Humbucker Vs Single Coil on Identical STRATOCASTERS! 

I'm glad they're both yellow.. blue guitars sound totally different to me

Finally someone does it right! Same necks, same body woods, same strings, same amp settings. Probably the best demo of Humbucker vs Single coil bridge pickup on the internet. Cheers!!!!!

as a guy who plays both funk and metal, I feel like a humbucker bridge on a strat is the most versatile guitar for my taste.

Probably one the best comparison videos on youtube, I swear some people talk for hours about the history of guitars as a whole and once they finally get to the true comparison they do a horrible job at representation.

I love what a humbucker can achieve with distortion, but if I could only have one stratocaster, it would be the single coil. Thank you for making it so easy to decide.

I watched a few videos for this exact comparison but they seldom would let you hear the pickups right against each other. This video was exactly what I hoped to find - listening to the two pickups back to back over and over again. THANKS for doing it best.

Thought I was gonna enjoy the humbucker more than I did in this one... Even in a maple-necked Strat, it still sounds muddy in almost every instance. Single coil all the way, for me!

Humbucker is really really perfect for me. I bought a player series strat HSS and i am really enjoying it!

I like both, but feel like both would be better in different areas. I love the fullness of humbuckers, especially on single notes, but for chords the humbuckers sound a bit too... "watery?" I suppose that's how I'd put it, but that's no a problem at all on the single coils where chords are much clearer, but on single coils I feel single notes are actually too bright for my tastes. But then again, I'm sure proper amp settings could fix all of these minor issues. So overall, I'm gonna say I prefer the HSS configuration

I think I liked the humbucker better in most of the comparison. But there were definitely times the single coil sounded better and the humbucker just sounded muffled. Thanks for the demo. Another great comparison would be the new HSS Strat (the American Performer I think) that has the double tap humbucker in it. When you push down the S-1 switch, it is supposed to sound more like a single coil than a standard split because the second coil partially tapped is included in the signal. I remember trying to look for comparisons and being pretty disappointed with the results, despite both the guitar and the aftermarket pickup being available for almost a year now.

I' m pleasantly surprised how good the bridge humbucker sounds on this strat, the sound Is obviously rounder and fatter than the single coil but still chimy!!! Cheers Johan!

Wow you just saved me from a massive regret. I was going for the HSS configuration but this video proves that we don't need to mess with the classic SSS. And of course I am gonna get the BCR!

I have the humbucker version players series in Capri orange. Love how the tone control on the bridge humbucker just rolls the highs off.

Best comparison video hands down. Really shows the difference between them, where other videos ive seen have somehow made them sound barely any different. Inspired clean playing instead of just playing some open chords and running to distortion as fast as possible lol.

The single-note playing sounded nice with the single coils.

This is the best comparison showing the difference. Thank you! Some higher-end amps can brighten the humbucker if needed (SLO-100 for example) or alnico-5 humbuckers are brighter.

After 30+ years of playing strats and never being 100% happy with the bridge pickup, I finally found one I like, a split super distortion!

I thought I'd prefer the humbucker better, but I think I'll go for a SSS configuration next time. I think using the tone knob for the bridge single coil could give you a humbucker tone with more tone variations.

Thanks Johan for a great demo. I prefer comparisons like these with no pedals! I like the single coil in the bridge over the bucker. However I love my humbuckers in my Les Paul. Cheers!

Excellent comparison. I'm a total guitar newbie and this really helped me to understand the difference.

Very best comparison videos on RU-vid! Singles seems to me more like cristal clear, Humbuckers sounds a little bit muddy and linear.

Really interesting comparison. Initially I preferred the humbucker but as your demo progressed the sparkle of the single-coil really shone through. Plus with 2 other pickups in a strat you have warmer tones if you need them. Great demo as always!

I would acttually have been more interested in a comparison of bridge single vs humbucker crunch/overdrive sound into a classic Marshall rig

Oh man I was actually debating a few months ago on the same color and series type. I wasn't sure if I wanted Humbucker on a strat. But now we have this video! Nice.

