CS 69s vs. SSLs

[Push to Shuv]

Okay so I have a Fender partscaster (mim alder body, classic 70s maple neck) with CS 69's in it. The neck and middle pickups sound phenominal but the stagger really bothers me, they don't sound balanced. I am thinking I would enjoy flat poles more than staggered ones and am now considering SSL-2s for the neck and middle. How do the SSL-2s compare to the CS 69's tonewise? Because like I said, the TONE of the CS 69's is awesome but the balance bugs me (mostly the G string.)

As for the bridge pickup, the stagger bothers me on this one too but it is also quite weak (the CS 69s are all the same dc resistance) and I am considering the SSL-6.

Thoughts/opinions?

 

[jeremy]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

i used ssl2/ssl2/ssl6 in one of my strats for a long time, i really liked it.

the flat poles do change the tone a touch but i prefer it. the '69 is a touch glassier than a ssl2 will be but they will be pretty similar, low output a5 strat pups. if you like the 69 youll probably like the ssl2. the ssl6 is a natural choice for the bridge. still sounds stratty but isnt as bright and has a bigger sound that isnt shrill or thin

 

[Push to Shuv]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

Thanks Jeremy! This sounds like a winning combo for me.

Any other opinions?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

They are both great pups, but definitely different. The 69s are wound quite a bit cooler and use the plain enamel wire like the tele pups and 50s buckers which gives a different sound. The closest SD (IMO) would be the surfer, but you are gonna have the stagger problem.

Luke

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

don't the 69's have adjustable pole pieces?

you could just make them flat

 

[jeremy]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

im pretty sure the '69 is an old school grey bobbin type pup which means you run a really high risk of breaking the coil if you push on the magnets.

i dont think the surfer is closer to the '69 than the ssl1. the surfer is a little darker than the ssl1 to my ears and the '69 is pretty bright.

the ssl2 is obviously going to sound a little different than the staggered version

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

im pretty sure the '69 is an old school grey bobbin type pup which means you run a really high risk of breaking the coil if you push on the magnets.

i dont think the surfer is closer to the '69 than the ssl1. the surfer is a little darker than the ssl1 to my ears and the '69 is pretty bright.

the ssl2 is obviously going to sound a little different than the staggered version

Really, you think the SSL is brighter? To me the surfer has that nice strummy quality that the 69 has and the SSL sounds wider. I dunno.

Luke

 

[jeremy]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

could be the guitars ive heard them in but the ssl1 sounds crisper on the high end than the surfer. im not saying that the ssl1 is closer to the '69, i think they are both about equally different but in different ways.

 

[PINKBITS]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

I had CS69's in my 08 Standard. Wonderful pickups. I did however feel they were missing just that something special.

I got onto these. http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups/str-v_set.shtml

I can not say enough about them. To me they are the perfect Strat tone.

 

[Guitar-Sam]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

I had a set of CS69s in almost your same guitar.An 80s MIJ alder body with a 74' strat neck on it and a 70s tremolo.
I LOVED the CS69s.
I did try and swap the bridge out for a 1978 strat flat pole pickup same plain purple colored enamel wire and similar DC resistance(within .2K)just flat poles.
I thought that guitar lost the Ritchie Blackmore'ish bite/quack it had on the D and G strings.
I really like the way it would CRAAAANNNGGGGG!!!!!!!! on chords and stuff and thought it kinna flattened out with the flat poles BUT it was a bit smoother on lead..If I remeber correct.

 

[Push to Shuv]

Re: CS 69s vs. SSLs

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. I think im gonna do the ssl2/ssl2/ssl6 combo!