Are HSS guitars unpopular?

Mincer said:
Actually, my pick is barely touching the strings...same as my finger. And I don't anchor any part of my right hand on the top of the guitar. But middle pickups don't work with my technique. If a millimeter of pick or flesh touches the top of the pickup once in 15 minutes of playing, that's too much for me, so I'll go without a middle pickup, or one lowered down pretty low.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the summary!
 
Artie said:
I never had much use for a middle pup 'til I got one custom wound by Zhangliqun. Not the warmth of a neck or the "ice" of a bridge. Just a perfect clean snap. I love it.
Click to expand...

I totally get you on the bridge pup of a strat being very useless by itself in a normal conditions. Sounds like the Zang pup is pretty warm?

But I absolutely love knopfler's two and four positions and just can't live without them so I can't make big mods here.

I've had some luck with the steel plate under the bridge to remove some of the ice pick.
 
zionstrat said:
I totally get you on the bridge pup of a strat being very useless by itself in a normal conditions. Sounds like the Zang pup is pretty warm?

But I absolutely love knopfler's two and four positions and just can't live without them so I can't make big mods here.

I've had some luck with the steel plate under the bridge to remove some of the ice pick.
Click to expand...

The strat beidge needs a tone control dedicated just for it, the middle can do without it cause it helps quack up the 2&4 positions more.

Back in the days with those warm wooly Tweed Deluxe/Bassman amps that bright strat bridge seemed desirable, however with modern anps its a unwanted problem for most users.
 
zionstrat said:
But I absolutely love knopfler's two and four positions and just can't live without them so I can't make big mods here.
Click to expand...

I've sometimes contemplated doing a Strat with just a toggle to select the #2 and #4 positions, but it isn't really a practical idea.

BTW, when I said not much use for a middle pup, I meant by itself. I've always loved the #2 & #4 positions.
 
Last edited:
I'm in the very small camp of people like that like the ice pick strat bridge. I don't use it all the time, but it has it's purpose.
 
Artie said:
I've sometimes contemplated doing a Strat with just a toggle to select the #2 and #4 positions, but it isn't really a practical idea.

BTW, when I said not much use for a middle pup, I meant by itself. I've always loved the #2 & #4 positions.
Click to expand...

I'm totally the opposite as I cannot stand the #2 and #4 positions, so much that my HSS is wired with a 3-way switch and one off my SSS is now S_S with a 3-way switch (and I really like n+b position). I still have an SSS Strat but mostly using #1, #3 and #5 positions, keeping the 5-way switch just in case.
 
donaldr said:
I'm totally the opposite as I cannot stand the #2 and #4 positions, so much that my HSS is wired with a 3-way switch and one off my SSS is now S_S with a 3-way switch (and I really like n+b position). I still have an SSS Strat but mostly using #1, #3 and #5 positions, keeping the 5-way switch just in case.
Click to expand...

That's cool. I believe that's how the first Strats were done. The #2 & #4 positions were found "by accident." (I think.)
 
zionstrat said:
I totally get you on the bridge pup of a strat being very useless by itself in a normal conditions.
Click to expand...
Get a STK-S7, very far from a useless bridge pickup.
I also have a Rose Buff Beauty on the bridge of my Fender Strat and it's not ice picky at all.
 
Back to OP:
  • 1x HSS
  • 1x SS
  • 1x SSS
  • 2x HH
So you are right, HSS is only 20% of my guitar collection and HH is 40%. Conclusion, HSS is less popular!
 
I am with Artie on the #2 & #4 positions. My 1962 RI Strat had both 3 way & 5 way switches. I remember reading in the Fender literature the 3 way was so one could hang the switch between bridge & middle or middle & neck for those vintage tones. I will not hurt my brain trying to sort out the electrical differences between those and the spots on a 5 way, but you know how those guitar players are always chasing those obscure details for the most accurate tone.
 
Artie said:
That's cool. I believe that's how the first Strats were done. The #2 & #4 positions were found "by accident." (I think.)
Click to expand...

yeah, the 5way didnt come along till the mid 70s. i think people caught on pretty early on that you could notch the switch just right and get what we refer to as 2 & 4 these days. i hear the match stick trick was popular
 
I like 2 & 4 and the neck by itself. If there is a hotter bridge in there, I'll use that, but I never use the middle alone. I wind up with special switches that in position 3, it is the neck and bridge.
 
Mincer said:
I like 2 & 4 and the neck by itself. If there is a hotter bridge in there, I'll use that, but I never use the middle alone. I wind up with special switches that in position 3, it is the neck and bridge.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's me on a strat.. two and four for rhythm and the neck for lead.

Back to the HSS discussion, my primary stage guitar has a JB bridge that splits incredibly well in the second position.

So I get to keep my primary strat positions and add a full humbucker which makes it a pretty perfect do anything guitar.
 
zionstrat said:
Yep, that's me on a strat.. two and four for rhythm and the neck for lead.

Back to the HSS discussion, my primary stage guitar has a JB bridge that splits incredibly well in the second position.

So I get to keep my primary strat positions and add a full humbucker which makes it a pretty perfect do anything guitar.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've used a neck Five Two with half of a Hybrid in position 3, and it is a great sound.
 
I would have to say that HSS guitars are VERY popular, but based on what kind of music you play. For 80s, prog and country, very popular. Maybe not so much for hard rock/metal, but can be utilized well for that style as well. I love 80s rock/pop with the position 4 bridge/middle tone....so iconic for the era. I would have to say middle pickups by themselves are not used nearly as much as bridge or neck by themselves. but if you play 80s rock, they are essential!
 
playas said:
It might seem like a strange question, but I notice that outside of strictly bolt-on superstrats it's very rare to see a guitar with a hss pickup layout.

I was wondering if other designs with hss layouts just don't sell.

It strikes me as a versatile set-up but even a lot of more modern designs seem to always gravitatate towards HH designs.

Any thoughts, opinions?
Click to expand...

People who prefer a single coil bridge over a humbucker bridge lose all tone cred.
 
My only HSS is my Parker and I almost never use the singles. Strangely I use my humbuckers split on my other guitars more than I play true singles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top