SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

[JohnF05]

Hello guys. I’m trying to decide between pickups/configurations and would like some input from some knowledgeable and helpful members. First off, I’m playing a Classic Player 60’s Strat with a 12” modern radius fretboard and medium jumbo frets.

I’m looking for the glassy/bell-tone Strat sound with some decent output when in the bridge when distorted. From the help of some forum members I’m leaning towards an SSL-5 in the bridge for some more meaty sounds and either a pair of SSL-1’s in the middle/neck or because of my flatter radius, some SSL-2’s in the middle/neck.

My question is, is there much of a difference between the flat pole SSL-2’s vs. the SSL-1’s? I know the pros/cons of a flat pole setup but am not sure of their sound other than what I’ve read -- which is that they don’t really have the vintage glassy/bell tone type of Strat sound I’m looking for. I'd be interested to hear from any members who have the SSL-2's and their thoughts on them.

I’m just really stuck in deciding if going for the flatter radius pickups would be worth sacrificing that glassy/bell-like Strat sound I want that the SSL-1’s provide more so than the SSL-2's.

Here’s a demo of the great Strat sound I’m looking for. FFWD to 52 seconds…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij_GLF8-lAA

Mike McCready’s Strat sound from “Yellow Ledbetter”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eOs_ZIVkTk

Thanks in advance,

Jon

 

[Mr. B]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

I absolutely hate stratitis warble caused by exaggerated polepiece stagger. I take every set of single coils I own and heat each polepiece quickly and push them down/up with a screwdriver handle to make a less exaggerated stagger. I really can't tell the difference in tone, but the annoying warble disappears. If I ever buy another set and flat stagger is an option, that is what I would choose, especially with a 12" radius. Mine are all 9.5 inch radius and its still a problem.

 

[Charlie Boo]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

Mr B ... I would love to try a Five-Two neck pickup but am afraid of the staggered pole pieces ... I have been "warned" that pushing the magnets down into the bobbin is risky (could break/damage coil or mess with wax potting) ... is this an over dramatized warning or is this really a fairly simple and low-risk thing to do? Looks like you have done it multiple times - any negative outcomes? Thanks!

 

[orpheo]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

It's not an over dramatized warning to push the magnets in strat and tele pickups: it's a fair warning. The coil is wrapped directly on the magnets and you MAY break the wire. Just get the SSL2; that is the SSL1 but without the stagger.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

DO NOT push down on polepieces. I answered in the other thread that the SSL-2 was designed for more modern, flatter necks. I don't hear that it is less chimey/glassy/whatever than an SSL-1. It does balance the strings better.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

SSL1 vs. SSL2 as well as SSL5 vs SSL6 = the same pickup. The only difference is flat poles or staggered and to me there's no difference even in that except the flat allows you to dial the pickup height closer to the strings. Either will work fine, if buying new I'd get the flat for my 12" radius. The staggered set will probably resell quicker if you get rid of them just because they're more traditional.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

First let me say I know nothing about Tele Pickups. I get the same reaction every time I mention pushing the polepieces down on strat pickups. I have done it to dozens of single coils from Fender and Duncan. I've never tried it on stacked single coils. Every time I ask people who shows up with all the dire warning if they have ever ACTUALLY experienced one break from pushing the polepieces down, not one has first hand experience. I'm not saying yours won't be the first to not work, but in my experience it does not damage the pickups. I heat the polepieces one at a time with a soldering iron just for a few seconds to soften the wax, then push with a small screwdriver handle.

 

[JohnF05]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

DO NOT push down on polepieces. I answered in the other thread that the SSL-2 was designed for more modern, flatter necks. I don't hear that it is less chimey/glassy/whatever than an SSL-1. It does balance the strings better.

Mincer; thank you for the response. So the SSL-1 and SSL-2 are the same pickup just one's flat and one's staggered?

