SSL-1 sound characteristics?

T

Tumblinman

New member
I own a MIM Classic 60's strat which I really like. However, I'm not completely satisfied with the pickups, yet. At this moment I'm using the stock AlNiCo singles and I like them but I wish they had a little more "punch". I have tried other pickups in this guitar over the years but I always end up liking the stock pickups better.

I have tried Kinman (Blues), Tonerider (Pure Vintage) and set of slightly overwound singles made by LB Pickups (www.lbpickups.se). Don't get me wrong - all of these were very good. But they miss some of the "mojo" of the stock pickups, somehow. The MIM vintage AlNiCos have more "quack" or "cluck" and you hear more stringnoise - overall I'd say they are a little cruder then the others I've tried. But that's crude in a good way, to me! The only gripe is that they are somewhat thin. I guess some would say that they sound cheap but I think many cheaper pickups have some desirable charateristics that many high-end pickups lack. My stock singles, for example, almost have a microphonic quality that makes them cluck and chime and adds presence. You really hear them strings. In my experience, many more expensive pickups sounds a little too polite and smooth. That's not too say that cheap equals better, though. Many cheaper stock single coils are really terrible!

I've been eyeing the SD ssl-1 for some time and they look like they could fit the bill. I'm a little worried that they are a little to hot for me since I have started believing that I need a low output single coil (below 6 kOhm resistance).

How do the ssl-1 sound? I once played a strat in a store that had those pickups, but it was a long time ago. I seem to remember that they had a nice sound on the wound strings. Clear and bright without being to thin. Would you say that's about right?


I'm sorry this got a little long. Hopefully someone here can help me out and describe the ssl-1's too me.
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

I use SSL-1's in the middle and neck of my G&L Legacy. I swapped the bridge one for a Twangbanger to give a little more balls. The 2 remaining SSL-1's give the classic glassy vintage Strat sound, nice quack in positions 2 & 4, and perfect for neck position Hendrix moments. I certainly wouldn't say that they're a hot pickup, far from it, but they are very articulate, and really bring my Legacy alive.
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

the ssl1 is very close to what an old strat pup woulda been. alnico 5 magnets, 42awg formvar wire a little over 6k. they are a tonal bargain. bright and spanky
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

jeremy said:
they are a tonal bargain.
Click to expand...

totally!

look for one of those "California 50s" sets

if you back off just a tad, you'll get those glassy "low output" tones you want, but if you crank it, you'll have a smooth transition to a little punch
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

I have the full SSL set in my ESP Vintage Plus. Very low output, but the cleanest tones I have ever heard. Very vintage sounding. Tonally, one of the best single coils I've heard. The hardest rock I could play on it would be classic rock. Harder rock..a no no. I plan on swapping out the bridge for a higher output SC.
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

I've played one of those classic 60s strats, and I know what you mean about the pickups just lacking a little piunch.

Trust me, the SSL1s will be perfect for ya. You'll love them.

Try a Duncan Custom Staggered in the bridge for some more balls. A great, under-rated alternative to the twangbanger. Its fuller and louder, and yet more stratty. Great match to the SSL1s.
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

Thanks for all the input!

I have one last thing that I'd like to ask: How does the vintage stagger work with an unwound g-string? With the stock pickups I managed to gently press down the polepiece for that string - something that's not possible with the ssl-1 from what I understand. It has something to do with the construction of the pickups and with the stock mexico pups the polepieces don't touch the wire and therefor it's possible to move them without causing lose or broken windings. Having a LOUD g-string is really irritating, too me. I don't want that!

One could get the ssl-2 instead, I guess. But I don't know how that'll work out with this guitar since it's a vintage neck with 7.25" radius. Wouldn't that also cause unbalance of the output of the different strings?
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

vintage stagger is correct for that neck radius

I didn't know an unwound G was a problem. I would think the difference between a vintage wound G and newer unwound Gs would be pretty small. But you're right about not pushing the poles down.

so, maybe try them first
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

Well, I just ordered me a set of ssl-1's! I reckon that since this pup is so highly recommended by many - the issue (if there is any) with a loud g-string isn't that much of a problem. Most strat pups built to vintage specs have that staggered polepieces and it seems most players don't consider it a problem.

Many thanks for helping out! This has to be the best and friendliest guitar forum out there!
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

Tumblinman said:
Well, I just ordered me a set of ssl-1's! I reckon that since this pup is so highly recommended by many - the issue (if there is any) with a loud g-string isn't that much of a problem. Most strat pups built to vintage specs have that staggered polepieces and it seems most players don't consider it a problem.

