tone with them. I use a goose (Duncan pup booster, TS Clone, DS1 clone) and roll off the bridge tone to about 7 or 8 for the gainier lead stuff (clips on my soundclick if anyone cares)
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

Axl H said:
DiMarzio FS-1!!!! :D
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Looking at the specs I would guess an SSL-5 and an FS-1 aren't a million miles apart soundwise!

I like the FS-1 and the TwangBanger, haven't tried an SSL-5. I do like an overwound single coil in the bridge - it's a nice compromise between vintage Strat and hot-rodded Strat.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

Richard said:
Jb8
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+100000000

Just when I started to think that the normal JB was the best bridge pickup ever in a strat, I tried an A8 in there and HOLY CRAP. It took any harshness out of the JB as well as adding the low end definition that I had always wanted out my Strat in the first place. It can do anything from metal to chimey cleans, and when mixed with a neck single it sounds amazing as well.
 
Re: Best Strat Bridge Ever

HotSEXJ said:
SSL-5 sounds awesome

If I wasn't still in the honeymoon with my Little '59 Neck (what an excellent accident) in my Strat's bridge, I would try it out.
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I am trying this right now but it seemed too ice picky in the bridge. That said it is in that cheeso Radio Shack $37 guitar lol (the one with the SD card to record with)
 
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