SSS or HSS pickups? Shootout + Opinion (on Fender Player Series Strat)!

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  • Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
  • 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 ;-)

Комментарии • 425

  • @trashcant4053
    @trashcant4053 3 года назад +614

    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.

    • @MadebyMiike
      @MadebyMiike  3 года назад +126

      An HSS is GREAT as a first guitar!!

    • @trashcant4053
      @trashcant4053 3 года назад +100

      @@MadebyMiike this video is seven months old and you're still replying to comments? You sir, are very cool.

    • @MadebyMiike
      @MadebyMiike  3 года назад +157

      @@trashcant4053 Haha, if people take time to watch my stuff, I will sure as hell find time to reply to questions! :-)

    • @go.study5648
      @go.study5648 3 года назад +4

      😂 im getting mine tomorrow

    • @nobodysreview6137
      @nobodysreview6137 3 года назад +19

      HSS is the best man.

  • @Kamy.GG.Official
    @Kamy.GG.Official 4 года назад +337

    *HSS will do (almost) everything one ever wants from a guitar*

    • @nathanieldelrosario1324
      @nathanieldelrosario1324 4 года назад +19

      if it had coil tap on the bridge it could do every thing

    • @Kamy.GG.Official
      @Kamy.GG.Official 4 года назад +30

      @@nathanieldelrosario1324 I had one with coil tap, stiil not the same as single coil

    • @JohnS-zq8ks
      @JohnS-zq8ks 4 года назад +2

      @@nathanieldelrosario1324 that's what I was thinking, like the Fender Jaguar.

    • @phillipholt6005
      @phillipholt6005 3 года назад +12

      I have the Squire HSS and it sounds just as good as the player. I was researching the player series and I don't need one. I love my SQUIRE.

    • @phillipholt6005
      @phillipholt6005 3 года назад +2

      All my Squires except for the Bullet Tele have hard tail bridges. I like them better.

  • @jamesbaldwin2097
    @jamesbaldwin2097 4 года назад +165

    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.

  • @jwpgoldsmith
    @jwpgoldsmith 4 года назад +216

    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.

  • @isaiahj117
    @isaiahj117 4 года назад +73

    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🎸

  • @TheLukejitsu
    @TheLukejitsu 3 года назад +19

    I came into this video thinking I would come out with a confirmed choice of HSS and now after hearing both I prefer the SSS.

    • @joseph9226
      @joseph9226 2 года назад +2

      No, the HSS is the best of both worlds

  • @lueysixty-six7300
    @lueysixty-six7300 4 года назад +37

    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.

    • @maraviyoso8473
      @maraviyoso8473 2 года назад +1

      David Gilmour plays with active pickups, so. . .

    • @Jeymez
      @Jeymez 2 года назад +2

      @@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.

    • @thadlogan51
      @thadlogan51 2 года назад +3

      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..

    • @voiceofexperience
      @voiceofexperience 2 года назад +1

      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.)

    • @BadBoy-mv8lz
      @BadBoy-mv8lz Год назад +1

      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..

  • @OiNaomi
    @OiNaomi 10 дней назад +1

    already knew about the hss versatility, but now I also love that fat sound of the bridge pickup, thank you for helping, don't have money for 2 guitars

  • @madanielmadaniel
    @madanielmadaniel Год назад +6

    Finally one who knows how to compare sounds - switching back and forth at the same volume level and tempo ! Thanks.💯

  • @jesku2784
    @jesku2784 3 года назад +21

    1:26 this riff goes straight to the heart

    • @colehelm1761
      @colehelm1761 3 года назад

      what’s the name of the riff?

    • @aaronmaiden3606
      @aaronmaiden3606 3 года назад

      @@colehelm1761 if you want to listen a similar song to that, listen dogs by pink Floyd (6:50)

    • @jesku2784
      @jesku2784 3 года назад

      @@aaronmaiden3606 didn't notice that, thanks for that

  • @austinparr9486
    @austinparr9486 3 года назад +35

    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

    • @Rjcuatrocinco
      @Rjcuatrocinco 3 года назад +3

      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.

