SSL-5 vs Red Devil vs YJM

[Drunken Bowling]

Hey, hope everyone had a nice safe holiday season.

I traded my Explorer for a MIM Strat (Seafoam Pearl GC exclusive finish, parchment pickguard, maple fingerboard) and I'm looking into a new bridge pickup or a new set. Originally, I wanted a YJM set. However, I need a humbucker in the bridge and possibly a rwrp middle, or any way of getting rid of the 60 cycle hum.

My buddy suggested an SSL-5 for the bridge. He says it's very much a humbucker in single coil form.


Ever since I heard about the Red Devils made for Billy Gibbons I've been intrigued.


Still considering the YJM set, though as well. They're single coil-y but to me they still sound extremely fat.

I know quite a few of you have used the SSL-5 but I wonder how many have tried the Red Devil. If so, what are your thoughts?


I'm playing hard rock through a 100w Boss Katana.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL-5 vs Red Devil vs YJM

Well, the Red Devils don't sound like a Strat- they sound like a humbucker. The SSL-5 (or -6) and the YJM still sound like a Strat pickup. So, you have to decide what sound you are going for.

 

[Golem]

Re: SSL-5 vs Red Devil vs YJM

Red Devils only came out recently so most people here haven’t heard or tried them in person. The demo I heard sound nice and strattier than I had expected.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: SSL-5 vs Red Devil vs YJM

YJM pickups are noiseless, just a bit rock oriented single coil set. I used to have the neck and it sounded great for soloing. I think you should try it but I would use an SSL-1 or SSL-2 in the middle as true single coil to get an even better quack sound from notch positions that is still humcanceling, just use an autosplit wiring.

Also there is the STK-S6 Duncan Stack Plus which is meant to be like a noiseless SSL-5, I have used it in neck position too (it was marketed as a bridge pickup) and it sounds a bit more like a traditional strat than the YJM, it is just a little more versatile in my opinion.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: SSL-5 vs Red Devil vs YJM

HB in single coil size sounds like hot rails or pro track to me..
Maybe the red devil too...alnico would be neat

 

[Francois]

Re: SSL-5 vs Red Devil vs YJM

My buddy suggested an SSL-5 for the bridge. He says it's very much a humbucker in single coil form.

The concept of the SSL-5 is to retain the single coil sonic characterics but louder.
I love it BTW.

Note that the SSL-5 has a better definition than an HB in case you play with a maxed vintage style fuzz.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: SSL-5 vs Red Devil vs YJM

The ssl-5 is really not at all like a humbucker. It can get powerful in the way a good heavy tele sound can...but it's not the same. It still has that brightness and character of a SC.

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: SSL-5 vs Red Devil vs YJM

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all your input. What I didn't realize at the time of the post was that MIM Strats are usually routed for a HSS setup. Mine is one of those special editions, but I think the only thing different about it compared to other standard Strats is the finish and the pickguard. Assuming this is true and it has the same routing, I'm putting a humbucker in the bridge. Still, thanks for the middle and neck suggestions.