Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

[doletal]

Hello,

I have a Strat Jeff Beck with fender Noiseless pickups.
I found the bridge pickup sharpish and replaced it with a SSL4.

I am very happy with that p90-ish sound but the output is clearly higher than the two remaining noiseless pickups.

So which pick up would you advise that match well with the SSL4 ?

I'd like to keep the strat vintage sound but I am open to a more beefy sound if I need to increase their output to match the SSL4 ; I was thinking of the SSL6 or SSL3 as they are less P90-ish thant the SSL4 but they are maybe too "hot" to keep this strat sound.
What about the SSL2 ? Won't the output be like my noiseless and not match the SSL4 ?

Cheers.

ph

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

Welcome to the forum.

I have a custom in the neck with a quarter pound in the bridge and it sounds great. I'd say the most conservative choice would be to get 2 customs, they're higher output but not quite as high as the quarter pound but they still sound authentic. Those would all be good choices though. Another option would be to put a vintage in the neck and a custom or hot in the middle.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

My choices would be the Customs, or 2 YJM Furys. Both have a higher output, and should blend well with the QP.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

Hello,

I have a Strat Jeff Beck with fender Noiseless pickups.
I found the bridge pickup sharpish and replaced it with a SSL4.

I am very happy with that p90-ish sound but the output is clearly higher than the two remaining noiseless pickups.

So which pick up would you advise that match well with the SSL4 ?

I'd like to keep the strat vintage sound but I am open to a more beefy sound if I need to increase their output to match the SSL4 ; I was thinking of the SSL6 or SSL3 as they are less P90-ish thant the SSL4 but they are maybe too "hot" to keep this strat sound.
What about the SSL2 ? Won't the output be like my noiseless and not match the SSL4 ?

Cheers.

ph

SSL-6. I have staggered versions of the same (SSL-7, SSL-5), and those two pickups work brilliantly together. Bridge - Middle combo is perfect blend of classic rock grunt and strat-sound.

It isn't very quacky though, unless you have tapped version of SSL-4. With that, you can get that classic quack easily.

 

[doletal]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

Thanks for your answers.

I think I will go with the SSL5/SSL6.

Is there a problem to use the staggered version (ssl5) on a 9" radius ?

ph

 

[Jacew]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

Thanks for your answers.

I think I will go with the SSL5/SSL6.

Is there a problem to use the staggered version (ssl5) on a 9" radius ?

ph

No. It works very well for me.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

There shouldn't be. But there are some people that certainly hear a difference in string balance between staggered and flat pickups- I have heard it on a few occasions (mostly with the G & B strings). I go with flat (if there is a choice) with anything above 7.25" radius and never had a balance problem.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

i wouldnt put the ssl3 in the neck, too middy. the ssl6 is a fine option. i would get the flat ssl6 since you have a flat ssl4 in the bridge although it probably doesnt make a big sonic difference, the look would bug me

 

[Jacew]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

There shouldn't be. But there are some people that certainly hear a difference in string balance between staggered and flat pickups- I have heard it on a few occasions (mostly with the G & B strings). I go with flat (if there is a choice) with anything above 7.25" radius and never had a balance problem.

I think staggered does give a bit more "dynamic range" when playing, (e.g sounds livelier with classic-rock type lead riffs). It might be too unbalanced for 12" or higher radius, I don't know, it does take a bit more tweaking to get the height and angle right for 9.5".

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

You're not getting a vintage sound now... I've tried those Fender noiseless. I really want to find a noiseless pickup that actually sounds like a vintage fender but have not encountered it. I don't think it exists.

That said: the higher output you go, the less of that great vintage glassiness you're going to get. Not good. I'd suggest let it be what it is; get a vintage spec bridge pickup and also treat yourself to a set of either Duncan Antiquity or Fender Custom Shop vintage-spec authentic single coils for the neck and middle. Get the sounds you buy a Strat for in the first place. If you need other sounds there are other guitars.

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

SSL-6. I have staggered versions of the same (SSL-7, SSL-5), and those two pickups work brilliantly together. Bridge - Middle combo is perfect blend of classic rock grunt and strat-sound.

It isn't very quacky though, unless you have tapped version of SSL-4. With that, you can get that classic quack easily.

If you're not getting the quack what's the point? Call me old-fashioned but if I'm playing a Strat I want it to sound like a Strat.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

The customs have legit strat tone. It's a matter of preference between the vintage and the custom. Bridge ants at 10k are also a great hot option. The hots start to sound different and the qp sounds very different but the custom sounds great for strat sound.

Noiseless single coils are for guys who perform with gain but want strat single coils under that. You don't notice with the dirt but for clean styles not as authentic.

 

[doletal]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

If you're not getting the quack what's the point? Call me old-fashioned but if I'm playing a Strat I want it to sound like a Strat.

I love the strat, I have several guitars I always come back to it...
But to me, a strat can sound differently than vintage...see Marc Knoplfer, David Gilmour, The Edge...

I play in a band and it is mostly noise rock so I need beefy pickups...

I have now my 3 pickups...SSL4, SSL5 and Dimarzio FS1...I had good opoortunities to buy them; so now, which place for each pickup ? Neck SSL-5 Middle FS-1 Bridge SSL-4 ?

Cheers

D

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

I love the strat, I have several guitars I always come back to it...
But to me, a strat can sound differently than vintage...see Marc Knoplfer, David Gilmour, The Edge...

I play in a band and it is mostly noise rock so I need beefy pickups...

I have now my 3 pickups...SSL4, SSL5 and Dimarzio FS1...I had good opoortunities to buy them; so now, which place for each pickup ? Neck SSL-5 Middle FS-1 Bridge SSL-4 ?

