Suhr SSH+ is in! Something's wrong with my Aldrich?

Rex_Rocker

Rex_Rocker

Well-known member
I got my SSH+ into my Gibson Les Paul Modern Lite today, and my initial impression is... wow, there's definitely something wrong with my Aldrich, LOL.

I just gave the SSH+ a quick spin, and I like it. It's not far from what you'd exepct from an Alnico 5 17K pickup. It's pretty evident it's a take on the JB, but it just feels more balanced. High mids are there, but there is more top end detail without being raspy like the 498T it replaced. There is less low mid clutter than the JB, so it feels more immediate. It's not thin, though. There is a healthy amount of low-end, but it's still a lot more towards the JB side of things than it is towards something like the bassier Custom/Custom 5. It does have a hint of Custom 5 in there, though, especially in the highs.

But the first thing that struck me is it's much hotter than the Aldrich. I'm pretty sure it's close to the same output level as the Plain Jane JB, and it makes sense. It's supposed to be 17K. Mine measures 16K in my meter. But it sounded immediately more distorted than the Aldrich in my LP Tribute. So I checked what's up by recording DI's. Yep. It's like 3-4dB louder than the Aldrich, which I'm super confused about. The Aldrich is supposed to be 17.5K, and mine measures 16.8-ish. It runs on the same "Special" Alnico 5 magnet that Suhr uses on all their A5 pickups. So.... anyone got any idea what kind of wizardry is going on here? I'm aware it's different guitars, but it's not like my Tribute is quieter acoustically than my Modern Lite at all. It's weird. Maybe it is supposed to be this low output?

Either way, I'll post a more in-depth review of the SSH+, but as I am right now, I'm tempted to just drop another SSH+ in my Tribute as well, LOL. It just feels more like what a 17K should feel like in my mind. Kinda makes me feel like the Aldrich is kind of a disappointment by comparison.
 
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SSH+ somehow reminded me of JB and impressed me with its nuance when I played Strandberg Plini. I'd say it's a 'refined JB'. Cool pickup indeed.
 
elelpe said:
SSH+ somehow reminded me of JB and impressed me with its nuance when I played Strandberg Plini. I'd say it's a 'refined JB'. Cool pickup indeed.
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100% agreed. I was afraid it was more of a Super Strat pickup than something to put in a Les Paul, but it seems to be doing fine.
 
I’m curious… How do you know that Suhr use the same magnet spec in all their A5 humbuckers? Have you asked them?
 
Teleplayer said:
I’m curious… How do you know that Suhr use the same magnet spec in all their A5 humbuckers? Have you asked them?
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Yes. I emailed them. Told them I got an Aldrich, and that I was curious about the SSH+. Their SSH+ specs on their site make no mention of the "special" A5 they use on the Aldrich. But they replied they use the same special A5 made to their spec modeled after the A5 Pre CBS Fender used on all their A5 pickups. I believe it was a guy called Ricardo Diaz who replied to my inquiry.
 
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They also replied that the SSH+ would be 10% less hot than the Aldrich, so I'm super confused as to why my Aldrich is the way it is.
 
well could be couple of things:
1) the obvious one and i feel kind of silly to mention this: not the exact same distance from the string. going by sight could be easily 1 mm off.
2) the Pickup location (distance from Bridge) is not the same for each guitar.
3) different pot values (damping of the resonance)
4) different strings.
5) louder accoustically doesn't have to translate in louder electrically, especially if the guitar doesn't push the resonance freqs of the PU.
6) i have several guitars where the neck PU is actually louder but doesn't distort as much as the Bridge PU because it'S not the frequencies where the amp breaks up as easy.
7) degaussed magnet

you have to test it in the same guitar to eliminate 2) - 5)
 
