Help me finding a replacement for SSL-1...Surfers? Tex Hots?

[edi_87]

I was thinking, maybe Surfers or Texas Hots? I've heard that those really overpower SSL-1 in terms of tone and quality..

What I need is a pickup which would:
-be slightly less trebly than SSL-1
-have slightly stronger output, big enough to handle Gilmour's tone and more overdriven soloing than SSL-1's do
-warmer than SSL-1 when overdriven

I like the tight bass and nice mids of SSL-1's so that's the part of the tone which could stay (eventually improve )
Which ones - Surfers or Texas Hots are closer to what I've described?

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Help me finding a replacement for SSL-1...Surfers? Tex Hots?

I haven't tried the Surfers, but I have Texas Hot neck and Custom bridge pickups in one Strat and SSL-1 neck and middle with Twangbanger (replaced an SSL-1) in another. The SSL-1 neck has stronger and tighter lows than the Texas Hot, whereas the Texas Hot has stronger mids and softer highs (less chimey, but also less harsh). I like the mids and highs of the Texas Hot a little better, but I do miss the tighter and clearer lows of the SSL-1. Sometimes the Texas Hot can sound muddy on the low E and A strings at higher volumes (I mainly play through 15-watt amps). I could see replacing both of them if I found something interesting -- like a replacement set of the Fender Custom shop pickups in my Wildwood 10 Strat.

On the bridge pickups, the Texas Hot Custom bridge and Twangbanger slay the SSL-1 bridge. The TH Custom bridge has strong lows, really nice mids and sweet highs -- great clean or overdriven. The Twangbanger also has really nice mids and highs, but is a little weaker in the lows. It wires up perfectly with the SSL1 neck and RWRP middle, as well as the A2 counterparts.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Help me finding a replacement for SSL-1...Surfers? Tex Hots?

I swear by my Twangbanger/SSL-1/SSL-1 setup. Try that with a blender pot to bring in the neck pickup. On his Live 8 performance, Gilmour was exclusively in the bridge pos'n. A Twangbanger with an SSL-1 mixed in would sound great I reckon.