SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

M

ModernViking

New member
First post on these forums - props to SD for maintaining such a robust online community!

Basically I'm upgrading a mid/late 80's Squier (Korean Made) and working towards a HSS configuration with a SH4 JB Humbucker at the bridge, and I'm looking for a moderately priced but quality pair of single-coil pickups to use for the middle and neck.

In the interest of introducing myself and letting you know where I'm coming from here's a little background:

I'm an intermediate player with a style that's about as old and sophisticated as my guitar - leans towards 80's style classically-influenced hard rock - my main guitar heroes are Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi (ironic considering they both favor Gibsons ... eh?)

Anyway... I went to replace the strings one day. While I was at it I was going to tighten up one of the tuners that had a loose post. Then I noticed the bridge and saddles were a little dusty so I unscrewed those to shine 'em up. Before you know it I'd stripped the thing down to the body and neck with all the hardware in little plastic bags. Having talked myself into a nearly complete hardware upgrade I purchased a SH4 JB Humbucker, all-new 250k pots, a toggle for throwing the HB out of phase, and a new 5-way switch. Originally I was going to retain the top 2 pickups and just cut a bigger hole for the humbucker out of the old pickguard, but I decided it would be easier to just keep the old hardware together as a loaded pickguard in case I ever decided to restore the guitar to it's "original" condition (minus the tuners). Plus, this way I get to keep more crap to store in the attic.

So, having the SH4 JB in hand (and being generally impressed with the SD community so far) I'm looking for a pair of SD single-coil pickups as companions for the humbucker. I've searched these forums and I'm still a little lost in the variety that's available even within a single brand like SD. I'm considering going with something like a pair of SSL-1s or SSL-5s with the middle one reverse wound so I can use the switch to pair them up in position 2, but from what I'm reading the consensus seems to be that the SSL-5's are too hot for anything but the bridge. I also like the description of the SSL-4 (a "fat, punchy sound, clean at lower volumes and high output when cranked") or the Hot Strat SSL-3.

That's where my brain seizes up. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks - I'm going to take a stab at filming my progress with the rebuild and posting on youtube or something so if I can make good on that I'll post a link back to the board.
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

Welcome to the forum.

I'd suggest the Vintage hot stack plus or custom stack plus, to go completely noiseless and to keep up with the JB.
 
Last edited:
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

Get an SSL-5 for the neck, it is PERFECT with the JB...
This is the video that made me try one out for the first time

I think that pretty much speaks for itself...

People gush over the SSL-5 in the bridge, but IMO it is just perfect for those who want a Stratty neck pickup, but need the EQ and output to better match something like a JB in the bridge. It's got a really thick, punchy sound but it doesn't sacrifice any single-coilness, it's just warm and articulate and bubbly and wonderful. Other overwound Strat pickups don't have the same authenticity in the note attack, they lose that percussive quack that the SSL-5 has in spades.

The only flaw it has (and it's a stretch to even call this a flaw) is that in the "in between" positions are not terribly authentic. However that's a moot point if you get the tapped version...


EDIT: This forum has, without a doubt, the most complicated and inefficient method of embedding youtube videos of any website I have ever visited, ever.
 
Last edited:
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

oilpit said:
Get an SSL-5 for the neck, it is PERFECT with the JB...
This is the video that made me try one out for the first time

I think that pretty much speaks for itself...

People gush over the SSL-5 in the bridge, but IMO it is just perfect for those who want a Stratty neck pickup, but need the EQ and output to better match something like a JB in the bridge. It's got a really thick, punchy sound but it doesn't sacrifice any single-coilness, it's just warm and articulate and bubbly and wonderful. Other overwound Strat pickups don't have the same authenticity in the note attack, they lose that percussive quack that the SSL-5 has in spades.

The only flaw it has (and it's a stretch to even call this a flaw) is that in the "in between" positions are not terribly authentic. However that's a moot point if you get the tapped version...


EDIT: This forum has, without a doubt, the most complicated and inefficient method of embedding youtube videos of any website I have ever visited, ever.
Click to expand...

Wow. I loved that!
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

oilpit said:
Get an SSL-5 for the neck, it is PERFECT with the JB...

People gush over the SSL-5 in the bridge, but IMO it is just perfect for those who want a Stratty neck pickup, but need the EQ and output to better match something like a JB in the bridge. It's got a really thick, punchy sound but it doesn't sacrifice any single-coilness, it's just warm and articulate and bubbly and wonderful. Other overwound Strat pickups don't have the same authenticity in the note attack, they lose that percussive quack that the SSL-5 has in spades.

The only flaw it has (and it's a stretch to even call this a flaw) is that in the "in between" positions are not terribly authentic. However that's a moot point if you get the tapped version...
Click to expand...


Very cool... what would you say to pairing a SSL-5 in the neck with a reverse-wound SSL-5 in the middle position? Any other suggestions for the middle position?
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

oilpit said:
Get an SSL-5 for the neck, it is PERFECT with the JB...

People gush over the SSL-5 in the bridge, but IMO it is just perfect for those who want a Stratty neck pickup, but need the EQ and output to better match something like a JB in the bridge. It's got a really thick, punchy sound but it doesn't sacrifice any single-coilness, it's just warm and articulate and bubbly and wonderful. Other overwound Strat pickups don't have the same authenticity in the note attack, they lose that percussive quack that the SSL-5 has in spades.