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ToneFiddler said:
well could be couple of things:
1) the obvious one and i feel kind of silly to mention this: not the exact same distance from the string. going by sight could be easily 1 mm off.
2) the Pickup location (distance from Bridge) is not the same for each guitar.
3) different pot values (damping of the resonance)
4) different strings.
5) louder accoustically doesn't have to translate in louder electrically, especially if the guitar doesn't push the resonance freqs of the PU.
6) i have several guitars where the neck PU is actually louder but doesn't distort as much as the Bridge PU because it'S not the frequencies where the amp breaks up as easy.
7) degaussed magnet

you have to test it in the same guitar to eliminate 2) - 5)
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1. I measured both. 2.75mm from the bass side, 2.5 from the treble side.
2. That used to be an issue before, especially when comparing the old LTD EC I had to my Gibson Les Paul. But they're both Gibson Les Pauls now. They both have the same distance from the bridge pickup to the bridge itself.
3. I know they vary a little from pot to pot, but I doubt it would make a 3dB (remember that's twice as loud) difference if one was 490K and the other was 500K. Both are Gibson-branded CTS 500K pots.
4. Both have D'Addario NYXL 11-56. The strings on the Tribute may be a couple of days older, but I mean... at this point, I haven't changed the strings in either for like 3-4 weeks. Both are set to the same action height too. 1.75mm from on the bass strings, 1mm on the treble strings off the 12th fret.
5. That could be it as well, and I can see that having an impact, but a 3dB impact?
6. Remember I'm not really going by amp break up or perceived loudness. I mean clean neutral DI levels.
7. I suspect that may be it.

But unfortunately, you're absolutely right. I have to test in the same guitar to eliminate the most variables. I may do it next string change.
 
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Regarding the SSH+... after spending some more time with it, it's definitely less mid-pushed than the JB. I'd say EQ-wise, it's halfway between the JB and the Custom 5. It's not as extreme as either. Though, I'd say the output level is more in line with the JB than the Custom 5. But it also has a very present and focused attack that I don't find in either Duncan. I'd say it's tighter than either since it's neither as thuddy as the Custom 5 nor as stuffy as the JB. Very cool pickup for sure!
 
ToneFiddler said:
What do your ears tell you?
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It's weird because nothing sounds blatantly off on the Aldrich except it being so low output. It sounds to me like it does in the clips: Like a fatter JB with a bit more open top end and more low mid girth. That's regarding EQ. But it's the output that catches me off guard, because right before I had the Aldrich in the Tribute, I had a JB, and that one had nothing wrong about it, really. It was nice and hot, the way it was supposed to.

At this point, I'm not sure if I should just rip it out, sell it, and buy something else. I'm honestly liking the SSH+ better anyway. It's tighter, leaner, and has a more open top-end... and it behaves the way I'd want a 17K pickup to.
 
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by the way. didn't buy a gibson in a long time. Are they back to 500k pots? It was 300k for decades...

I had pots where on "10" there was still quite some resistance from the middle to the outer terminal. But with CTS i doubt it.

running out of ideas.

if the magnet is degaussed heavily it should sound more sweet and week. from the clips i remember it being bolter and thumpier than the JB. So i also doubt the magnet is heavily degaussed.
 
I would do a magnet swap in the Aldrich. A polished A5 magnet as a baseline check. I’m assuming it’s an uncovered humbucker, so you can do the swap without leaving much marks or evidence. Then you can put the stock magnet back in and sell it.

I’ve heard Suhr make funny claims about pickup specs in the past. If it is from Mr Suhr himself I’m not sure he would reveal every minute detail as that is proprietary anyway.
 
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Rex_Rocker said:
They also replied that the SSH+ would be 10% less hot than the Aldrich
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That's what I keep saying, LOL!

If your Aldrich is weak, it's either a mis-labeled SSH+ or the magnet didn't get charged correctly. Both seem rather unlikely, but either one is possible. Will Suhr exchange it for you?
 
I never tried an Aldrich. I tried the SSV neck, SSV+ bridge, SSH bridge, SSH+ bridge, and various V60, ML, V63 single coils. What is reported about Special formulation A5 alloy makes sense to me. The suhr pickups are all quite balanced sounding and a little softer than I would have expected. I previously thought it was the wind, but it could be their own magnet formulation.
 
Yeah, I just ended up ordering a second SSH+. I like its more neutral mids and more open top end anyway. The Aldrich I really wanted to like, but who knows what's up with mine... if something's up with mine. If not, then it's not really my thing.
 
So second SSH+ is in the Tribute.

Not sure if the Aldrich was off or not, but immediately, the Tribute's level is much closer to the Modern Lite's. I mean, it's still slightly lower on the Tribute, but that makes sense. Acoustically, the Modern Lite is a little louder. But there is less a dB difference now in the DI's now.

I'm happy. I honestly like the SSH+ a lot. It has a very clean and clear voicing.
 
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