SSS or HSS - that is often the question! In this video I test both pickup sets on a Fender Player Series strat, and give my opinion on the topic! Stay home, stay safe, and please subscribe if you haven't already ;-)
People really be like "get a single coil strat. If you want a humbucker just buy another guitar" like, I'm not about to get 2 guitars as my first guitar.
Just got a HSS player strat for the exact reasons you said. I wanted an all rounder that I can use for clean tones and more distorted tones without having to change guitars or use a noise gate.
i've been doing research on this for a week and there wasn't a video that had the exact playing comparison on the Player Series side by side like yours does. thanks so much for sharing man - helped confirm my decision to go with the HSS.
I will go for the HSS. Powerful drive sound from the Humbucker, and clean/soft riff tone from the Neck, Neck + Middle, and Middle only. I love the player series, they have great sound, and with reasonable price🎸
SSS Bridge is what Gilmore uses for his Comfortably Numb soloing. That may suprise many. But, so long as your overdrive is already thick and juicy, the sharp bite the bridge single coil of a Strat is unmatched. It can be so expressive for slight nuance-bending & vibrato.
@@howtheturntables ya but here's the thing though, David also has his own signature sound with Pink Floyd when he got his custom Strat made from Fender. so no matter the configuration you can't emulate his exact sound, you can get close with an HSS setup, but an Alnico pickup in the bridge will be brighter. David's Strat was a little unique at the time, his bridge pickup was slighter darker giving you almost a humbucker sort of sound with some bite. most Strats even in the 70's still only came with 3 single coil pickups, but his strat was configured to emulate a humbucker out of a single coil in the bridge. people loved the sound so much, that's ultimately what made Fender decide to start putting humbuckers in some of there Strats in the 80's. now in truth, it's not a true humbucker, it's two single coils paired together, but regardless it ended up being a hit with people. buy adding an HSS option for a Fender Strat, it opens up other genres of music. that said i like both the SSS and HSS, but if you wanna get closer to Pink Floyd, i found the Yosemite Pickups in the American Performer to give a similar feel and sound, but im sure either one of these would work to.
David Gilmore uses a special single coil in the bridge pickup position called an SSL5... which he helped to design with Seymour Duncan. It sounds much more than a p90 and it is significantly fatter sounding than a standard single coil. I have this on my strat and it is significantly different..
Listen to the one in this video: the SC gets just as "dirty" as the HB, but "fuzzes out" less in the rhythm parts & is more expressive when soloing. Now that, unlike in "The Olden Days", it's no longer a challenge to push an amp into OD/distortion without deafening an entire suburb, single-coils pretty much rule! (The only issue may be 60-cycle hum.)
Well..David Gilmour and Eric Clapton use single coil strat pick ups even for distortion parts.sometimes they use bridge pick up...but they are not the same pick ups..not the same amplifier , not the same players(lol)and they have guitars technicians and engineers that work for them...we usually don't..
4 years is not late for me to discover this post and greatly appreciate the knowledge sharing, including the riff you demo (1:56 - 2:38). A good practice exercise for beginner liked me.
Ive had an HSS for over 13 years and absolutely love it, I make use of my bottom Humbucker pickup most because I LOVE/NEED the full sound it gives and I play clean 95% of the time... Next guitar I buy will most likely be the Tele because with these 2 I believe I can make every sound I’ll ever need to
Nice! Just bought my first HSS strat after spending over a year diligently learning to play fingerstyle on an old but great condition acoustic and a new classical guitar. That's my goal, guitar minimalist, I'm more concerned with developing skills over spending all my time trying to get a certain tone. But maybe when you get to a certain level skillwise that becomes a big deal? I wouldn't know yet lol. I love my new hobby to death but I can't justify spending thousands every year for something slightly different lol. MIGHT get a semi-hollow in a few years if I feel like I "earned" it skill-wise. I hope the HSS covers most things I could want in an electric.
