I have a question about pups.

On my US Strat, I have Seymour Duncan SSL-1's with the middle pup rw/rp.

How would these compare to
69 Custom Shop
Texas Specials

I'm not really thinking about swapping pups (yet) as I really like the way this guitar plays and sounds.

However, being a tinkerer at heart...

so, how would you compare these pups (tone, etc.)

Jeff

SSL's are better than either the other two options in my opinion. A far more balanced output. That is about all I look for from a pickup, eq can cut frequncies if needed.

Where the 69's lack middle to the point of having no punch. And Specials are a little too aggressive sounding in the high mids, to the point of diminishing the bass response.

Of the two I think TX SPEC's are the more usable set.

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No no and no

What sort of stuff do you play?

The SD SSL1 is a vintage output level pickup, that really shines when you need that level of restrained power. It has a harmonic complexity and sense of movement that neither of the Fender pickups seem to match. They overdrive nicely as well and retain that complexity at the same time. But it's a little on the 'polite' side. Definitely the pickup to use for cleans, pop/blues and low to medium levels of gain.

If I need something more raucous, I'll reach for something with Fender 69 or Texas on it, if I had to choose one of the 3 pickups you referred to. If I wanted a ragged, grainy overdrive with more gain I'd choose the '69. Texas for the SRV blues style tones and highest (but not metal) levels of gain. You can use either of the Fenders for clean, but I think the SSL1 does it much better.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Great responses.

Yep, I really like the way this strat sounds with the SSL-1's on it.

My playing suits the SSL very well (or is it the other way around??)...

Most of what I'm doing is playing in a praise band in my church which is 90% clean and when I do drive it's really mild overdrive/distortion.

Any other time I play out it's filling in for a couple friend's local bands and it's mostly classic rock covers, rock-a-billy and some country.

For fun and just jamming and once and a while in a band, I play bluegrass, but that's on one of my Martins so totally different animal there.

So, from what you all described, the SS:-1's are a pretty good choice for what I do. They were in the guitar when I bought it, however, the reason I did buy it was because I really liked the way it sounded.

Jeff

Quit while you're ahead! The SSL-1s are by far, the best of the three sets, especially for your requirements.

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You dig?

You guys got me thinking, I was going to put a set of CS69 on my highway one... Now I´m thinking more a SSL-1 SSL-1 SSL-5 config... Thoughts ?

My thing is for hendrix and gilmour tones...

That would work quite well.

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You dig?

If Martian and nikininja says that SSLs are better sounding then CS69, I´ll go the Seymour route no doubt.

Thanks guys.

Any time.

Not to confuse the issue but you may want to consider SSL-2s and an SSL-6. They are the same as SSL-1s and SSL-5s respectively but with even polepieces. You'll get a bit more range and a more even string response with these.

Now if you want to take it a step further and use what I use, I have an SSL-3 in the bridge, an SSL-6 in the middle and an SSL-2 in the neck. The SSL-3 sounds like a great Soapbar pickup.

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You dig?

SSL3 is more a hotter pickup like Texas Special isnt it ? I´m really looking for the vintage sounds of hendrix and gilmour early eras, and I already got Texas Specials on the Standard strat. The Highway one I´m leading for a more vintage glassy clean vibe, and will the aged white covers from fender fit those SSLs maybe ? Now there´s GAS all over me mate!

The SSL-3 is WAY hotter than a Texas Special.

Yes, the covers will fit.

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You dig?

I guess for me it would be the SSL-2 a fit then, in comparsion that I wanted the CS69 set as a hendrix sounding strat. And I may put the SSL-6 on the bridge for a little more hotter sound and blends for gilmour tones.

Thanks again!

Sounds like a plan!!

Any time!

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You dig?