Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

[S1Player]

Hello everyone - For those that have heard or played both the Sta-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 Coil Tap set - how do these 2 compare? Are the Stra-Bro's less noisy? Are the Stra-bro's more P90 like than the QP on full coil? Is the custom Stra-Bro more P90 enough (than the QP) to pay the considerable premium?

I have a QP ssl-4 tapped middle coil in a new-ish build - between 2 P-Rails. I like the sound of the QP so much, that I think a guitar with 3 high output P90 like coils, with taps, might give me all the combo's I need. P90 growl and strat quack and twang with split coils.

The Stra-Bro seems like it was built specifically for what I am thinking. The couple of sound samples I have heard seems like it approximates the P90 well in full coil mode and a vintage strat in the tapped coil mode.

BTW - would folks recommend a ceramic magnet or alnico V in the Stra-Bro?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

the stra-bro 90 has both ceramic on three poles and alnico rods on the other three. its a great sounding pup. the qp is a different beast, good fat sounding single coil with lots of output on full wind and brighter thinner tone on the tap. i prefer the stra-bro 90 for sure. the full output qp is great for what it is, the tapped output serves a purpose but doesnt sound great to me

 

[S1Player]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

the stra-bro 90 has both ceramic on three poles and alnico rods on the other three. its a great sounding pup. the qp is a different beast, good fat sounding single coil with lots of output on full wind and brighter thinner tone on the tap. i prefer the stra-bro 90 for sure. the full output qp is great for what it is, the tapped output serves a purpose but doesnt sound great to me

In the custom shop order form, it has the choice between alnico V and ceramic magnet. So, not sure what that selection would mean there.

How does the tapped output sound on the Stra-Bro 90? I like the tapped output sound on my QP as a strat sound. Does the tapped coil Stra-Bro 90 sound as good?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

QPs are hot single coils; they sound like heavily overwound Strat pickups. Some people say they have a P90 flavor, but I don't hear it myself. More P90 than a normal Strat pickup, but not very P90 when put up against an actual P90. They're much heavier and more Fender sounding pickups than stock-style P90's.

As for ceramic vs. Alnico V (speakling generally, not in regards to that particular pickup), ceramic is weaker and more tonally balanced than A5. I would tend to think alnico would be a better choice for volume balance in a StraBro90, just looking at the design of the pickup.

 

[S1Player]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

QPs are hot single coils; they sound like heavily overwound Strat pickups. Some people say they have a P90 flavor, but I don't hear it myself. More P90 than a normal Strat pickup, but not very P90 when put up against an actual P90. They're much heavier and more Fender sounding pickups than stock-style P90's.

As for ceramic vs. Alnico V (speakling generally, not in regards to that particular pickup), ceramic is weaker and more tonally balanced than A5. I would tend to think alnico would be a better choice for volume balance in a StraBro90, just looking at the design of the pickup.

Thanks for the comments. I'd agree that the QP's aren't quite P90's - but to me they start to approach that sound. I like the sound they put out. But, I'd prefer something closer to a P90 sound.

Anyone else play both?

 

[DreX]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

the stra-bro 90 has both ceramic on three poles and alnico rods on the other three.

The three non-screws are actually slugs, not alnico pole pieces.

 

[DreX]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

I have both tappable SSL-4 QPs and tappable StraBro's in guitars at the moment.

SSL-4: thicker sounding with some attack characteristic that are more ceramic-like owing to the larger magnet pieces. Not P-90 thick, just very full sounding for a Strat pickup. The tapped sound is pretty good, it's a bit thin and harsh compared to something like a SSL-1, but it gets the job done if you want to step down the tone for some blues, or classic Strat tones.

StratBro 90: extremely thick sound, so dark that you will want to bump the treble on your amp. The tapped sound is very thin, to the point that you would want to take the treble back down on the amp and increase the mids to get a more usable tone. This pickup has a very satisfying, aggressive overdriven tone though, lots of mid range growl. It has a lower resonant peak than a real P-90 and doesn't sound as open when used clean.

If you like P-90 tone though, I'd sooner recommend the SSL-4, it's just more clear sounding and versatile, has been tried and true for decades while the StraBro is an infinitely less battle warn and much newer forum designed pickup that can only be had through the custom shop. The SSL-4 is a much more reasonable place to start.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

The QP doesn't sound much like a P90. It's just a loud, hard and full frequency single coil. A Dimarzio SDS-1 with fillister poles sounds a lot like a P90.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

The QPs have a lot more noise. They aren't very good pickups, IMHO. They have both heavy magnets and heavy wind. Just too much.

I don't think the strabros have alnico and ceramic polepieces. They have passive screws on one half, presumably fed by a magnet under it, and slugs on the other 3 (which I think are also passive but I can't be sure).

 

[S1Player]

Re: Stra-bro 90 set vs QP SSL-4 w/ Coil Tap Set

Drex, Idsnowdog, and uOpt - appreciate the feedback.

Anyone else have thoughts between the QP tappable and the Stra-Bro 90?