SSS or HSS pickups? Shootout + Opinion (on Fender Player Series Strat)!

SSS or HSS - that is often the question! In this video I test both pickup sets on a Fender Player Series strat, and give my opinion on the topic!

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[trashcant]

People really be like "get a single coil strat. If you want a humbucker just buy another guitar" like, I'm not about to get 2 guitars as my first guitar.

[jamesbaldwin]

Just got a HSS player strat for the exact reasons you said. I wanted an all rounder that I can use for clean tones and more distorted tones without having to change guitars or use a noise gate.

[Kamy.GG.Official]

*HSS will do (almost) everything one ever wants from a guitar*

[jwpgoldsmith]

i've been doing research on this for a week and there wasn't a video that had the exact playing comparison on the Player Series side by side like yours does. thanks so much for sharing man - helped confirm my decision to go with the HSS.

[isaiahj]

I will go for the HSS. Powerful drive sound from the Humbucker, and clean/soft riff tone from the Neck, Neck + Middle, and Middle only. I love the player series, they have great sound, and with reasonable price🎸

[madanielmadaniel]

Finally one who knows how to compare sounds - switching back and forth at the same volume level and tempo ! Thanks.💯

[TheLukejitsu]

I came into this video thinking I would come out with a confirmed choice of HSS and now after hearing both I prefer the SSS.

[lueysixty-six]

SSS Bridge is what Gilmore uses for his Comfortably Numb soloing. That may suprise many. But, so long as your overdrive is already thick and juicy, the sharp bite the bridge single coil of a Strat is unmatched. It can be so expressive for slight nuance-bending & vibrato.

[austinparr]

Ive had an HSS for over 13 years and absolutely love it, I make use of my bottom Humbucker pickup most because I LOVE/NEED the full sound it gives and I play clean 95% of the time... Next guitar I buy will most likely be the Tele because with these 2 I believe I can make every sound I’ll ever need to

[OiNaomi]

already knew about the hss versatility, but now I also love that fat sound of the bridge pickup, thank you for helping, don't have money for 2 guitars

[dc]

4 years is not late for me to discover this post and greatly appreciate the knowledge sharing, including the riff you demo (1:56 - 2:38). A good practice exercise for beginner liked me.

[gqfiend]

VERY good video here. Lots of info in less than ten minutes. Perfect

[Juno]

I've changed the stock humbucker of my Player HSS Strat to a hotter Wilkinson M series overwound humbucker, which has more output with a surprisingly very nice but still Straty sound, i didn't expect that huge difference to the stock humbucker. I'm really happy i did so!

[scott]

Let's be honest, most Strat players don't use the bridge pickup for much of anything, the so called Strat sound is the neck or neck middle, so it's only a matter of taste on the bridge, IMO I think the humbucker adds a bit of versatility, but it's something few Strat players will make very much use of.

[Brewer_]

I just started learning a week ago on a cheap knockoff strat. If I'm still practicing often in December I'm buying one of those HSS ones. It sounds awesome.

[Music-etmf]

1:56 of position 2 is the most beneficial and informative part, and that’s why the SSS Strat is still worth it for me!

[ckallaher]

It’s a tough call. The bridge+middle in the SSS has the quack but the bridge alone is very thin sounding. I much prefer the bridge pickup in my American Standard Tele. I tend to agree with Isiah J that the neck, middle and neck+middle give you plenty of that Strat clean sound, with the bridge humbucker being kind of a bonus for versatility purposes. Great review, Mike. Very helpful.

[jesku]

1:26 this riff goes straight to the heart

[rnarizona]

I share Scott's opinion below. I own an HSS, and my favorite sound is position 4, neck and middle. I use that 90% of the time. That said, I prefer having the humbucker in the bridge, and think it does add more versatility to the guitar. I enjoyed your video, but would have gotten much more out of it if you adjusted the camera angle so that I could see the tone selector switch and the volume and tine knobs at all times. One more thought for anyone considering purchasing this guitar. DO IT! I've always been a Tele player, but I really like this guitar just as much, and in my opinion, a better looking guitar that the Tele.

[Juno]

Sold my SSS Squier and bought a HSS Fender Player and i'm happy with my decision 👍