SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

[kld0068]

I'd like to see if anyone has used the SSL5 in the bridge position of a standard USA strat along with the stock middle and neck Fender single coils. I'm interested in knowing if the pickups worked well together or if there were any problems.

The reason I ask is that a while ago I tried a Hot Rail in the bridge position but ended up removing it and going back to the stock p/u because it was a too hot along side the other two pickups and the stronger magnet was causing some intonation problems. I could never adjust it to that sweet spot of good tone and not interfering with the string vibration. No need for anyone to comment on this paragraph, it's just for historical reference. And, the p/u was installed correctly and so forth.

What I'd like to know is other people's success/horror stories with the SSL5 before purchasing and installing one.

Thanks!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

No reason it shouldn't. Fender sells the Gilmour Strat (at a hefty price) with an SSL-5/CS69/Fat 50. American Standards currently come with Fat 50s.

Just remember to swap black and white on the SSL-5 for correct phase.

 

[AZ Picker]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

If you want the typical "out of phase" position 2 sound, you are probably going to need a RW/RP SSL-5. I say probably, because you never know with Fender, but the last 3 AM Standard Strats I've had have been the opposite polarity of Seymour Duncan's Strat pickups.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

yes it works well. just be aware that you will lose the hum cancelling in position 2. Personally i prefer pickups that way, but if it worries you, then get a reverse wound reverse polarity (RWRP) duncan, or swap the neck and middle pickups for the same result. Duncans and fenders are reverse wind and reverse polarity to each other.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

Duncan and fenders are reverse wind and reverse polarity to each other.

Aren't they only reverse polarity? If they were RWRP, you wouldn't need to swap black and white wires, right?

 

[Artie]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

If you want the typical "out of phase" position 2 sound . . .

I'm not sure where this myth comes from, but the #2 & #4 position of a Strat are not out-of-phase.

 

[jeremy]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

who knows, the 2 & 4 are parallel in phase.

also the magnet on the hot rails is smaller and weaker and oriented in a way that will pull less on the strings and any vintage style strat pup

 

[AZ Picker]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

Sorry I knew that was the wrong (but oft used) term for the 2-4 position with a RW/RP.

 

[dystrust]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

No reason it shouldn't. Fender sells the Gilmour Strat (at a hefty price) with an SSL-5/CS69/Fat 50. American Standards currently come with Fat 50s.

Just remember to swap black and white on the SSL-5 for correct phase.

I have a SSL-6 (SSL-5 but with flat poles) in the bridge of my Strat with vintage output (SSL-2) in the neck & middle. A SSL-5/6 is hotter and thicker sounding than a typical Strat bridge pickup, but will still balance well with vintage output neck/mid if the height is set properly.

 

[kld0068]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

If you want the typical "out of phase" position 2 sound, you are probably going to need a RW/RP SSL-5. I say probably, because you never know with Fender, but the last 3 AM Standard Strats I've had have been the opposite polarity of Seymour Duncan's Strat pickups.

That's what I was concerned about. The Fender middle p/u is RW/RP which is how it gets the hum phase cancellation with the stock neck and bridge pickups. So if the SSL5 is also the same RW/RP then I won't get the hum cancellation or that nice position 4 "quack". Even if I reverse the wires it still won't be in the correct phase. It seems like the SSL5 is not going to give me the sound I want. That's why I thought I'd ask around first.

I probably need something from the Fender custom shop or tinker around more with my current bridge p/u height and find its sweet spot.. Too bad too, because my other strat has a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge and it sounds just great.

Thanks!

 

[kld0068]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

But they are reverse polarity which is what causes the hum cancellation. The neck p/u is reverse wound and reverse magnetic polarity.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

I'd like to see if anyone has used the SSL5 in the bridge position of a standard USA strat along with the stock middle and neck Fender single coils. I'm interested in knowing if the pickups worked well together or if there were any problems.

The reason I ask is that a while ago I tried a Hot Rail in the bridge position but ended up removing it and going back to the stock p/u because it was a too hot along side the other two pickups and the stronger magnet was causing some intonation problems. I could never adjust it to that sweet spot of good tone and not interfering with the string vibration. No need for anyone to comment on this paragraph, it's just for historical reference. And, the p/u was installed correctly and so forth.

What I'd like to know is other people's success/horror stories with the SSL5 before purchasing and installing one.

Thanks!

The SSL-5 is a great choice for beefing up the bridge position of a Strat. Just remember that the color codes for Fender & Seymour Duncan are different when you replace it.

 

[dystrust]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

That's what I was concerned about. The Fender middle p/u is RW/RP which is how it gets the hum phase cancellation with the stock neck and bridge pickups. So if the SSL5 is also the same RW/RP then I won't get the hum cancellation or that nice position 4 "quack". Even if I reverse the wires it still won't be in the correct phase. It seems like the SSL5 is not going to give me the sound I want. That's why I thought I'd ask around first.

I probably need something from the Fender custom shop or tinker around more with my current bridge p/u height and find its sweet spot.. Too bad too, because my other strat has a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge and it sounds just great.

Thanks!

The SSL-5 is a great choice for beefing up the bridge position of a Strat. Just remember that the color codes for Fender & Seymour Duncan are different when you replace it.

You don't need a Custom Shop pickup; as Mincer said Duncan and Fender Strat pickups are simply wired differently. If you reverse the black and white wires on the SSL-5 it'll work properly with the Fender single coil in the middle position.

 

[AlexR]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

That's what I was concerned about. The Fender middle p/u is RW/RP which is how it gets the hum phase cancellation with the stock neck and bridge pickups. So if the SSL5 is also the same RW/RP then I won't get the hum cancellation or that nice position 4 "quack". Even if I reverse the wires it still won't be in the correct phase. It seems like the SSL5 is not going to give me the sound I want. That's why I thought I'd ask around first.

The position of the wind and the magnet will not make any difference to getting 'quack' at all - it will still be there, only hum cancelling is affected.

Vintage strats didn't have rw/rp either.......and just so you know in the mid 50's they changed the polarity of the magnets in the stock pickups, so they have been both ways over time. It makes no difference to the tone of the pickup itself. Its been said by many too that the hum cancelling effect makes the 2/4 positions sound marginally worse.

 

[kld0068]

Re: SSL5 Bridge p/u with Stock Stratocaster pickups

>> Its been said by many too that the hum cancelling effect makes the 2/4 positions sound marginally worse.

I like that sound for certain types of music, which is why I thought I'd ask around first. My goal is to find a good sounding bridge pickup that won't affect either the Strat "quack" or the hum cancelling in position 4. I'd like to use one of the Seymour Duncan pickups, but if it's going to change how I use that guitar in a way I don't want then it won't work for me.