So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

[Diego]

Most folks here I've seen drop SSL-1s in the neck and middle of their Strats, and drop something hotter in the bridge like an SSL-5.

But I wonder, can you really do with the good ol' SSL-1 in the bridge? It's very cheap and easy to get around here unlike the SSL-5, and I don't really need to hit the preamp that hard. I want a very open, distorted sound with balanced output in all positions. Won't be using the bridge position for cleans, no sir. I want my single coil in the bridge to sound a bit more meaty and less ice picky than stock, just a bit. Like Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple's Burn. That has round highs and a nice chunk of mids. And I don't mind fighting heavy strings to get that sound.

I think it's something that could be worked out with good pickup height adjustment and by working with the knobs. Plus I like the idea of having an all-vintage pickup set.

What do you guys think? Anyone here rocking an SSL-1 in the bridge of their Strat/Tele/etc. that could give me some insight?

Thanks!

 

[Schappy]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

I think the SSL-1 in the bridge might be too ice picky for you.

A more expensive option might be the Antiquity II Hot Bridge or The Texas Hot Bridge.

The SSL-5 is hard to beat for adding beef and keeping the quack.
You can check out the new Custom Stack Plus(hum cancelling version of the SSL-5).

I just installed a Hot Stack Plus in the bridge of my strat and love it.

It is pretty high output but doesnt overpower the neck and middle pickups.

Nice mids and highs are rolled back.

You do lose some quack with this pickup though.

Here are some other pickups I would look at to add more beef:

1)SSL-3(or Hot Stack Plus)
2) QP
3) Five Two

 

[Diego]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

I should have added that I have a master tone pot in my Strat. I guess that would help with a bright pickup like the SSL-1 on the bridge. As long as I can squeeze some rockin', punchy Blackmore-esque sounds out of it, it will be OK. Would a SSL-1 be good for that?

Antiquities are non existant around here. SD dealers just bring a bunch of the usual humbuckers like the JB and the Distortion, plus the Hot Rails and the SSL-1. I'd have to buy online and I wanna avoid that. Seems I'm kinda screwed.

 

[tc]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

I don't really dig SSL-1's on bridge pos...or normal 5.6-6.3k Strat pups for the most part.

I really like the SSL-5 because it's meaty, but it's a little too pushed compared to the Surfers I've got. That's the one problem I've had with that pup. Kinda like I'm stomping on a fat switch if it makes sense. Who knows maybe I can't set pickup heights to save my life, but that's what I've found.

IMO, I think, and I say think because right now I don't have the funds to try it out, a slightly hotter yet not super hot single would be IT for me. Like say....all things the same...7k-ish. Balanced, plenty of quack and not too thin. But who knows! Yngwie uses pickups that are pretty much the same output on all positions and it sounds righteous! I just can't make it work!

tc

 

[Schappy]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

With some amp manipulation you may get the sounds that you want.

 

[Diego]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

Bump!

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

The master tone pot is good.

I like a little more push in the bridge, but I always have one guitar around with vintage output singles in all three positions. It's not as scary as people think. Lots of people have made some great tones with vintage singles in all three positions. I would try it. You can also play a little differently on that pickup, you can pick more toward the neck, and pick differently to kind of make up for the brightness.

 

[Schappy]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

Do you have a booster pedal or a Tubescreamer?

With a clean boost or boosting your signal with a Tubescreamer and some decent EQ you should be able to get some great sounds.

The guy from the Chili Peppers uses vintage pickups with a boost.

 

[uOpt]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

Yeah. If you are unsatisfied with the bridge pickup sound of your Strat, stop messing with the pickup and start talking treble boosters, EQs and echos.

Putting a hotter pickup in there is a quick fix that gets you half where you should be and then not a step further. I never liked them. I didn't even like the Antiquity "custom bridge". I either put an A2 humbucker in the bridge or a vintage class Strat pickup.

Having said that, noiseless is nice to have so that you can boost more without the noise getting annoying. A Surfer is rounder and softer sounding than a SSL-1 and might help. A Texas hot possibly even more, didn't have one yet.

 

[Stef]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

This guy also, without the master tone pot, just the regular strat set-up. 3 x SSL-1, I heard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6YV1luoBTQ

I don't like master tone- tone pot for brodge in a strat. Talking about all 3 250k pots.. Had it for a cou[le of months and returned to stock- vol, tone, tone. Sounds more open and like a strat....

 

[BNSFJoe]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

I'm using a SSL-1 in the bridge with 2 Fender CS 69's and couldn't be happier. They mix very well together and the SSL is just a touch hotter than the 69's for a little more punch in the bridge position.

 

[Diego]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

I've actually got a Boss OS-2. I read the absolute worst about that pedal but I make it work pretty good I think. And a Boss GE-7 that I could use as a boost in front of the amp.

I'll buy an SSL-1 (or two, who knows. ) tomorrow for my Squier and I'll tell you how it goes along with the overdrive pedal. I should be aiming at pushing a hotter signal rather than making it dirty, right? Like a clean boost sort of thing.

uOpt, I know you understand what I want. We're both direct descendants of Ritchie Blackmore. You think an SSL-1 and a boost will take me to the Blackmore ballpark? At least sort of close.

 

[uOpt]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

uOpt, I know you understand what I want. We're both direct descendants of Ritchie Blackmore. You think an SSL-1 and a boost will take me to the Blackmore ballpark? At least sort of close.

Well, much more so than the naive approach which is a Quarter-Pounder.

You also need a LCR network and the right amp, where the trick is nobody can tell you exactly what that is

 

[Diego]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

Thanks! I'll give this a go and tell you all the results as soon as possible.

 

[jimo]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

Didn't Blackmoore use Quarter Pound pickups (Quarter pounders are hamburgers).........?----------------------JIMO

 

[uOpt]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

Didn't Blackmoore use Quarter Pound pickups (Quarter pounders are hamburgers).........?----------------------JIMO

No, what looks like QPs in some photos are Schecter F-400 pickups. These have the larger magnets, but they have a vintage wind. The QPs have a semi-hot wind. Blackmore has never used anything that didn't have a vintage-class wind.

That means the QPs get you closer if you don't have the proper rig but if you do you'll never make it past that with QPs.

 

[Diego]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

I'd rather go the long way.

There's something about low output vintage pickups in a Strat + Marshall flavored amp with something to thicken the signal in between, that tells me that's where I wanna go. Never cared for Les Pauls.

 

[uOpt]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

I'd rather go the long way.

There's something about low output vintage pickups in a Strat + Marshall flavored amp with something to thicken the signal in between, that tells me that's where I wanna go. Never cared for Les Pauls.

Sounds like a plan. But you are in for a lot of treble errr trouble first

 

[jimo]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

Wow, I didn't know that about Blackmoore, good info. The tone samples on the Duncan site that are vintage always have the best sound to me.---JIMO

 

[Diego]

Re: So what's the veredict on the SSL-1 in the bridge?

Yeah, the SSL1 samples sound thinner than say a QP but I love the clarity and bite they have. I'd rather have that than a thick wall of mush.