In my hunt for the ideal super-strat, this question keeps popping up. I'd like Strat tones as well as heavy metal tendencies, though I'd prefer the flashy 80s sound and not so much the grumpy, brutal, 90's and beyond grind. Which of these configurations is best- HSH/HSS/HH-splits?

For instance, some say HSH gives the maximum tonal variation, although you miss out on the neck tone without a singlecoil or coil-split at the neck. Some HH strats and wirings give you the neck tone, but the output is often weaker. I'm not clear about HSS- do you really need that neck humbucker (Dave Murray) or can you do without it (Eddie Van Halen)? And the option of a CoolRail/JBJr at the neck?

If Fender still made such instruments as the Contempo Strat Japan and HM Strat, or the Showmaster, I'd get that option I'm looking for, but if I'm looking beyond Blacktops, I may have to make do with customising an American Standard Strat for HSH, or buy the woodwork (body/neck) separately and have it assembled and loaded locally.

I'm aware of the FSR strats, but they're overpriced (notably the ash version) and the decently-priced one, like nearly all the others, is one fret too short.

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Motorhead?
Megadeth?
I forget.

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No, it's Dave Murray!

Topscore vs Chromeface, battle of the serial posters

How good is the wood on that dave murray inspired strat Topscore!

Back on topic, Superstrats need the 24 frets to hit the high notes, but if you're tending towards the 80s then 2 HHs that are splitable will suit you just fine.

Having said that I've gone off the humbucker in a BIG way, if you need to cancel the 60 cycle hum then get stacked singles (like those in the YJM strat or Paul Gilberts Fireman).

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My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.

There's this video of YJM playing Fire In The Sky on a 24-fret Strat. This is not a production line model from Fender, and is likely to be built by an independent luthier. I'm sure Dave Murray also has one such Strat- the one he uses (shown in the image) has a Floyd Rose, which is not available in the retail version of the same instrument. Reason enough not to choose an Artist/Signature model from any company.

How about an American Standard Strat with Duncan Jazz (N)/Fat 50 (M)/Duncan JB TB4 (B), with a coil-split on the Duncan Jazz? I'm no expert on pickups, and just listed the Duncans used on the Jackson DK2M and stuck with the stock Fat 50. Besides, what bridge/trem would you recommend?

There are a few of those 80s super-strats from Fender (HM Strat, Contempo Strat Japan) and also the odd Showmaster selling used on eBay. Is a good deal expected on any?

You said "super strat"?

A super strat is generally a 1 hum, 2 hum or h/s/s, usually with a floyd.

This Jackson custom has been my #1 for over a decade now, but my new Fender is so damn close I'm confused. I love them both pretty much equally.

The typical pickup layout for a superstrat is the HSS config.

Some superstrats came with either HH or HSH configurations, while others feature an HHH configuration with three full-sized humbuckers or single sized (stacked) units.

Many of Dave Murray's Strats came with HHH pickups, some feature three SD Hotrails and others (such as the MIJ Iron Maiden Stratocaster) two SD Hotrails and a SD JB Jr.

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