SD pickup recommendations for thinline S-type build

[Grey_Goose]

Greetings,
I'm in the process of acquiring the parts for a build based on a thinline S-type body; this is semi-hollow, just to clarify. Neck and fret board are maple, body is ash with maple cap. Body is routed for SSS. I'm hoping to achieve a sound that's warmer/fuller, particularly at the bridge, then a standard Strat generally produces, and I prefer warmer/fuller tones from the M and N, also. Strat-associated guitarists that I listen to include Edge, Gilmour, Hendrix, Clapton, SRV, and the like; basically, late 60's, 70's, 80's performers. I had been considering SSL-1 in N and M and SSL-5 B, but then was looking at SSL-5 N and M and JB Jr. B. I'd appreciate some thoughts from those of you who have played one of these guitar types and have modded the pups to suit your taste.

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!

I might opt for something like the Little 59 for the bridge, as it is certainly warmer and fuller than the JB Jr. If you want to stay single coil, look at the SSL-5 (or -6) or the Quarter Pound. For the neck and middle, realize that the SSL-1 (or -2) is really bright and spanky, and that doesn't seem to be what you are going for. The main thing is if you want to keep the guitar hum-cancelling or not, or if that matters. You might look at the APS-1 or Five Two for a warmer/fuller sound in the neck and middle.

 

[Grey_Goose]

Mincer - Thank you. I hadn't looked at the Little 59 previously. Seems like that might actually be worth considering as a complete set (in reading some of the reviews on the product page). I'd be wiring this with a Freeway 5/10 switch, if that matters.

I've got a 2009 MIM with stock pups that fills the "bright and spanky" niche, and I play it exclusively on the neck because 1 - 4 just doesn't sound great to me. So, SSL-1 and -2 are out.

 

[Mincer]

What are the positions of the switch gonna be?

 

[jeremy]

all those guys you mentioned used vintage output single coils, gilmour did use a hotter ssl5 or fs1 bridge for somethings. from what you said, you dont really want that type of sound. do you want it to sound like a thicker single coil strat or more like a humbucker?

 

[Grey_Goose]

I haven't determined the positions for the switch as of yet. Mostly determined at this point to begin with a pair of TX Hot as N and M, Little '59 in B. I'm considering installing one tone and one volume, and using the third hole for a mini toggle to switch between .022 and 0.047 caps. I'm wondering if I go with an on/on/on toggle, would the middle 'on' combine the two caps and further change the tone, or should I go with on/on just to switch back and forth?

Jeremy - thicker SC out of the bridge. SD customer support recommended the Hot TX as a set, but for a HB option recommended considering the Little '78. From what I heard on the YT vids (using premium headphones), I liked the Little 59 more.

 

[Mincer]

The Little 59 will be a little fatter than the Little 78. Just choose the EQ you want, or that your guitar needs.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Little 59 sounds like a good choice for you. I would just use a typical 5-way wiring scheme with one tone pot for neck and middle pups and one tone for the bridge pup. Bridge tone control could be a p/p pot for splitting the bridge pup.

Why in the world would you want a switch to change caps? Plus, the hole from the tone pot is going to be too big for a mini toggle.

Sounds like you're either over thinking this or under thinking this project. (The KISS rule is your friend).

 

[Grey_Goose]

Is there a cap value that would be most useful to handle the entirety of the pickups given the HSS config and the fact that this is a hollow body? I bring up the latter because I expect the tone to be more resonant and darker than a solid body from the start. This is the primary reason that I was thinking about an ability to switch between two cap values using the mini toggle.

The body is being custom made so I can easily stipulate that one hole be smaller than the others for the purpose of the mini toggle. I'm in the panning phase, considering the "what if" scenarios. I've got plenty of time to put it all together.

 

[GuitarDoc]

In that case I would just use a .033uf cap and have the body made with just a master volume and master tone. The tone could be a p/p for splitting the bridge pup.

 

[jeremy]

honestly, id just run with a .022 cap. i dont see the need to have that switch and im someone who uses their tone control a lot.

 

[Grey_Goose]

I guess that one option would be to try different caps and then pick one, omitting the toggle entirely.

 

[jeremy]

you could do the toggle, with the two caps, but i would never really want or need that. .022 is my go to, and .015 sometimes suites better. i almost never like .047, but ymmv

 

[GuitarDoc]

I agree with Jeremy and I generally always use either .015 or ,022 in my humbucker or P-90 guitars, but because this is a HSS and .047 is generally used for single coils, the .033 is a good compromise (I've also used a .033 on a lot of my humbucker and P-90 guitars with great success).

 

[Grey_Goose]

Okay, thank you. I'll give that a try.

 

[Grey_Goose]

500 or 250 for the tone and volume pots if I were going to do master volume and one or two tone pots?

 

[jeremy]

if it was me, id use a 250k for the master volume, 250k for tone pot for the neck and middle, and a 500k tone for the bridge

 

[Mincer]

In my HSS, I used .047. I tend to like that better, but I use my tone control a lot.