After 30 years playing guitars - I've decided to buy myself my dream guitar - a Fender Strat - for my 40th birthday.

Thing is...it's not only my first strat, but my first Electric . I have a classical and an accoustic, and I've regularly played friends electric guitars, but never owned one myself. Why? because I said I'd only buy one if it was a Fender, and I've not been able to afford it until now.

So....
In laymans terms, what is the difference between an HSS and a standard? I know the H in HSS stands for Humbucker - but what difference does it really make?
Should I go for the HSS? (especially as there's a deal on and I can get it a bit cheaper!).
...I know you're going to say go and play the 2 - and I will, just wanted your opinions.

I play all types of music...mostly rock, quite fancy playing Pink Floyd alot on the Strat.

My first electric was a standard Strat (SSS) which was great. To cut a long story short I had it for 14 years, sold it, regretted selling it after a couple of years then bought a Tele. Then last month I bought myself another Strat (coincidentally also for my 40th b'day!). There were 2 in the shop I liked, a white SSS and a midnight wine HSS. I'd played the white one several times (and loved it) but kept looking at the HSS. Then the day came where I was ready to buy. On close inspection I found a discoloration on the back of the white one. I didn't want to wait for another one to be ordered so I said "I'll take that HSS". Didn't even play it beforehand, just looked over it and felt the neck to make sure it felt right.

Anyway I love it. Covers everything from rock to blues. At the time I figured if I didn't like the humbucker, I could always get a new scratchplate and fit a singlecoil. I guess the same can be said if you get a SSS.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that they are both good guitars. Very versatile and it's up to you how you use them. Some people don't like the standard humbucker stating it's very loud and harsh compared to the single coils in the neck and middle positions . I agree there is a bit more volume there but I think a lot of the tone you get has to do more with your amp than your actual pickups. Just my opinion. I was ready to throw the standard pickups out of my Tele. Then when I got my new amp, it sounded like a different guitar and I loved them.

This is just my story. Others will tell you to go play them both and decide for yourself which I agree is probably the best advice you can take.

Good luck. And let us know how you go...

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MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!

The HSS is more versatile in that the bridge humbucker is normally quite a bit stronger than a bridge single coil. That bridge single coil on a Stratocaster is considered by many to be weak. It's chimy and high pitched, and it's positioned over the portion of the strings that has the weakest low frequency contribution.

If you want to play surf music or other music that was recorded with an SSS Stratocaster, then you'll want that single coil sound. But if you want something that takes distortion better and makes a better foundation for big solo work, the humbucker is a better choice.

When I bought my first "good" guitar it was an HSS Stratocaster. I needed the versatility. But now that I have other options I have converted it to an SSS. I have a good Telecaster now, and while the bridge pickup on a Telecaster is also a single coil, it is as strong as many humbuckers. It barks like a dog.

My plan is that when it's time to jump with both feet back into the world of humbuckers I'll go Gibson.

Anyway, that's how it works for me.

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get the HSS
so you have got both the choice of single coils and humbucker in a guitar

When I got my first electric, (after playing for 40 years), I ended up with an HSS Strat. I play using only the neck single coil for the most part, but can punch it up by selecting the humbucker. It kind of works like an effects pedal for me. Nice for when you want a little, (a LOT, actually), more grit.

Gridlok

Welcome to the Forum.

Apparently you have been playing guitar for a while, just not electric.
My personal advise is to go out and try them and see which one fits your playing and what you think you want tone wise.

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Welcome to the Forum. Some people like humbuckers for their "fat" sound. Some like the single coil sound. All I can suggest is to play many many models of the Stratocaster. Some have different pickups, some have different fretboards, and some have different types of paint. Play before you pay. Don't forget to play it plugged in as well as unplugged to ensure that there is not any buzzes. Post pics if you can when you get your new guitar. We all love pics of new guitars.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I guess I'm a purist because I love the original SSS Strat. Like another poster said I can get some great grit out of my Telecaster bridge! One of each I say. A SSS Strat A MIA Telecaster and if you want a Gibson Les Paul!! All you need except a great Tube (yes I said it ) amp!! YMMV!!

I'm a die-hard Strat traditionalist and I suggest especially if you want to play Pink Floyd as Gilmore and Barrett both used all single coil Strats.To my ears the single coils just make a Strat a Strat and have the classic Strat sound.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

First Fender was a new '89 American Standard with SSS config. Because that is the essence of a Strat. 'Never looked back and never went HSS.

Just an opinion, of course.

i bought an hss last december. i like because it gives me best of both worlds. strat sounds for the classic sounds, and a humbucker when i need to kick it up.

whatever way you go, you can't go wrong with a strat.

play on in good health!

Amen!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

I like the singles - it's what I've always liked about the strat. I can also try to justify another guitar with "but I don't have anything with humbuckers and I NEED the sound".

+1 to the "keep trying until you find the one that feels right" comments though...

I have been in your situation about a year ago and I bought myself a strat for my 33 birthday

It took me about 3 months to decide between SSS and HSS.
Went for the HSS to cover it all but plan if $$$ will be to get a classic SSS, tele and LP later

Reason: The distortion-especially heavier on SSS strat sounds BAD (weak, shallow, undefined...) on the HSS the thing is much better. Not fat LP sound but good enough for me. That classic tone can be met quite well but a bit better with SSS.

On the other hand it pretty much depends on the type of music you will be playing.
If you want one guitar to match it all as good as that's possible with one guitar definetlly go for the HSS.

As far as for the higher output relating to singles I would say that this is excellently balanced. If you get S-1 switchig with it too that's even better.

Be careful about noiseless-texmex difference. You would probably like one setup more than the other on clean especially.

It's very subjective but I just hated the clean on deluxe noiseles and also I would say that deluxe SSS is way less classic strat sound to me than HSS MIA Std.

So it pretty much depends on the guitar also not only on SSS HSS HSH... setup.

Try them all (clean, mid-high distortion...) and buy yourself the right one.

Regards,
T.

I have both SSS & HSS Strats. They all have their own characteristics and I love them all and I will love more. The funny thing is that when I crave that "Traditional Strat Sound", I tend to use the neck single coil which both the SSS & the HSS have. You're getting a good price on the HSS right? Win, win.

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