Suhr SSH+ is in! Is there something wrong with my Aldrich?

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Rex Rocker

Rex Rocker

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I got my SSH+ into my Gibson Les Paul Modern Lite today, and my initial impression is... wow, there's definitely something wrong with my Aldrich, LOL.

I just gave the SSH+ a quick spin, and I like it. It's not far from what you'd exepct from an Alnico 5 17K pickup. It's pretty evident it's a take on the JB, but it just feels more balanced. High mids are there, but there is more top end detail without being raspy like the 498T it replaced. There is less low mid clutter than the JB, so it feels more immediate. It's not thin, though. There is a healthy amount of low-end, but it's still a lot more towards the JB side of things than it is towards something like the bassier Custom/Custom 5. It does have a hint of Custom 5 in there, though, especially in the highs.

But the first thing that struck me is it's much hotter than the Aldrich in my LP Tribute. I'm pretty sure it's close to the same output level as the Plain Jane JB, and it makes sense. It's supposed to be 17K and A5. Mine measures 16K in my meter. But it sounded immediately more distorted than the Aldrich in my LP Tribute. So I checked what's up by recording DI's. Yep. It's like 3-4dB louder than the Aldrich, which I'm super confused about. The Aldrich is supposed to be 17.5K, and mine measures 16.8-ish. It runs on the same "Special" Alnico 5 magnet that Suhr uses on all their A5 pickups, or so I was told by emailing them. So.... anyone got any idea what kind of wizardry is going on here? I'm aware it's different guitars, but it's not like my Tribute is quieter acoustically than my Modern Lite at all. It's weird. Maybe it is supposed to be this low output?

Either way, I'll post a more in-depth review of the SSH+, but as I am right now, I'm tempted to just drop another SSH+ in my Tribute as well, LOL. It just feels more like what a 17K should feel like in my mind. Kinda makes me feel like the Aldrich is kind of a disappointment by comparison.
 
I have a SSH+ and Aldrich in 2 different strats and the Aldrich has more output and more upper mid and the SSH+ is more lower mid to my ear. Nether have the classic JB weird mid thing going on lol imo.
 
jasonP said:
I have a SSH+ and Aldrich in 2 different strats and the Aldrich has more output and more upper mid and the SSH+ is more lower mid to my ear. Nether have the classic JB weird mid thing going on lol imo.
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I don't find the mids on a JB weird? It is VERY mid-forward (for a passive), is that what you mean? Both the Aldrich and the SSH+ seem less mid-focused than the JB for sure, but I'm not even sure my Aldrich is functioning like it's supposed to.
 
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Install the Aldrich in the Modern Lite and see if it's still vastly different. They should be more similar than they are different. Aldrich is basically an overwound SSH+. Been ages since I last tested them, but I recall the SSH+ being a bit brighter with the Aldrich having a bit more of a mid push.
 
Code001 said:
Install the Aldrich in the Modern Lite and see if it's still vastly different. They should be more similar than they are different. Aldrich is basically an overwound SSH+. Been ages since I last tested them, but I recall the SSH+ being a bit brighter with the Aldrich having a bit more of a mid push.
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Gonna have to to that next string change. As they are right now, I feel like I'm liking the SSH+ better just because it's behaving as an actual hot pickup, which is kinda what I want out of these when I got them.
 
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looks like the main is buffered, for my use though, it's short cable runs in a recording environment - may not be right for the OP
 
Are you sure you had them set the same height as well?
 
Rex Rocker said:
I don't find the mids on a JB weird? It is VERY mid-forward (for a passive), is that what you mean? Both the Aldrich and the SSH+ seem less mid-focused than the JB for sure, but I'm not even sure my Aldrich is functioning like it's supposed to.
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I measured both of my SSH+ was 16.36k and Aldrich was 16.78k. Pretty close to what you are getting. Could it be that maybe it was wired incorrectly to the guitar?
In some guitars I found the JB sounds a little cocked wah sounding in the midrange.
 
jasonP said:
I measured both of my SSH+ was 16.36k and Aldrich was 16.78k. Pretty close to what you are getting. Could it be that maybe it was wired incorrectly to the guitar?
In some guitars I found the JB sounds a little cocked wah sounding in the midrange.
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No idea. Honestly, I'm digging the SSH+ better anyways. Seems tighter and more attack-y. I ordered a second SSH+ for the Tribute.

I've read that about the JB, but I've never experienced that, personally. I have had a couple of DiMarzios that have that awww vocal midrange sound which IMO is awful. But the JB has never been like that to me. It does have a very cutting upper midrange and a somewhat stuffy lower midrange, but it has never been vocal or wah-y in my guitars.

But I do agree that the SSH+ and the Aldrich seem less stuffy and more open than the JB.
 
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