    • @only-legitness
      @only-legitness Год назад

      @@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.

  • @scott4482
    @scott4482 4 года назад +51

    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.

    • @southpaw1969
      @southpaw1969 4 года назад +4

      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..

    • @Juno58
      @Juno58 4 года назад

      Agree, that's it!

    • @a1guitars
      @a1guitars 3 года назад +3

      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!

    • @phillipholt6005
      @phillipholt6005 3 года назад +2

      I very rarely use the bridge pickups on all my guitars.

    • @TheJCFan
      @TheJCFan 3 года назад

      Thats why you drop a DiMarzio Super Distortion in that bridge position XD

  • @Music-et6mf
    @Music-et6mf 6 дней назад

    1:56 of position 2 is the most beneficial and informative part, and that’s why the SSS Strat is still worth it for me!

  • @gqfiend
    @gqfiend 3 года назад +13

    VERY good video here. Lots of info in less than ten minutes. Perfect

  • @dc1714
    @dc1714 4 месяца назад

    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.

  • @Brewer_
    @Brewer_ 3 года назад +9

    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.

    • @MadebyMiike
      @MadebyMiike  3 года назад +1

      What Morgan said, 100%! If we can do it, you can do it Ben!!

    • @Brewer_
      @Brewer_ 3 года назад +4

      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 :)

    • @joerusso8950
      @joerusso8950 Год назад

      @@Brewer_ did you buy a hss, what colour

  • @Juno58
    @Juno58 22 дня назад

    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!

  • @ckallaher
    @ckallaher 3 года назад +13

    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.

    • @phillipholt6005
      @phillipholt6005 3 года назад

      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.

    • @2hotrpg187
      @2hotrpg187 3 года назад +1

      @@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

    • @phillipholt6005
      @phillipholt6005 3 года назад

      @@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.

    • @phillipholt6005
      @phillipholt6005 3 года назад

      @@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.

    • @2hotrpg187
      @2hotrpg187 3 года назад +1

      @@phillipholt6005 Thanks a lot ! I would also like to ask one more question does the humbucker affect the other single coil tones?

  • @rnarizona9686
    @rnarizona9686 2 года назад +8

    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.

  • @Astrofizz8384
    @Astrofizz8384 17 дней назад

    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.

  • @Juno58
    @Juno58 4 года назад +6

    Sold my SSS Squier and bought a HSS Fender Player and i'm happy with my decision 👍

    • @ronnysuarez3257
      @ronnysuarez3257 4 года назад +1

      I am about to do that too.. Is it a lot better? Worth upgrading?

    • @Juno58
      @Juno58 4 года назад +2

      @@ronnysuarez3257 imho yes, HSS makes the Strat more versatile.

  • @eddiesidorov8635
    @eddiesidorov8635 3 года назад +18

    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.

    • @maraviyoso8473
      @maraviyoso8473 2 года назад +2

      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.

    • @eddiesidorov8635
      @eddiesidorov8635 2 года назад

      @@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 😅

  • @kevinlegere8557
    @kevinlegere8557 7 месяцев назад +2

    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. 😊

  • @Philminator
    @Philminator 3 года назад +13

    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.

  • @michaelinglis8516
    @michaelinglis8516 4 года назад +4

    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.

  • @bl0rgus
    @bl0rgus 3 года назад +11

    This guy is so awesome! Most underrated guitar youtuber!

  • @Wabin22
    @Wabin22 4 года назад +22

    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?

  • @jacobsanders4254
    @jacobsanders4254 Месяц назад

    I just threw an old gibson humbucker on my partscaster, and I'm loving it so far!

  • @gertvanrooy428
    @gertvanrooy428 4 года назад +6

    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.

  • @gqfiend
    @gqfiend 3 года назад +7

    Wow! This is a rarity. I can hear the difference for a lot of this!

  • @ozererdogan4749
    @ozererdogan4749 4 года назад +10

    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.

    • @axwes
      @axwes 4 года назад

      Gitar hocam, hss olanların tonunun bozulduğu nu soyledi. Anadolu rock varı ses geliyormuş hss lerden. Senin düşüncen nedir?

