SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

W

WhiteRam

New member
> Strat - wanna stay true single coil - bridge position <

Got an SSL-5 in the bridge. . . wanting to lose a touch of highs, gain a touch of girth, and gain a touch more of pinch harmonics on the lower strings. I am asking for hands on experience in response to the following:

1. Am I looking at an SSL-7?

2. What differences should I expect in the SSL-7 vs SSL-5?

Sincerely,

WR :scratchch
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

The QP is alot beefier, almost p-90 territory.

The SSL-5 will still sound stratty with a little more beef than a typical strat bridge.

I just put a Hot Stack Plus in the bridge in my strat.

Very similar to the SSL-3. Increased mids and decreased treble.

I love the Hot Stack Plus.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

Sounds like you want an SSL-5!
I have, use and love the SSL-5 in the bridge of a Strat...killer pickup!

The thing about the SSL-5 vs SSL-7 is that the 5 still sounds liek a Strat, the 7 looses almost all Strat tone quality in favor of a big, fat, dark crunch that sounds more like a Les Paul Jr than a Strat...
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

If you want a little more than the SSL-5 go with the SSL-3. A little more output, the highs are shaved just a little more and the harmonics definitely come easier. Like the previous posters said, I think the SSL-7 would be a big change in tone and feel from the 5.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

the guy who invented fire said:
Sounds like you want an SSL-5!
Click to expand...

I've got an SSL-5 in the bridge now, I maybe didn't use the best of english in my original post. I love it, yes I hear the Strattyness, I just wanted to know the "give and take" as compared to the SSL-7.

The replies so far are awesome and I am relating, thank you! Maybe I need to open my mind up to the SSL-3, you guys seem to not use the word "beefy" when talking about SSL-3, which is great!

My preamp gain is fine, got plenty. Just raised the height of the SSL-5 only 1/64" and it turned into mud/beef so I had the sweet spot and put it back. I am so close to my absolute dream tone after 30 years of full time guitarist, I can taste it, the holy grail in which I thought unobtainable. I am so overwhelmed and nervous I'm chain smokin', it's a crazy feeling guys.

I've got everything covered so I don't want to get into "EQ, amp, speakers, etc!", this is the last thing after three decades, my other two pickups (neck/mid) are in the grail, the last thing is the SSL-5, it's trying so hard, it wants to make love in the grail, it's crying out, reaching out, so hard. . . so hard.

If I just had a touch more in the lower string pinch harmonics, and a touch warmer on the top strings when soloing. . . it's the SSL-3 for me ain't it boys?!! You guys were trying to tell me this before, but I had more to learn and understand I'm thinkin'.

WR :smokin:
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

I don't care for the 3 myself...too dark. The SSL-5 is the perfect "hot" Strat bridge pickup for me...powerful and fat but still very much a Strat...
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

kjrocks said:
If you want a little more than the SSL-5 go with the SSL-3. A little more output, the highs are shaved just a little more and the harmonics definitely come easier. Like the previous posters said, I think the SSL-7 would be a big change in tone and feel from the 5.
Click to expand...

Ok, I like the way you word things. I am taking it that the SSL-7 is a bigger change in tone and feel than the SSL-3. . . as compared to the/my SSL-5 of course.

See, I thought from reading the tone chart, well anywaz, you get the picture. I gotta remember this is a bridge position in a Strat, so the slight mid scoop thing in the mid/neck that I love does maybe not apply here, realizing you already know what I'm trying to do with the bridge sound/style/music.

Thank you for your post Sir.

WR
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

WhiteRam said:
Ok, I like the way you word things. I am taking it that the SSL-7 is a bigger change in tone and feel than the SSL-3. . . as compared to the/my SSL-5 of course.

See, I thought from reading the tone chart, well anywaz, you get the picture. I gotta remember this is a bridge position in a Strat, so the slight mid scoop thing in the mid/neck that I love does maybe not apply here, realizing you already know what I'm trying to do with the bridge sound/style/music.

Thank you for your post Sir.

WR
Click to expand...

Going to the 3 will be a big change from the 5 but, yes the 7 is even bigger...the 7 is a cool pickup but it really doies just sound like a different guitar...almost all the strat qualities will be gone...
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

I agree the 3 can seem darker than the 5 but I find its because the higher wind seems to take away a little high end but gives you a little more sustain and compression which seems like what he is asking for. In the end, you wont really know until you try.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

Here is a clip of an SSL-6 (flat pole SSL-5)....I think it can get plenty of harmonics.....although the SSL-3 might be a tad easier.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

Hey man here's a clip of a Hot Stack Plus in a Stratocaster through a Marshall. The hot stack plus is the noiseless version of the SSL-3, so they're pretty close tone wise. You might want to check it out to get an idea.

