Installing fresh macOS High Sierra on SSD (Crucial MX500) on iMac 2011 21.5 (A1311) (Mid-2011)
I exchanged the SSD drive, and it worked!  

For the issue wasn't the installer, it was the SSD itself. I hear that that OWC brand of SSD are less prone to issues. I actually, but the OWC, but then MX500 can on sale and the warranty is longer and the specs are better...but I had to exchange the drive once.