You often come across the terms HSS in reference to guitar pickups but what does HSS mean? And while we’re at it, What do HSH and SSS mean too?
It’s all about the pickup configuration in a guitar (usually a Strat style guitar).
Put simply it means Humbucker, Single coil, Single coil and refers to the pickup configuration in an electric guitar.
Traditionally Stratocasters had 3 single coil pickups SSS – single, single, single. But there are other options – replacing the bridge pickup for a humbucker – HSS, humbucker, single, single. Or replacing both bridge and neck for humbuckers – HSH, humbucker, single, humbucker. I’m sure you get the point.
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Why would you want a bridge humbucker?
Surely Fender know what they’re doing so why mess with it?
Well, the Stratocaster first went into production in 1954 and has barely changed since. Although the guitar is the same, music certainly isn’t. Changing the bridge pickup for a humbucker can give you way more options.
What is the difference between humbucker and single coil tone?
Humbuckers are generally more powerful and have a fuller tone. They will push an amplifier into overdrive more easily. The humbucker sound is fatter and less percussive.
If you’re interested here is how humbuckers work.
This is a great configuration but for rock players the bridge pickup can be a bit thin and weedy sounding.
There is a place for every tone but a lot of players do prefer having a bit more power in the bridge position.
What’s the solution?
With the advent of replacement pickups players started fitting humbuckers in the bridge position. It can involve some routing (not always) but it really fattens up that bridge position sound. The HSS (humbucker, single, single) Strat was born.
HSS guitars are hugely versatile. You get the best of both worlds. All the lovely clean single coil tones but with a fat lead tone when you need it. It’s like combining a Strat with a Les Paul and can really open up possibilities.
By now you’ve guessed HSH – humbucker, single, humbucker . This is another hugely versatile set up but we’re getting further away from the original Strat tones here. This is really popular with rock players from the. 1980’s on. The neck position humbucker gives those lush thick fat lead tones associated with Gibsons – think ‘Still Got The Blues’.
With all these extra tonal options come more wiring possibilities. Humbuckers have 2 coils. That gives the option to have those coils wired in series (conventional humbucker). Or in parallel- similar to a single coil tone.
There’s also the option of coil tap where one of the 2 coils is turned off.
How those wiring options sounds is going to be the subject of another blog/video.
What is a swimming pool route?
If you have a conventional Strat type guitar it does require a bit of woodworking to fit a humbucker at the bridge position.
Here is what a Strat looks like under the pickguard. As you can see a humbucker won’t fit in that small cavity.
But some Strats have what is known as a swimming pool route. With this type of body any pickup configuration will fit. SSS, HSS, HSH, you just need to change the pickguard. It looks like this:
There is a school of thought though that this ruins the sound of a Stratocaster. I’m not getting into that discussion here.
So What does HSS mean?
Well, it’s simply an option for pickups on (usually) a Stratocaster type guitar.
There are so many tonal options with a Strat, so many changes you can make. if you are getting into modifying (modding) guitars then a Strat is a perfect platform for experimenting.
Here are the options for my Strat pickups. And here are my humbuckers. There are too many variables to discuss here. If you have any questions about which combination will work best for you just get in touch.
I hope this has been helpful and answered What does HSS mean?
What does HSS mean?
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