As for the HSP compared to the SSL-3 I guess the difference would be the same as most pickups against their noiseless counterparts...a bit less sparkle and slightly fuller mids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7J7...C5402570&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=10

Enjoy!
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

the guy who invented fire said:
Going to the 3 will be a big change from the 5 but, yes the 7 is even bigger...the 7 is a cool pickup but it really doies just sound like a different guitar...almost all the strat qualities will be gone...
Click to expand...

Thank you TGWIF, I hear ya for sure. The clips posted right after your post, told me a LOT, if I could get an audio or video clip along the same lines of those - Strat/bridge/gain with the SSL-7 or 4, I would then have a complete understanding.

I feel somewhat dumb for stating this, but I have no idea what you guys mean by the P90 sound, I've never owned one or had anything to do with it, wish I had, as you guys keep saying that over and over about the SSL-7.

WR
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

kjrocks said:
I agree the 3 can seem darker than the 5 but I find its because the higher wind seems to take away a little high end but gives you a little more sustain and compression which seems like what he is asking for. In the end, you wont really know until you try.
Click to expand...

Right on kjrocks, I hear ya and like I said above. . . you are totally relating to me and I am you too. Thanks again.

WR
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

bungalowbill said:
Here is a clip of an SSL-6 (flat pole SSL-5)....I think it can get plenty of harmonics.....although the SSL-3 might be a tad easier.
Click to expand...

Great playing and tone bungalowbill, thank you for that link and clip. Yes, that sound is the SSL-5(6). I'm looking for a little more 'cat scream' on my pinch harmonics. I might end up sticking with the SSL-5, we'll see.

WR
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

tc said:
Hey man here's a clip of a Hot Stack Plus in a Stratocaster through a Marshall. The hot stack plus is the noiseless version of the SSL-3, so they're pretty close tone wise. You might want to check it out to get an idea.

As for the HSP compared to the SSL-3 I guess the difference would be the same as most pickups against their noiseless counterparts...a bit less sparkle and slightly fuller mids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7J7...C5402570&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=10

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Great post/words, I hear ya clear. Thank you so much for that clip, the SSL-3 or HSP is exactly what I thought it would be. . . 'single coil brown sound', at least that's what I would use it for and/or dial it in to be. Great playing and tone, glad you had some harmonics in there, would have loved to hear some pinch harmonics on the low A string, but you gave me plenty to understand the pickup. Alright my man!

WR

Ps. If I could just find a clip of a Quarter Pounder in the bridge of a Strat with some lead/rhythm in some gain, it would answer everything for me. I am sincerely thankful to all you guys on this thread, very kind of all of you.
 
Last edited:
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

WhiteRam said:
Great playing and tone bungalowbill, thank you for that link and clip. Yes, that sound is the SSL-5(6). I'm looking for a little more 'cat scream' on my pinch harmonics. I might end up sticking with the SSL-5, we'll see.

WR
Click to expand...

I would have to agree with Garrett (kjrocks), try an SSL-3 it is the next step up.
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

WhiteRam said:
Great post/words, I hear ya clear. Thank you so much for that clip, the SSL-3 or HSP is exactly what I thought it would be. . . 'single coil brown sound', at least that's what I would use it for and/or dial it in to be. Great playing and tone, glad you had some harmonics in there, would have loved to hear some pinch harmonics on the low A string, but you gave me plenty to understand the pickup. Alright my man!

WR

Ps. If I could just find a clip of a Quarter Pounder in the bridge of a Strat with some lead/rhythm in some gain, it would answer everything for me. I am sincerely thankful to all you guys on this thread, very kind of all of you.
Click to expand...

The clip wasn't mine haha...I just looked around and found you one with plenty of harmonics and gain...

tc
 
Re: SSL-5 vs SSL-7: Please Help

tc said:
As for the HSP compared to the SSL-3 I guess the difference would be the same as most pickups against their noiseless counterparts...a bit less sparkle and slightly fuller mids.
Click to expand...

Given your experience with the HSP, how would you estimate the new Custom Stack Plus and Vintage Hot Stack Plus to sound?
 
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