 

[JohnF05]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

SSL1 vs. SSL2 as well as SSL5 vs SSL6 = the same pickup. The only difference is flat poles or staggered and to me there's no difference even in that except the flat allows you to dial the pickup height closer to the strings. Either will work fine, if buying new I'd get the flat for my 12" radius. The staggered set will probably resell quicker if you get rid of them just because they're more traditional.

TattooedCarrot, thanks for the response. I did some further reading on their site and see that the SSL-1 and 2 are basically the same minus the flat pole vs the staggered. On the site it says to add a SSL-2 "Custom Flat in the bridge for a more rocking setup". Any idea what type of pickup that is on their site? I'd like to read about it.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

pushing down stags: There are different types of bobbins. With the vintage ones made out of flatwork it is risky more so if he winder did not isolate the wire to the magnet. And never ever do it if you see rusty magnet poles. But on these plastic molded bobbins that Fender uses on the cheaper guitars its an easy and riskless mod.
if you use ssl-5 or 6 i recomend to use 500k a vol pot with a mod that the ssl-1 see only 250k.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

On the site it says to add a SSL-2 "Custom Flat in the bridge for a more rocking setup". Any idea what type of pickup that is on their site? I'd like to read about it.

They are referring to the SSL6, its the matching hotter bridge to the SSL2 the way the SSL5 is to the SSL1. Same as we've been discussing. Flat or staggered, that's it.

if you use ssl-5 or 6 i recomend to use 500k a vol pot with a mod that the ssl-1 see only 250k.

I think 500k would be too bright with the SSL5/SSL6, I use 250k on my SSL6/SSL2/SSL2 set and its perfect. It's not a humbucker, just an overwound single coil.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

I think 500k would be too bright with the SSL5/SSL6, I use 250k on my SSL6/SSL2/SSL2 set and its perfect. It's not a humbucker, just an overwound single coil.

The ssl-5 and 6 are 13k of 43 AWG and this is in the ballpark of a humbucker. In my Squier it really needed the 500k to be balanced with the ssl-1.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

Mincer; thank you for the response. So the SSL-1 and SSL-2 are the same pickup just one's flat and one's staggered?

Yup, you got it.

 

[dystrust]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

They are referring to the SSL6, its the matching hotter bridge to the SSL2 the way the SSL5 is to the SSL1. Same as we've been discussing. Flat or staggered, that's it.


I think 500k would be too bright with the SSL5/SSL6, I use 250k on my SSL6/SSL2/SSL2 set and its perfect. It's not a humbucker, just an overwound single coil.

+1 I use 250K volume & tone with my SSL2/SSL2/SSL6 set.

 

[SJ318]

Re: SSL-1's vs. SSL-2's for my Strat. Anyone have any opinion on the SSL-2?

Hi,
This works. I have done it on 5 of the SCoils pups I use. IF, if you have room under the pickgaurd, some are cut before hand for humbuckers for convenience, you would have room to very simply turn the pup 180 degrees so the high E,B,G, and wound D are now over the non staggered 4 poles of the SC and the low poles are under the low A, and Low E strings. The low strings are louder and the lowere slugs help with overall balance.
Please think Jimi Hendrix pups. For all 3 of your pups. The stagger on the top 4 slugs in this scenario are actually a little staggered now so you can have almost perfect/equal space from the top 4 strings to the top (now) 4 slugs. Mount the pup 180 degrees different, set the high E where you want it, set the Wound D where you want it, and the B and G slugs will be equal, very very close, and the low strings - A and E, will loose any boominess if they had that problem. It works great for 9.5 radius, as well as a 16 radius that I make all my fretboards into, I am ill-normal from most, but I like falter finger boards.
Besides how talented Jimi is, the reverse stagger helped for an even better string balance, especially on some of his very clean tones, Axis-BAL is a good example. Yes he could sound that good with a wide broomstick and 6 wires from a chicken coop, but the physics don't lie, just look at the pup and how the magnets are all eaqaully close to the top strings on any staggered fender sc turned 180 degrees.
If you have room, they will be great.
I wouldn't claim this if I didn't do it myself.
Thank you for reading.
Steven John B.