Series switching options

[Jacew]

Hello.

I'm about to get a new pickup (SSL-5) for my sss strat. As the new pickup doesn't have tap, I'll have a extra push-pull pot, which I'm going to wire as series switch.

I'm having a difficult time choosing the configuration, so if anyone here has opinions, comments or experience about this, I'll be happy hear.

Neck: SD SSL-1 rwrp; Middle: SD SSL-5 rwrp; Bridge: SSL-7 T

My original plan for series switching options:
1: Neck + Middle series
2: Neck + Middle series + Bridge parallel

Another option:
1: Neck + Bridge series
2: Middle + Bridge series
3: Kill position (I don't need this but it's a side effect of this wiring.)

I'm pretty sure I'm going for the first option, since I already have great "Rock" setup from parallel/single switching. Though that middle (SSL-5) + bridge (SSL-7) series is tempting...

What I'm actually after with this is a good "dark and bluesy" position, as I'm loosing the dark neck pickup in this trade (unless the SSL-5 in middle could do it?). I also have doubts if SSL-7 in series with another pickup is just too unbalanced.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Series switching options

I will add that even vintage output single coils in series are pretty fat and dark. Sort of like a tone control almost all the way down- the attack sounds like trying to run through mud in boots. I would like to know your take on it when you get it sorted out. It is an interesting sound, and it seems better suited to cleaner styles than with tons of overdrive. My 1982 'The Strat' has a stock series switch in there that does a similar wiring.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Series switching options

I've been trying out this setup fo a while now. Ended up with Bridge-in-series-with-either-middle-or-neck option. I am really positively surprised with the result. Especially SSL-5 in the middle has a great, clean sparkle. Probably the best sounding strat pickup I've heard...

Series positions aren't really dark in this setup. Middle + Bridge is great for that 80's mid-heavy growl, really compressed and tight. Bridge + Neck series has a little wooden, darker sound with a nice character. Maybe a bit "SG"ish, I think. Wouldn't call neither "fat", more like "thick".

SSL-1 turned out to be surprisignly warm on neck. Really good for cleaner "bluesy" stuff. I didn't thought changing from middle to neck could affect pickup tone that much.

Edited, because I figured out last night how to wire the series switch to remove the dead middle position, just didn't remember I had solved it... One of those cases where you spend hours planning fancy solutions, and end up adding a single wire there...

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Series switching options

Sounds like a cool set up with the SSL-1, SSL-5, and SSL-7. I have 2 SSL-1s and an SSL-5 with the neck/middle, kill, middle/bridge series set up. There's no problem with mud at all as long as you bump up your pots. It sounds awesome. I think it's a really good option if you want single coil sounds with more power since there aren't really any stock humbuckers with good strat, jag, etc. sounds.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Series switching options

I've pretty much perfected this project tonewise. I'm really pleased with these pickups and tone with all the possible combos. I have been playing a lot with it.

Only now I've realised there's still one issue. While both series settings sound great on their own, they are pretty similar. They have distinctively different flavour, but if I flip the switch during a song, the difference is subtle, probably too subtle for casual listener to notice.

Now it's really hard for me to figure what to do with it, because I wouldn't like alter the either tone too much, but I'd still like them to be less similar.

Any ideas? Any opinions and suggestions are welcome.