Hi guys (and girls),

I'm looking to upgrade from a Strat-knockoff (Laguna LE422) to the real thing. I've settled on the American Special series, because those guitars have just about everything I want for a decent price. My only hesitation at this point is whether to go for the all-singles setup, or the humbucker in the bridge. I play mostly blues and rock (punk/alternative/classic), nothing super heavy (no metal).

There are two HSS strat knockoffs in our house, but tonally they are not very similar to a strat, so I can't really judge based on that. The Laguna I'm selling has a coil-split on the humbucker, and I find I have virtually no use for it. I mostly play the humbucker, which makes me wonder how much I would use the bridge on the SSS. Then again, it isn't a strat by a longshot, and the pickups have no similarity, so I don't feel I can base my decision on it.

Aesthetically, both have their merits. But frankly, if I'm dropping money on a guitar, I want it to play great first. I also think the rosewood fingerboard on the HSS might be nicer, but these are all secondary to the pickup configuration.

So I suppose these are my questions:

-Is the 2nd position (split bridge+middle) on the HSS fairly similar to the same position on the SSS?

-Clearly the humbucker would be stronger for the rock I play. Will it hinder my blues at all? For blues I mostly play combinations of neck and middle, sometimes bridge+middle, but as I've been saying...I can't really compare the cheap copies to an American Special.

Thanks a lot for any help or advice you can offer.

I have the hss and it can do anything, that being said I have never had a single on the bridge soo not much for me to compare to. Play them and find out if you can. Good luck! BTW I am one of the few who likes the factory bucker but with the bridge decked I find it does what I am looking for, YMMV.

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— did that sound like something?

I am very biased towards SSS, so no big help here. I would suggest the standard response do a little road trip and locate both versions and play your fav tunes and your brain/ears will tell you the best.

Great topic! I experienced the same a few years back and have since been playing the HSS models. The versatility allows for having additional tonal options that have impressed me...Do not be fooled thinking that Strat tones are depleted with the humbucker at the bridge...I have two SSS and run comparisons frequently and was pleasantly surprised. With that being said, I do like guitars in any form or fashion. The HSS suits my playing style and enhances my personal expressions in tone.

Thanks

I played the SSS last night...planning to get over and play the HSS sometime in the next few days. Of course you're all right that there's no substitute for a hands-on test drive. I'm just looking for people's take on it who might have a more long-term experience with these guitars to offer their take.

I think the main reason I'm holding back on the HSS is that the cheap HSS knockoffs we own sort of left a bad taste in my mouth...horrible humbuckers. Anyone have an opinion on the quality of the Atomic?

I personally own a HSS Strat and I love it. Part of me wishes that it was an SSS simply because that IS a Strat but tonally I love everything about it. I can't imagine a more versatile guitar. If Fender came out with an HSS with a splitter that allowed the bucker to be switched to a single that would be amazing.

I prefer hss strat but i play punk rock / metal and i like their versatility.

have you tried a american special .. it has jumbo frets , now theres no good or bad , but i have an hss american standard with medium jumbo and i could tell right away when i tried an american special that i didnt like the fretboard . my favorite frets are medium jumbo , the vintage are too small and the jumbo are too big .

the thing is that 2007 highway one have jumbo too but didnt really notice at first when i tried it in the store , i liked the feel . but the american special i could tell right away that it wasnt for me .

now its just taste . but i would say try one before you buy , just to make sure you like jumbo frets .

for some , it look like its only a details , but i see the difference in the feeling of the neck .

I have both setup's
(1) SSS in a CS 56 NOS (vintage)
(2) SSS SCN''s in a MIM Deluxe
(3) HSS with coil split in a standard
(4) SSS with NM, NB, M, MB, NMB switching options (vintage pups)
(5) HSS again with coil split (pick ups are Carvin) was a J.B.Player

Rewiring will give you many more possibilities but I just posted similar comments on another thread, the Amp you use is half of the Equation in the right (to You ) sound.

Additionally go to the wiring schematics page in support. You should find the option you seek.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Here's where I disagree with you, because the way I see it, you can easily swap the bridge pickup (okay and pickguard) for a lot less than swapping the neck...

I say go for whichever model feels best to you regardless of pickups and then if you need to, swap out the pickup.

Personally I hardly ever use the bridge pickup on a Strat and I have had both HSS and SSS. I did find that I used it more when I had a humbucker there and for the style you say you play I would think a humbucker would be more suited.

And you can always get a switch wired in to split the humbucker and give you a single coil sound there too - you can't do the opposite on a single coil!!

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How did it sound to you?

I_Speak_Blues,

If you truely speak Blues and play the Blues, you may want the American Special SSS. I own one in SSS and to me it is one very nice guitar. I played both the HSS and SSS when looking at the American Specials, and decided on the SSS was for me. I suggest that you play a bunch of different American Specials in both HSS and SSS configurations as well. See which one you like the best. Your taste may be a bit different than mine. I now have 3 Stratocasters: one is SSS, one is HSS, and my newest is HH. All play about the same, but all sound very different amplified.

Rosewood vs Maple...lets just say pickups and pickguards are easy enough to change out if looks are an issue vs a well playing guitar.

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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

Well I can def recommend the HSS, very versatile indeed. And I rlly love rosewood and the jumo frets, but that's just me. I'm into metal, rock and blues mainly and the HSS works like a charm w/ these.

As many allrdy have stated; you should play a few and compare them, in the end it's all down to you and your personal preferences.

Good luck.

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2010 American Special HSS 3TSB
Marshall MG15FX

Humbucker in the bridge for sure!

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

when ya get down to it it depends on your style. I myself am an SSS fan but you could always get an HSS and mod it to split the humbucker, 2 in 1.

WOW !!! you don't get more 50/50 than this poll so guessing there is no wrong answer !
I voted SSS but thats my personal choice, i had a MIM-HSS a while back an couldn't get on with it so passed it on to a new owner who loves it !! ?? !!

One of each !!!!

(sorry not a lot of help).

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Dan...

Fender 1987 MIJ Stratocaster, Texas Special Loaded.
Fender 2007 MIA Jazz Deluxe.

Personally, I don't think I'll ever buy another SSS Strat again. I have had both types for ages and I still frequently A/B them. I never seem to tire of it. I do it mostly for fun and also curiosity when trying rig configs outside my norm. As has been said by someone else already I use the bridge alone more often with the HSS than the SSS. Putting a bucker at the bridge of a Strat is a time honored traditional mod.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.