Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
5.0 (7)
$247.00
Amazon
3.2 (15)
$247.00
Reverb
5.0 (17)
$79.00 New
$79.00 Used
Thomann
4.8 (237)
$85.00
Gear4Music
£285.00

Average Price: $185

Standard/Professional

$99

$200+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Seymour Duncan SSL-5". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Introducing the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 Custom Staggered Pickup Set, a true titan in the realm of Strat tone. This set offers you the authentic single-coil Strat tone, but with a twist - its overwound coils provide a bolder, more powerful output. This translates into a wealth of harmonics and a sustain that sings, perfect for pushing your amp to its limits.

But don't let its might fool you, this set isn't just for those who love to crank up the gain. It's also capable of producing a beautifully clean tone when you dial back your volume knob. This versatility makes it well-suited for a range of genres, from Texas blues rock to classic and heavy rock.

This pickup set was tailored with heavier and brighter-toned guitars, such as those with ash or alder bodies, in mind. It meshes seamlessly with both maple and rosewood fingerboards. And for those worried about hum, fear not. The middle pickup is reverse-wound/reverse-polarity (RW/RP), cancelling out hum in positions 2 and 4.

Key Features:

  • High-output, single-coil Stratocaster pickups
  • Calibrated set includes bridge, middle, and neck pickups
  • True single-coil Strat tone with enhanced output
  • Hum cancelling in positions 2 and 4
  • Ideal for heavier, brighter-toned ash or alder guitars
  • Suited for Texas blues rock, classic rock, and heavy rock genres

Product specs

Available since August 2004
Aktive Circuit No
Wiring 2-Conductor
Pickup Output High
Cap Yes
Colour White
Position Bridge, Middle, Neck
Stacked - hum free No
Telecaster No
Stratocaster Yes
Other No

FAQs

What type of guitar is the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 pickup designed for?

The Seymour Duncan SSL-5 is specifically designed for Stratocaster-style guitars, providing a high-output, vintage-inspired tone suitable for various playing styles.

Is the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 pickup suitable for all pickup positions on a Stratocaster?

Yes, the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 can be used in the bridge, middle, or neck positions of a Stratocaster, offering versatility in tone and application.

What kind of sound can I expect from the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 pickup?

The Seymour Duncan SSL-5 delivers a high-output, warm, and punchy tone with enhanced midrange, making it ideal for rock and blues genres.

Does the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 pickup require any special wiring?

The Seymour Duncan SSL-5 features a 2-conductor wiring setup, which is standard for most Stratocaster-style guitars and does not require any special wiring techniques.

Is the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 pickup active or passive?

The Seymour Duncan SSL-5 is a passive pickup, providing a natural and dynamic response without the need for a battery.

Seymour Duncan

Seymour Duncan

SSL-5 / SSL-1 Pickup Demo

Video thumbnail for SSL-5 / SSL-1 Pickup Demo by Seymour Duncan

SSL-5 / SSL-1 Pickup Demo

Seymour Duncan

Seymour Duncan

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan SSL-5 bridge pickup Test on Fender Stratocaster by Guitar Sound Lab

Seymour Duncan SSL-5 bridge pickup Test on Fender Stratocaster

Guitar Sound Lab

Guitar Sound Lab

Video thumbnail for Pickups Comparison Seymour Duncan SSL-1 vs SSL-5 by Dmitry K

Pickups Comparison Seymour Duncan SSL-1 vs SSL-5

Dmitry K

Dmitry K

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan ssl5 (bridge & neck) by Zaloral’s Test

Seymour Duncan ssl5 (bridge & neck)

Zaloral’s Test

Zaloral’s Test

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan SSL5 Single Coil High Gain by Anarchy Audio

Seymour Duncan SSL5 Single Coil High Gain

Anarchy Audio

Anarchy Audio

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan: SSL-5/SSL-1's. Old-School Marshall Rig by Brett Kingman

Seymour Duncan: SSL-5/SSL-1's. Old-School Marshall Rig

Brett Kingman

Brett Kingman

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan SSL 5 on 57 Fender Stratocaster by Taric music

Seymour Duncan SSL 5 on 57 Fender Stratocaster

Taric music

Taric music

Video thumbnail for Single Coil SSL-5 vs JB TB-4 Humbucker bridge pickup demo Seymour Duncan Fender by Guitar Sound Lab

Single Coil SSL-5 vs JB TB-4 Humbucker bridge pickup demo Seymour Duncan Fender

Guitar Sound Lab

Guitar Sound Lab

Video thumbnail for David Gilmour APPROVED This Pickup! | Seymour Duncan SSL-5 by MustyGuitar

David Gilmour APPROVED This Pickup! | Seymour Duncan SSL-5

MustyGuitar

MustyGuitar

Video thumbnail for DiMarzio FS-1 vs Seymour Duncan SSL-5 by gwEm’s gwEmbassy

DiMarzio FS-1 vs Seymour Duncan SSL-5

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan SSL5 bridge pickup upgraded by Hally Official

Seymour Duncan SSL5 bridge pickup upgraded

Hally Official

Hally Official

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan SSL 5 + Electro Harmonix Crayon Gilmour Tone! by Federico Kajganić

Seymour Duncan SSL 5 + Electro Harmonix Crayon Gilmour Tone!

