Little SSL-3 review.

[Artie]

Just got my SSL-3 Hot in today from Matt @ Martinixstringcustoms, (thanks Matt), and I've been jammin' on it for the last 4 hours. Let me say up front that I'm not a big fan of "twang" in a Stratocaster. Thats what they make Tele's for. (And I've got a pair of those.)

The SSL-3 takes the place of an SSL-6 in the bridge, and it does exacly what I was hoping for - the hotter winds "mellowed" the high-end twang perfectly. It still has a nice high-end, but its not twangy any more. Just there.
I was surprised that the output level matches the 6's perfectly. I was afraid it would be too hot. The 6's are around 13k, and the 3 around 16.4k. Its almost like a "bridge" model for the 6's. The SSL-3 has a nice full sound. Its still a Strat, but right at the edge. Another thing that surprised me was the fact the tap wasn't quite what I expected. It cut both the output, and the character way down. So much so, that I almost immediately took the guitar back apart, and changed the wiring. Instead of having a "tap" switch for the 3 and the middle 6, I wired up a DPDT switch so that when I flip it, I get one tapped coil of the bridge, and one tapped coil of the middle 6 in series, like a humbucker with an 8.8k coil and a 6.5k coil. Now that sounds killer.

Anyway, to summarize, if you like SSL-6's, the SSL-3 is great bridge match. Cool cojones. And one more thing - its the perfect match to a Spina modified DS-1. The SSL-3 rocks with that thing.

Artie

 

[jony]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

Hey, glad you enjoy yours.
I have one.. Bought it without knowing too much. Glad I did.

 

[Artie]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

Thanks. Its a cool pup.

 

[Curly]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

it's a favorite of mine, and I've recommended it several times

a very full tone - I like playing crunch chords with it

the notch tone isn't vintage, but it's still a very cool tone

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

it's a favorite of mine, and I've recommended it several times
a very full tone - I like playing crunch chords with it
the notch tone isn't vintage, but it's still a very cool tone

Gary,

what do you use in the neck/middle with the SSL-3? I am looking for a new set of Strat pickups for my 67 reissue...I don't use the notch tones too much so I might be willing to give up a little of that for a good strong bridge tone...is it strong enought to play crunchy chords with and be punchy and powerful?

 

[BlueGuitar]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

... Another thing that surprised me was the fact the tap wasn't quite what I expected. It cut both the output, and the character way down. So much so, that I almost immediately took the guitar back apart, and changed the wiring. Instead of having a "tap" switch for the 3 and the middle 6, I wired up a DPDT switch so that when I flip it, I get one tapped coil of the bridge, and one tapped coil of the middle 6 in series, like a humbucker with an 8.8k coil and a 6.5k coil. Now that sounds killer.

Artie:

Just wondering how the output of a tapped SSL-3 bridge pickup compares to a vintage style strat pickup. With the tap at 8.8k I would expect it to be a bit hotter than a typical vintage pickup between 6k and 7k. I understand how it would seem very underpowered compared to the full tap SSL-3 and SSL-6. It might be interesting to try it in a guitar with vintage output neck and middle pickups, and then kick it up to full tap for a nice boost... :fingersx:

Speaking of tapped pickups, I had a SD tele bridge pickup that I "over wound" with 43ga wire from a Broadcaster pickup that I ruined. I guess the stock pickup was around 7k and I added 2 taps to it, around 8.2k and 9.4k. Winding the extra wire by hand gave it a nice balloon shape, just the originals from the 50's. :banana:

My point is that sometimes just a small percentage increase in dc resistance can make a big difference in the tone and response- going from one tap to the next was like shifting gears in a car! :dance:

--Thanks for the little review!

 

[Artie]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

it's a favorite of mine, and I've recommended it several times

a very full tone - I like playing crunch chords with it

the notch tone isn't vintage, but it's still a very cool tone

It might be you that got me to thinking about it.
Also, the 3 is a perfect match to John's DS-1 mods. Great body and crunch.

Artie:

Just wondering how the output of a tapped SSL-3 bridge pickup compares to a vintage style strat pickup . . .

Steve; One of the things I didn't really mention was that I've had the three 6's for quite some time, with the middle tapped. It behaved exactly as I expected, and that you mention. Full on was a nice, beefy single. Switching to tap mode gave it classic single chime. The cool thing was, it did the same thing when mixed with the neck or bridge. It was only necessary to have one pup tapped.

But the "3" didn't do that. For some reason, it just became lower output and somewhat lifeless. A completely different affect. It almost makes me wonder if I had something wired wrong. I may pop it back apart sometime this week and try it the conventional way again, just to see.

Right now, however, I'm having too much fun with it.

Artie

 

[dani]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

you evil man. you are making me think of ripping my ants out and put a set of ssl-3 and aps-2 in my jazzocaster.

 

[Jasemeister]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

Artie,

your review couldn't have come at a better time for me. A couple of weeks ago, I hooked up an unknown pup in the neck position of my mexican standard strat that was in a secondhand Tanglewood Europa (strat style, maple neck, floyd rose, S-S-H, frets 17-24 scalloped) I've had for the last 6 years. The pup was great but the guitar was basically falling apart and more or less beyond repair.

All I can say is that it was complete tonal revelation! After some research I found out that this excellent pup with a simple "6R" sticker on the back was an SSL-6 RW/RP. Off to my band's studio where we have an ancient Anax 200W tube amp (Twin Reverb copy) with custom speaker cabin & through an Ibanez TS-7 tubescreamer, my previously good-for-nothing Mex Strat became the ultimate tonemachine and object of admiration by everyone present. Now the pup switch is permanently at the neck position.

After this I've been looking for a bridge pup to go with it. I'm narrowed down to the SSL-3, the SSL-4 and maybe another SSL-6. I can test the SSL-6 in the bridge to see how it's like but with the other two I'd have to buy and try. So, now your review hits the sweet spot!

Thanks man!

 

[Curly]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

Gary,

what do you use in the neck/middle with the SSL-3? I am looking for a new set of Strat pickups for my 67 reissue...I don't use the notch tones too much so I might be willing to give up a little of that for a good strong bridge tone...is it strong enought to play crunchy chords with and be punchy and powerful?

Christian,
I have APS-2s
my tech recommended APS-2/ SSL-2/ SSL-3, but he didn't have the SSL-2 mid in stock. It worked out fine.
yes, crunch chords sound nice, fat, and chunky. I have a few clips on my site.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

I've had the SSL3 bridge, and SSL6 Neck and mid set in a strat. Great set. Talk about rocking! wow.

I think almost all strat bridge pickups are useless as is for todays standards. The Twangbanger is AMAZING, but if you need more output, the SSL3 Hot is my close 2nd choice. Rich, fat, full, not in the least bit squealish either.

 

[wickedmartini]

Re: Little SSL-3 review.

How do you think the SSL-3 (neck) would pair up with a Hotrail (bridge)?