I've tried SSS and HSS. And I bought HSS. They sound the same or almost the same in most position I want to play clean. Humbucker also is great for riffs and hi gain solos. I've tried and it sounds much more massive than single.

I like the sound of single-coils much better in this comparsion, they're brighter and more crisp. I miss the hard metal distortion, but I guess the humbucker would kick the ass. :)

I’ve always wondered why anyone would bother with the bridge single coil in a strat. The humbucker can always be split if you want that thin attack. Great video

The masochist in me wants this to be a test of the neck pickup only.

I have a HSS Strat Pro, That I'm Absolutely in love with! So versatile and usable! Thanks for sharing brother, Be Well Johan and All!

Wow. I'm surprised how much more I liked the sound of the single coil bridge pickup in every scenario.

Thanks for the comparison, IMHO the SC sounds bright and thin, The HB sounds muddy. I wonder how they would compare overdriven. To my ear, it's the neck position on a Strat that really shines clean or dirty. Thanks again, keep up the great work and stay safe!

I have just bought me one of these Player strats in white. Absolutly love this guitar and the stock coils are also pretty damn good. Nice video as always :)

Hi, Johan! I am not so much experienced in humbucker on Strats, I can get the right sound with single and noise-gate, but the sound is awesome. Once I had an active powerhouse Strat - something like humbucker too. But I sold it for another vintage. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND! C.U. Zigfrid

you always have the guitar video I'm looking for!!

Was considering buying a humbucker strat, no longer! Thanks for the video.

To me the Strats bridge single coil is too harsh in treble, so i bought a HSS and i looove it! Makes the Strat more versatile. I changed the stock Fender humbucker to a more powerful Wilkinson M series overwound humbucker, sounds great in the Strat! Perfect for Rock Leads & Rhythm! And still sounds like a Strat. 👍🏻

Fender had to come up with something to eliminate tilting the bridge pickup. Guitar players wanted something different to play all genres of music. That's why I like HSS.

Yet another reason to own AT LEAST 2 Strats! LOL! God bless and rock on Johan!

The Humbucker sounded better to me. That said, I'd never have a Fender HSS strat, I prefer the SSS configuration. It would be great to compare these guitars in the fourth position (bridge and middle PU)

:) I would choose the SSS version for a more authentic sound and image ..... and later if I wanted a heavier sound, I think it would be easier to replace the single coil on the bridge with a Single-Coil Sized Humbucker so that in this way not spoil the appearance of the guitar ! Τhanks for the video !!! very good presentation !!!

Strangely I've been expecting to enjoy the SSS much more than I really did here. Each time Johan played the single, I had a feeling there was something missing, except for the (for my ears) excessive treble. But when he switched to the HB guitar, it was like putting off a blanket and finally giving the sound enough power. Maybe Johan was just born to play humbuckers :-) On the other hand on my own strat, I'm seriously considering changing the HB for a P90 to get closer to that single coil sound, splittimg the PU doesn't do the job sufficiently for me.

Dude, you're the best. Thank you SO much for this comparison. This vid helped me more than any others I've watched. ✌️🙏😬

Hi Johan. Beautiful video, those clean riffs always make me dream, and feel nostalgic. Think I'm elsewhere, maybe in a 70s Zeppelin recording session, but mainly away from Covid-19!!!! Regarding the pickups I much prefer the humbucker it´s full and warm. In contrast the single coil is too shrill. Maybe the Fender amp is the "culprit", I don't know. Have a nice weekend and keep safe. Cheers.

Nobody does a "just" comparison. I'd just want to listen to it during my things and that's it. Thanks!

I love single coils. Nice bright and jangly. I had a humbucker on my strat but changed it to a single coil and I’ve never looked back ❤️

Nothing like a single coil pickup. I recently bought 2 Gibsons both with Humbuckers obv.. They sound great for heavy stuff.. lots of overdrive, distortion. But the clean tones sound wayy better on my Strats and Tele's. I've found that you don't need the expensive single coils to sound good either.. I don't care for the ultra cheapies ... But get yourself some good mid level pickups like Tex-Mex or Vintage 50's - 60's and you're set.

