Fender Super 55 Split Singles?

Silence Kid

Silence Kid

New member
I can't find clips; anyone use these?

They're supposed to sound disappointingly dark/muddy, and have a fragile construction/connection arrangement. I'm curious, though.

A chief complaint is notes dropping off when you bend off the g string/onto the next coil; this sounds unlikely, P Basses and G&Ls don't have that problem. If no one chimes in, I might buy a set to experiment.

s-l1600.jpg
 
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Re: Fender Super 55 Split Singles?

Bending the g string would be cancelled out when the string travels from one coil to the reversed coil. Basically the note gets cancelled just like the noise. That very phenomenon is what led a famous boutique winder to invent the wierd looking but very, very good sounding split blade noiseless strat pickup.
 
Re: Fender Super 55 Split Singles?

A bit more careful Googling from me, guess the Z-shape of P Bass/G&Ls does avoid that problem.

Guess that accounts for the magnet(?) shape shown on the 55s? Guess that doesn't work as well?
 
Re: Fender Super 55 Split Singles?

For about what you would spend on the split coils, you can get Duncan Classic Stack Plus. They are the best noiseless Strat pickups IMO, and Ive tried quite a few.
 
Re: Fender Super 55 Split Singles?

dotsdad said:
For about what you would spend on the split coils, you can get Duncan Classic Stack Plus. They are the best noiseless Strat pickups IMO, and Ive tried quite a few.
Click to expand...

I just installed one in my Strat :D You're right, I couldn't tell it from a non-stacked single (minus hum,) it falls in the correct ballpark and is a great pickup. But I occasionally like to try novel/off the wall things anyway, and it seems like the Super 55s do run quite a bit cheaper than the Classic Stack Plus... A few places I can grab a set for about $100 , not much more new, seems like a single Classic Stack Plus is about $85 with a set ~$220 (but I just paid $12 for one that was advertised as broken/as-is... The guy on Reverb just didn't know how to wire it ;) )
 
Re: Fender Super 55 Split Singles?

A chief complaint is notes dropping off when you bend off the g string/onto the next coil; this sounds unlikely, P Basses and G&Ls don't have that problem.
Click to expand...

Not only those who use P basses don't bend the strings but Z shaped PU's haven't the same structure: http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY/Craig/Z-coils/web/IMG_5130.jpg

Putting the ends of the coils parallel to each other is a way to avoid the dead spot mentioned by those who have used the "side by side" Split 55's.

Fralin Split Blades are based on the same trick than "Z shaped" G&L pickups, but with "slanted" (or "beveled") coils allowing to put their ends in parallel on the same row : http://www.fralinpickups.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Split-Blade-Black.jpg
 
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Re: Fender Super 55 Split Singles?

Hi,
I tried those '55's when they first came out. Two of the three had the connecting points so far off one would not fit, (sideways), the other wouldn't fit as the connector was backwards so the clip made the "V" side too long, and the last one was on correctly but didn't work. The a fender "Boss man" at the time did not believe me. I sent them to him. He apologized to me profusely for doubting me and making me feel the fool. He sent me a new set, plus some useless swag: stickers, picks, a short chord.
The new set clipped in and out fine, the all worked and they all had the stacked dull sound; the stacked ones made around 2007 seemed all to be afflicted with. I try to be careful lately about what I sat
Y, but I hated those, traded them back to the store for half their value in traded goods. Forget those and go with the other recommended pickups. Ixnay on the Split 55's.
Sticking to my story too.
Steve Buffington
 
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