@@Rjcuatrocinco same here, have been playing acoustic for two years. This week I bought an HSS Strat so that I have an allrounder guitar and I won't need to buy another guitar if I would want to play metal or hard rock. However, I really don't know if metal and hard rock would sound good when I just use the bridge pickup. Oh well.
I just started learning a week ago on a cheap knockoff strat. If I'm still practicing often in December I'm buying one of those HSS ones. It sounds awesome.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm still working at it every day. I've left a few comments on guitar videos over the month and everyone has been so nice :)
I ended up buying a HSS Player series (and am really enjoying it!). I previously only have owned humbucker guitars. But I'm loving the single coils on my first Strat. Now I've got my eye on an Jazzmaster.... ;)
Let's be honest, most Strat players don't use the bridge pickup for much of anything, the so called Strat sound is the neck or neck middle, so it's only a matter of taste on the bridge, IMO I think the humbucker adds a bit of versatility, but it's something few Strat players will make very much use of.
Yep. The neck/middle is the wonderful clean tone. I've had a SSS strat for years and find no real use for the bridge pickup. Now I'm looking for a HSS with a neck that I like..
With the tone control wired to the bridge pickup the guitar is a lot more versatile and some amazing tones can be dialed in. What amazing beasts these guitars are!
I've changed the stock humbucker of my Player HSS Strat to a hotter Wilkinson M series overwound humbucker, which has more output with a surprisingly very nice but still Straty sound, i didn't expect that huge difference to the stock humbucker. I'm really happy i did so!
It’s a tough call. The bridge+middle in the SSS has the quack but the bridge alone is very thin sounding. I much prefer the bridge pickup in my American Standard Tele. I tend to agree with Isiah J that the neck, middle and neck+middle give you plenty of that Strat clean sound, with the bridge humbucker being kind of a bonus for versatility purposes. Great review, Mike. Very helpful.
I can rock my world with the Squire Strat or clean without any hum even using the single coils. The humbucker on the bridge is a little weak but you can tone it up.
@@phillipholt6005 hey bud im thinking of getting either a squier bullet sss or hss. I love blues rock like eric clapton, jimi hendrix, SRV but i also like rock and hard rock like Scorpions and metal too but mostly metallica and black sabbath or iron maiden. Which one do you think i should get ? Thanks a lot
@@2hotrpg187 Definitely get the HSS because they weren't around available when the groups was around. I love mine for the Blues and rock n roll or any genre.
@@2hotrpg187 IF you want fuzz you can adjust your amp. It has no feedback like the single coils. You are also able to split the humbucker so you actually have 4 coils using the 5 way switch.
Excellent video and accurate tone assessment. It really does make a difference on what type of music you play. I myself went with the strat HSH version because I like the full sound of the humbuckers on the strat and I also like the middle single for that awesome strat tone. This HSH version to me is ideal for rock rythms. Plenty of versatility, That being said I also purchased the HSS strat for my lead guitar applications. This combo is excellent for cutting thru the mix carrying those leads and also having that humbucker in place for that overdriven screaming hi E lead ripps. Enjoy I think both the HSS and the HSH are awesome choices . Just my opinion. Cant loose with either choice unless you are the type of guitarist that always wants a clean sound. 😊
I share Scott's opinion below. I own an HSS, and my favorite sound is position 4, neck and middle. I use that 90% of the time. That said, I prefer having the humbucker in the bridge, and think it does add more versatility to the guitar. I enjoyed your video, but would have gotten much more out of it if you adjusted the camera angle so that I could see the tone selector switch and the volume and tine knobs at all times. One more thought for anyone considering purchasing this guitar. DO IT! I've always been a Tele player, but I really like this guitar just as much, and in my opinion, a better looking guitar that the Tele.
