Are HSS guitars unpopular?

[Securb]

Exactly. That's why I just added you both to my ignore list. No tone cred.

I just agreed with you?

 

[Synapsys]

Out of my current stable (7 guitars), 2 are HSS: a Charvel DK22 and an Ibanez SEW761FM. To me, they are popular.

 

[Artie]

Yeah, I've used a neck Five Two with half of a Hybrid in position 3, and it is a great sound.

Which coil of the hybrid did you split to, and was the Five-Two a neck or middle version? (RWRP.)

 

[Mincer]

The Five Two was a neck version. The neck Classic Stack was the middle version. I don't have the guitar in front of me, but I believe the Hybrid split to the Custom coil.

 

[Juanhanglo]

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?

Theyre not unpopular, people just started calling them SSH instead.

Not sure where this reverse nomenclature started......

 

[Artie]

The Five Two was a neck version. The neck Classic Stack was the middle version. I don't have the guitar in front of me, but I believe the Hybrid split to the Custom coil.

That makes sense. I'm pretty sure a neck single is hum-cancelling with the stud coil of a humbucker. And on the hybrid, I'm pretty sure the stud coil is the Custom coil.

 

[Butch Snyder]

People who prefer a single coil bridge over a humbucker bridge lose all tone cred.

Hmmm, I don't know about that. I love a good bridge humbucker tone, but a Telecaster bridge pickup tone can be like heaven. One of the most iconic Rock guitar solos was done on a Tele using the stock bridge pickup (Stairway to Heaven).

All that said, I love my Schecter Nick Johnston sig model. It's HSS. The stock pickups were great, but I replaced them with Alnico 2 Pro Strat pickups in the neck and middle positions and I installed a Hades Gates in the bridge position. Fantastic combo, and I think that setup is completely relevant these days. That said, I also love my Telecaster bridge pickups. Check out Allen Hinds as he uses a Tele and Esquire quite a lot.

 

[Mincer]

That makes sense. I'm pretty sure a neck single is hum-cancelling with the stud coil of a humbucker. And on the hybrid, I'm pretty sure the stud coil is the Custom coil.

Yes- it was a really cool scheme. I don't own the guitar anymore, but the pickups and sound weren't the issue (weight and balance were). I just got an HSS Music Man (with stock DiMarzios), with their 'Silent Circuit' (dummy coil array) and it is dead quiet. And it sounds great!