Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

[guigh]

For those who own an SSL-1 set, or at least one in the neck:
Would you kindly post a sample of what is sounds like with NO effects or amps? (I mean just the raw, direct in line sound from the guitar)

I'd like to compare with the sound of my own SSL-1 on the neck to see if it's very different.
I know most of the tone comes from amp and picking style, but I want to know to the very base how this pickup is supposed to sound like raw in a strat neck.

Thanks

 

[Mincer]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

Welcome to the forum!

While I don't have an SSL-1 currently, I am curious to know about what you expected from the SSL-1 and what you are getting.

 

[Silver]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

Also note that any variance between what you are getting, and any forthcoming sound sample, may be due to factors other than the pickups.

Such as;

- Pickup height
- General build quality of guitar
- String gauge
- Body wood
- Neck wood
- Fingerboard wood
- Nut material & design
- Bridge material & design
- Volume pot values
- Tone pot, even on 10
- Fret material
- Cable
- Plectrum material
- Probably the interface used in the recording?

And many other factors.

It might be better to explain the problem you are having?

 

[Silver]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

ps: I had a full set of SSL-1's in a strat, but the guitar is not currently in my possession... happy to answer any questions though.

 

[guigh]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

Thank you for the answers.

Let me show you an audio clip with 2 guitar tones. The first one is what I'm looking to achieve, and the second one is my own guitar, with the SSL-1.

https://clyp.it/ch05zfza

The first one is supposedly recorded directly, no amps or pedals. Mine too.

I'm not sure if the SSL-1 is supposed to sound that much brighter and metallic.
Also I'm not very experienced in building tones. If you can, please tell me how to achieve something like the first tone.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

It's e.q.d quite differently.

Try rolling down your tone knob sliver at a time.

And you also need more input level.

 

[David Garner]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

Thank you for the answers.

Let me show you an audio clip with 2 guitar tones. The first one is what I'm looking to achieve, and the second one is my own guitar, with the SSL-1.

https://clyp.it/ch05zfza

The first one is supposedly recorded directly, no amps or pedals. Mine too.

I'm not sure if the SSL-1 is supposed to sound that much brighter and metallic.
Also I'm not very experienced in building tones. If you can, please tell me how to achieve something like the first tone.

What was the first guitar and what pickups? I'm assuming the same pickup position? Or do you know?

I agree -- it sounds like an EQ issue. SSL-1s are bright anyway. Frusciante is one of their best-known proponents and his isolated guitars sound positively shrill (but they work in a mix). So maybe a hotter 60s style pickup would be better for what you're after. But honestly, I see no reason the second one can't be EQd and with a little playing with pickup height, made to sound mostly like the first.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

his isolated guitars sound positively shrill (but they work in a mix)

Something that I constantly have to remind myself when trying to get a particular sound . . . is that stuff sounds very different when you're playing with a band vs when you're playing on your own. A pickup that sounds terrible and plinky soloed can have a nice amount of cut in a band mix. One that sounds way too middy on it's own ends up with a lovely vocal quality.

 

[David Garner]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

Compare this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc4N6Z25yAk

To this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j1hMSu4hJA

 

[freefrog]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

Thank you for the answers.

Let me show you an audio clip with 2 guitar tones. The first one is what I'm looking to achieve, and the second one is my own guitar, with the SSL-1.

https://clyp.it/ch05zfza

The first one is supposedly recorded directly, no amps or pedals. Mine too.

I'm not sure if the SSL-1 is supposed to sound that much brighter and metallic.
Also I'm not very experienced in building tones. If you can, please tell me how to achieve something like the first tone.

What about this ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2sjeVQpS94 EDIT: was thinking especially to the tonal difference between the section ending at 6:49 and what can be heard at 6:51 ...

That said, the last California Set that I've transplanted from one Strat sounded like different pickups once mounted in another Strat with supposedly same specs, components and settings...

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

My absolute favorite pickups for vintage pure strat tone. And believe me i tried lots of them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[guigh]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

You guys got it, when I first got the SSL-1 some years ago I was trying to go for the Frusciante tone.
I was never fully satisfied with the tones I was getting though.
It was most likely due to the amps I was simulating. I have a Boss GT-100 and I tried messing with every amp available there. Also Guitar Rig 5.

So this week I decided to go into Frusciante tone quest again. Today I found out that Amplitube 4 has a Marshall Silver Jubilee simulation, I tested it and it really does sound like his tone.

Also, about that shrilling tone I posted earlier, it's most likely due to GT-100 coloring (even in bypass). I have to try another interface to make sure.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Question for SSL-1 (California '50s) owners

Also, about that shrilling tone I posted earlier, it's most likely due to GT-100 coloring (even in bypass).

I don't see how a GT100 with neutral settings would color a guitar signal to the point to make it shrill. I have here a collection of mainstream digital MFX's (Boss, Line6, Vox, Zoom) as well as buffered pedals... and true bypass units and even true bypass loopers when I want to avoid any AD/DA conversion : none colors THAT MUCH the signal, unless a defective component is involved - or unless the global EQ of the GT100 is not properly set: this hidden EQ is explained p.26 in the users manual FWIW.