Review of APS-2 vs. SSL-1 in my Tele

[Dave]

I recently switched out the middle pickup APS-2 for the SSL-1 with the remaining pickups listed below. My tele's got a rosewood neck and seems warmer than most other teles I've played. I was hoping to strengthen the 2 and 4 positions with more bite and honky quack. With the APS-2, I found that 2 and 4 were really watered down and I never used them.

It's wired on a 5-way:
1 JD
2 SSL/JD
3 BS/JD
4 BS/SSL
5 BS

So...

As expected, there was a pretty significant increase in the highs and mids, though a snappier bottom end as well, most noticed with relatively clean amp settings-definitely became more strat-like. There was a drop in the thickness vs. the APS-2.

One thing I didn't see is a weakening of the signal. I remember a thread a few weeks back comparing the APS vs. SSL which suggested the APS were thicker and stronger sounding-(perhaps in a maple neck, and with other A2 pickups?) At least in my tele, the perceived output is a bit stronger/louder.
I am reluctant to assign too much difference to the flat poles I had with the APS-2 and the staggered in the SSL-1.

The SSL and JD paired together is a great combo-think strat honk w/subtle twang-jangle. I am, however, less enamored with the Blues Special and SSL-1 combo (although, I don't know of too many people who like that switch position anyway...)

My question is:

Are A2/A5 combos more appealing to you folks vs. all A5 mags, or all A2 mags,etc.? What do you think?

Hope you guys find this helpful,

Dave

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Review of APS-2 vs. SSL-1 in my Tele

What I have discovered about the Fralin Blues Special neck pickup is that if a player wants a strong, unmuffled rythym tone AND great soloing tone from the neck pickup of a Tele, then there is no finer neck pickup for a Tele than the Blues Special...IMO.

But if you appreciate the tone of the neck and bridge pickup combined and use THAT chimey tone for your rythym tone, then a weaker neck pickup or a Tele neck pickup with a chrome cover produces a chimier, more pleasing jangle...but ONLY when combined with the bridge pickup. However, by itself, most covered/weaker Tele neck pickups sound muffled to me when NOT combined with the bridge pickup.

I use the Blues Specials in my '54 Tele, but after doing the Ultimate Tele thread a few months ago I removed the Blues Special neck pickup and replaced it with a Fralin Tele Stock...which is Lindy's vintage 50'sTele neck pickup. Used by itself, I don't like it nearly as much for rythym or soloing as the Blues Special neck pickup...but combined with the bridge pickup the tone of the Tele Stock and Blues Special bridge is alot chimier and, to me, more pleasing than the two BS pickups combined.

My favorite rythym tone on a Tele IS the neck and bridge combined tone...that chimey jangle that sounds like the rythym guitar on alot of Pretenders tunes.

As for the Duncan APS-2, it is bright! It's also louder and seems to have a much chunkier tone with more mids than real alnico 5 '63 Fender Strat pickups and alnico 5 Antiquity II Surfers.

The APS-2 is one strong sounding Strat pickup and alot louder than a SSL-1 or SSL-2, IMO!

Lew

 

[Dave]

Re: Review of APS-2 vs. SSL-1 in my Tele

Lew-
You're definitely right about the chime from the covered neck pickups vs. uncovered-I was surprised how much of a difference there is! I remember you telling me that the uncovered are less microphonic than the covered "you'll see what I mean once you hear it.." I personally like the uncovered better.


I love the BS and JD so much that I really don't see myself changing them out-unless another Tele is in order!

So, Lew, have you any comment on all A2 (or A5) vs mixed? And, in your experience, are the A2s stronger across the board or does the guitar body/neck wood make a difference.

I think that APS-2 was just a bit too warm for my tele-certainly for my taste.

Dave

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Review of APS-2 vs. SSL-1 in my Tele

Lew-
You're definitely right about the chime from the covered neck pickups vs. uncovered-I was surprised how much of a difference there is! I remember you telling me that the uncovered are less microphonic than the covered "you'll see what I mean once you hear it.." I personally like the uncovered better.


I love the BS and JD so much that I really don't see myself changing them out-unless another Tele is in order!

So, Lew, have you any comment on all A2 (or A5) vs mixed? And, in your experience, are the A2s stronger across the board or does the guitar body/neck wood make a difference.

I think that APS-2 was just a bit too warm for my tele-certainly for my taste.

Dave

I have the Fralin BS/Duncan JD combo in my Burton Tele too! Couldn't be happier. Well...I could be happier I guess. I'd like to have both the strong but clean BS/JD tone when the two pickups are combined and the chimier, janglier, sparklier tone of a Tele Stock neck/JD combined!

As for combining A2 and A5 pickups, that's fine. In fact, the Blues Special neck is an A5 pickup and the JD a A2 pickup...and, as you know, they sound fine together.

MJ (Duncan Custom Shop) just wound me a new Tele set: A5 Tele Hot neck and A2 Tapped Tele bridge. The Tapped Tele bridge pickup can be switched from 6.5K to 10K...it's the bridge pickup Seymour uses in his famous Esquire.

I can't decide which Tele to put them in because all three of my Teles sound better than they ever have with the pickups that are already in them! :dance:

So guess what? I'm putting the Tapped Tele bridge pickup in one of my Strats that was routed for a bridge humbucker and a Tele bridge pickup will fit right in! I have a new Strat wiring design I think I invented...tho it's really the Tapped Tele wiring adapted for a Strat.

It'll use a 5 way switch:

1. 10K bridge
2. 10K bridge & neck pickup
3. neck pickup
4. 6.5K bridge & neck pickup
5. 6.5K bridge

Then I'll add the middle pickup, via a push/pull tone pot or a Blender Pot to any of the 5 way switch settings for a total of 10 tones from my Strat.

Should be cool!

Lew

 

[Dave]

Re: Review of APS-2 vs. SSL-1 in my Tele

That does sound like a hot setup, Lew. I'm anxious to see what you think of it.