SSL-1 for a strat

[rude mood]

HI,
i'm thinking of buying a set if ssl-1's to replace my pickups on my MIM
strat. i'd like to know if this will actually be a big improvement to the sound and does it worth investing in this guitar (i wont be buying a new guitar soon).
although these pickups seems to be quite popular i couldn't find lots of sound samples on you tube, and the sound sample here is not satisfying..
if anyone could link me to a nice clean samples that woul be great.

thanks

rude mood

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

IMO, the SSL-1 pickups offer the best value of all the Strat pickups. I definately think they're worth puting in your MIM, although you might want to consider a SSL-5 in the bridge to overcome the traditional Strat "weak" bridge tone.

To me, SSL-1's sound exactly how a good clean, crisp Strat should sound.

BTW, welcome aboard!!!

 

[DonP]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

I've been thinking of doing the same thing. I want this strat to just be a strat (like from the 50s), not hot or anything.

 

[Mutato]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

Well, I been playing my semi Fender partscaster for ten years with what I thought were genuine Fender '62 reissue pickups when in fact they are SSL-2 (flat pole versions)! I just got confirmation yesterday from the Seymour Duncan rep.

I've been very impressed with them. They have an even spectrum on tone. Meaning they're not scooped in the midrange. Very bright and jangly. Also, as an alternative, you might want to try playing a 60's player Strat at your local store because they have the Fender CS '69's in them. They seem to have little less midrange. If you like that tone, find some 70's type design PU's.

I recently purchased a '75 strat with the original staggered pickups and it sounds great. It sounds a little less midrange in overall tone. Both options will give you a vintage strat tone. Good for retro Surf to R+R.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

imo, the ssl-1 pickups offer the best value of all the strat pickups. I definately think they're worth puting in your mim, although you might want to consider a ssl-5 in the bridge to overcome the traditional strat "weak" bridge tone.

To me, ssl-1's sound exactly how a good clean, crisp strat should sound.

Btw, welcome aboard!!!

+1

 

[scottish]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

SSL1 in the neck and middle and SSL-5 in the bridge for that little extra. Its hands down the best strat set i have ever tried outside of the duncan antiquity surfers.

 

[uOpt]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

Don't forget the mighty APS-1. They are very similar, though, more in the fine-tuning department.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

SSL1 in the neck and middle and SSL-5 in the bridge for that little extra. Its hands down the best strat set i have ever tried outside of the duncan antiquity surfers.

Bang for the buck, the SSL1 + SSL1 + SSL5 is the best you can get. Totally.

The SSL1s are just killer pickups. For me, absolutely zero need to ever upgrade.

It took me about 20 pickup changes and 12 years to find them, believe it or not, but once I did, I knew I was done.

 

[tc]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

SSL-1s are great yep, but think of this though...Antiquities aren't that much of a bump pricewise!

Last time I checked SSL-1s went for about $50 in MF...and last time I checked Surfers went for about $70 give or take. So that's about $60 bucks more for a set. Save up a bit more maybe? Depends on you budget. Either way you go you'll have a smile on your face when you play them.

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

SSL-1s are great yep, but think of this though...Antiquities aren't that much of a bump pricewise!

Last time I checked SSL-1s went for about $50 in MF...and last time I checked Surfers went for about $70 give or take. So that's about $60 bucks more for a set. Save up a bit more maybe? Depends on you budget. Either way you go you'll have a smile on your face when you play them.

With surfers, you will have a much bigger smile!

 

[Thomas1190]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

Yes Definetley get them, awesome pickups. i have the SSL-1/SSL-1/SSL-5 set on my 57 RI Stat. i absolutely love them. Beautiful cleans and they do pretty well with overdrive. The SSL-5 for the bridge is recommended. its not ice-picky like a standard single coil bridge. Its nice, kind of hard to explain...fat, throaty, not ice picky.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

MIM stocks are ceramic, so just about any Alnico single would be a big improvement.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

Definately go for the SSL-1's, I love them in my Strat. The APS is also a good choice, it comes down to if you want the spank, clarity and immediate attack of A5 or the warm, woody bloom of A2. In either case the difference between the stock pickups and new Duncans will be huge.

 

[uOpt]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

The above compares new SSL-1 with used Antiquities. The ants aren't that cheap. And SSLs and APSs can be had cheap on ebay.

I find that with magnet rod pickups there is a smaller difference between the different kinds of magnets (A2, A5, aged). Before spending all that money on Surfers you need to go back and maybe replace the trem block. There are lot of money sinks in a MIM Strat and you shouldn't go overboard with one.

But yes, for certain uses the Sufers sound noticeably more refined than the SSL/APS.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

You certainly don't mean Trem Block, then Pickups, right? You mean get SSL/APS and a block over Antiquities by themselves.

 

[uOpt]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

You certainly don't mean Trem Block, then Pickups, right? You mean get SSL/APS and a block over Antiquities by themselves.

That's what I meant.

A good trem block causes a much bigger difference than going from SSL1s to Surfers. But less than going from junk to SSL-1s.

 

[Thunder]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

IMO, the SSL-1 pickups offer the best value of all the Strat pickups. I definately think they're worth puting in your MIM, although you might want to consider a SSL-5 in the bridge to overcome the traditional Strat "weak" bridge tone.

To me, SSL-1's sound exactly how a good clean, crisp Strat should sound.

BTW, welcome aboard!!!

+1 Classic Strat tones.

 

[DonP]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

Do you get the middle pickup RWRP or keep all the winds the same just like in the old days?

 

[jeremy]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

rw/rp

 

[rude mood]

Re: SSL-1 for a strat

hey guys,

thanks for all the replies, no i know i'm going the right direction.
now regarding the middle pickup should i really go for the rw or it doesn't make a lot of difference?
regarding the ssl-5 for the bridge ,i only find left-hand pickup (ssl-5l), is this the standard ssl-5 ?

can you recommend a decent on-line store i can by the 1's & 5's not as a set?

thanks!
rude mood.