SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

J

jdiogon

New member
Hello everyone !

I would like to build a new loaded pickguard for my Amercian Deluxe Strat.

I'd like to have a bridge pickup that allows to go up to quite high distortion, so I'm thinking SSL3 or SSL5 maybe (I don't want a hotrails by the way, I had one and I'm not a fan).
But at the same time I'm looking for versatility, so I think I'll wire everything with :
- 1 push/pull to tap the bridge pup
- 1 push/pull to allow the Gilmour mod ("enable bridge mod")

But I wonder how the SSL3/4/5/6 are when tapped, and how it could be when paired with SSL1s in neck and middle position.
Also, since I have other strats sounding "very classic", I'm thinking of a combination that can allow versatility while being different.

I know, it's not very clear :-)

The combinations I'm thinking of :
Solution 1 : SSL1 for neck and middle, and SSL5 for bridge, with the possibility to tap it, and Gilmour mod
Solution 2 : same but with SSL3 in bridge
Solution 3 : SSL5 / SSL5 / SSL3, with tapping for the SSL3 and Gilmour mod
Solution 4 : SSL5 / SSL5 / SSL3, with tapping for all 3 pups, and Gilmour mod (to be achieved I don't know how yet, with several switches for sure)

The most classical combination seems to be solution 1, but depending on how "straty" can sound the tapped SSL5s (and SSL3), I might go for something else up to solution 4 to have the maximum versatility.

What are your thoughts ?
Any other suggestion maybe ? (to confuse me a bit more :-)
 
Re: SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

Sice you're planning to play with lots of distortion, I recommend you check out the stacks first, since high gain and single coils lead to loads of noise...
 
Re: SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

Okay so you went the "please confuse me even more" way :knockedou
Which one could take this place you think ? Custom Stack Plus Strat (STK-S6) ? or maybe even Hot Stack Plus Strat (STK-S9b) ?
 
Re: SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

If you are using lots of gain, I'd go with Stacks, too. 2 Classic Stack Plus + a Hot Stack Plus will do it. You'd get a classic sound without the need for tapping, plus a really good, silent distortion sound.
 
Re: SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

Thanks for your answers.
How do these noiseless pickups sound compared to their non-noiseless equivalents ?
I should have said at the beginning that I'm building a new loaded pickguard because I can't stand anymore the Fender SCN pickups that I have as stock pups on my guitar.
But maybe the SD are better.
And also : I'm saying "a lot of distortion" but I'm not sure how we all here understand this, maybe it's not that much.
Sorry for being so confuse :-)
 
Re: SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

Well, personally I'd call a plexi at full tilt high distortion (as in even unmodded plexi level here). But even at these levels (what many would actually call overdrive) you'll still get a lot of noise, which makes the stacks well worthwhile.

The stacks do lose something. But the 'something' is most appreciated if you're looking at clean to low drive tone (think 60's blues guys or SRV type of drive). Getting to a dimed amp type drive you probably won't hear the nuance anymore, plus what you lose with the stacks will make it play better with drive anyhow.
 
Re: SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

And I can still wire it with a push/pull to have a "true single coil" mode, right ?
 
Re: SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

I don't think the stacks work that way. As in they have a dummy or negative coil. So when you go true single you may well have a stronger pickup. There could well be some tonal shifts too as the second coil may well affect the overall tone, meaning that the primary coil wind might not sound anything like what a true single of similar output would do.
 
Re: SSL 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - tapped, ...

You can wire them with a switch if you want, although on their own, they aren't that different than the stacks, except you have the noise. I am a huge Stack fan. So, I am probably biased. But the Classic Stacks sound as good to me as any singles.
 
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