Many thanks for helping out! This has to be the best and friendliest guitar forum out there!
Click to expand...

You've got that right! Pop back and let us know how you get on with them...
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

OK - No I have had my SSL-1's mounted ín the guitar for 2 days and my initial impression is positive. They retain the cluckiness of the stock singles while adding a little more hifi-quality. Compared to the Tonerider Pure Vintage, which was the last set of pickups I had in this guitar, the ssl-1 has more attitude. The Toneriders are good but a little too polished for my taste.

As far as the "g-string problem" I would say that it's almost a non-issue. I say <almost> because there IS a small difference in volume going from the adjacent strings to the g-string. However, since I have only played these for 2 days and still have some adjustment and finetuning to do, it's a little early to say.

The bridge pickup is somewhat thin, but not different from other vintage-isch pickups I have tried. I won't be replacing it with a stronger pup since I'd like to stick to the traditional strat layout.

Mind you, this is my oppinion after only a few days and I reckon one would have to wait much longer before one can make a fair judgement.
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

Glad you like them. I swapped the bridge one out of mine, purely because I need a little more oomph at the bridge. The neck tone is pure vintage heaven, and I've never spent so much time playing in the neck position since finding the SSL-1!!!
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

If you want the best of both worlds for the bridge position, get a tapped bridge pup with a tap at about 6.3K and then a full output around 9.5K or so....balls and glass. :D
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

bungalowbill said:
If you want the best of both worlds for the bridge position, get a tapped bridge pup with a tap at about 6.3K and then a full output around 9.5K or so....balls and glass. :D
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Ok..that sounds like a smart move. I have been looking at the SSL-5 for the bridge position, but that is something like 12K full. If I ever deside to replace the bridge SSL-1 it'll probably be for that pickup. Seems like it should be a good match.
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

I've had SSL-1's in the neck and middle (RW/RP in the middle) and an SSL-5 in the bridge of my '68 Strat since 1985 when the original pickups died. It makes for a winning combination. The SSL-1's are simply superb, especially in the neck position, and the SSL-5 makes for a great bridge pickup, making the "out of phase" position between middle and bridge into something quite powerful and useful. I tried a Surfer Antiquity in the neck a few months ago, and it lasted about a day. As soon as the SSL-1 was back in there I could relax and enjoy again. Gotta love SSL-1's.



Cheers...................................wahwah
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

I had a set of SSL-1's in my MIA strat, for a while, they sounded nice and chimy and bright and i liked the neck pickup and the inbetween tones the best. Vintage indeed.I ended up swapping the bridge ssl-1 for a twangbanger which was really nice it made the bridge useable, with more midrange punch but still retained a nice raw highend. The problem was I loved the tone of the pickups but not how the guitar played in my hands. I sold that guitar and bought a McCarty, and never looked back.
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

wahwah said:
I've had SSL-1's in the neck and middle (RW/RP in the middle) and an SSL-5 in the bridge of my '68 Strat since 1985 when the original pickups died. It makes for a winning combination. The SSL-1's are simply superb, especially in the neck position, and the SSL-5 makes for a great bridge pickup, making the "out of phase" position between middle and bridge into something quite powerful and useful. I tried a Surfer Antiquity in the neck a few months ago, and it lasted about a day. As soon as the SSL-1 was back in there I could relax and enjoy again. Gotta love SSL-1's.



Cheers...................................wahwah
Click to expand...

What didn't you like about the Surfer? What did the SSL-1 do that the Surfer didn't?
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

PylonRacer said:
What didn't you like about the Surfer? What did the SSL-1 do that the Surfer didn't?
Click to expand...


The Surfer was hyped in the top end, to the point where the pickup was overriding the natural tone of the wood. That might work well for a newer guitar with limited body tone, but it doesn't work well with a true vintage instrument. The SSL-1 is much more passive tonally, which allows the body tone to really shine through. The end result is that the SSL-1 has much more body and substance, with a sweeter, more natural top end.



Cheers...................................wahwah
 
Re: SSL-1 sound characteristics?

According to SD, the SSL-1 is EQ'd at 5/3/9. Were you finding that to be about right with your Strat; and did you find the Surfers EQ'd higher in the treble? Is your '68 Alder or Ash?
 
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