SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

appar111

New member
Are the SSL-3 and SSL-6 better w/ 250K or 500K volume pots?

I currently have a 250K vol/500K tone/500K tone setup on my strat and wondered if these hotter pickups would perform better with a 500K volume pot? I'm all for a little more output by going w/ 500K, just don't want things to sound too trebly or thin in the process.
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

I think regardless of output singles usually use 250K. I believe it's because the high frequencies aren't cancelled as much as with humbuckers and so you need a lower value pot to mitigate them.
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

I think regardless of output singles usually use 250K. I believe it's because the high frequencies aren't cancelled as much as with humbuckers and so you need a lower value pot to mitigate them.

Correct...The 250k values loads the pickups more and more high end gets shunted away..
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

The SSL-3 could use a 500k pot to boost the highs.

The SSL-6 could go either way. ;)
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

I had very good luck with a ssl3 and a 250 k volume with a 250k no load tone...with just a 250k tone it was a little muffled imo
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

The SSL-3 could use a 500k pot to boost the highs.

The SSL-6 could go either way. ;)

Right there are no rules....Dependent on the guitar also,whether it's too bright or too dark.I don't care for the SSL3 and it is a darker pickup.
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

ive used the ssl6 as a neck pup with 500k pots and it sounds great. in the bridge i much prefer a 250k
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

ive got an ssl-3 in the bridge and an ss-6 in the neck with a 500k volume pot and its sounds just right. i had a 250k pot before and the sound was too dark.
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

My working theory is anything past 9K is approaching humbucker territory in terms of tone and output so I use 500K pots. That being said the SSL6 is bright enough that if you had a strat with a maple neck you might consider using 250K pots for the bridge. If it has a rosewood neck I would probably use 500K pots.
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

When I had a really dark amp, I used 500k and 1 Meg pots for everything. When I changed amps, it gave me more "range" on the treble control. ;)
 
Re: SSL-3 & SSL-6: 250K or 500K pots?

I had very good luck with a ssl3 and a 250 k volume with a 250k no load tone...with just a 250k tone it was a little muffled imo

I now have a ssl3 in the middle position of my strat, with a lil 59 in the neck, and a lil demon in the bridge, with 250k volume and 250k master no load tone, still sounded a wee bit muffled. I changed the volume to 500k, now it is just right. Almost like taking a blanket off of my amp..
 
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