Very very good demostration,I'm going with the single coil.

For strumming things i prefer the single coil one, but for playing single note or fingerstyle or solo-ing maybe the humbucker version is a good choice for me. the single coil one actually pretty good tho, but when you doing some fingerstyle it'll sound very trebly that i think it's not as good as the humbucker version

"All right. Let's go."

The strat sound depends on single coils.

My first new guitar was an HSS Strat because everyone said it was the most versatile ... but I ended up hating the humbucker in it. Later I learned the reason is that humbuckers really need a 500k volume pot to sound right and when you do that the neck and middle single coils are too harsh. I eventually converted the HSS into classic SSS and was much more happy with the guitar. Until I stumbled into an Armstrong Blender mod (stock SSS blends into HSH) that even with the darker humbucker series options the ability to blend makes it workable.

I have a 1978 Stratocaster with a Seymour Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge and a Floyd Rose system, I used to regret the mods but that particular guitar sounds great. You can really hear the difference with the two bridge pickups naturally on these two guitars, I'm not sure what pickup is in the player series, the Seymour in mine is quite a bit brighter than this Fender humbucker. Great demo like always, Johan, stay safe and have a good weekend.

The single coil bridge pickup sounds a bit too trebly when playing sustained chords, but it really adds to the mojo when you’re playing something bluesy.

Thanks man now I know that I want a humbucker great comparison

What a great comparison! Thank you so much!

I think that Sg Junior in the background is itching for a demo! More on topic, I am not a fan of of the humbuckers at all in the strat. It takes away that midrange presence that makes a strat sound like a strat. Excellent demo again Johan. I love the precision and care you clearly put into them. Thanks for helping to make social distancing a little more bearable. Hopefully we will be playing in front of real audiences again soon.

A huge part of the tonal difference is because of the amount of inductance and resistance. Wire those humbucker coils in parallel and you'll drop the inductance in half and the resistance will be one quarter. This will result in significantly more high end and the tonal differences will be reduced.

I think I'm gonna change my humbucker Strat back into a regular one. I'll admit that I changed it mostly because it made my guitar look like a cool 70s Franken-Strat with a white pickguard and black DiMarzio pickups.

Thanks that was the comparison I wanted to hear!

I will be receiving the humbucker model this week along with Engl Powerball pedal. Should sound really nice.

I still don't know which tone I like better but it gives me something to think about. This is a good video.

I think that both pickups have the same output, but splitting a humbucker will have a volume drop since that’s not the same thing as using a true single coil; the tones are different too because of the way they’re wound.

I prefer the single coil, but I can hear the value of a humbucker in certain situations. On the whole, though, I'd prefer to get the thicker tone and increased gain by using some kind of clean midboost.

I thought that I was gonna prefer the HSS over the SSS before watching this video. But I actually really love the SSS version because of the clarity of them. Thank you!

I thought when I got my Tele that was gonna be me but now I kinda want a Strat. I think I'll get one with humbucker in the bridge.

A similar compare with the humbucker tapped/splitted to sound as a single coil... and of course the famous position 2 (bridge + middle). I’d love to hear that :)

For me a strat is a Strat with singles all the way... that's it...

almost perfect, i kept waiting for some gainoverdrive

Both sound great but I prefer humbucker, simply because it sounds deeper

Single coil for the win!! Most diverse pickup ever made imo

The more I listen to different guitar configuration's the more important the amplifier is, rather than the actual guitar.

Obvious bridge p/u differences. Super awesome to see big brother and little brother guitars. Cheers Johan.

I'm actually surprised how much of a difference I can hear. Sometimes based on what he plays I prefer the HSS but other times I prefer the SSS. ☹

humbucker takes off that bright bright staring into the sun tone of the regular strat.. each his own.

