SSL-2 or APS-2 with JBjr

[d-bone]

I have a 96 fender american standard strat with jbjr in the bridge and the original in the middle. The in between sound, position 2 is nice as is, but I want a duncan there too. Which pickup will give me the best wet position 2 sound for 90´s Bryan Adams, Richard Marx on a crunchy Marsahall type of sound?
Btw. I never use the middle pickup by itself.

 

[PFDarkside]

I like both pickups a lot, for me the punch of the SSL-1/2 works better for combining with a Humbucker. If you are looking for the Landeau style tone (I think that’s what you mean?) the SSL-2 is a good bet. Are you splitting the JB Jr to combine with the SSL-2? If not, the STK-S4 would keep noise canceling.

 

[Mincer]

I like both pickups a lot, for me the punch of the SSL-1/2 works better for combining with a Humbucker. If you are looking for the Landeau style tone (I think that’s what you mean?) the SSL-2 is a good bet. Are you splitting the JB Jr to combine with the SSL-2? If not, the STK-S4 would keep noise canceling.

Good advice. I'd also say that there would be quite a volume imbalance with the SSL-2. The JB Jr is a loud pickup. That might not concern you, but it will get much louder when you switch to the bridge.

 

[jeremy]

the ssl2 would be my choice for that, its a great pup!

 

[d-bone]

Thanks for your responses.
As for the Landau style tone, yes the Eros Ramazzotti era, pretty, wet and 3d is what I'm after, not dry/dirt/fuzz/woody sound he's using these days, it's the opposite of what I want.
SSL-2 is 3 to 0 then.
Of the SSL-2 and APS-2, which is closest to SSL-52?

 

[jeremy]

well... the bottom half of a ssl2 and top half of the aps2 is pretty close to the ssl52. i love the aps2, had a pair with a twangbanger in the bridge for a long time and they sounded great. the a5 of the ssl2 is more classic fender sounding

 

[Mincer]

Of the SSL-2 and APS-2, which is closest to SSL-52?

Bother are about the same distance away. Like Jeremy said, the Five Two is sort of a combination of both pickups. I like it.

 

[d-bone]

Follow up. The SSL-2 didn't work out. It wasn't scooped enough and didn't quack with the jbjr. It did however have output enough to hang with the jbjr, it also worked with hi gain, more modern sounding than I was expecting, that was pretty cool but it actually made my strat sound less stratty.
To me, in my guitar the ssl-2 felt flat and had a hard mid frequency in there. I tried it in the neck too. For me it was a little boring and uninspiering. It lacked glass, tinsel and 3D-feel and wasn't so good for those two string Hendrix licks. It wasn't sweet engouh either. I base this in comparison with the SSL-52 which have all of that stuff.

Right now I'm happiest whith the original Fender Am Std. middle pickup that I started out with, which give me great quack with the jbjr. I wanted all Duncans in there thats why I tried to fix something that wasn't broken. I also wanted humcanceling in position 4. Right now I don't think I'm gonna find a Duncan to recplace it, or any suggestions from experience?

I also tried the SSL-52 in the middle but it also didn't quack with the jbjr the way I wanted or the way the fender does, but it rules in the neck.

 

[Mincer]

Is your Fender in phase with the JB Jr?

 

[Ascension]

I like the Surfer II's a LOT in my 94 Washburn Silverado. Had both the AL 2 Pros and SSL2's for that vintage Strat quack you speak of the Surfers are really sweet. Understand that mid thing you speak of with the SSL 1 or 2. It came down to Lollars or the Surfers in the Silverado and I am very happy with the choice I made.