Suhr owners with new SSC system: review please!

[tfire]

The new Silent Single Coil system should be in the hands of a few forumites by now. What do you think of it?

 

[PlexiBreath]

Mine is not built yet, but I did get a chance to stop by Tone Merchants acapella weeks ago to try one. I'm quite a skeptic, but I must say, it is not hype, it's everything it claims to be. All Strat single coil tone with nothing whatsoever missing except the noise.

 

[jesper]

Its interesting how they compare to Kinmans. Especially the Kinmans closest soundwise to the Suhr V60's. I expect them to be Kinmans 56 mk ll at least they were the ones used by Scott Peterson. Kinmanns can be very very loud and punchy if ajusted so. Really nothing like original 62 strat pups as I remember mine. I always thought Kinmans were pure strat tone without the noise. If Suhrs SSC system is a lot better they must be pure über strat tone without the noise. I not posible to be quiter than Kinmans. How can you be quiter than deadsilent?
But off course its posible to sound better whtever that is.

 

[Glowing Tubes]

Dont care much for the Kinmans, did a side by side with Suhr V60's. It was not even close. The Suhr's sounded much better, much clearer, more bell like, more "strat" like.

 

[Reeek]

With my new classic equipped with the standard V60LP's, I'm not even interested in the noiseless right now. I don't really have any noise issues anyway unless I'm 12 inches from the amp with the guitar and two of my amps are still running the original 2-prong cord Dead silient unless I get malicious and stick the pickups into the amp's face.

I know clips are not always a good depiction but I seem to have heard a slight loss in the bell like piano clarity with the noiseless pickups I heard on the clip.

And I am so digging these V60LP's! I played for 2 hours through through 3 amps that date back the the 60's and one that dates back to 1974 last night and enjoyed every relatively silent moment!

 

[tfire]

Originally posted by Suhr
So for those of you who feel the RWRP middle pickup interfers with string vibration that is taken care of.

John, do you think that the RWRP set-up interferes? That's the first I've heard that it might not be a 100% good arrangement.

 

[Joe Perry]

Just got off the phone with Noel from Tone Merchants ordering a new classic with the SSC system. Can't wait! Should be done by December. Merry X-mas to me!

Anyone else have any SSC reports?

Joe

 

[shoe]

Well, I just picked up a new Suhr Classic from Make N' Music equipped with the SSC system.

I was contemplating having one built, but as the Standard I have currently in progress has already been delayed a month, I decided to see if there was anything in someone's current stock that would suit my needs. Well lucky for me Make N' Music had a classic in olympic white with a aged-green pick guard that had the exact specs I wanted: Alder body, maple neck with African Rosewood fingerboard, Even C Medium Neck, Stainless Steel 6105 frets and a 1088 bridge, V60 LP's, blend control and the SSC system (with a push/pull pot to disengage the system).

I have to tell you that this instrument is just incredible. I used to own a real '64 strat and ditched it for two reasons: hum and hum (well, playability as well.....it was a '64 after all!). Seriously though, I've always loved the sound of single coil pickups.....hell I may even say that I prefer them to humbuckers. But since I like to play with a bit of gain from time to time, I just could never live with the hum.....I found it way too distracting. I've tried silent (i.e. stacked) systems in the past including kinmans and bardens and just never dug 'em.....that was until this guitar entered my life.

The best word to describe the sound of this system is "stunning!" For practically my entire guitar-playing life I've wanted single coil tone without the hum and now I finally have it! This guitar sounds phenomemal and plays just a good as my other similarly equipped (i.e. neck shape and fret type) Suhrs.

This instrument is just so inspiring to play. Finally I can go for all this stuff I've always wanted to do without having to deal with the hum.

SERIOUSLY.....EVERYONE MUST TRY THIS OUT!

 

[lv]

John, does the bypass pot come stock on guitars ordered with the SSC?

My order sheet says: Volume, Tone N/M push pull, Tone B, 5 way - SSC

I figured you put the push/pull in all of them just to surprise people.

 

[Leucadian]

I just did a gig with my SSC-equipped Suhr Classic on Christmas Eve...the club had lots of lighting, neon signs, electric dart boards etc...no hum...just Strat tone...it's fantastic...if you miss the hum...just lift up the middle tone knob...but you won't

Incidentally, I bought this guitar used...it came with the noiseless Kinman's...they were quiet, but I never cared for their tone. The V60 LP's in tandem with the SSC is the way to go

 

[lv]

Hi Lou,

Yes, the bypass push-pull pot comes stock with the SSC-equipped guitars. It's easier to wire the system with it and makes it easier to trouble-shoot as well. The V60LP's and the V60's with the SSC System are quieter than most humbuckers.