    • @featheryfemme
      @featheryfemme 4 года назад +1

      I often play high gain stuff with a single coil. I love feedback a lot for some reason. Can't exactly say I'm sure why.

  • @Philminator
    @Philminator 3 года назад +8

    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.

    • @UmVtCg
      @UmVtCg 3 года назад +3

      It's coil SPIT, not tap, there is a huge difference

    • @blackadder2453
      @blackadder2453 11 месяцев назад

      @@UmVtCg there's a huge difference between a SPIT and a SPLIT as well🤣

  • @todddorocke8637
    @todddorocke8637 3 года назад +6

    Nice review! Well put. Best review on this topic that I have seen. Very helpful!

    • @todddorocke8637
      @todddorocke8637 3 года назад +1

      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.... ;)

  • @chrisfrank6449
    @chrisfrank6449 4 года назад +10

    I have a Squier Strat Standard SSS and a Squier Strat contemporary HSS. Love them both!

    • @Dzul32
      @Dzul32 2 года назад +1

      Sss can play heavy song?

  • @lipstick318
    @lipstick318 2 года назад +7

    I love the sound of the SSS...
    It just gives me that old school sound...

  • @sublyme2157
    @sublyme2157 3 года назад +5

    Great job man, very well done. Thanks for taking the time to put all this together!

  • @patricknelson1471
    @patricknelson1471 4 года назад +5

    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

  • @r.m7921
    @r.m7921 4 года назад +9

    The last riff was beautiful.

  • @michaeljohnson3383
    @michaeljohnson3383 4 года назад +4

    Very helpful video - thank you. I've got a humbucker rock machine, it my next with be SSS.

  • @nizodizo9549
    @nizodizo9549 4 года назад +7

    Very classy sounding video. Fender Stratocasters are very classy sounding guitars.

  • @carterthiessen2664
    @carterthiessen2664 4 года назад +2

    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

  • @rordrom3234
    @rordrom3234 4 года назад +3

    Thank you for making this comparison free here on youtube!

  • @jerryneace2940
    @jerryneace2940 4 года назад +10

    The humbucker brings so much more to the table.

  • @Red-qb9vz
    @Red-qb9vz 2 года назад +2

    Thanks so much man! You've got the best comparison videos on guitar by MILES on all youtube

    • @MadebyMiike
      @MadebyMiike  2 года назад +1

      Wow that's high praise Red, thanks a lot! :-)

  • @Chronorust
    @Chronorust 2 года назад +2

    Damn man you're audio really does this guitar's sound justice! Think I'm going with the HSS in the future. Cheers 😎🤘🏾

  • @featheryfemme
    @featheryfemme 4 года назад +38

    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.

    • @Pulse2AM
      @Pulse2AM 4 года назад +5

      I'm a Gibson guy so I would get the HSS for the bridge as a rocker and the neck for more Hendrix tone.

    • @Juno58
      @Juno58 4 года назад +5

      Imho the Strats bridge single coil is way to sharp, that's why i get a HSS Strat and i'm happy with it 👍

    • @featheryfemme
      @featheryfemme 4 года назад +7

      @@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.

    • @GrimYak
      @GrimYak 3 года назад +4

      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.

    • @featheryfemme
      @featheryfemme 3 года назад +3

      @@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.

  • @BillMWirth
    @BillMWirth 2 года назад +1

    Nice demo. I appreciated your list at the end and I went for the HSS. Thank you!

  • @gary1488
    @gary1488 4 года назад +13

    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.

  • @Shubh_Ashish
    @Shubh_Ashish 3 года назад +9

    I find SSS to more clear to listen too

  • @Thearcherfl
    @Thearcherfl Год назад

    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.

  • @iEGMD
    @iEGMD 3 года назад +1

    This comparison is the closest one I’ve seen so far. Other RUclips videos there had a big difference!

  • @osmarkeiroz7304
    @osmarkeiroz7304 3 года назад +9

    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...
    .

    • @NicolasGuerinetbloup
      @NicolasGuerinetbloup 2 года назад +3

      At last, a commentator who has ears.

