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Post subject: HSS Strat with coil tap
Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:10 pm
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Hi all,

I'm fairly new to guitar playing and want a versatile guitar that can play heavy distortion songs as well as clean blues and funk. I'm interested in the HSS Stratocaster because I think it will cover all of these bases well.

I've seen a MIM HSS Strat that has a coil tap feature for the bridge Humbucker but I can't seem to find a MIA that has this. I really would prefer the MIA as I've read they are of better quality and hold their value much better.

Is there a MIA HSS Strat that has a coil tap feature built in? If not, is it easy to add this feature if you take it to a guitar expert?

Does the coil tap make the bridge position sound identical to the single coil version?

Here's the MIM HSS Strat with coil tap.

http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Fender-Standard-Strat-HSS-Electric-Guitar-Floyd-Rose-Olympic-White/15UQ?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+Fender&adgroup=1+-+Product+ID&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=54242d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=120670863439&gclid=CJmQ89jG3cUCFeHJtAodwlIA9g


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Post subject: Re: HSS Strat with coil tap
Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 1:57 pm
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Hi Reckless83,

You might want to try the MIM Strat that you saw, they can be fine guitars, and it seems this one has the features that you want. While it is generally true that a MIA is of better quality and holds its value better, you lose some of that value when you modify it.

Many hum-bucker equipped guitars can be fairly easily coil-split, depending on the model of pup. If you have a particular model in mind, ask here and someone will probably know if the hum-bucker has four wires or just two. I think that most, if not all, MIA Strats with hum-buckers can be coil-split by a qualified person, so that shouldn't be a problem if that's the route that you decide to go.

Coil-splitting a hum-bucker pup will not sound exactly like a single coil, for a couple of reasons, but it can be close depending on the pup.

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Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


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Post subject: Re: HSS Strat with coil tap
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 12:36 am
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
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The American Standard Stratocaster HSS has a coil split position as default.
I think all Fender's current humbuckers have four leads, so they can be modded/wired to split. If you want to check specific models, see the wiring diagrams: Product page for the guitar model, "Support" tab beside "Specs" tab, -> Wiring diagram.
And just to be clear: coil splitting = humbucker with only one coil active to produce a sound resembling a single coil, coil tapping = using only a part of the coil as active (usually if not always, single coil) to give a vintage style lower output.

BTW, there's another topic ongoing on a very similar subject: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=99012


Reckless83 wrote:
I really would prefer the MIA as I've read they are of better quality and hold their value much better.
To say the least, both of those are highly debatable :wink:
I agree with shimmilou, test the MIM (maybe against respective MIA's) and decide for yourself.


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Post subject: Re: HSS Strat with coil tap
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 12:57 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:20 pm
Posts: 496
If you are fairly new, I'd agree with the try and compare. I prefer the feel of my Mexicans better than my American but some don't. Alot of money for an extra fret and a hardshell case though. I'd spend some time comparing the HSS to the SSS too. Seems like alot of people buy an HSS then a few months later they are buying parts to convert it to an SSS. If you can find the tones you want out of an SSS might as well start out with one. And on the subject of tone, if fairly new and you don't have an amp yet - don't skimp. A great guitar will sound terrible through a cheap amp but a cheap guitar can sound pretty good through a decent amp. In other words if I had a max budget I wouldn't use most of it on an American Strat and then buy a cheap amp with what's left. I'd get the Mexican and leave myself more for an amp. Maybe even a used Mexican and a good new tube amp.


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