Finally I put an SSL-1 neck in my strat. Wow!

[Artie]

Mincer or Jeremy: Do you think there's enough tonal difference between the 6 vs 7 to make it worth my while to try the 7?

 

[jeremy]

i do yes. i dont have much experience with the stks6 but ive had a ssl6 forever and used them in many guitars along with ssl1. knowing the ssl1 and stks4 as well as i do, and having heard the stks6 just not in one of my guitars, there is a noticeable difference between the 6 and 7

 

[Artie]

Thanks Jeremy. My to-do list just got bigger.

 

[EC Strat]

i do yes. i dont have much experience with the stks6 but ive had a ssl6 forever and used them in many guitars along with ssl1. knowing the ssl1 and stks4 as well as i do, and having heard the stks6 just not in one of my guitars, there is a noticeable difference between the 6 and 7

How much of a difference is there bt the STK 4 and SSL 1 in your opinion?

 

[Artie]

I can tell you that I have STK4's now, and have had SSL-2's in the past. The 1's and 2's are basically the same pup but the 2's are flat poles as opposed to the 1's staggered. The STK's do lose a teensy bit of open airy jingle/jangle that a true vintage single coil has. But to my ears, it's a subtle enough loss that the noiseless factor is worth it. More traditional Strat players might object.

And the loss on the bridge pup is an advantage. I like my bridge pups, (Strat's and Tele's) to be a bit more mellow.

 

[jeremy]

like artie said, the top end of the stack isnt as open. i hear the overall voicing as a bit thicker but its the best noiseless strat pup ive found and i like them a lot.

 

[Artie]

By the way, Jeremy. When I get my STK7, I'm going to try the "split" mode for the #2 & #4 notch positions to hear what difference that makes. Film@11.

 

[Mincer]

like artie said, the top end of the stack isnt as open. i hear the overall voicing as a bit thicker but its the best noiseless strat pup ive found and i like them a lot.

I agree with this. It is *ever* so slightly rounder with a little more power, but all of that is a positive for me. It makes the STK-S4 my favorite Strat pickup overall.

 

[pskorz]

The SSL-1 isn't exactly my favorite all-around pickup. But if you just want pure, unadulterated late-50's/early-60's strat mojo, you'd be hard-pressed to find better. The reasonable price is just the cherry on top.

 

[ItsaBass]

It used to be that the SSL-1 was THE go-to aftermarket vintage Strat pickup. Then Fender themselves starting making them decently again. I would not replace a Fender Pure Vintage pickup with a Duncan. They sound absolutely brilliant, all of them, IME. It didn't used to be that Fender (not to mention a hundred small aftermarket pickup makers) had really put a lot of effort into "crafting" their pickups. Now, they do. The SSL-1s are no worse because of all this, but they no longer have a near monopoly on the market. I'd gladly install them in a Strat, but not in place of Pure Vintage or AVRI pickups.

 

[IMENATOR]

I would not replace a Fender Pure Vintage pickup with a Duncan. They sound absolutely brilliant, all of them, IME.

Both my Fender Strats are MIM Standards which had ceramic single coils. They are good for pushing the amp for hard rock but do not the traditional Strat tone.

 

[IMENATOR]

I was finally able to tweak the ISP Decimator GString for some dynamics with the volume knob in the crunch channel to go scrunch rhythm to breaking up clean. Then channel switching for the lead sound. Not 100% perfect but good enough for me, love that Decimator. Two weeks from now we should have a rehearsal at the roof (good ventilation is a must against covid for rehearsals) and I will test this live at last.

 

[Gtrjunior]

I was finally able to tweak the ISP Decimator GString for some dynamics with the volume knob in the crunch channel to go scrunch rhythm to breaking up clean. Then channel switching for the lead sound. Not 100% perfect but good enough for me, love that Decimator. Two weeks from now we should have a rehearsal at the roof (good ventilation is a must against covid for rehearsals) and I will test this live at last.

When playing live I always lower the decimator knob. A bit. On stage in a crowded room you won’t be able to heat a little noise coming from your rig.

 

[pskorz]

Both my Fender Strats are MIM Standards which had ceramic single coils. They are good for pushing the amp for hard rock but do not the traditional Strat tone.

I can't say I blame Fender for this. Not everyone wants that glassy, shimmery sound. The beefier ceramic ones are a bit of a compromise. Still technically stratty, but will also give a bit more girth. IMO, it's a bad compromise because it's not as ballsy as the non-traditionalists like, but it's not traditional enough, either.

 

[ItsaBass]

Both my Fender Strats are MIM Standards which had ceramic single coils. They are good for pushing the amp for hard rock but do not the traditional Strat tone.

Not traditional Strat, but I do like them. They are more like really cheap-O versions of G&L MFDs. Ceramic bar mags below, steel poles. Difference is the old MIM Standard pickups were much more heavily wound than the MFDs, which are pretty lightly wound pickups. And, of course, the materials are cheaper and the poles aren't adjustable.

They're really good pickups for overdrive, but subtlety can be harder to squeeze out of them.

Nonetheless, I like them enough that I kept my '05 MIM Standard stock for seven years before changing a thing. I just didn't use it for cleans or "classic vintage Strat" tones.

 

[Mincer]

I can't say I blame Fender for this. Not everyone wants that glassy, shimmery sound. The beefier ceramic ones are a bit of a compromise. Still technically stratty, but will also give a bit more girth. IMO, it's a bad compromise because it's not as ballsy as the non-traditionalists like, but it's not traditional enough, either.

This is probably true. If more people had a chance to play say, and early 70s Strat, they would be amazed at how 'weak' the pickups seem compared to modern mass-produced guitars.

 

[donaldr]

Thanks Jeremy. My to-do list just got bigger.

If you like the STK-S4 in the neck, then IMHO you will like the STK-S7 in the bridge. I have this set (no middle) and really like it. The STK-S7 just has the meat needed in the bridge without going too strong like the STK-S6.

 

[Artie]

If you like the STK-S4 in the neck, then IMHO you will like the STK-S7 in the bridge. I have this set (no middle) and really like it. The STK-S7 just has the meat needed in the bridge without going too strong like the STK-S6.

What's funny is, the S6 doesn't strike me as "too strong." It's actually nicely balanced with S4's. That's what intrigues me about trying the S7. I'd have one right now but I prefer to order from Sweetwater, and they seem to be out.

 

[BeKindRewind]

I can't say I blame Fender for this. Not everyone wants that glassy, shimmery sound. The beefier ceramic ones are a bit of a compromise. Still technically stratty, but will also give a bit more girth. IMO, it's a bad compromise because it's not as ballsy as the non-traditionalists like, but it's not traditional enough, either.

Yeah it doesn't work for a lot of people which I understand. I like ceramic singles for the exact reasons you don't like em' I think . It's a great compromise for me. I still favor a good ole SSL-1 in the middle though

 

[Mincer]

To me, the ideal middle pickup is the Five Two. It really sounds wonderful with the softer highs, with the bass strings having that alnico V 'thwap' to them.