    • @flyingv7161
      @flyingv7161 7 месяцев назад

      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

  • @Arfonfree
    @Arfonfree 3 года назад +8

    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.

  • @tommywallberg
    @tommywallberg Год назад +2

    SSS sounds great using the push knob so you get bridge and neck sound together so no need for HSS in my opinion

  • @mr.coolio4321
    @mr.coolio4321 Месяц назад +1

    Another thing I noticed is that SSS strats use 250K pots whilst the HSS strats use 500K pots.

  • @ozoneswiftak
    @ozoneswiftak 3 года назад +3

    I have three other great guitars with humbuckers. I'm liking your attitude, clean sss for me please.

  • @evzmiller
    @evzmiller 4 года назад +5

    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 :)

    • @MadebyMiike
      @MadebyMiike  4 года назад +1

      You're very welcome, I hope you find a great one! :-)

    • @phillipholt6005
      @phillipholt6005 3 года назад

      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.

  • @debashishmitra
    @debashishmitra 4 года назад +9

    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

    • @MadebyMiike
      @MadebyMiike  4 года назад +7

      Hi! Neck, Neck + Middle and Middle postitions sound EXACTLY the same on both guitars ;-)

    • @debashishmitra
      @debashishmitra 4 года назад +2

      @@MadebyMiike Thank you very much for the information

  • @Chris-km6tr
    @Chris-km6tr 2 года назад

    Nice direct comparison, could really hear the differences back to back

  • @vyvynylification
    @vyvynylification 2 года назад

    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.

  • @felixnavarro5373
    @felixnavarro5373 Год назад

    I gotta say,and I'm not being biased the single coil strat has a great sound when playing with distortion I was pleasantly surprised

  • @jtwrc
    @jtwrc Год назад +1

    I have an HSS and an SSS. I think the HSS is more versatile.
    BTW, position 1 is the bridge, not the neck. I think you had it reversed.
    Nice playing.

  • @timcastle165
    @timcastle165 4 года назад +10

    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!!

  • @jlbrpt
    @jlbrpt 4 месяца назад

    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.

    • @Juno58
      @Juno58 22 дня назад

      But a HSS Strat even with the humbucker still sounds like a Strat, which a Les Paul doesn't.

  • @ricklanders
    @ricklanders 3 года назад +8

    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

  • @wit4275
    @wit4275 2 года назад +1

    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

  • @CCDProductions
    @CCDProductions Год назад

    I just learned recently i have a hss strat and I'm glad I do. I think it sound a lot better

  • @bluepedalsrock9271
    @bluepedalsrock9271 4 года назад +46

    My opinion: Go with a Fender SSS Strat and an Ibanez HSS or HSH.

    • @SamFreelancePolice
      @SamFreelancePolice 4 года назад +13

      If you can afford two expensive guitars, that is.

    • @dedesperadosmusic5163
      @dedesperadosmusic5163 4 года назад +2

      This is the correct answer indeed 🤣. Never enough with one guitar LOL. Or Fender SSS strat and PRS HH coil tape

    • @maldonadodani
      @maldonadodani 4 года назад +5

      But if your budget only lets you choose one the HSS strat can be a very versatile choice I think

    • @richat1691
      @richat1691 3 года назад +1

      not really helpfull - may aswell say buy a tele for the bridge sound, gibson for the humbucker and a strat for neck position sounds.......

    • @kevinkaol3681
      @kevinkaol3681 3 года назад +2

      @@datalival If you still have HH buy the SSS. If you no longer have the HH, but the HSS.

  • @donharrold1375
    @donharrold1375 3 года назад +11

    I have both (SSS and HSS). I think you summed up the difference well. If I want to have a beautiful bright bell tone (like Knopfler in the early years) I use my SSS. If I want something more rock and overdriven (a fusion or heavy rock sound) it’s the HSS. The HSS is a bit more versatile and honestly it should probably be the normal choice for most Strat buyers these days. The bridge pickup on an SSS strat is not very useful and sounds really bad overdriven (icy and hard sounding). Unless you play a lot of surf music, it’s main purpose is to be able to combine it with the middle pick so that you can get that really beautiful bell tone chime. Can the HSS cover everything? No. An HSS Strat still mainly sounds like a Strat more or less with a darker and beefier bridge pickup. If I compare it to my Les Pauls it still sounds brighter and thinner overall. Wood and construction still makes a difference I think. The HSS strat really evolved out of the 80s metal scene. People wanted guitars with tremolos that could deal with high gain but still remain bright and articulate to cut through dense mixes of guitar and keyboards.

