Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

[Rowan]

I have the option of putting either one of these in the neck of my peavey strat copy (poplar body, maple fretboard) and I keep flip-flopping on which one to choose. I've researched sound/youtube clips on both and what I've heard from both is great, but I figured I'd get everyone's opinion.

A clear, well defined tone would be the most important thing for me.

 

[SMark]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

I have both, and I would give the edge to the SSL-1 because of it's clarity. It's a bit more focused.

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

I dont have the CS 54 but do have a set of SD SSL-1's in a Fender Mexi strat. The SSL-1's just sound tremendous in the Mexi strat. I believe that possibly Fender used Basswood or Poplar on the Mexi strats which are similar if not the same density woods. I also agree with SMark as the SSL-1's are clear and focused. Everything from clean to classic rock.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

I have both pickups but I haven't ever really compared them. Both are excellent and you really can't go wrong with either one. If I had to say something I'd say that the SSL1 is a bit stronger and punchier.

 

[Baltar]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

you can't go wrong on an ssl-1, especial on rw fretboards

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

you can't go wrong on an ssl-1, especial on rw fretboards

Yeah Baltar, what is it about the rosewood neck that the SSL-1's seem to have an affinity for? I wholeheartedly agree. I've got 5 strats, 3 with maple necks, and 2 with rosewood necks. I installed a SSL-1 set (righty staggered) in my lefty Mexi strat. My tastes normally do not run towards rosewood fretboard strats. I like AAA flame maple necks or AAA birdseye maple necks, but on this Mexi strat it has a Mighty Mite $90 canadian hard rock maple neck w/a palisander rosewood fretboard. The Mexi body is either Basswood, Poplar, or Alder, I'm not sure. The SSL-1 set I purchased some years ago, and they set awhile before I initially used them. When I did, I found them brittle, edgy, glassy, etc. I even called Seymour Duncan to see about degaussing or slightly demagnetizing the SSL-1 pickup set to smooth the tone out more like an A2 set like the APS-1R's. Long story short, I forgot about degaussing them until recently when i placed them in my son's lefty Mexi strat, and I was very very impressed. They were very well balanced between the positions, had the quack, and seemingly had the best frequency range w/o being too excessive in the lows, mids, or highs. I think they cover blues to classic rock exceptionally well. What's your input on this?

 

[Baltar]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

to be honest, i have no clue why.
i used to spend a lot of time swapping necks, pups, strings on my strats.
i got happy with that setup:
ash body w fixed bridge, rw neck, ssl-1 pu-set, 11-48 ernie balls.

when combined with a maple fretboard, the ssl-1 simply isn't that special
sounding anymore. it tends to be more modern also.
on my maple neck strat, i got happy with a fender texmex set.

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

to be honest, i have no clue why.
i used to spend a lot of time swapping necks, pups, strings on my strats.
i got happy with that setup:
ash body w fixed bridge, rw neck, ssl-1 pu-set, 11-48 ernie balls.

when combined with a maple fretboard, the ssl-1 simply isn't that special
sounding anymore. it tends to be more modern also.
on my maple neck strat, i got happy with a fender texmex set.

Baltar, It's funny that you mention the 11-48 Ernie Balls. Most young guys nowadays use rubber band 9's. But 11's are where the tone comes from that's why all my strats have 11's also.

 

[Baltar]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

yeah, i like also the feeling much better.
in summer 06 is had a (lucky only very little) tsv problem. due to that i put 9s on my tele
for 4 months, but hated the way it felt and behaved. thin strings tend to do unwanted
vibe if you try to strum them hard.

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

yeah, i like also the feeling much better.
in summer 06 is had a (lucky only very little) tsv problem. due to that i put 9s on my tele
for 4 months, but hated the way it felt and behaved. thin strings tend to do unwanted
vibe if you try to strum them hard.

I don't know how long ago it was when I decided to put 11's on my strats and tele, but it was mainly due to my vintage or slightly overwound SC's that just couldn't compete with a HB's output level, and at the same time not having to be heavy handed in my playing style to be heard above the band. HB's, I can get away with using 10's comfortably because of the HB output levels vs. stock SC output levels, there is not necessarily a need for heavier guage strings and more volume, that is unless I were a jazz guitarist like my buddy who uses 13's. This particular buddy of mine plays in the stylings of George Benson and Wes Montgomery, and 13 guage strings are great for him. Imagine trying to bend those, talk about your premature rheumatoid arthritis and tendonitis.

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

I dont have the CS 54 but do have a set of SD SSL-1's in a Fender Mexi strat. The SSL-1's just sound tremendous in the Mexi strat. I believe that possibly Fender used Basswood or Poplar on the Mexi strats which are similar if not the same density woods. I also agree with SMark as the SSL-1's are clear and focused. Everything from clean to classic rock.

my 2000 MIM is poplar, while the newer ones i have are alder.

 

[frankiben123]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

thanks...nice post

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[Rowan]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

my 2000 MIM is poplar, while the newer ones i have are alder.

Yeah thats kind of why I picked up this strat copy. I used to have a Poplar MIM that sounded great. But I hated the neck shape and it broke strings like a son of a *****.

Thanks for all your input guys.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Fender CS 54 or SSL1 in the neck

i want a neck/Middle SSL-1 set with a bridge SL-5 like Wah Wah has suggested many times... i have a really good responsive MIM Strat that i want better PU's in soon...