SSL-5T in neck?

[nate1492]

Hello. First post. So I have a an ssl-5 that I was thinking of installing tapped in the bridge. I was wondering what people's thoughts were on this. I'm going for a bit fatter tone, I guess. The output is going to be perfect I think, but the resonant peak is like 6KHz. My question is, how low is this compared to 9 KHz that strat neck pups usually have. Is the difference subtle or dramatic? Am I going to have a 3rd less treble response?

thanks.

 

[nate1492]

Re: SSL-5T in neck?

oh, and I guess it might be helpful to state the entire pickup compliment. I'm gonna put a APS-1 in the middle (which I rarely use) and a ssl-3 in the bridge. I play mostly neck only or bridge only.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: SSL-5T in neck?

The SSL-5 is a great bridge pickup for Strats! Most stock strat bridge pickups are too bright and thin sounding. The SSL-5 has a nice thick crunchy midrange and the high end is a lot easier on the ears.

In the neck, it varies. I had SSL'5's in the neck and middle on one guitar and thought they sounded too dull. But I think I had the wrong value pots in that guitar, so it really wasn't wired right for a set of single coils. I have another guitar, the sticker on the back of the stock neck and middle pickups indicates they're SSL-5's, and it sounds perfect. The neck pickup is great for singing blues leads.

Try it, and if it doesn't give you the sound you want right away, try adjusting the pickup height to see if that helps, before taking them out again.

 

[nate1492]

Re: SSL-5T in neck?

ok. but I'm gonna install the pickup tapped, it'll have a higher resonant peak and much lower dc resistance. I want this strat to be on the heavy side versitile. I'll be playing some heavy psych-blues ala Dead Meadow, but also want crisper clean tones ala Television.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: SSL-5T in neck?

Well, tapped I woul dthink it would have less output and brighter tone. I don't think you'll have to worry about it sounding too dark then.