hey guys i am 44 years old and i am just starting to learn how to play i have always wanted to play but just never took the time. now that i realize that life is short i just figured i will do it. my question is what is the diff in the sound of the hss and the standard.

Hi majjackdog, and welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your decision to take up the guitar. I started around the same age as you, and I've been playing for nearly two years. I love it!

I am a little confused by your question. You say you are interested in a Telecaster, but the pickup configurations you are describing are more often associated with a Stratocaster.

Stratocasters usually come in what is called a SSS configuration. This means the guitar has three single-coil pickups. The optional HSS (or "Fat Strat") configuration places a humbucking pickup in the bridge position. This gives you a "fatter" tone when playing in that position. Some argue that this is not a true Strat tone, but others like the versatility.

Telecasters usually come with just two single-coil pickups: one in the bridge and one in the neck position. There are a number of variations available that place humbuckers in one or both positions or that even add a center, Strat-style pickup.

My recommendation would be to go to YouTube and search on various terms like Fat Strat or Telecaster humbucker and see what kind of videos people have posted with these different instruments. If you find a sound you like, you are then ready to visit your local music store to try the various instruments in person.

I hope this helps. Once again, congratulations on your decision to start playing the guitar!

_________________
I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

thanks russian i meant strat, i just dont know the difference that the humbucker makes vs the standard strat sound

Compare these two videos:

American Standard Stratocaster

Standard Fat Strat

Hope this helps!

_________________
I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

Welcome to the forum.....You can teach an old dog new tricks. Mike

_________________
The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Welcome, Im a late starter too
You will find tons of good info here as well as very knowledgeable folks.
Have fun and good luck

Bill

_________________
Hey, Boy Blue is back!

thanks that answers my questions!!!

you guys are encouraging!!! i feel somewhat overwhelmed but i am excited about learning !!!!

I'm with you on that .I am also taking up this guitar thing at middle age! The kids and wife won't all fit in a sports car . I'm loving this Guitar stuff. I picked up a 2008 MIM SSS standard Strat and a Blues jr amp . Real nice combo.Well I think it is! It has areal bluesey sound that I like.

Majjackdog

Sir I'd worry more about playing the thing than what pickups do what, at your new stage. You can base your guitar choice on the people you enjoy listening to, for the time being.

_________________
No no and no

Hi majjackdog and welcome to the forum. Don't count on finding the ultimate Strat with your first guitar. You'll likely go to a guitar center and try a lot of stuff and it is the ideal way to do it. As time goes by, you will train your ear and your taste will change. That is when GAS kicks in. Guitar attack syndrom will find you, but there is hope with a cure that is another kind of GAS (Get a Strat). Find a guitar and amp that you like and practice with it for some time. In a year from now you'll have a better idea of what your gear should be. Congrats on your decision to learn and play guitar. Good luck on finding the equipment best suited for you.
Claude.

The advice is try out guitars in the store is good advice but I found it to be kinda intimidating when you're just starting out and you can't really play much... If you can, take someone with you who you trust and is proficient. I my case, a long time ago when I bought my first Strat, I arranged for my guitar teacher to accompany me to the store once I had narrowed down my choices via Fender's online product info. That worked for me..

Good luck and enjoy learning guitar! I'm older than you (58) and, after a few half-hearted attempts, am back trying to learn to play.

I love the advice , i am just trying to get as much info on what sound the guitar has so a year from now im not looking for something i would like better, i like the fender sound and wasnt sure of the sound the hss pickups have but i checked out the youtube and can now see the difference.

No kidding ! I hated going to guitar stores and have someguy pulling some hot riff next to me and I could hardly hit a power cord. Guitar stores should think of having a couple of small rooms where us beginer can try a guitar. They would sell more rather then have us walk out feeling small and insignificant. Just a thought.[/quote]

take it one note, one chord at atime.
welcome to the forum.
its exciting, fun, also time consuming( in a good way)
every day youll learn something new, and the next day you will be that much better.
my advice is start out with a hss mim strat and a an amp with back trackings. eg GDEC.
a good instructor for DVD is Keith Wyatt, either acoustic or electric.

my reason for advising on the hss, best of both worlds

neck p/u you can be bluesy, and switch to the bridge w/ distortion and get heavy tones acdc