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

[DMyers77]

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

To me, having a hot bridge pickup just doesn't sound right. I play my strat with 3 SSL-1's the most out of all my guitars. I even have the bridge p/u connected with no tone control, and still like the sound better than my other 2 guitars. If you have a rosewood fretboard (mine also has an ash body), then I don't think you can go wrong. As others have said, you can always use a pickup booster/overdrive of some sort if you need more power.

 

[Diego]

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

Mine has a rosewood fretboard and alder body. Guitar Fetish trem, only things still behind are the electronics, frets (they're still good though) and the tuners.

I'll pospone buying the SSL1 for a week or so, too busy at work. But I'll let you guys know when I do.

 

[Diego]

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

I did it!

Bought the SSL1 today, and took it straight to work on the most polemic spot: Strat bridge. Tested it briefly with my Roland Cube into the Marshall, Peavey and JC120 models, it's very late here so it was at a very low volume. My Squier is strung with 11-49 strings tuned to E, with a Guitar Fetish all steel trem. All 250k pots of course. The rest, all stock single coils.

All I can add so far is that the other single coils in my Squier sound like pig**** next to it. Muddy, dull and unarticulate. This pickup has a punch in the mids and a clarity in the highs like I'd never heard before! Mind you, this is my first aftermarket single coil ever. It sounds amazingly clear and punchy. Just brilliant.

Tomorrow I'll test it loud. But so far, it's a winner. A great starting point to build up something good.

 

[LtKojak]

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

Diego, get a P-90 in that bridge position and be happy ever after.

Just ask Immortal Six.

I'm even thinking about to put in my PRS SE EG (3 SC) a P-90 neck, an RWRP strat p'up in the middle and finally a P-90 in the bridge. Master Volume and Master tone, '50 wiring. That would bring all the rawness from the P-90s and all the quack in the in-between positions.

HTH,

 

[Lewguitar]

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

To me, having a hot bridge pickup just doesn't sound right. I play my strat with 3 SSL-1's the most out of all my guitars. I even have the bridge p/u connected with no tone control, and still like the sound better than my other 2 guitars. If you have a rosewood fretboard (mine also has an ash body), then I don't think you can go wrong. As others have said, you can always use a pickup booster/overdrive of some sort if you need it more power.

Lots of great players create great Strat tones with three identical vintage output Strat pickups like the SSL-1.

Hendrix, Clapton and SRV come to mind.

I've been a Strat player since about 1970. Personally, I like stock vintage output pickups like the SSL-1 or Antiquity Surfer for the neck and middle pickups and a stronger than stock output bridge pickup. Stock bridge pickups with the same output as the neck and middle just sound to thin and ice picky to me.

It's a personal thing. Each player has to experiment and decide for his or herself. There's no right or wrong.

When it comes to my favorite Strat, I use the Duncan Antiquity Surfer for the neck and middle and the Duncan Antiquity Texas Hot Custom bridge pickup.

The stock SSL-1 is very similar in tone and output to the stock Antiquity Surfer - although IMO the stock Antiquity Surfer is slightly ballsier and more complex sounding than the SSL-1.

Lew

 

[Diego]

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

Thanks for the tip, LtKojak! But truth be told, I'll probably end up with 3 guitars: This Strat with vintage single coils, something with 2 humbuckers and something else with P90s, maybe a hollowbody of some sort. It's all part of the plan.

Plus, I'm a sucker for looks and I don't like how P90s look in Strats... I know it's silly but what can you do.

EDIT: Hey Lew! Thanks for answering! Didn't know you still lurked around here... nice to read you as always.

So far so good, I'm loving the SSL-1. It is a bit thin but that's what humbuckers are for. As are overdrives and tubescreamers.

 

[The Usual]

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

Think I'm late to the party, but I always liked the APS in the bridge. Glad you found what you liked with the SSL though.

 

[Ascension]

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

In my Swamp Ash Washburn Silverado I went through a buch of bridge pickups with my SSL-1's neck and middle before settling on the SSL-5/6 in the bridge.
I left the SSL-5 in place at the first but went through a number of configs before coming back to the SSL-6 (same pickup as the SSL-5 except for the flat poles).
I used a Duncan JB jr, Lil 59, Quarter pounder,and SSL-3 along with several others. All lost that quack and Strat glassyness in pos 2 but the SSL-5/6.
For the tone you describeI found the SSL-5/6 to be the best choice. Aren't the SSL-5's the same $ as a SSL-1??
Here is what I had this set up in and I am kicking myself for selling it right now

 

[Diego]

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

Thanks. Pickups aren't that cheap around here and the SSL-1 is the cheapest of the bunch. Sadly no dealer here has the SSL5 in stock and buying it online would have been a problem if the pickup had any problems from the factory. But no biggie, I truly love love LOVE how the SSL1 sounds. It's just fantastic with gain.