Nice comparison! I agree with you on most here, but I've had no problems getting good distortion sounds with single coils. And I use single coils to play Black Metal xD However, I do think a hotter pickup such as a humbucker is preferable in those situations and it has the positive thing with the noise cancelling as you say. I do however think I prefer the HSS version most because you can always split the humbucker and get a single coil sound out of it. In this case, meaning that my HSS Lone Star Strat can be used to play Mayhem and Marduk, only to change it up to play Mark Knopfler three seconds later if I chose to :) And that versatility is hard to get in other guitars. A bonus question here: What are your thoughts on HSH Strats?
I'm exactly like you. I have a JB an 59 in my schecter omen extr. that I've modded for coil spits and upgraded all the components and electronics(each pup can independently switch to inner or outer coil split or humbucker via an on off on 3pdt switch, so each pup has it's own switch) I think it's perfect honestly for humbucker tone and it also just amazes me how great the split coil tones are when I add some eq or compression. I also have an LTD 7 string sig model that I completely upgraded and modded also. It has fishman fluence modern 7's and I also added 2 on off on switches to select inner coil split, humbucker, or outer coil split for each pup. Plus the tone push/pull selects between voice one or two for each pup and internally I have a slider 3 way switch that covers hf tilt, voice 1 gain reduction or just regular for the neck. I didn't add a slider for those options on the bridge cause I think it's best as is. I use voice 1 gain reduction on the neck cause it makes the output a little lower so it's just like a regular neck pup compared to the higher output bridge (in fact I think that's why the option exists. So you can choose if you want the ceramic in the bridge or neck and same with the alnico then whichever one ends up in the neck you can lower voice 1 gain so it behaves a little cleaner like a typical neck pup). Anyways my point was that I've got two guitars that are absolutly excellent in humbucker configuration so when I get my strat it will certainly be an sss model. I really like the deluxe model but I could easily mod a player series to do the same things the deluxe can electronically and upgrade the tuners, pups etc. over time. But that Sapphire Blue finish on the Deluxe SSS Strat is in my opinion perfect. I just turned 30 on the 26th of april so next week when I get paid I'm buying myself a Martin d10e (Sitka top version) cause I've tried so many acoustics over the 18 or so years I've played and they all let me down tone or playability wise so I'm finally getting my dream acoustic (well my attainable dream acoustic lol). If it wasn't for the fact I need a quality acoustic so much id certainly be getting the Deluxe SSS Stratocaster. Sorry for the long comment btw lol.
Was leaning towards the HSS but I love the clean tones coming from the SSS. If you can live without gain, the SSS will give you all the tones you can ever need.
Fender SSS as the HSS on the bridge kills that Strat sound I'm used too. I have an Ibanez Paul Stanley signature Iceman HH for that kinda sound. If you can only afford one guitar, sure maybe get the HSS Fender. Great video.
Yeah but my thing is Hendrix, Clapton, and many others all used SSS. So I like it for the “classic” feel and sound. Not arguing that the HSS isn’t a better all arounder, just I like things as they were meant originally.
Hendrix, at the end, began playing Flying V and SGs, with. . . humbuckers. Clapton normally uses "noiseless" single coils, and they're not even REAL single coils, except for the time he played with Lace Sensor SC's. However, there's a better way of having it all: with my HSS Stratocaster, I changed the harness to one built by a brand called Obsidian Wire (I'm not being paid for this), which allows anyone to play the humbucker with a 500K (keeping it bright enough for me) and when I'm playing at Position 4, allows me to split the humbucker and change the pot to a 250K to have the quack I need at that position. For a bonus, it also has a push-pull in the bridge tone control (instead of having a middle tone control) to activate the neck pickup at positions 4 and 5 for that Tele mid position or having all 3 pickups engaged.
@@maraviyoso8473 Very cool! And I’m not saying they never played anything else, they are musicians obviously they did. I’m just saying, the guitars they are most known for. However Jimi did pretty much only use neck pickup exclusively so you could put whatever the hell you want in the bridge 😅
When I get a Fender someday, it will be an HSS with coil tap at the bridge. It won't be 100% like a single coil, however I doubt the songs I play are going to sound bad either.
