APS-2 vs SSL-2

[darthphineas]

looking for a single coil for a neck position. would prefer the STK-S4, but it's too tall for this guitar (unless I want to break out the dremel on an ESP). fairly flat radius, so that leaves me with the flat pole single coils - although the dynamics of the staggered poles would be nicer. oversized solid maple body, maple neck, rosewood board, bolt-on, 25.5" scale, Floyd. will be going up against a JB in the bridge.

I understand the APS-2 and the SSL-2 are very similar, but I'm leaning toward the SSL-2. more bell-like tones and sharper attack

the SSL-6 Custom Flat and the SSL-4 Quarter Pound Flat are also interesting, but look way too hot to get the same single coil tone as the SSL or APS - unless wired to remain in tapped mode.



or.......

is there a STK model that is not as tall as the STK-S4 (.85"), but still have that tone? the old style Vintage Rail fits fine (.724")

[darthphineas]

^^^ look ^^^

did everyone see where the original post has the word "custom" in it? this should be a hot topic for that alone. lol! "vintage" is in there too.

AND this is about classic single coil tones.

is there a way to make a hybrid of different single coils? oops... see that? got "hybrid" in the thread too. now there's something for everyone.

[Funkfingers]

The ideal hybrid of SSL-2 and APS-2 would be a Five-Two only with flush polepieces. Unfortunately, this is not offered (yet!).

If you require vintage type S tones and some degree of noise-cancellation, check out Lace Sensors. Gold is supposed to sound most realistic. Silver would add some midrange to balance the JB. Emerald Green might be the best compromise.

If you are concerned about appearances, selected Sensor models are now offered with dummy polepieces. White, Cream, Black all available.

[darthphineas]

the hybrid comment was a joke. having a little fun with the '59/C Hybrid craze that's going on. but I did see that Five-Two and it does look like a good-sounding option. if the radius of the fingerboard wasn't so flat, it'd open up way more possibilities.

I did try the Lace Sensors when they came out in the early 90s and they just didn't have the same 'Strat' sound... and this was putting them in a real Strat.

the SSL-2 is probably where I'm going, but I'm thinking there are a lot more guys here with a lot more experience with the other single-coil options and I'm just looking to make sure I'm not overlooking a better option.

just starting to look at some of the DiMarzios as well, but I think Duncan is better at making vintage-sounding pups.

[loudriver23]

I bet that the custom shop could do a flat poled 5-2, and maybe a little hotter one for the bridge, to get you into SSL6 territory.

[lazyfinger]

SSL-2 sounds great in the neck. But not in the bridge. I have it in the neck with the usual 250k pot, and it sounds so bright and transparent in it. But tube amp is a must.

It sounds thin through my practice Fender SS.

[jake_xms3_punk]

I've tried them both and they are both great pickups. they are similar but if you know the typical characteristics of both A2 and A5 mags and have a preference then that should sway your decision.
I had the aps in both middle and neck of my strat and then swapped out the neck pickup to the ssl a few years later and kept the aps in the middle (great notch tones BTW) from what I remember the ssl was tighter, glassier and less mushy and chewy then the aps (not that the aps was overly mushy or muddy or anything) when you think of a typical vintage strat neck tone the ssl2 comes to mind moreso.

[darthphineas]

I had the aps in both middle and neck of my strat and then swapped out the neck pickup to the ssl a few years later and kept the aps in the middle (great notch tones BTW) from what I remember the ssl was tighter, glassier and less mushy and chewy then the aps (not that the aps was overly mushy or muddy or anything) when you think of a typical vintage strat neck tone the ssl2 comes to mind moreso.

yep. that's also what I was thinking about when I started to lean toward the SSL-2.


also, forgot to mention this part: the only switching option is through a 500k push/pull to select between bridge and neck. but I have 500K pots in all my guitars and it's what I'm used to when dealing with split coils already. most of the application of this pickup in the neck will be for things like the typically clean tones in most 80s hard rock tunes before the song slams into overdrive. so bright and chimey and bell-like with a sharp attack (like the SSL-2) is fairly dead on.


I know the older STK-S1 is a lower output than the STK-S4, but is it still as tall? I think it might still have the tone I want and be noiseless, as long as it's a little shorter? lol!

[jeremy]

i just measured and the old stack is a touch smaller but not as much as i though, less than 1/8" difference. the ssl2 high have a pretty shrill high end with a 500k pot and no tone

[darthphineas]

I think there's about .10" difference between the new style of single hums and the old style Vintage Rail I had in there and it was just enough to make it work.