The SSC Backplate System is almost ready for the market as well. We have a final prototype on a Classic at TM for people to try. It works very, very well for those who want to reduce the hum on their Fender CS Strats or other high-end Strats or Strat-style guitars with "pure" single-coils in them.

Thanks Ed - I'm expecting this next Suhr to be the "quest ender". btw, did you get the cream parts I sent you? Also wanted to thank you for all your help w/ the case.

 

[JDouglee]

My new Classic with the SSC is dead quiet, and yes I have the bypass too if I need to get all noisy on ya.

Without the reverse wound middle pup, I find pos 2 & 4 have alot more sparkle. Great stuff! I want now to hear it with regular V60s.

 

[Leucadian]

I agree...Suhr SSC Classics in 2 & 4 have "more of what you look for in 2 & 4"...

 

[PlexiBreath]

Thanks Ed - I'm expecting this next Suhr to be the "quest ender".

Lou, what will be different about your next Suhr? Your last one looked holygrailish, I can't imagine a quest-ending improvement would be possible.

 

[CDaughtry]

Here's a clip I did with my new Suhr equipped with the new noiseless system.

www.members.aol.com/sharid1959/suhr.mp3

 

[gordie]

The system is incredible. I put my guitar in some situations where hum was crazy with out SSC and with SSC it was completely gone. I can't detect any change in tone with SSC, and I also compared it to a similar guitar with the same pickups, but no SSC, and except for hum, same tone within the boundaries of the guitar's inherent differences.

Now that I've experienced it, I hope to get it on all my guitars, I have some with SSH, and V60 (no LP) as well. Here's waiting for the P90 version too Amazing system!

I posted some clips comparing SSC on/off on the Suhr forum. Not sure if forum etiquette at the Gear Page allows cross posts to other forums, if its OK I'll post the direct link.

The clips weren't aimed at anything other than demoing the SSC, trying to throw the guitar tone out there naked so to speak - so they're not anything fancy, just some fooling around captured on the computer.

Make sure to check out the second set of clips - the first set were done quickly and I moved my right hand around, changing the tone subtly, but I added more clips where I cross faded between two tracks - the guitar with SSC enabled vs. disabled - its nearly impossible to tell when I'm switching.

I am completely in awe of the SSC system, plus I love V60LP pickups anyway!

CDaughtry - nice clip - awesome tone! What equipment/pickup are you using? Is that the neck pickup? Smooth but with some nice bite. I'll search to see if you posted about the new guitar (pics?) [edit: can't find anything - do tell!]

-- Gordie

 

[lv]

Lou, what will be different about your next Suhr? Your last one looked holygrailish, I can't imagine a quest-ending improvement would be possible.

Only changes are the D neck (instead of the 56 soft v) and the SSC and all singles instead of the humbucker in the bridge. Other than that its the same color, same everything. Believe it or not, the 56 soft v neck isn't quite big enough (even at a full 1" at nut) so I hoping the larger shoulders of the D will be perfect. When does your arrive?

 

[PlexiBreath]

Only changes are the D neck (instead of the 56 soft v) and the SSC and all singles instead of the humbucker in the bridge. Other than that its the same color, same everything. Believe it or not, the 56 soft v neck isn't quite big enough (even at a full 1" at nut) so I hoping the larger shoulders of the D will be perfect. When does your arrive?

Cool, I recall you wanted something close to your historic Les Paul. I can definately understand as I love the neck on my Les Paul, but for me it's just a tad to puffy in the shoulders for my tastes, what I ended up ordering was a softer V than the 56 soft V and very thick throughout, I like a V that's almost unnoticable, but the Les Paul was almost flatish in back.

When does your arrive?

I don't know, but I understand the company has a lot of orders to fill which is causing some delay, but mine has some unusual specs as well.

 

[JDouglee]

If it's the Henderson "D neck" it's pretty thin IMO

 

[lv]

If it's the Henderson "D neck" it's pretty thin IMO

D is just the shape, I spec'd the size to be 1 inch at the nut.