    • @MrZiicOo
      @MrZiicOo 3 года назад

      Hey man which one would u recommend for Neo soul/Jazz ?

    • @donharrold1375
      @donharrold1375 3 года назад

      @@MrZiicOo Difficult call. Strats are pretty bright whether you pick the HSS or SSS. For jazz you’d maybe want a softer rounder sound? You could roll the tone right off and get something a little jazzy but you might be better getting a 335 or something similar? If you want something that’s going to be glassy, clean, percussive and funky (Like the Nile Rodgers type of thing) get an SSS. If you want something that can give you are more useable bridge pickup for lead work (particularly overdriven leads) get the HSS. I’m probably not helping very much as I’m not very familiar with the type of music you’re doing. Who are the guitarists you want to sound like?

    • @maraviyoso8473
      @maraviyoso8473 2 года назад

      @@donharrold1375 unless you play fusion

    • @flyingv7161
      @flyingv7161 7 месяцев назад

      Regarding the bridge single coil, I think that's also a matter of setting up your rig for the tone of that pickup:
      if people set up their tone on the neck and middle pickups ( searching clarity and brittleness with them)
      then of course the bridge pickup will sound too harsh.

    • @donharrold1375
      @donharrold1375 7 месяцев назад

      @@flyingv7161 I don’t want to switch pickups and then fiddle with my amp to dial it in.

  • @RCGangstaZ
    @RCGangstaZ 3 года назад +2

    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.

    • @phillipholt6005
      @phillipholt6005 3 года назад

      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.

  • @kieattisaklaw
    @kieattisaklaw 2 года назад +1

    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.

  • @mikelaperribay1102
    @mikelaperribay1102 3 года назад +2

    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

  • @jeffreybonnette8813
    @jeffreybonnette8813 4 года назад +1

    I have a SSS, HSS and a single active Tom Delonge Strat. They all sound good in there own way. Can't go wrong with a Strat in any configuration.

    • @bradolfsen7935
      @bradolfsen7935 4 года назад +1

      Their*

    • @eastyg
      @eastyg 3 года назад +2

      @@bradolfsen7935 bore off 😴😴

  • @bryanbarrett7449
    @bryanbarrett7449 7 месяцев назад

    Thanks so much for the video, the SSS is for me, love that sound.

  • @gsryank
    @gsryank 4 года назад +1

    Great video I have been debating switching to an has configuration in my Strat so this was awesome

  • @timtyler4011
    @timtyler4011 4 года назад +4

    Fender HSS Strat! I have two of them and they are so versatile!

  • @faautobahna9416
    @faautobahna9416 2 года назад +1

    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.

  • @EILONadiv
    @EILONadiv 19 часов назад

    I bought an us hss 2012 strat sec hand guitar
    Brilliant
    I used to have a std tele(sold it)
    Loved THAT sound
    BUT!!!!
    Didnt like to play music with it
    Oh i bought with the tele a bass breaker amp
    The 15 vrs(sold it back then with the std tele)
    Was brill sound
    Too heavy!!!
    Im considering buying an amp again
    What do u suggest?!
    A new bass breaker 15
    Or a vox ac10

  • @watchfan6180
    @watchfan6180 2 года назад +3

    Wonderful to the point comparison. I have a HSS Player Fender, I want to play hard rock as well as clean sounds. I can’t afford a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender.

    • @fuchsia5899
      @fuchsia5899 2 года назад

      Get a coil split for the humbucker

  • @mikeavery1459
    @mikeavery1459 4 года назад +6

    Pretty good video, and explanation. Thanks.

