Seymour Duncan SSL-7 Quarter-Pound Staggered Strat RWRP Pickup

Seymour Duncan SSL-7 Quarter-Pound Staggered Strat RWRP Pickup

The SSL-7 Quarter-Pound is a high-output single-coil replacement that captures aggressive, articulate tone while preserving the snap and definition essential for recording classic Strat textures. The staggered pole pattern sits flush with the strings, requiring no adjustment for proper response across the fretboard. Built with reverse wound, reverse polarity (RWRP) configuration, this middle-position pickup eliminates hum when combined with standard neck or bridge pickups in positions 2 and 4—eliminating a persistent mixing challenge in traditional three-pickup setups.

Design & Construction

The pickup uses Alnico 5 rod magnets at quarter-inch diameter, paired with a custom high-output coil wind that emphasizes midrange punch and sustain—critical for cutting through dense mixes. The modern oval Forbon bobbin with flatwork ensures consistent performance and durability, while wax potting controls microphonic feedback without dulling the articulation that defines single-coil character in recorded tracks.

Tone & Recording Performance

The high-output design drives tube amps and overdrives harder than stock pickups, translating to more aggressive tone capture on tape and in the box. The RWRP configuration in the middle position provides genuine noise cancellation in positions 2 and 4 when paired with standard pickups, eliminating the 60-cycle hum that compromises studio recordings in traditional three-pickup setups.

Key Features

• Magnet material: Alnico 5 rod magnets, quarter-inch diameter
• Pole pattern: Staggered pattern
• Coil winding: Custom high-output coil wind
• Winding variation: Reverse wound, reverse polarity (RWRP)
• Processing: Wax potted
• Bobbin material: Modern oval Forbon flatwork (non-triangular)
• Cover: None
• Type: High output true single-coil
• Function: Reverse-wound/reverse-polarity configuration for noiseless operation in positions 2 & 4 when combined with neck or bridge pickups

The SSL-7 Quarter-Pound combines genuine noise rejection with authentic single-coil aggression—a rare combination that upgrades the middle pickup without compromise, delivering clean tracking and mix-ready tones in professional sessions.