Federico Kajganić

Federico Kajganić

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan SSL-5 vs SSL-7 Quarter Pound staggered - Stratocaster bridge pickup shootout by Jaakko Järvinen

Seymour Duncan SSL-5 vs SSL-7 Quarter Pound staggered - Stratocaster bridge pickup shootout

Jaakko Järvinen

Jaakko Järvinen

Video thumbnail for Fender Stratocaster Test w/Seymour Duncan SSL-5 - Andrea Maccianti by Andrea Maccianti

Fender Stratocaster Test w/Seymour Duncan SSL-5 - Andrea Maccianti

Andrea Maccianti

Andrea Maccianti

Reviews

PROS

  • Designed for David Gilmour's iconic Black Strat sound

  • Offers vintage tone with added punch and sizzle

  • Combines humbucker power with single coil bite

  • Enhances Stratocaster's output and fattens tone

  • Provides clear, warm, articulate lead sounds

  • Instantly revitalizes older or stock guitars

  • Versatile for various musical styles and tones

  • Produces smooth, classic vintage Strat tones

  • High-quality harmonics and singing sustain

  • Balances well with stock neck pickups for cohesive sound

CONS

  • Relatively expensive compared to other pickup brands

  • Might sound muddy without proper tweaking

  • Lacks jingley jangley tones for rhythm sounds

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Seymour Duncan SSL-5.

Features and functionality

  • The SSL-5 offers a beefy output while maintaining brightness and clarity, combining characteristics of both Strat and Tele bridge pickups.

    Source
  • Custom '69 pickups are identical across positions, which means no hum-cancelling in positions 2 or 4.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners appreciate the SSL-5 for solving the thin sound issue of typical Strat bridges, retaining the single-coil sound without needing a humbucker.

    Source
  • Custom '69s are praised for their performance across low and high gain, finger picking, and maintaining clarity in diverse styles.

    Source
  • Owners note that achieving a modern aggressive sound with a bridge pickup can be challenging when maintaining clarity in Strat single coils.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • The Obsidian Wire 7-way switch is a popular mod choice for expanding tonal options with the SSL-5.

    Source
  • The Gilmour mod with a push-pull pot allows for unique Tele or all-pickup configurations, enhancing versatility with the SSL-5 setup.

    Source
  • Some users recommend underwinding the humbucker and overwinding the neck pickup for balance, utilizing a super switch for automatic coil tapping.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The SSL-5 pairs well with fuzz and overdrive, delivering a rocking tone while contrasting nicely with softer neck and middle pickups.

    Source

Other

  • The Catalinbread sticker is often included with purchases, indicating a shared community detail among gear enthusiasts.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Custom '69s are noted for clarity and sparkle, making them a preferred choice over Fat 50s for achieving Gilmour's tone.

    Source
  • Although some prefer Fat 50s, Custom '69s are often recommended for better overdrive performance, retaining more sparkle without excessive bass push.

    Source
  • It's suggested that SD Pearly Gates may align better with SSL-1s for a balanced sound, but might not achieve a modern aggressive tone like the JB.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Users find adjusting to super switches and electronic mods challenging, especially for beginners new to guitar tinkering.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 12 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
timgoode70

Total balls!

For the bridge position on my Talman - add the right umph!

Artist usage

Add artist
See how David Gilmour uses Seymour Duncan SSL-5

David Gilmour

Guitarist

Pink Floyd

...
Verified via Gilmourish

The SSL-5 was specially designed for David Gilmour's Black Strat...

See how Yvette Young uses Seymour Duncan SSL-5

Yvette Young

Singer, Guitarist

Covet

...
Verified via Premierguitar

In all of her ibanez talman guitars, yevette uses a duncan ssl-5 single coil set. she fell in love with these guitars after barrowing one to use during a namm demo. the demo guitar had these pickups. she requested that the next guitar ibanez sent her had those pickups

See how Peter Spinazola uses Seymour Duncan SSL-5

Peter Spinazola

Bassist

Fit for an Autopsy

...
Verified via Photo

Peter Spinazola upgraded his custom Kiesel Carvin DC747C guitar with a Seymour Duncan SSL-5 pickup, as shared on Instagram by blue_diamond_philips.

See how Konrad Schmidt uses Seymour Duncan SSL-5

Konrad Schmidt

Guitarist

SUKI

...
Verified

Guitarist Konrad Schmidt has confirmed his use of the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 pickup, as stated on Backstage PRO.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Seymour Duncan SSL-5, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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