  • @dedesperadosmusic5163
    @dedesperadosmusic5163 4 года назад +2

    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 😂

  • @joaoassumpcao3347
    @joaoassumpcao3347 3 года назад +4

    The strat bridge always felt too bright and thin to the point of being grating to me. Imo the two best mods a strat can have are the HSS (with coil-tapping) and wiring a tone knob to the bridge. That's just the king of versatility imo

  • @randygeren
    @randygeren 4 года назад

    I put a rail humbucker in the bridge for heavier distortion and I still can get single coil sounds to.

  • @ianshongtrs
    @ianshongtrs 4 года назад +13

    Even before hearing this shootout I chose the HSS because this is the guitar I always have out on my stand and I'm too lazy to take out my Gibson Les Paul or my Tele Deluxe with Shawbuckers out of their cases. My everyday "beater" guitar and its great.

    • @Taurex
      @Taurex 3 года назад

      Relatable haha...

  • @kyleparsons1471
    @kyleparsons1471 3 года назад +2

    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.

    • @guysgear5996
      @guysgear5996 3 года назад

      You’re gonna want an eliphone les Paul imho

    • @hoanglong6505
      @hoanglong6505 3 года назад +1

      If you like both heavy stuffs and blues go for the HSS

  • @nikandroll13
    @nikandroll13 9 месяцев назад

    I ordered SSS and they delivered HSS, now I’m thinking about waiting or taking HSS, but it seems that SSS is better

  • @ROLEPLAYA64
    @ROLEPLAYA64 4 года назад +4

    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)

    • @MadebyMiike
      @MadebyMiike  4 года назад

      Didn't like the neck (sharp edges). Check out my shootout between the Player and the Squier Classic Vibe.

  • @Idler81643
    @Idler81643 3 года назад +1

    With HSS, 250k pot will make the humbucker too muddy, or if you use 500k pot, the single coil will be too bright. There will be compromises unless you use 2 pots. But I'd rather get another humbucker guitar. LP style with shorter scale for more variety as well.

    • @JohnShalamskas
      @JohnShalamskas 2 года назад

      Fender uses a ganged 500k and 250k pot for the Humbucker and Split coil, respectively. Another solution would be to use 500k for both and crank the tone knob to cut some treble on the split coil, but the ganged pot is more convenient.

  • @destryk1557
    @destryk1557 Год назад

    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.

  • @war.neverchanges
    @war.neverchanges Год назад

    I bought an hss and I see that it’s a better choice by definition. Sss is light imo

  • @bluemist7148
    @bluemist7148 4 года назад +5

    Nice comparison!

  • @anapaocastro
    @anapaocastro 9 месяцев назад +2

    thank u so much!!! i finally understand!

  • @maraviyoso8473
    @maraviyoso8473 Год назад

    If a bridge SC was good enough for Jimi and it's good enough for Clapton, Gilmour and the like, then it's good enough for me. I like humbuckers on Strats, but, in my experience, the SC cuts better in the mix, no doubt about it.

  • @sikguy9939
    @sikguy9939 5 месяцев назад

    SSS
    1:56 Middle and Bridge
    2:19 Middle and Bride OD
    2:55 Bridge
    3:24 Bridge OD
    HSH
    2:07 Middle and Bridge
    2:28 Middle and Bridge OD
    2:40 Bridge
    3:09 Bridge OD

  • @erhnam
    @erhnam 4 года назад +5

    I like your explanation. Thank you...

    • @MadebyMiike
      @MadebyMiike  4 года назад

      Thanks Erhnam and thanks for watching!

  • @mattquinn8022
    @mattquinn8022 Год назад +2

    awesome and right to the point. thanks mate!

  • @paularnold823
    @paularnold823 6 месяцев назад

    You should check out the h.s.h. got one. Best of both worlds.

  • @minno.4509
    @minno.4509 3 года назад

    My first electric was a HSS strat and then my uncle gave me his old SSS Starcaster so now I have variety

  • @harryspotterofficial
    @harryspotterofficial 3 года назад

    I see that humbucker on Bridge have impact on Higher strings, they are louder and brighter

  • @jjthetrainman9430
    @jjthetrainman9430 4 года назад

    I like the humbucker because it sounds more powerful when distorted