Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

[DGotwals]

Hello new forum community,
You guys seem quite knowledgeable from everything I am reading, but wondering if you care to make any suggestions.

Rebuilding a late 80s/early 90s MIJ Stratocaster with a Floyd Rose and 22 frets.

The hardest part was finding a pick guard, so I had one custom made.

Wanting to do HSS, so I bought a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gate Bridge Trembucker.

Any suggestions about the mid and neck single pick-ups?

My early findings suggest SSL-5.

Careful, if you respond I might ask you about wiring diagrams.

Thanks for any insight

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

SSL-5s are good. There'd be nothing wrong with that set up. That's something I would use.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

The SSL5 is powerful, and should balance volume-wise with the Pearly Gates. They will push the amp harder and have a stronger midrange voice than something like the SSL1 (traditional 50s-style Strat pickups).

 

[Archer250]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

5s are good. Personally, I'd go for SSL2s, though. I like my single coils mellow.

Sent from my EVA-L19 using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

I don't know if I hear the SSL-2 as more mellow, but I actually prefer the flat poles over staggered if there is a choice.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

Well, "mellow" is the wrong word. I like my single coils on the "weaker, chimey, low output" end, which makes SSL1s ideal. However, there's no reason to use staggered pickups unless your fretboard radius is 7.25, hence the SSL2 recommendation.

Sent from my EVA-L19 using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

^Exactly. But some people really like the look of them (!?!) so they are more common than the SSL-2.

 

[DGotwals]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

Thank you everyone for your comments

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

I use 2s in my HSS (with 59/Custom hb) and they're great. There's not too much of a volume drop when switching between them and the bucker, partly due to do appropriate adjustment of heights (i.e. hb is lowered).

 

[FinnG]

Re: Strat HSS suggestions (help a drummer out)

What sort of sounds are you after?