van zandt blues middle rwrp

[Jacew]

Hello

There's one of these sale for a nice price here. How they relate to SD pickups? Hotter than SSL-1 I guess. How they sound like?

I might try to improve neck position of my strat with it. I have SSL-1 there currently, which is really good. But my current middle and bridge are so much better for their respective middle and bridge tone. I think I might like to try to switch it anyway.

What do you think?

 

[AlexR]

Re: van zandt blues middle rwrp

Improve is such a misleading word. For 1 person improve might just be the very aspects that kill all what another might consider great.

Even if I did know about the VZ pickup I still couldn't advise as you haven't said what B and M pickups you have - so I'm completely clueless as the what you're liking in those positions.

 

[jeremy]

Re: van zandt blues middle rwrp

what middle and bridge pups do you have now? van zandt makes fine stuff

 

[Jacew]

Re: van zandt blues middle rwrp

Improve is such a misleading word. For 1 person improve might just be the very aspects that kill all what another might consider great.

Even if I did know about the VZ pickup I still couldn't advise as you haven't said what B and M pickups you have - so I'm completely clueless as the what you're liking in those positions.

SSL-5 and QP. But I didn't meant to ask exactly how they would work together etc...

If I pinpoint what generally made me think to change SSL-1 from neck, it would be it's uneven freq response (in a lack of better explanation...). It has distinctive low end rumble, then a very prominent upper mids. But very little actual mids and "weakish" high end. Sounds great through clean/cleanish Fender amp. Not that good with Tiny Terror, that accentuates exactly same frequencies...

How that particular pickup generally relates to SD products? Is it hotter than SSL-5? Darker or brighter that SSL-1? Looser? Tighter?

 

[freefrog]

Re: van zandt blues middle rwrp

How that particular pickup generally relates to SD products? Is it hotter than SSL-5? Darker or brighter that SSL-1? Looser? Tighter?

In my experience, the VZ model that you mention is certainly not hotter than a SSL5: it's a wee bit hotter than a SSL1 with a more focused/tighter tone. For the record, the notes that I've kept mention 6.6k 2.9H and 160mv for a mid VZ Blues while a SSL1 tested in the same conditions would measure 6.5k, 2.6H and 127mv.

Now, just to be clear: I've not compared these pickups in the same guitar and I'm way more accustomed to SSL's than to VZ. So, take my testimonial with a grain of salt.

 

[Jacew]

Re: van zandt blues middle rwrp

In my experience, the VZ model that you mention is certainly not hotter than a SSL5: it's a wee bit hotter than a SSL1 with a more focused/tighter tone. For the record, the notes that I've kept mention 6.6k 2.9H and 160mv for a mid VZ Blues while a SSL1 tested in the same conditions would measure 6.5k, 2.6H and 127mv.

Now, just to be clear: I've not compared these pickups in the same guitar and I'm way more accustomed to SSL's than to VZ. So, take my testimonial with a grain of salt.

Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for.

If it's still on sale, I'll get it and post results.

 

[Jacew]

Re: van zandt blues middle rwrp

I did actually bought this Van Zandt Blues pup. I only last week got around intalling it...

It's indeed like Freefrog said: slightly more focused and tighter than SSL-1, but still in the same category. Sits quite nicely as a compromise between good cleans and bluesy grittiness. Though I must say Van Zandts are way overrated for what I've read about them. It's good, but really nothing that "special"...

It's weird that SD doesn't seem to make anything equivalent? There's SSL-1, then there's SSL-5, some models with A2 and Antiques... But no regular "just a slightly overwound" A5 singlecoil.

Because if there was, I would have rather bought that

 

[jeremy]

Re: van zandt blues middle rwrp

i agree they could make something like the ssl1+ with an extra 800-1000 turns. thats a nice thing about winding your own pups, i can do a neck pup with 8000 turns, a middle pup with 8250, and a bridge with 9000