Fender Fat 50s vs Seymour Duncan California 50s

[treyhaislip]

Just switched the strat pickups in one of my Strats to SD California 50s. My go to Strat has always had Fat 50s in it but I thought it was time I gave the SSL-1s a try.

They seem to feel a bit more aggressive than the Fat 50s but also very good sounding bell like chime. I did put a baseplate on the bridge pickup (but I do that with all of my single coil bridge pickups) but it does not sound thin at all.

If this was my only Strat, I'd replaced the SSL-1 neck pickup for a Fat 50 neck, but the SSL-1 mid and bridge would stay.

 

[IMENATOR]

Interesting, when I was using SSL-1 neck and bridge it was always a problem for me to balance the treble. For example tweaking my amp EQ for a nice usable SSL-1 bridge (nice Eric Johnson tones) would lead me to an SSL-1 neck that was a bit darker and lossing its magic, conversely setting the amp for a nice SSL-1 neck tone would lead to a too bright/thin bridge.

 

[treyhaislip]

Interesting, when I was using SSL-1 neck and bridge it was always a problem for me to balance the treble. For example tweaking my amp EQ for a nice usable SSL-1 bridge (nice Eric Johnson tones) would lead me to an SSL-1 neck that was a bit darker and lossing its magic, conversely setting the amp for a nice SSL-1 neck tone would lead to a too bright/thin bridge.

That is interesting and not something I'm experiencing. I do have mine loaded in a Warmoth Chambered Strat (Mahogany with Spruce top) plus the added baseplate might help balance the trebles—I have not had a Strat without baseplate in the bridge in almost 10 years to help alleviate that very issue.

 

[Mincer]

I tend to like flat pole vintage singles when I can get them, so it is the SSL-2s for me.