Fender MIA Strat - Standard vs. HSS

LowDown Hal · #1 12-03-2008, 05:45 PM

Thinking about grabbing an '08 Strat.
What do you think about the two different pick-up configuration options?

THANKS

MJ5150 · #2 12-03-2008, 05:56 PM

I think USC will win.

-Mike

Fontaine · #3 12-03-2008, 06:31 PM

I like mittens, whats your name?

steve21 · #4 12-03-2008, 07:21 PM

I like my Fender strats with 3 single coils the majority of the time.

Webtroll · #5 12-03-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve21

I like my Fender strats with 3 single coils the majority of the time.

+1 I had a strat with a PAF in the bridge position and while not bad it didn't feel like a strat. Personally I'd rather have a humbucker in the neck position.

()smoke() · #6 12-03-2008, 07:36 PM

if they both still have 'swimming pool' routing, then i'd just go with the single since i could have either the single or get a single-sized hb and keep the pickguard the same...with the HSS, if i wanted a single coil in the bridge after a while, i'd have to buy another pickguard

SuperDuck · #7 12-03-2008, 07:37 PM

The tone from the out of phase bridge and middle single coils is one of the tops reasons to play a Strat, IMO!

bwv1013 · #8 12-04-2008, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuck

The tone from the out of phase bridge and middle single coils is one of the tops reasons to play a Strat, IMO!

word. to me that is the definitive strat tone. i own one of each (MIM mind you, i'm not that rich...) and i find i pick up the SSS more for straty stuff. the HSS is definitely versatile as a one-stop shopping guitar if you plan to use it for heavier music as well.

Webtroll · #9 12-04-2008, 06:12 AM

Interesting about the phase, I used it on my previous pickguard (it's somewhere in the garage still wired up too). I never cared much for the 3 pickups and installed a tele 3 position switch to the bridge and neck pickups, changed the middle tone to a master tone, and replaced the second tone with a phase switch. I had the HSS once but prefered the SSS, SS and HH combinations more. Currently I have a set of EMG SAs and a 5 position switch, thinking of trying out some Lace Sensors. Strats are fun to swap parts out on!

i_got_a_mohawk · #10 12-04-2008, 06:23 AM

Bridge P-90 FTW!

Webtroll · #11 12-04-2008, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Bridge P-90 FTW!

Have you seen the Duncan P-Rails? Supposedly a P90, single coil and humbucker in a humbucker sized package. The single coil sound bites, but the P90 and humbucker sounds are pretty good.

hover · #12 12-04-2008, 07:17 AM

coil tap the bridge humbucker and wire that accordingly. You get it all.

They should really offer that stock. Jus' sayin.

**baba** · #13 12-04-2008, 07:45 AM

I'd go for the singles. Although, I had one with a Pearly Gates bucker at the bridge that was a nice option.

LowDown Hal · #14 12-04-2008, 03:02 PM

Thanks for the input.
I decided to go with the Standard 3 single coil model.

btw> I'm told that the routing is still the same for both models.

Webtroll · #15 12-04-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowDown Hal

I'm told that the routing is still the same for both models.

If it's the pool rout it's setup for any pickup combination. The original SSS rout would not take a humbucker without modification. I've seen HSH routs would hold all the common combinations but I don't know if Fender used that.

LowDown Hal · #16 12-04-2008, 08:16 PM

Don't know if it's the "swimming pool"
I was told that both models are routed to accommodate the Humbucker.

()smoke() · #17 12-04-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowDown Hal

Thanks for the input.
I decided to go with the Standard 3 single coil model.

btw> I'm told that the routing is still the same for both models.

i think you'll be happy with your choice, there's lots of sounds from a standard strat, and if you ever decide you want something different, you can go to humbuckers and get LOTS of sounds...my tech's personal partscaster strat is wired to have 11 different sounds through a combination of the 5-way switch and series/parallel switching with stacked singles and a lil '59 at the bridge

LowDown Hal · #18 12-06-2008, 03:36 PM

My "first" guitar should be in sometime next week. In the meantime I borrowed one.

When playing my bass I use three finger left hand technique until up around 7th position. On these little bitty six string things it seems like 4 finger is the way to go even in first position.

So my questions are:
- will I confuse my poor muscle memory if I play the guitar with 4 finger technique and the BASS with three finger?

- what do you guys do?

THANKS

IanStephenson · #19 12-06-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

coil tap the bridge humbucker and wire that accordingly. You get it all.

What I was going to say.

No reason not to have a two coils if you can just turn one off.