SSL-5 Replacements

[rlg118]

I have a Surf Green Classic Series '50s Strat with SSL-5s in all three positions. Even with the body lined with grounded copper foil, there's a bit too much noise.

I am leaning towards the Custom Stack Plus (STK-S6)... however, a local guitar tech warned me that the bridge pickup might be overwhelmed by the other two, and that a better choice might be two Custom Stacks with a Hot Stack Plus on the bridge.

The trim on the Strat is all cream-colored, and these two models are available with that color. ("No logo" would be better, but I do not find that option. My other choice, the YJM Furies, does not seem to be available in a cream color.)

Right now, I cannot afford all three of these at once, and may have to replace them one at a time. Bridge first, I presume? Would a Hot Stack Plus play well with the SSL-5s until I can replace them all?

What is giving me pause is the following quote:

"I hadn’t played a guitar with single coils professionally for 15 years. I took one of my guitars, and fitted it with a loaded pickguard populated with Classic Stack Plus pickups. If I didn’t like it, I would just put the old pickguard back on - takes about 10 minutes to swap them. And ya know what? I loved it. Not just a little. Like crazy. I missed the chime and snap of the single coils. I missed those notchy 2 & 4 positions." (Cage Match: Single Coils vs. Humbuckers, posted on 11-8-13 by Dave Eichenberger)

How did he "lose" the tone, and the 2 and 4 positions? This could be a real deal-breaker.

What say you?

Rob G

 

[jeremy]

Re: SSL-5 Replacements

the custom stack is basically a noiseless flat pole version of the ssl5 you have so if you like the ssl5 in all positions now then it wont be much different with the stacks. the top end isnt quite as open on the stack as the single coil but its damn close and with no noise

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL-5 Replacements

Maybe the Custom Stack in the bridge, and Classic Stacks in the neck & middle? I actually haven't seen them in cream, but they might be available.

 

[rlg118]

Re: SSL-5 Replacements

Thanks for the replies, Jeremy and Mincer.

I'm still in favor of a hotter bridge p/u, especially since the tone profile on the Hot Stack Plus shows a lot more midrange; the Customs have a bit of a cut in that range. Since I've installed the blender pot, I am intrigued by the possibility of blending a pickup with scooped mids with one that has boosted mids (e.g., neck on full and bridge just over half).

I like the idea enough to try it, anyway. If it doesn't work, hell, it's only money.

 

[Explorer84]

Re: SSL-5 Replacements

"Even with the body lined with grounded copper foil, there's a bit too much noise."

I find your statement rather interesting about the noise you're having with your SSL-5's. Can you elaborate a little more about the noise you're having? I'm wondering if the pickups in your Strat were purchased separately and not as a calibrated set. With the possibility of the middle pickup not being RWRP. This might be a possible reason for the noise. Are there labels on the pickups listing the bridge, middle and neck? The lack of labels might not necessarily suggest it's not a calibrated set either. I'm not a expert by any means.

I just installed a calibrated set of SSL-5's in my Strat and I'm not having an issue with noise at all. This is a great set pickups in my opinion. I will admit it has taken a little more time in balancing them out with each other. But overall I'm pretty happy with them. Especially the bridge pickup!

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL-5 Replacements

Sometimes the wiring in a place might not be that clean, so that could explain different experiences with the SSL-5s.

 

[jeremy]

Re: SSL-5 Replacements

hot stack plus bridge with custom stack neck and middle would be a great set

 

[rlg118]

Re: SSL-5 Replacements

Right now, from where I sit, I am within 15 feet of

2 computers
1 wireless router
3 phones
1 TV with STB, speaker bar, and wireless surround-speakers
3 power strips

Plus my house is over 150 years old. There are still a couple of 2-conductor outlets scattered here and there. And I'm sure that the big-ass transformer on the power pole outside my window doesn't help.

Yep - we got noise, all right.


Bridge: Hot Stack +
Neck: Custom Stack +
Middle: Custom Stack + (Vintage Hot Stack + is a possibility)

Good thing I have a birthday coming up. People don't know what to get for me, so they write checks. Salute!

- Rob G

 

[rlg118]

Re: SSL-5 Replacements

How did he "lose" the tone, and the 2 and 4 positions? This could be a real deal-breaker.

I get that a single and a hummer together will lose the quack when combined, unless you split the hummer's coils.

But, since I've only ever owned Strats & Teles (with one exception) in the last 45 years or so, I have to rely on others' knowledge: when you run three Stacks, do you lose those quack-tones? Would a phase switch solve the dilemma? (I have this 3-pickup Tele - my "TeleStrat" - and I use 3 on-off-on DPDTs in place of the selector. I get the quack tones by throwing the pickups out of phase with each other.) I can't seem to find the answer to that, and until I do, I would be reluctant to make any changes.

Thanks to all.