New HSS pickups for ash guitar

[gregory]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

Funny, I had a bridge model in the neck.

To my knowledge there's really only a standard model and an RW/RP, not a bridge model and a neck model.

Mine was a standard. The middle pickup was RW/RP.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

To my knowledge there's really only a standard model and an RW/RP, not a bridge model and a neck model.

Mine was a standard. The middle pickup was RW/RP.

Huh. The one I bought off Ebay said "bridge" (if you can't trust Ebay who can you trust?) and SD advertises them as calibrated. But I guess it didn't make too much of a difference since it is normally used as a bridge pickup either way.

 

[gregory]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

Yeah, I'm aware of the "calibrated" set. Without published specs indicating differences in the wind between neck and bridge I'm pretty dubious.

Here's another example of a "calibrated" set:
https://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/vintage-flat-strat-calibrated-set

I imagine that calibrated actually means that each of the three pickups were manufactured or otherwise graded to behave the same, not unlike a calibrated set of tubes.

 

[gregory]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

it is normally used as a bridge pickup either way.

I put mine in the bridge of a Strat a short while back. Sounded amazing, just like it was supposed to.

It was replaced by an Injector Neck. The guy I did it for has had it for several months now and is still extremely happy, but that's for a different discussion.

 

[gregory]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

FWIW, my SSL-6 was actually an SSL-6T.

Funny, I had a bridge model in the neck.

Anyway, the point was that the 6T performed much more like an SSL-2 when tapped; which was how I used it for cleans, either by itself in the neck or combined with the middle SSL-2.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

Anyway, the point was that the 6T performed much more like an SSL-2 when tapped; which was how I used it for cleans, either by itself in the neck or combined with the middle SSL-2.

I can see how on a HSS guitar that could be a pretty neat party trick. You could have it so that in one position it would be rock oriented with overwound single coils and a hot humbucker, but then flick the switch and you have vintage single coils with a humbucker in parallel.

 

[gregory]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

That's more or less how I had it.

Position 1: Bridge in series or parallel*
Position 2: Bridge split*, Middle
Position 3: Middle
Position 4: Neck tapped, Middle
Position 5: Neck tapped or full

*) These changed depending on what I had in the bridge at the time. Positions 2, 3 and 4 were independent of what was going on in either positions 1 or 5 which were also independent of each other.

 

[jonsick]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

Wow there's an excellent amount of responses here.

Thanks all, I'll go through these now and figure some options!

 

[jonsick]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

OK i think I've talked myself into using an SSL-6 for the neck, SSL-2 for the middle and either a Screamin Demon or a Perpetual Burn for the bridge.

As I need to replace electronics, do I need 500k or 250k for the volume and tone controls? The guitar is 1v 1t.

I also like the megaswitch idea so I think I may well go with it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

I'd start out with 500k for volume, 250k for single coil tone, and 500k for humbucker tone.

 

[gregory]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

I use a Fender 5-way Super Switch. I do not recommend the less versatile mega switch.

Consider 500k pots and put a 510k resistor across the middle pickup.

The SSL-6 will be hot in the neck compared to a Screamin' Demon in the bridge. I'd look into the STK-S4b for the neck and STK-S4m for the middle which can be split for better position 4 performance.

Personally I'm more into either twin rail or discrete pole side-by-side single-sized humbuckers these days.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

The Lil Screamin Demon is always an option, I don't know how similar it sounds to its big brother though. As for pots, I'd do 250k all around, given how bright the Demon is. Maybe drop the neck tone to 500k if it's too dark.

 

[gregory]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

Of all the Duncan humbucker singles, the Li'l Screamin' Demon bridge model seems to be the only one where an overwhelming majority of people writing about it say it sounds like the full-sized version, which kinda makes sense based on the SH-12's weak wind and the asymmetry in the pole pieces. I don't believe I've seen any feedback about the neck model.

 

[jonsick]

Re: New HSS pickups for ash guitar

Ordered a couple of pickups, I have an SSL-6 coming and a Satch Track. I also have a Screamin Demon, Perpetual Burn and a Fred on the way.