Older Players....when did HSS happen?

[Gearjoneser]

I was thinking about Van Halen's influence on the idea of a humbucker in a strat type guitar, and wondered how common it was to see a strat modded with a humbucker in the bridge, BEFORE Van Halen came out onto the scene?

Was this seen very often in the late 60's - mid 70's?

[jhale667]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Seems like I've seen a pic of Wayne Charvel and Tommy Bolin with a H/S/S Strat pre-VH...
And I seem to recall reading Dave Murray did his old black Strat with the two Super Distortions around like, '76-'77, something like that?
Regarding that pickup arrangement, I also remember something that stated in effect (paraphrasing here) "Though EVH was not the first to experiment with this pickup configuration, he was certainly the most prominent."

[stevie_bees]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Wasn't Robbie Robertson's Strat HSS during the Last Waltz in '76?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Even Eddie used HSS for a while in the mid seventies.
Alex Lifeson also used one in the seventies....
Some of the old Fusion guys also fooled around with those...forgot who and how early!

[saladin]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Wayne Kramer from the MC-5 put a PAF in the middle position back in the sixties.

[Dangerine49]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Wasn't Robbie Robertson's Strat HSS during the Last Waltz in '76?

No, he just didn't like the location of the middle single coil. So he had it moved back adjacent to the bridge pickup, but it was still wired as a SSS.

[gOgIver]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

The dude from Hall & Oats had a Humbucker in his Strat back in the 70's too.

[gripweed]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

I believe Roger Fisher from Heart also did that. There have probably always been players that did that to one extent or another. I think GJ's question is more when did the trend actually begin. I remember the whole trend really taking off in the early eighties after Eddie first came out with the superstrat in '78. All the the players that were a inspired by that whole movement really moved that trend along.

GJ, I would think you might know more about this than just about anyone around here!

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Individuals (including some big names obviously) have probably been doing it since the humbucker first appeared. It picked up some steam in the 70's but it was EVH who turned it into a widespread trend.

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

GJ, I would think you might know more about this than just about anyone around here!

I started playing guitar around 1980/81 in southern Ca, so VH and all the copycats really took off from that point. I know that everyone was starting to use superstrats around then.

I also know the images of classic rock from the 50's - 70's, and very rarely recall seeing Fender strats with humbuckers put in them. They still had the 3-route back then, plus there weren't HSS pickguards yet, so it would have required some luthier skills to make it happen. Also, didn't Gibson humbuckers have long legs back then? Long legs don't fit in strats, I don't think.

The wackiest pickup setup I've seen from the 70's would have been Steve Morse's Frankentele. Neal Schon, Buck Dharma, and Alex Lifeson might have also had some sort of superstrat back then too.

[idsnowdog]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

I don't think it became a production model configuration until the early 80's. I remember Alvin Lee had a single in the middle of his 335 at woodstock.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Eddie mid 70s...

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

I also know the images of classic rock from the 50's - 70's, and very rarely recall seeing Fender strats with humbuckers put in them. They still had the 3-route back then, plus there weren't HSS pickguards yet, so it would have required some luthier skills to make it happen.

You wouldn't need to be a luthier, just some skill with a router. Of course, if you're as ham-fisted and devil-may-care with tools as I was in those days (and knowing the pickguard would cover a multitude of sins), just tear it up with a chisel or screwdriver til it fits.

Also, didn't Gibson humbuckers have long legs back then?

They did and still do.

Long legs don't fit in strats, I don't think.

They do if you rout the leg holes deep enough.

[Captain Tightpants]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Yeah, punched right thru the trem spring cavity in one of mine to make a long-legged 'bucker fit! It worked, but not my finest work!

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Older Players....when did HSS happen?

Wayne Kramer from the MC-5 put a PAF in the middle position back in the sixties.

WoW! That image must rate near the top shelf of R'n'R photography! Saved to hard drive!