Newbie to pickup upgrades - SD SSL-5 in squire strat

[jake173]

Hi all,

I found my old Squier strat affinity and decided to upgrade the pickups, so I can use it as a backup guitar. I bought a seymour duncan ssl-5 and installed it in the bridge, but the sound is no different to the stock pickups that came with it. I've never changed pickups before, and my other guitars have been setup for me, so I'm at a loss here. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Jake

 

[Mincer]

Re: Newbie to pickup upgrades - SD SSL-5 in squire strat

Well, the Affinity series is pretty low on the Squier range, and you have to decide if it is worth upgrading the pickups- one pickup is almost the cost of the guitar. What kind of sound are you going for? The SSL-5 is a pretty vintage sounding pickup, but if you were expecting something more rock-oriented, you'd have better luck with something like the JB Jr or Hot Rails. These will sound nothing at all loike your stock pickups as they add more power, lows and mids.

 

[jake173]

Re: Newbie to pickup upgrades - SD SSL-5 in squire strat

Thanks for your reply. I am trying to get a David Gilmour like tone, or at least something like it. I don't have a big budget as this is only for a backup, and I wanted to use my old squier. Would the pickup sound much different in a stratocaster?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Newbie to pickup upgrades - SD SSL-5 in squire strat

Well, it would be less microphonic, with more refined tone in a real Strat. But the basic qualities of an SSL-1 (vintage output, clean & clear) would still be there.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Newbie to pickup upgrades - SD SSL-5 in squire strat

The problem with the MIC Squier instruments is the dogbreath electronic components. Nasty, little 500k pots and a PCB selector switch.

As Mincer points out, the outlay for quality pickups and controls outweighs the used value of the guitar. The upgrading budget needs to be keep under tight control.

Quite by accident, I discovered that the EMG-81 yields stunningly good results. (I don't usually like the -81 or, for that matter, the Affinity STRAT.) Simple volume and EMG Passive Tone controls. No switching. Straightahead Rock action.

 

[Der Oberherr]

Re: Newbie to pickup upgrades - SD SSL-5 in squire strat

By changing to an SSL-5 from the old pickups, all that has happened is that you've gone from a stock pickup to something that is supposed to sound the same, and just have a little bit more output, so there shouldn't really be much of a change in tone. I would try moving it higher or lower before decided whether or not it has had an effect, as pickup height affects tone a little as well. If you really wanted a drastically different sound, then you would have to switch, like Mincer said, to a JB Jr. or a Rails pickup. Through personal experience I know they change a squier strat a fair bit.

I'm no expert, but maybe you should give the cool rails a look? Rails pickups are great for string bends, which if you like Gilmour, you'll be doing a lot. The Cool Rails is also not ridiculously high output. Just my $0.02.

P.S. You could always try changing out your volume pot. Squire strats have rubbish 500k pots, when you really want a 250k/300k pot if you're using a single coil like an SSL-5. It's also quite a cheap upgrade. Watch the awful selector switch though, they break really easily, and don't like pickup swaps much either.

 

[jake173]

Re: Newbie to pickup upgrades - SD SSL-5 in squire strat

Thanks for all your ideas. I'll change the pots and buy a rails pickup. As for the SSL-5, I'll move that to my usa strat.