I understand that the difference between these two is the bridge pickup. (And I did try and do a search). And I did go to the Fender page and do a side by side.

The American Standard has all three Custom Shop Fat '50s pick-ups where the American Standard HSS has two Custom Shop Fat '50s for the middle and neck and a Fender® Diamondback™ Humbucking Pickup for the bridge pick-up.

But what exactly is the advantage of one configuration over the over? Why would one want one versus the other?

Presumably, one is better for a particular type of music. I am just getting started (re)learning guitar after a 47 year absence and have decided to upgrade and want to make sure I make the right purchase.

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Chubby, old, retired guy trying to learn to play some blues.

The bridge pickup on the Fat 50's is brighter than the Diamondback. The Diamondback has more of a rounder/fat tone.

Both the HSS and SSS models are fine guitars. I have to say play both and see which is best for you.

I have a 2011 American Standard that has Tex-Mex single coils in the neck and middle and a Diamondback humbucker in the bridge. I recently put Fat 50's in my Highway 1 in a SSS configuration and love both guitars for different reasons.

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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

What about the new American Special HSS,how does it compare

IMHO, I think that the American Special is a fine guitar (I love the Texas Specials) and it has some features that set it apart from the American Standard. But at the end of the day, I feel that the American Standard is a little nicer.

@rkreisher, thanks for the response. I was beginning to think that no one was going to reply!

I sure understand playing them and deciding which is better. But I don't play well enough to appreciate the difference. If the Fat 50's are "brighter" would you say it is slighter better for jazz, as an example. And, conversely, the Daimondbacks better for Blues? Fair?

Thanks again.

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Chubby, old, retired guy trying to learn to play some blues.

I do not play Jazz, but both pickups are great for Blues. Remember that you can always roll the tone knob to take out any unwanted tones. I usually set mine to about 5 and adjust as needed in either direction.

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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

Many people mistakenly think that Stevie Ray Vaughn played Texas Specials. My understanding is that the Fat50's are the closest production pup to what SRV actually played. I can't remember where I read that, might have been here.

Humbuckers by nature are warmer and fatter and hotter than a single coil. I like the single coil myself. I can fatten and warm my tone playing in the 2 slot on the selector and using an overdrive pedal. However I can also go back to clean chime when I want too...

It's all about personal taste.

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http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

Ditto on the tone knobs.

I just bought this American Special HSS and it's great! I also have a standard,deluxe,select model

Well, I did it. Went with the American Standard nonHSS. Lovin it so far. If I could just play well enough to do it justice!

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Chubby, old, retired guy trying to learn to play some blues.

Good call!

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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.

I have a sienna sunburst strat HSS. Don't care much for the diamondback humbucker. The least favorite of my 5 strats. The most beautiful though. SSS fat 50's are the way to go.