SSL-5 plus Fender Pickups wiring problem

[terry_ale]

Hi, to all.
I tried to search if there's a thread similar to this, but I didn't found it.. please excuse me if this thread is a copy of an existing one..

I write to have a suggestion about a problem I have with my SSL-5.
I have a Fender American Vintage 57 Stratocaster, with the original vintage Fender pickups and the 5 positions switch.
I've put the SSL-5 at the bridge position, swapping the blak and white cables in order to get the right phase setup in 2nd switch position (bridge+middle) as noted in the wiring instructions.. It sounds very good, but I have the problem that when the strings touches the poles of SSL-5 the sound stops (I think because the signal is going directly to the ground).
If I don't swap black and white cables, the SSL-5 sounds with no stops, but in position 2 I have the phase problem..
Do you have any suggestion to fix up this?

Thanks in advance.

Alessandro from Italy

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SSL-5 plus Fender Pickups wiring problem

When the strings touch the poles?!

Of course the sound will stop, the poles stop the string vibration. Anything that touches the string will stop its vibration and thus stop the sound. Sound like you just need to lower the pup.

 

[terry_ale]

Re: SSL-5 plus Fender Pickups wiring problem

Thanks for your reply, but my problem is that when only one chord touches one pole, the whole sound stops.

I.e. I play the high E string; while this is playing, if the lower E string touches his pole, everything goes to mute; when the string stops touches the pole I can ear again the sound from e high string..

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: SSL-5 plus Fender Pickups wiring problem

Sounds like some kind of funky ground issue . . . but you know that the strings should never be close enough to touch the poles on your pickup, right?

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL-5 plus Fender Pickups wiring problem

That isn't normal, and my first thought is that your pickup is too high to begin with. The SSL-5 has pretty powerful magnets that will certainly capture the string vibration. First, try lowering the pickup just out of range of the strings. That might be all you need. But it does also sound like there is something weird going on with the grounding there, too.

 

[terry_ale]

Re: SSL-5 plus Fender Pickups wiring problem

Thanks for your replies.

The distance between the strings and the higher pole is about 2,5 mm, a value between 1/8" and 1/16" (the two standard values suggested by Fender).
I can try lowering the pickup a bit, it can obiouvsly helps to avoid the lower string touching the pole.

But my main question is: following the SD instructions (to swap black and white cable when coupling SSL-5 with Fender pickups) I get a good sound in position 2, but I also get a big problem with signal routing that can send the sound directly to the ground. Is there a way to avoid this?
It's very easy to get the strings lowered when playing.. think about palm muting or simply the position of your palm rested on the lower strings when playing the higher ones.

I'm thinking about leaving the SSL-5 wiring correct (white to switch and black to ground) and swap middle and bridge Fender pickups wiring; they are farther from my palm and it's more difficult to touch them with strings... I'm very doubtful about this problem...

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL-5 plus Fender Pickups wiring problem

Yes, you can swap the wires on the Fender pickups, and it should accomplish the same thing. I'd try that first.

 

[terry_ale]

Re: SSL-5 plus Fender Pickups wiring problem

Hi to all,

I share with you the reply I received from Seymour Duncan. There are some interesting suggestions.
I'll first try lowering the pickups; then, if the problem persists, I'll try these suggestions.

Hi,

Swapping the black and white does reverse the phase of the winding but does cause the grounding issue that you describe.
Usually it is not a problem, as the strings usually don't come in contact with the magnets unless someone is doing dive bombing or other special effects.

There are a couple of fixes to help insulate the poles from contact with the strings. Neither of these will affect the magnetic field of the pickup or poles.
You can put pieces of clear tape on top of the magnets (standard scotch top will work).
Or, you can paint some clear nail polish on the top of the magnets as an insulator.

I hope this helps.
Dennis Russell
Customer Service and Technical Support
Seymour Duncan