SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

Diocletian

Diocletian

BrandNewGlossologist
Can someone give me an idea of how these two pups compare in the bridge position of a strat?
Is one much hotter or fatter or warmer? Is one much better than the other for leads?

I just bought an SSL-6, but my original choice was an SSL-5 and I'm wondering if I should still go for that.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

the only real difference is staggered vs flat poles. in general i find the flat poles a little fatter sounding but its not a night and day difference.

what dont you like about the ssl6?
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

Staggered or non-staggered that's the only difference. I have both and they sound the same, however I prefer the non-staggered poles.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

jeremy said:
the only real difference is staggered vs flat poles. in general i find the flat poles a little fatter sounding but its not a night and day difference.

what dont you like about the ssl6?
Click to expand...

I only just won it on ebay! I never realised it was the same pickup (essentially) as the SSL-5. There's no mention of it on the Duncan website.
I just want a nice pup for hard rock lead tones and thought the SSL-5 was the "Gilmour" one so might be better than the SSL-6 that was all.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

The Custom Stack is supposed to be based on the SSL-6 and SSL-5 (the stagger is different from both AFAIK).

I switch to it on the heavier songs we play - has no problems doing hard rock, from Deep Purple to AC/DC... It can get a little Gilmourish even when I don't want it to. Don't know how, I'm not even aiming for his tone but sometimes I just hear that it's there.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

jeremy said:
ummm... one is called the custom flat for strat, the other is called the custom staggered for strat

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/stratocaster/progressive/
Click to expand...

Sorry, I know nothing about single coils. I find the SSL-5/SSL-6 designation confusing (well, I don't now you told me what it means).
If it's the same pickup, just with different poles, why give it a different number?
Also, one is classed as a "beefed up true single coil" while the other is classed as ""high output true single coil". I don't understand why the distinctions are even made, if it's basically exactly the same pickup, it's just confusing.

The Sh2, Sh4, Sh6 are all different pickups, so, to someone knowing that, giving a single coil two different numbers suggests two different pickups.

Man, this is worse than calling the Jazz a "Jazz"! :lol:



Oh BTW, calling it a "Custom" doesn't really make things any simpler. Especially to someone who's had a Custom, Custom 5 and Custom Custom - again all very different sounding pickups!

When I said there was no mention of it on the Duncan website I meant there was no mention of them both being the same pickup, basically.
 
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Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

Diocletian said:
If it's the same pickup, just with different poles, why give it a different number?
Click to expand...

They have different model numbers because they have different staggers. The vintage stagger tends to have more brightness and presence.

The difference is very small, IMO. I wouldn't think it be worth it to get an SSL-5 if you already have the SSL-6, especially if it's going to be a bridge pickup.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

the ssl1 is the vintage staggered for strat
the ssl2 is the vintage flat for strat
the ssl4 is the quarterpound flat for strat
the ssl7 is the quarterpound staggered for strat

even though they are similar they have different names and numbers.

as far as the custom thing, for buckers first there was only the sh5 custom, then they modified (customized) a sh5 custom with an alnico II magnet making it a sh11 custom custom. then some of us started swapping alnico V magnets into our custom customs giving us the custom custom custom which duncan called the sh14 custom 5. confused yet? if you look at a classic humbucker its about 8k made with #42 wire. the custom is about 14k made with #43 wire.

a classic strat pup is about 6k made with #42 wire, the custom is about 13k and made with #43 wire. in both cases the "custom" is an overwound pup using #43 wire.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

jeremy said:
the ssl1 is the vintage staggered for strat
the ssl2 is the vintage flat for strat
the ssl4 is the quarterpound flat for strat
the ssl7 is the quarterpound staggered for strat

even though they are similar they have different names and numbers.

as far as the custom thing, for buckers first there was only the sh5 custom, then they modified (customized) a sh5 custom with an alnico II magnet making it a sh11 custom custom. then some of us started swapping alnico V magnets into our custom customs giving us the custom custom custom which duncan called the sh14 custom 5. confused yet? if you look at a classic humbucker its about 8k made with #42 wire. the custom is about 14k made with #43 wire.

a classic strat pup is about 6k made with #42 wire, the custom is about 13k and made with #43 wire. in both cases the "custom" is an overwound pup using #43 wire.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Jeremy. I'm actually really looking forward to hearing the SSL6 - I don't really use single coils much, and I've never liked any in the bridge because any I've had before have been cheap, weak stock things. Even the one I had from a USA Fender just didn't do a thing for me.
So I'm hoping the SSL-6 will be a good hard rock pup, but still with single coil character.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

its a good bridge pup but kinda the next step over vintage. not super hot and still sounds like a strat but sounds much better to me than a vintage style single coil in the bridge
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

jeremy said:
its a good bridge pup but kinda the next step over vintage. not super hot and still sounds like a strat but sounds much better to me than a vintage style single coil in the bridge
Click to expand...

That's EXACTLY what I'm after. I've got plenty super hot pickups, so this should be a nice change.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

I have an SSL-5 in my Strat and love it. It's a perfect compromise between a classic Strat bridge pup and a humbucker - sounds fatter and hotter than a classic single coil but still has that single coil vibe and gets some quack when combined with the middle (an SSL-1 in my Strat).

As others have said, the SSL-6 is an SSL-5 with flat polepieces. Depends on the radius of your fingerboard, with the SSL-5 being "vintage correct" but the difference is not great. With flatter fingerboards and lighter strings the flat polepieces seem to make more sense.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

All this sounds great, the pup should be here maybe today. Only problem is I need to wait on an single ply black SSS pickguard coming to fit it. From Hong Kong! I'm gonna have to wait a few days. :(
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

Okay, I just wired up the SSL-6. I gotta say, this thing smokes. For a single coil, I'm really pretty blown away. In the notch position it's doing "Sultans of Swing" very nicely despite the fact the middle pickup is an old Squier POS. But what I'm most surprised at is how good it is for metal. And I don't just mean metal, like Iron Maiden - this thing screams. I'm doing Zakk Wylde style pinch harmonics without even trying!

I really can't wait to get this wired up with the black SSS pickguard I ordered, and a good neck pickup (at least). Just now I have an old 1993 Korean Squier middle pickup and a Squier bridge single coil in the neck position (which actually sounds pretty cool).

4338460954_f5835e9ec0.jpg
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-6 differences

I have a Duo-Sonic which is 22 in scale and has SSL-6's, that guitar can do black metal! I have played along to Satyricon albums and they can do it. The SSL-5 & 6 can handle distortion really well because they have a slightly compressed sound which holds up well to high volumes and distortion levels. Where most single coils fall apart and sound clanky the SSL-5 & 6 remain solid. I also like that they are bright and not midrange heavy like a lot of hot single coils.
 
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