My preferences are: Singlecoils are the best for clean or maybe even lightly distorted music and terrible for medium and high gain. Humbuckers - traditional sized, P90 sized, and single coil sized, are best for high gain. (P90 Singlecoils are good clean and with medium gain but terrible with high gain distortion/with fuzz they’re pretty decent.) If I played clean I’d just use Fender Jaguar or strat and Gibson P90 pickups. They sound great to me. It’s not only about noise (50/60hz &c.) but the overall qualities such as thickness and depth which are brought forth by humbuckers. However, for cleans a single coil really cannot be beat for clarity and definition and while they are thinner sounding you can adjust the amp for that. Overall, if I had to choose between the two examples here I’d take the stock sss Stratocaster. Why? 3:13 vs 3:25

If you can have both, good! Nonetheless, each one has is own caracter.

Good comparison...nothing wrong with either, really shows the difference in the 'highs'...there's only two things that sound like a Stratocaster to me, single coils and made by Fender...cool tones as always Johan

The humbucker surprised me... they will say its the more versatile setup, but it sounded muffled and muddy. It would get drowned out by the bass in a mix. The opposite of what you want in a bridge pickup. The single coil sounds like the kind of mids and highs you would expect when you flip the 5 way switch to the bridge position.

That Distinct Single coil chimey sound. I love it

To my ears it sounds like the humbucker gives the unwound strings a better sound with more weight, but the wound strings sound muddy. The exact opposite is happening with the single coil. The single gives clarity to the wound strings but the unwound strings sound kind of thin, but with more chime.

When combining the humbucker with single coils, it helps to have a split 500k/250k volume pot, like they do with the Shawbucker v-mod in the Professional series. The humbucker will sound brighter.

I definitely prefer the twang of the single coils better.

My impression is that the SSS better reflects the true Fender sound and spirit. The tones that HSS allegedly adds can probably be achieved with pedals and amplifier settings, but that original flavor will seem to be missing.

Thanks for making this video man🙏🏻

You make such *interesting* videos, Johan. Thank you!

Of course the regular strat sounds like a strat, but the humbucker model has like a weird beefier sound to it. Between the two of them, the humbucker guitar loses a bit of attack while the other one keeps it.

Very good video!!!! Thanks!!!! I go with single coil.🎸🎸🎸🎸

I had this guitar a month ago and sold it. It was brand new with fret issues that needed leveling and a bad nut that was very high. Player series was a disappointment to me. anw thank you for another great video!

To my ear the single coil sounds Best ✌️ Rock on Johan

Solution: Buy a HSS and install a coil split switch. Then you get both 👍

Finally a video with less bla bla than actual playing. Well done 👍

Would have liked to see the number 2 position added.

Awesome!! I like more Humbucker..

I gotta say I liked the single coil a little better. I have to wonder how a demo would sound comparing a P90 and mini humbucker as well.

true Fender = single coils

Jag gillar något mitt emellan. Som en sc size humbucker eller typ en FS1:a. Något med lite mer stake i än en SC. Som alltid, dina filmer är bäst!!!

im a 90s rock kinda guy so i prefer the muddy humbucker clear tones and creamy distortions

I think it depends on what type of music you want to play, for me I usually play rock or pop punk and I use my Epiphone Les Paul Junior more than my Squier Strat, now for clean sort of lofi tones or a backup electric for an acoustic song, I think single coils work better for that, it also depends on how you set up your amp and the pedals, music is however you want it to sound

Great video Johan, as usual. Agree with most that the humbucker sounds dull and lifeless in SOME of the samples. Other times it sounds full and what I expect from a good pickup. Generally it lacks that sparkle and percussive edge that defines the Strat sound. To some degree I think it has to do a lot with our expectations. And obviously amp settings, which are easier to optimize when we're not doing a "shootout" Funny thing is even in my PRS Custom I notice the tone changes dramatically between humbucker and split settings, to the degree that I NEED to ride the guitar's volume pot to adjust. The only good answer that I've found is to set the amps volume higher than needed and play with a lower guitar pot volume (6 or 7) then ride up or down as needed. Again, interesting. In this "quiz" I like the single coils better, generally.

I’m definitely more to humbucker as bridge pickup and two single coils for the middle and neck👌🏻