Audiofanzine FR
Published on 12/01/08 at 14:49
(Originally written by SlapKid/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
I installed this pickup in the neck position and replaced it after two months with a Fender Tex Mex set.
I don't think it sounds very good. The sound was a bit too soft and the G string was too loud. Poor sound articulation compared to the Tex Mex pickups, which I like much more because they sound exactly like I expect Fender pickups to sound.
Considering that the three Tex Mex set is a bit more expensive than a single SSL-1, and that I had to replace a faulty SSL-1, which wasn't new (no sound on the A string and very thin sound on the higher strings) you'll surely understand why I don't recommend this pickup. And it generates as much noise as the Fender pickups. So you'd better buy the original in spite of their noise or even better, a noiseless Kinman. It's my personal opinion.
Update much latter: I installed on another guitar a reverse SSL-1 in the neck position and a TexMex in the bridge position (no middle pickup) and I get very good results. And with both pickups there's no noise. It's a true delight for clean, overdriven or heavy distorted sounds.
But the pole pieces are too far from each other and I had to install the pickup so that the pole pieces are exactly under the high strings (and fully misplaced under the low strings). Surprisingly, the sound remains alright.
As a summary, I would say that it is very difficult to choose the right pickup because it can sound great with a given guitar and very bad with another one. I wish you good luck...
I installed this pickup in the neck position and replaced it after two months with a Fender Tex Mex set.
I don't think it sounds very good. The sound was a bit too soft and the G string was too loud. Poor sound articulation compared to the Tex Mex pickups, which I like much more because they sound exactly like I expect Fender pickups to sound.
Considering that the three Tex Mex set is a bit more expensive than a single SSL-1, and that I had to replace a faulty SSL-1, which wasn't new (no sound on the A string and very thin sound on the higher strings) you'll surely understand why I don't recommend this pickup. And it generates as much noise as the Fender pickups. So you'd better buy the original in spite of their noise or even better, a noiseless Kinman. It's my personal opinion.
Update much latter: I installed on another guitar a reverse SSL-1 in the neck position and a TexMex in the bridge position (no middle pickup) and I get very good results. And with both pickups there's no noise. It's a true delight for clean, overdriven or heavy distorted sounds.
But the pole pieces are too far from each other and I had to install the pickup so that the pole pieces are exactly under the high strings (and fully misplaced under the low strings). Surprisingly, the sound remains alright.
As a summary, I would say that it is very difficult to choose the right pickup because it can sound great with a given guitar and very bad with another one. I wish you good luck...