I love SSL2

[brisk]

I think I am in love with SSL2. They are in my MIA strat with SSL3 in bridge. I think about it all the time. To me, it souns likes how a true single coil should sound like. I wanna get SSL1 for another guitar. I used to be a fan of APS but I think SSL1&2 are much faithful to the traditional singlecoil sound.

Cheers,

 

[Artie]

Re: I love SSL2

Dang . . . and I had just about decided to get APS-2's as my next set of singles! :laugh2:

Isn't it great when you find what you like! Enjoy :wink:

 

[Twitch]

Re: I love SSL2

:smack: The SSL's and APS's are what im trying to determine between.

 

[Stratcat]

Re: I love SSL2

:smack: The SSL's and APS's are what im trying to determine between.

What kind of guitar do you have? Does it have a maple or rosewood fingerboard?

 

[Twitch]

Re: I love SSL2

Fender MIM Strat. Alder body, maple fretboard.

Brisk: Do you have any recordings of this beloved set of pickups? If I get the SSL's I'll probably go w/ an SSL-3 in the bridge.

 

[brisk]

Re: I love SSL2

Fender MIM Strat. Alder body, maple fretboard.

Brisk: Do you have any recordings of this beloved set of pickups? If I get the SSL's I'll probably go w/ an SSL-3 in the bridge.

Mine is in Fender MIA strat, alderbody, rosewood fretboard. Unfortunately, I don't have a clip or a right skill to record what I hear from my guitar through a tube amp. I like SSL3 than quater pounder.

Cheers

 

[brisk]

Re: I love SSL2

Dang . . . and I had just about decided to get APS-2's as my next set of singles! :laugh2:

Isn't it great when you find what you like! Enjoy :wink:

Thanks Artie,

I admit that APS sounds sweet, but I found that that's not what I am looking for from my strat. I have APS1's and APS2's and they would be no longer in any of my strats. I just made a deal to trade my APS1's with SSL1's (I am happy). I am gonna use APS2's in my tele with JD in bridge.

But don't let my comments discourage you from getting APS bro!

 

[Artie]

Re: I love SSL2

Heh - not a problem. Its just one of many items on my GAS to-do list.

The jury's not really "in" yet on that one.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: I love SSL2

I've tried both the SSL-1 and SSL-2 in the same '57 RI Strat. Both great pickups! The flat poled SSL-2 is a little less crisp, bright and bubbley than the raised and staggered poleed SSL-1. Probably the best buy in a single coil vintage style Strat pickup there is. The SSL-1 and 2 were the first two Duncans I tried in my Strats those many years ago. Lew

 

[FretFire]

Re: I love SSL2

I'm also stuck between the SSL and APS neck and middle pickups for my strat project. I know the SSLs are A5 mags and the APS are A2... and I seem to be a bigger fan of A5 mags in my humbuckers but I'm not sure if the same would apply with singles or not. I'm probably going to put a Twangbanger (A2) in the bridge of this strat, would it work well with either setup (SSL vs. APS) or is it better suited to a certain one?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: I love SSL2

I think the choice between the SSL-1' s and the APS-1's has to do more with your amp and the volumes you play at.

My APS-2's sound kind of flat and dull at low volumes through my buddy's vibro-champ (cranked) but sound big, fat, and with the right amount of sparkle and glass when I play them through my cranked Bassman.

His Am Std with SSL-1's is just the opposite. Tight, glassy, and big through his Champ, loud, bright, and somewhat shrill with my Bassman.


Of course, his 57 with the Antiquity I's sounds great through either rig. :burnout:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: I love SSL2

I'm also stuck between the SSL and APS neck and middle pickups for my strat project. I know the SSLs are A5 mags and the APS are A2... and I seem to be a bigger fan of A5 mags in my humbuckers but I'm not sure if the same would apply with singles or not. I'm probably going to put a Twangbanger (A2) in the bridge of this strat, would it work well with either setup (SSL vs. APS) or is it better suited to a certain one?

I use the Twangbanger with the APS-2 pickups in my Strat...I sell alot of them with the APS-1 pickups too.

I hardly sell any with the SSL-1 or SSL-2. Most guys go with the APS series when it comes to the Twangbanger because the Twangbanger is also an alnico 2 pickup.

I think the SSL series is brighter and has more bass and tighter bass and sounds more like a vintage Strat pickup than the APS series.

However, the APS pickups have smoother highs and thicker chunkier mids.

The APS pickups do get excellant Strat tones...I can do anything with those that I can do with SSL pickups. But the tone of the APS pickups is going to be a little less glassy and thicker and fuller in the mids.

For the most authentic vintage tone, go for the SSL-1...but if you want a little thicker and more modern tone go for the APS -1 or 2.

Also, the APS 1 or 2 seem to able to be moved a little closer to the strings without pulling the low E out of tune when I fret above the 12th fret. That's a nice plus!

Lew

 

[FretFire]

Re: I love SSL2

Very cool, thanks Lew. I want to keep that strat vibe for sure (why else would I build a strat ), but smoother highs and a thicker mid response would be a definite plus, so I could also pull some more modern blues/jazz/fusion tones out of it from time to time. Sounds like the APS (staggered or flat is the next question haha) with the Twangbanger in the bridge would set me up nicely.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: I love SSL2

Well...what I hear is a little brighter, bubblier tone (especially for clean rythym and the #2 and #4 switch settings) from the staggered version. But I like the APS-2 with the flat poles too...a little softer edge to the treble. Lew

 

[FretFire]

Re: I love SSL2

Cool, check your PMs when you have a chance kind sir .

 

[Twitch]

Re: I love SSL2

I've heard a lot of information comparing the SSL's and APS's clean tones, but what about overdriven. Through a Route 66 or Sparkle Drive, which would produce a better screaming texas blues tone, or a Clapton tone.