I got like 85% close to Deep Purple's Live in Paris tone, and that's just godly IMO. My Strat + overdrive + Cube in the Marshall mode is what it took. Simply amazing! This is definitely my sound. Now all I need is two more SSL-1s. And a 2x12 cab.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

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

Diego:

Go for the SSL-1s! I have 2 in my HSS American Special Strat, and they absolutely blow away the stock pickups too. (And this is from a starting point about 15x as high as the squier). Yes, duncans are that good. I'm actually thinking of going much the same route as you for my next build... 3 vintagey pickups.

I'm not sure if your strat is routed S-S-S or H-S-S, but if it's the latter, a wild idea would be to have 2 SSL-1s neck and mid, and a '59 in the bridge, wired up so position 2 has an autosplit, like this

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=1h_2s_1v_2t_5w_as

You could even make a separate pickguard with these pickups in it, and then be able to switch the guards out as you need to. The SSL-1 bridge will give you that nice stratty, but with bite, sound. And the one with the '59 will give you a bit more chunk / fullness for when you need it. Back on topic though, great choice with the SSL-1... there's a reason 30 years on, it's still held in such high regard

Jason

 

[Diego]

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

Mine is routed HSH. And yeah, I've been thinking about 2 pickguards too, one HSS with a low output humbucker in the bridge. Just like what you mentioned. I've got a JB and a Breed around here, but they're not what I'd choose. I'd like something more transparent.

Just giving it a thought. Funny thing is, I'm a bassist in my band and that's what's giving me some money... yet I keep spending on the guitar and not on the bass.

Go figure.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

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

Mine is routed HSH. And yeah, I've been thinking about 2 pickguards too, one HSS with a low output humbucker in the bridge. Just like what you mentioned. I've got a JB and a Breed around here, but they're not what I'd choose. I'd like something more transparent.

Just giving it a thought. Funny thing is, I'm a bassist in my band and that's what's giving me some money... yet I keep spending on the guitar and not on the bass.

Go figure.

If you're going to do 2 pickguards, I would have one with all SSL-1s in it and an Acme Guitar Works Solderless Kit installed. I say this because the solderless kit will make it easier to just switch PGs without the need of a soldering gun. Just separate the connectors, replace with the other PG, and voila. AGW will even make an HSS pickguard for you the way you wnat it, right down to the value of the pots and the caps you want. As for the Low Output section. I'm not sure if he ships though out of the US, you may want to check at http://www.acmeguitarworks.com


A pair of Antiquity Surfers and a Antiquity Bridge would be an amazing setup. Wymore Guitars is a dealer on here, and he posts often, see if, because you're an established SDUGF member, you can get a discount in spite of being in Chile. This one though you'll have to solder and desolder yourself, as Acme Guitar Works, if you send them parts, will not use them.

Jason

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

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

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

Not guilty by reason of insanity

 

[ParameterMan]

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

I strongly recommend rewiring the lower tone control to the bridge pickup. It removes the fingernails on the chalkboard overtone. Since tone controls become as much resonance circuits as low-pass filters when they approach zero, I would use a smaller cap(0.2 or or less?) so that when you roll the knob down you get fat midrange howl instead of mud.

 

[LReese]

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

I tend to like jangly sounds in the bridge (SS1 would fill the bill here)- seems counter intuitive to me, but for some reason I like it. With an amp like a Boogie I can work with it and have a dirty-ish lead sound and 2 good clean sounds.

I got an Ash/Maple Strat that had 2 Suhr V54's and an Antiquity 1 regular bridge - it was great in all 5 positions. I replaced it with a Suhr FL lead, not my cup 'o tea in this guitar. Bridge and Bridge/Middle are are a bit middier. I have a V54 bridge PU - I'm just having a hard time trying that or going back to the Antiquity. The Standard Antiquity is just the ticket for the bridge in this one strat, though the difference in stagger did bother me a bit.

 

[crusty philtrum]

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

Fit a baseplate to the bridge pickup......that will fatten it up a bit and you can get one online, the postage will be minimal.

 

[Sojourner15]

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

I have a SSL5 and will trade for SSL1. New & unopened. Going with HB in bridge (SSH)

 

[Mincer]

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

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