SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

JB6464

New member
I'm thinking about loading a strat up with 3 single coil SSL-3 Quarter Pound pickups and wondering what the tap does on the neck and middle postion does.
Does tapping a single coil pickup just lower the output ?
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

I think the tap only shorts half of the coil, lowering the impedance value.
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

I have a ssl7T in neck but taped and a ssl 4 in bridge.
In middle, only an ordinary strat pup.

In neck tapped, the ssl 4 or ssl7 give you a more straty sound. The level is lowered but the the tone is still warm, but more "opened"...

If you look to the tone comparison chart, you see that the resonant peak is about 5.5KHz when tapped and only 4.8 KHz full and the DC resistance is reduced half when tapped.

So, for me, when I play on stage, it is a good combination : full power on bridge and tapped on neck.
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

The tapped position doesn't send current through all of the coil windings. The E.Q. is changed (less bassy), as is the output (lower).

The 1/4 Pounder is on my short list of pickups that I want to have in a guitar some time soon. But I don't think I would ever install one in one of my Strats unless it had the tap. It would be too weird for me to have a Strat that could not at least somewhat do "the Strat thing."
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

On stock SD single coil pickups, the coil tap halves the DC resistance value.

Of course, other tapped DC resistance values would be possible but the pickups would have to be wound specially to order.

A case in point is the SD custom order '53 Tapped Tele - as used in the Fender Seymour Duncan Tribute Esquire guitar. Overwound and regular Tele twang available in a single pickup.
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

If you want triple taps or custom taps, check out Chris Klein pickups. He has some very cool sounding models.
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

If I want to install this pickup without using the tapped (red wire) works? Or do I need anyway to solder the red wire?

If I isolate the red wire will not have problems?

Thanks!
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

If I want to install this pickup without using the tapped (red wire) works? Or do I need anyway to solder the red wire?

If I isolate the red wire will not have problems?

Thanks!

No problems, you can just ignore it.
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

yup, just insulate it so it doesnt accidentally contact something
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

Thanks guys!

One more question:

I will use the Quarter Pound like Ritchie Blackmore (bridge & neck - no middle)
One of this QP has to be RW/RP?
 
Re: SSL-4 Quarter Pound single coil tap ?

Thanks guys!

One more question:

I will use the Quarter Pound like Ritchie Blackmore (bridge & neck - no middle)
One of this QP has to be RW/RP?

rw/rp only matters when you use both at the same time. Blackmore never did that.

Blackmore also never used Quarter-Pounders, BTW.
 
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