If you already have a humbucker guitar and play low gain kinda stuff, get a SSS . If you don't a humbucker guitar and sometimes wanna play high gain, get a HSS.
Thanks for this! been doing as much research into some of my fave guitars recently before i buy my first serious investment guitar and want to make the right choice for me :)
You get the best of both worlds when you buy the HSS STRAT and the Mustang. It cost me 10 dollars more to buy the complete guitar not counting the time needed to modify.
Bridge on SSS on clean tones sounds too shrieky and shallow. A bit more warmth and depth on the HSS. But in the end this is all a matter of personal taste. The video does a great job of comparing all settings with basic strumming. Too many videos out there are only there too show off players' skills.
Very helpful video. Thank you very much Mike. This was exactly what I was looking for - a proper tone comparison between Player HSS and Player SSS - both clean and with gain. There were no other videos like this. Can you please help me with a question I have ? Is there ANY difference in sound in positions (Neck) and (Neck + Middle) between the SSS and HSS or are they exactly the same ? I could not make out from the video. The answer to this will determine whether I want to go for HSS or not. I want those 2 positions to sound EXACTLY like an SSS. In other words - I do not want any compromise or color in the clean tones in those 2 positions - I want the undiluted SSS Strat tones in those 2 positions. If this condition is satisfied then the HSS is the obvious choice for me - else it is a difficult decision
I never hear a humbucker in a Strat and go "Yep, that's a Strat," so that's why I would choose SSS. I actually kinda have a saying that I came up with a little while back about this topic. SSS, Single Sounds Strattier. That's just me, though.
@@Juno58 I usually just roll the tone back. Humbuckers don't have that punchy round single-coil tone, which is the whole reason I'd want a single coil. To each their own, though.
the iconic strat sound is more on neck + middle, that twang. the bridge not so much. so most people go with Humbucker on that to make the instrument more versatile for more lead tones and heavy rock.
@@GrimYak Strats have a very significant and unique tone for every switch position. I can tell an SSS Strat from any other guitar no matter what position is selected. Guitars with humbuckers all sound more or less the same to me.
a good practice amp fixes almost everything so no need to argue i can put dirty sound and sound just fine with sss or clean tone and sound fine with hss
I agree with humbuckers sounding better when driven hard in pretty much everything except a good bridge single coil in a tele. Something about that sound rivals and even surpasses humbuckers
I only had enough $ for one electric so bought a 2019 hss butter cream strat. If I had already had an epiphone standard plus then I would’ve gotten SSS.
I just bought the seafoam hss player w maple board. Thanks for sharing. It stopped me from checking my front porch for a few min. I have single coil and hss and hh strats from fender. They all still sound like a strat. I prefer the hss as I mostly play in middle or neck with singles anyway. I go to bridge for gain. Which I can split that pickup anyway. It’s a good Jack of all trades, master of rock. Not metal. But it can be done. Throw a Duncan JB in for $70 and you have a chunky fellow.
I have both. I agree with everything you said. There are other guitars I prefer for the humbucker sound (Gretsch!) and the SSH just doesn't sound like a Strat when using the bridge pickup. Although with the right tone profile on the amp, it can sound awfully good.
I have a SSS and a guitar that has Humbuckers, but I’ve always liked the feel of a Strat and have been toying with the idea of purchasing a Fender HH Strat. What would you think about doing a video on one of those? Love your videos, great guitar playing and comparisons! Stay well!!
I have a HH "les Paul" style and I want a strat(almost every type at the end but for now a strat) so I'm gonna look for a SSS one, probably the classic vibe 60 red or blue from Squire.
Before you buy a SSS or a HSS play both of them. I didn't know anything about a Strat when I bought mine. As a matter of fact I went looking for a SQUIRE Tele and they were sold out and he had 1 Strat left in the box. He told me if I'm looking for a Tele style sound but yet versatile for playing and creating sounds. I also took and Ibanez acoustic electric that I had for 12 years and I paid 35 dollars more and it had a HT HSS and when I got it home I couldn't put it down.