The only flaw it has (and it's a stretch to even call this a flaw) is that in the "in between" positions are not terribly authentic. However that's a moot point if you get the tapped version...
Click to expand...

The custom stack plus (STK-S6) I recommended above is essentially that pickup in a noiseless version.
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

I thought the bridge pickup in that Charvel was a 78 ???
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

jmcorey said:
The custom stack plus (STK-S6) I recommended above is essentially that pickup in a noiseless version.
Click to expand...

Yeah but noiseless is dumb...the reason why I love the SSL-5 so much is how authentic, vintage and single coily it can sound while still having the EQ and output that it does, I have played to STK-S6 and it doesn't have the character that the SSL-5 has, which is the entire appeal of the pickup IMO. On top of that, the SSL-5 just isn't that noisy, I run mine into a high gain Mesa Boogie and I've never had a hum issue. Just watch the video I posted above, lots of gains and still it's almost as quiet as the humbucker.
People get wayyyyy too hung up on 60 cycle hum, personally I would much rather spend the time and effort to have a well shielded guitar and high quality cables than sacrifice tone just for the sake of noise.

@ModernViking
If I were you I would get a tapped version of the SSL-5 for the neck and an rwrp SSL-1 for the middle. That way in positions 2 and 4 you will get a killer, thin, spanky quack, but still have all the balls of the SSL-5 in the neck. However an SSL-5 will definitely work in the middle, you just won't get the best vintage Strat sound (which could even be a good thing depending on what you are after)
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

jmcorey said:
The custom stack plus (STK-S6) I recommended above is essentially that pickup in a noiseless version.
Click to expand...

That sounds great except I'd like to retain a true single-coil (non-humbucking) for that classic Strat sound. So right now I feel like I'm leaning towards a pair of SSL-5's with the RW/RP version in the middle position so I can swap between "normal" operations in positions 1 & 3 and hum canceling in position 2.

Sound about right?
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

I'll repeat the reply I just posted for another thread as I think it also applies here
I've gone a slightly unusual route with my Anderson...
Humbucker in the bridge, a Suhr V60LP in the middle and a Kinman 62 in the neck.
This way, the positions I feel need to be silent namely, Bridge, Position2 ( split bridge with mid ) and neck ARE and each tone is simply beautiful...No other word to describe it.

Absolutely incredible combination.

In your case, you could either take my route or a great midd Duncan single is the Five/Two RWRP.
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

wolf5150 said:
I'll repeat the reply I just posted for another thread as I think it also applies here
I've gone a slightly unusual route with my Anderson...
Humbucker in the bridge, a Suhr V60LP in the middle and a Kinman 62 in the neck.
This way, the positions I feel need to be silent namely, Bridge, Position2 ( split bridge with mid ) and neck ARE and each tone is simply beautiful...No other word to describe it.

Absolutely incredible combination.

In your case, you could either take my route or a great midd Duncan single is the Five/Two RWRP.
Click to expand...

Wolf - I saw your post in another thread and was going to reply but I see you brought it here first! Great vid, BTW.

I looked up the Suhr / Kinman combo - it sure sounds great but is on the pricey side from what I was seeing ($80 for the V60LP and $260 for the Kinman?)

As I've posted above I seem to be triangulating on an SSL-5 in the neck and a SSL-5 RW/RP in the middle ; what advantage would be the Five/Two over the regular SSL-5 in the middle?
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

A single Kinman is the same price as any other single in the UK.

My point really was that a true single in the mid and a noiseless in the neck is the perfect set up for me.
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

Okay, having taken all feedback into account and filtering through my marginally informed personal-preference filter, I'm opting for a tapped SSL-5 for the neck and a Five-Two RWRP for the middle. Sounds like the 5-2 will lend some punch to the lower strings which I think will complement my playing style well.

It's going to be March 8 before the five-two is available so it looks like I'm going to have to put on my patient hat for a while :(

Mucho thanks to everyone for their responses and valuable feedback and I look forward to coming back with my own video demonstrating the end result!
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

If you're willing to look in DMZs direction, you could go the Jake E Lee route
and put 2 SDS-1s in there :)
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

wolf5150 said:
I thought the bridge pickup in that Charvel was a 78 ???
Click to expand...

It is...I wasn't clear in my post.

The video shows off the SSL-5, not the JB...them working perfectly together is just my opinion, got nothing to do with the video.

Great choice MV!
 
Re: SH4 JB HB looking for 2 singles for a good time

Did you get the pickups ?
Verdict ??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ascension
Tell me about the Twang Banger
Replies
6
Views
311
Mincer
Mincer
L
2HB+1SC superswitch : parallel wiring in positions 2 and 4 instead of single split
Replies
13
Views
330
LaryGarson
L
T
HSS, matching coil-split JB levels?
Replies
14
Views
1K
Jermo3178
Jermo3178
T
Ssl-5/ssl-3 in serie with a ssl-1
Replies
5
Views
106
freefrog
freefrog
T
JB/Pearly Gates wiring with PRS rotary?
Replies
2
Views
100
Toejam
T
Back
Top