Cheers

D

You see, I strongly disagree with the "hard rock requires beefy pickups" line of thinking. I'm a metal guy and use mostly vintage-spec single coils. Works just fine. You have to work harder to make them scream, but the end result is stunning.

Noiseless single coils are for guys who perform with gain but want strat single coils under that. You don't notice with the dirt but for clean styles not as authentic.

I hear you... I've spent most of my career as a player trying to replace real single coils. So far no success, and basically what I do is just put up with the noise. You learn a lot of tricks for dealing with it live.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

If you're not getting the quack what's the point? Call me old-fashioned but if I'm playing a Strat I want it to sound like a Strat.

Ha- when I play a Strat, I don't want it to sound like any other Strat player (or guitar) out there. I guess that's why we make different pickups.

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

Ha- when I play a Strat, I don't want it to sound like any other Strat player (or guitar) out there. I guess that's why we make different pickups.

I've got the admittedly old-fashioned viewpoint that you get certain guitars for certain sounds. For instance a Tele... you buy it for that bridge pickup sound. Period. In the neck anything goes, but you want that bridge pickup sound or why play a Tele at all? A Tele or Strat with a 'bucker makes no sense to me; that's what shred sticks from Ibanez or Jackson are for. I bought a Firebird with those dreadful pickups Gibson is installing these days so I ordered a set of Antiquity FBs because if I'm playing a Firebird I expect to get Firebird tones. And so on.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

I've got the admittedly old-fashioned viewpoint that you get certain guitars for certain sounds. For instance a Tele... you buy it for that bridge pickup sound. Period. In the neck anything goes, but you want that bridge pickup sound or why play a Tele at all? A Tele or Strat with a 'bucker makes no sense to me; that's what shred sticks from Ibanez or Jackson are for. I bought a Firebird with those dreadful pickups Gibson is installing these days so I ordered a set of Antiquity FBs because if I'm playing a Firebird I expect to get Firebird tones. And so on.

When I modify my gear I don't care what it's supposed to sound like. I'm usual not trying to create any particular sound either, just improving whatever I find missing in each tone. It seems pointless. I don't want my guitar to sound like anyone elses.

SSL-7/SSL-5 combo does actually quack very nicely, with SSL-7 tapped. Full on, it gets brilliant growl resembling a P90. So for it's range, I consider it much better than vintage type bridge. SSL-5 is brilliant as it is.

You see, I strongly disagree with the "hard rock requires beefy pickups" line of thinking. I'm a metal guy and use mostly vintage-spec single coils. Works just fine. You have to work harder to make them scream, but the end result is stunning.

Bigger problem is that it's very difficult to get the low end to sound good with dirt. You either have to accept a bit of boominess and looseness, or lower the pickups too far, when you get it tighter, but lose a lot of your guitars character.

I play in a band and it is mostly noise rock so I need beefy pickups...

I have now my 3 pickups...SSL4, SSL5 and Dimarzio FS1...I had good opoortunities to buy them; so now, which place for each pickup ? Neck SSL-5 Middle FS-1 Bridge SSL-4 ?

SSL-4 would work best in bridge position. I would try FS-1 in middle first, as it seems a bit hot on the neck. I have never played with one though, so can't say for sure. SSL-5 is great in any position.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

A Tele or Strat with a 'bucker makes no sense to me; that's what shred sticks from Ibanez or Jackson are for.

I think that way in some instances. Like my Dot, I have set up for jazz with flats, 1 fat neck hb, and no messing around. If I had the money I would probably have all the guitars how they're supposed to sound. Tele, Jazzmaster, SG etc. But I don't and I use squier strats to achieve pretty much all the tone I need. Wanting more tone would just be being greedy. That's too bad that you're racist against hbs in a strat because they sound great with whatever you put in them and are the easiest modded guitars around. My best neck pickup is a ant/seth a3 in a strat and if that's a 10 for strat sound, it makes the ssl1 sound like a 6.

 

[doletal]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

You see, I strongly disagree with the "hard rock requires beefy pickups" line of thinking. I'm a metal guy and use mostly vintage-spec single coils. Works just fine. You have to work harder to make them scream, but the end result is stunning.

I've got the admittedly old-fashioned viewpoint that you get certain guitars for certain sounds. For instance a Tele... you buy it for that bridge pickup sound. Period. In the neck anything goes, but you want that bridge pickup sound or why play a Tele at all? A Tele or Strat with a 'bucker makes no sense to me; that's what shred sticks from Ibanez or Jackson are for. I bought a Firebird with those dreadful pickups Gibson is installing these days so I ordered a set of Antiquity FBs because if I'm playing a Firebird I expect to get Firebird tones. And so on.

You are a bit confusing
But in a sense I agree with you...you do not need especially high ouput pickups to play metal (Gojira for instance used to play with Telecaster in their former album).

The sense of my post was to find pickups suitable with my SSL4 ; I changed it because I didn't like at all the sharping tone of my bridge noiseless...maybe there are other bridge pickups more suitable to replace mine and pairing with my neck/middle noiseless.

Now I have followed the advises and will try with the FS1/SSL5/SSL4 which seem to be good pickups even if i do not get the "real" vintage strat tone (that I do not really look for...).

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which pickup with a SSL4 QP in bridge ?

It is funny. I generally don't dig the 'classic' sounds you get of certain guitars, and also hate switching instruments. So I mod Strat-a-likes (music mans) to get what I want, which don't end up sounding either classic or modern. I figure that if someone is already doing that sound, I don't need to. Funny how many viewpoints there are.