Clear and good explanation. Exactly what I needed to know to make decision. Will be going with SSS. Do you have a video or can tell what is the actual difference in hiss/ noise between all Fender noiseless and usual Fender all single coil pickups? Need to decide between a player plus, player or deluxe roadhouse stratocaster.
Im a tele guy, but bought a strat. I wanted a fat sound (tele guy) so went HSS due to all the comments saying it's more versatile. I didn't like it AT ALL. It's a thick sound but so bright it hurt my ears, even dialed to 0 it was bright. And the bridge alone wasn't even used more than twice. Feel like I might go SSS next time. I know it's even thinner sounding, but with distortion/drive it sounded a tad more clear to me.
Great review!!! Strat should be SSS, just like tele should be SS. If u wanna humbucker sound, its better for u to buy another guitar with HH configuration (with coil tape). See, one guitar is never enough LOL 😂
Very nice comparison! SSS is far better with more clarity and definition without the interference of a muddy humbucker . Humbuckers are good with distortions but the clean tones are awful. I really searched for a hss guitar ... but only when I got one and I honestly hated it. For my preference mini humbucker hot rails sounds better than traditional humbuckers, anyway i really love single coils and P90s... .
Why do you say "interference of the humbucker" ? I read somewhere that the SSS setup is different than the HSS, so the single coils in a SSS will sound differently
So glad I found this video. I have my eye on a player series HSS and was worried about the loss of the bridge/middle sound. I guess I can always mod it with a coil split! What's the neck like feel-wise? (thickness, edges, frets)
Hello everyone, I want to buy my first guitar and I'm with you, I don't think it will be the last one I buy then I will opt for the SSS because later I imagine that I will buy another that has two HH. I do NOT know anyone who only has a guitar, with the hss at the end I will not have a well defined guitar .. thanks for your advice .. greetings
Before to listen tests of this video, I was ready to buy HSS because I though was better for distortion. But after listened the tests, I prefer the sound of SSS with distortion. IMO SSS with disto using bridge mic seems more aggressive (more treble?), compare to HSS which seems to have more basses. I do not know if I am normal to think that xD
I think of a Fender Stratocaster-- regardless of SSS or HSS model--as being a specialist guitar for playing mostly clean like jazz and some blues. It's the perfect guitar for Clapton (later years) or Stevie Ray or Robert Cray. I'd still take the HSS strat over the SSS strat to play clean sounds. The Fender Stratocaster is the right tool for that job. But if I want to play overdriven and distorted (i.e., rock), I'm not picking up a Fender. I'll be picking up the right tool for that job, a Gibson SG or a Gibson Les Paul.
SSS looks nice and vintage but HSS is more versatile. I bought SSS because I have some other guitars with humbuckers; otherwise, HSS might be a good choice.
I heard that a Guitar with a Tremolo is Hard to Tune for beginners… what About this one? Are there any difficulties? And can you also make tunes line drop d by just using the tuners without adjusting anything Else?
If the guitar (and tremolo) is set-up properly tuning shouldnt be a problem. Drop D included. Tuning every string down half a step (or more) however might not be a good idea. Also, there is always the possibility of adding an additional spring into the tremolo, or harder springs, or to block it completely.
Having trouble picking between an sss and an hss for my first electric guitar. I’m really into bands that use heavy distortion and gain like alice in chains but i also love blues.
Really great video! I'm buying my first guitar soon and the model I'm considering has SSS so I hope it will be fine! I just want to play rock, jazz and lofi so I don't think HSS is necessary.
No contest, SSS. The humbucker takes the character out of the strat, especially in position 2 (bridge + middle). You can hear it as you demo all the way down from the neck - when you get to the HB, it just doesn't fit and sounds totally out of place. If you want humbuckers, get a guitar made for humbuckers! :p
