Nashville Tele, La Brea Bridge and Strat Neck and Middle

[sstrat56]

Hi, New here and looking for some advice on pickup selection. I put a set of La Brea pickups in a Tele and really like them and I'm putting together a Nashville Tele and would like to use a La Brea in the bridge, looking for Strat pickups that will work well with the La Brea.

I searched the forum already for this info and found that most of the recommendations were for a Jerry Donahue bridge pickup and SSL-2 flat neck and middle Strat pickups. The La Brea seems to be staggered, does that mean the SSL-1 is a better match? Is there something else I should be looking at to go with the La Brea?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Welcome to the Forum.

I think either SSL1s or SSL2s would pair nicely with a LaBrea bridge. It's perfectly ok to pair staggered with unstaggered.
My preference would actually be for the flat SSL2s.
The vintage Strat stagger dates back to a time when G strings were wound; for plain Gs flat is actually better IMO.

 

[Mincer]

Yes, I like the string balance better with flat poles, but you can mix and match all you want. Another good staggard match is the Five Two, which uses 2 different magnets for the different treble and bass strings.

 

[sstrat56]

Welcome to the Forum.

I think either SSL1s or SSL2s would pair nicely with a LaBrea bridge. It's perfectly ok to pair staggered with unstaggered.
My preference would actually be for the flat SSL2s.
The vintage Strat stagger dates back to a time when G strings were wound; for plain Gs flat is actually better IMO.

Thank you!! Now that you mention it I remember hearing the staggered pickups were originally for a wound G string.

 

[sstrat56]

Yes, I like the string balance better with flat poles, but you can mix and match all you want. Another good staggard match is the Five Two, which uses 2 different magnets for the different treble and bass strings.

Thanks for your reply. I looked at the 5-2s but I don't think they were recommended in any of the threads I read from my original search. I'll look for some demos on YouTube.

I checked out your web site, nice site, good info and demos.

 

[sstrat56]

I have another question if you guys don't mind. If I get an SSL-2, an SSL-2 RWRP and a La Brea, and the 5 way switch is wired like a standard Strat, will position 2 be hum cancelling? I assume 4 would be because it's the 2 Strat pickups. I'm not sure of the polarity of the La Brea.

 

[jeremy]

i cannot recall what polarity the la brea bridge is, but if you get a ssl2 and a rw/rp ssl2, youll be able to have humcancelling in both pos 2 & 4

 

[Mincer]

Thanks for your reply. I looked at the 5-2s but I don't think they were recommended in any of the threads I read from my original search. I'll look for some demos on YouTube.

I checked out your web site, nice site, good info and demos.

Thanks man, I appreciate it!