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Why the Alnico II instead of the SSL's? How is the sound different from the SSL's? Are there more or less bass mids or treble?

Thanks

I do.

The alnico 5 SSL-1 sounds just like a vintage early 60's Strat pickup. It's deep, bright, strong and glassy.

The alnico 2 APS pickups have smoother, less ice picky highs and more mids. They also have a softer magnetic field so I can position them a little closer to the bass strings without pulling the low E string out of tune when I play above the 12th fret.

I prefer alnico 5 SSL-1 and Antiquity Surfers, but I like the alnico 2 APS and Antiquity Texas Hots alot too.

It's nice to have more than one Strat, and all of my Strats have differant pickups in them.

Lew

I set up all my Strats APS, (neck) SSL (middle) I almost never use the
middle PuP alone. The APS gives me the fat warm sound I need. The SSL
adds some nice quack in the #4 pos.

I have APSs in two strats, SSLs in two others

as stated, the APS if fat and warm in the neck. I like the little extra sustain - seems a little more touch responsive

Got APS's in my Mexi Strat. Nice and warm with good sustain...

Maybe I'm in the extreme, but I use APSes in my strat and I'm never going to use anything else... =)

Pardon me for hi-jacking, but I've been considering the APS' for my own Strat...

Those of you who have APS' in both the N amp; M, how do you like position#4?
I'm not sure if I want to change just the N or the M too. Or maybe just the M;
Anyone tried that? (PG B)
Thanks!

I love it, personally - but I'm mainly comparing it to the cheap MIM stocks that were in the guitar before... =)


Originally Posted by CurlyI have APSs in two strats, SSLs in two others

as stated, the APS if fat and warm in the neck. I like the little extra sustain - seems a little more touch responsive

I agree, it also has a nice Bell Tone as well.

I too have a Mex strat, blessed with a neck APS1 and a Mid APS1 RwRp ...and it's really sweet n full. Very happy with them, the notch positions sure are my favs

I use the APS's with a Twangbanger in the Bridge... A2 is produces the best strat tones to my ear... nice amp; smooth


Originally Posted by UCSDBoyMaybe I'm in the extreme, but I use APSes in my strat and I'm never going to use anything else... =)

I'm with you. They are smoother, and I don't like all the glass in the SSL's. The more mids is also pleasing sounding to me at least. I have a APS staggered neck APS staggered RWRP mid and a APS flat for the bridge. The flat makes it sound just a little bit fatter and smoother still. I can't forsee myself ever using any strat pups without A2 mags.

Luke


Originally Posted by BachToRockI use the APS's with a Twangbanger in the Bridge... A2 is produces the best strat tones to my ear... nice amp; smoothI'm using that setup in my project Strat, which should be finished within a week .

i use the aps2/twangbanger setup in a hamer daytona (nice strat) and its a killer combo. warm sweet tone that cuts thru a mix well


Originally Posted by StratcatI agree, it also has a nice Bell Tone as well.

Bell tone? Is that different than saying a pickup is chimey? Or Bright?

So. the APS have good mids and bell tones. I'm guessing that bell tone means that it is thicker sound. Bell tone versus icy picky.

I have to say that although I love the APS-2/Twangbanger combo I still prefer alnico 5 neck and middle pickups like the Surfers or SSL-1's. The tone of alnico 5 Strat pickups is classic: bright, bubbley, clear, lively, etc. It's the tone I hear when I listen to hendrix or SRV or Knopfler.

The APS-2/TB set up is killer...but it's a more quot;modernquot; sound. Thicker, chunkier, smoother and not as biting, bubbley and glassy as SSL-1's.

It's all good...and it's nice to have a choice. I just happen to have the vintage tone stuck in my head and that's what I want to hear from the neck and middle pickups when I play chords or double stop Ramp;B stuff.


Originally Posted by LewguitarI have to say that although I love the APS-2/Twangbanger combo I still prefer alnico 5 neck and middle pickups like the Surfers or SSL-1's. The tone of alnico 5 Strat pickups is classic: bright, bubbley, clear, lively, etc. It's the tone I hear when I listen to hendrix or SRV or Knopfler.

The APS-2/TB set up is killer...but it's a more quot;modernquot; sound. Thicker, chunkier, smoother and not as biting, bubbley and glassy as SSL-1's.

It's all good...and it's nice to have a choice. I just happen to have the vintage tone stuck in my head and that's what I want to hear from the neck and middle pickups when I play chords or double stop Ramp;B stuff.

Help me out here. Perhaps my ears are not well trained. But, when I think of the SSL-1 form what I've heard on the forum I think bright. But, Hendrix to me doesn't sound bright. but perhaps he uses the notch positions with a lot of disortion(gain,overdrive) that loses the brightness but gives him his classic tone? Or does he roll the tone control to remove the brightness?


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadHelp me out here. Perhaps my ears are not well trained. But, when I think of the SSL-1 form what I've heard on the forum I think bright. But, Hendrix to me doesn't sound bright. but perhaps he uses the notch positions with a lot of disortion(gain,overdrive) that loses the brightness but gives him his classic tone? Or does he roll the tone control to remove the brightness?

Touch is everything! And you have to learn to shape the tone with BOTH hands.

Hendrix had a great touch. As did SRV. But Hendrix, especially, could sound annoyingly bright and thin at times in live performance.

The SSL-1 is a bright pickup...but it's still closer to what Hendrix or SRV or Buddy Guy or Knopfler used in thier Strats. Some guys scrape the strings and have a harsh attack with thier pick and overall touch on the guitar and as a result, they get a harsh tone...but I think those guys should learn to develop a nicer touch on thier guitars and learn to shape the tone with thier hands a little better, rather than looking for a pickup to correct what's really a deficiency in playing technique...unless you like that harsh edgey tone!

Buddy Guy seems to like it! And I do too - but only when Buddy does it.


Originally Posted by LewguitarTouch is everything! And you have to learn to shape the tone with BOTH hands.

Hendrix had a great touch. As did SRV. But Hendrix, especially, could sound annoyingly bright and thin at times in live performance.

The SSL-1 is a bright pickup...but it's still closer to what Hendrix or SRV or Buddy Guy or Knopfler used in thier Strats. Some guys scrape the strings and have a harsh attack with thier pick and overall touch on the guitar and as a result, they get a harsh tone...but I think those guys should learn to develop a nicer touch on thier guitars and learn to shape the tone with thier hands a little better, rather than looking for a pickup to correct what's really a deficiency in playing technique...unless you like that harsh edgey tone!

Buddy Guy seems to like it! And I do too - but only when Buddy does it.

It would be cool to see Hendrix live!

Some have said that the APS are smoother with distortion. ARe the APS preferable when seeking a dirty tone? Or do the SSL/Surfers do just as well and we are really in the realm of preference.


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadIt would be cool to see Hendrix live!

Some have said that the APS are smoother with distortion. ARe the APS preferable when seeking a dirty tone? Or do the SSL/Surfers do just as well and we are really in the realm of preference.

I think when it comes to single coils, a pickup with more mids, like the APS or Twangbanger or Texas Hots, do sound better if you're going for a distorted overdriven tone, than alnico 5 pickups.

And that alnico 5 pickups like the Surfers or SSL sounds better for cleaner, classic Strat rythym tones.

That's why I use the alnico 5 Surfers or SSL-1's for my neck and middle pickups and the Texas Hot Custom or Twangbanger for the bridge pickups.

Get's me the best of both worlds: clean, clear tone for rythym from the SSL or Surfer and a thicker more easily overdriven tone for soloing when I switch to the alnico 2 bridge pickup.

Lew