For another strat project, I was looking for a vintage SSS setup. Very fund of the Seymour Duncan single coils, I wanted to try this loaded pickguard.
It came on time, as always with Thomann.
The pickguard fitted perfectly. Everything looked high quality, but first I want to mention the reason for my 4/5: on the first test, the middle pickup didn’t work. I discovered 2 loose wires at the Liberator selector. There was a little screwdriver to fix the tiny screws, but no schematics with the kit, also not on line. After figuring out, I could make it work. But than the tone control of the middle PU seemed to do nothing. Comparison with other strats learned that the hot wire was soldered on the wrong leg of the pot.
After repairing this, everything worked fine.
Quality control, Seymour Duncan?
I am glad I didn’t send it back. The 3 PUs are well balanced, the single coil sound is very much dynamic like the vintage staggered SSL series from Seymour Duncan I love, maybe a bit more “civilised”. I leave the coiltap switch mostly on (third pot switch up), with the bonus of humbucking if needed. (Light equipment, more overdrive etc.) My noise gate isn’t always necessary anymore!
I would buy it again.
