The Lace Alumitone pickups are probably the most convenient and consistent pickups i’ve ever heard for an HSS configuration. The lace alumitone humbucker in the bridge needs a 250k pot instead of a 500k pot which makes it much easier to match with the alumitone single coils, which to my ears personally sound more like some kind of PAF style pickup possibly due to the fact that both the alumitone single coil and humbucker pickups are designed for the entire surface area of the pickup to capture the vibration of the strings as opposed to typical pole piece or rail pickup designs found on most conventional passive pickups. The best part about them though? When you split the bridge pickup, you don’t lose volume or output. It literally gives your humbucker a single coil or P90 type tone in a way you don’t get with splitting conventional humbuckers. Absolutely worth looking into for anyone interested in an HSS configuration.
I'm an HSS man myself. I currently have two Fender Stratocasters in HSS. One is a 2007 Lonestar with a Pearly Gates Plus humbucker( alnico 5 ) and two Texas Special single coils. This thing rocks and rolls!
I originally had a SSS player plus Strat, but I ended up installing a Hot Rail in the bridge position because I needed a humbucker. My strat is my #1 and it turns out that I NEED a humbucker in the bridge position to be happy lol
Same here on 3rd Position i have a neck bridge combination and i think of an extra Switch for parallel series Mode as well.. that would make 13 different Tone options 😅
I have a 60's Squier Classic Vibe strat that I'm about to convert to HSS. My main reason is that I've always found the single coil bridge humbucker in most strats to be too thin and weedy for my taste, especially with the vintage low output single coils you have in the CV. I ended up opting for the Shawbucker 1 pickup as it's not too hot but will hopefully add a little beefiness to the bridge position. I'm also wiring it so that it automatically splits in the middle/bridge position; I still wanted to have access to those quacky/phasey sounds, but I was never going to play the humbucker split by itself so I didn't see any reason for a push-pull pot.
Thank you for the thourough explantion of the electronics, something I need to learn more about. Looking to get an HSS, & this video was the most helpful one I've found. New subscriber.
This answered all my questions and more. Wow! Thank you. I might just get the setup you have with a obsidian wire solderless kit and stop worrying about what goes well together.
I got an Obsidian ‘50s for my Les Paul... man you are right no worries changing pickups, I was experimenting till I got my right combination...DiMarzio Super Distortion at Bridge and Epi ProBucker A2 at Neck..
I’m in the process of choosing an HSS setup for my strat right now, and from bare knuckle no less lol. I’m not going quite this hot with them, but I don’t want pure vintage either, somewhere in between I’m thinking. Awesome video btw, very helpful and timely for me personally.
I agree that HSS is the best combination, but I completely disagree about the output matching and pot resistance. I go the opposite route, I like the difference as extreme as it gets, as I never combine the humbucker with the single coil but I do when it's split, so I match the single coils with around HALF the output of the humbucker. If not then it defeats the entire purpose of HSS in my opinion. the Trilogy Suite as much as I like these pickups I'll only combine them with something extreme like a Ragnarok or a Warpig. I will totally combine a 16K pickup with something vintage. Volume drop? I have a compressor on all the time and I even hid it under my pedalboard so I can't even turn it off. losing the sparkle? the solution is to go with 500K pots all across the board. Yes, even with the single coils. I'd also suggest a 1meg pot if you're a bit more adventurous :D cuz why you're even go with single coils if you're just gonna make them darker?
I've got the SSS noiseless configuration in my new player plus in Olympic pearl, with a tortoiseshell pickguard. I freaking love the way it looks and sounds. It's my new #1.
I’m in LOVE with this guitar… buying my first Fender player plus and this color scheme doesn’t come in HSS 😢… wondering if I’m missing out or I’ll be happy with this. I’m very new an have an untrained ear, not to mention a terrible player. Currently playing a $180 Epiphone Les Paul special ii that’s already an HH
@@greg6162 if you like to play with gain, especially high gain, you should get an HSS guitar, because it's basically like the best of both worlds. I have a few guitars with Humbuckers, which is why I originally planned to keep all 3 single coils in my Strat, but eventually my Strat became my favorite and most used guitar, so I ended up replacing the bridge position pickup with a humbucker. I got a Seymour Duncan Hot Rail, which looks like a single coil because it's the size of a single coil, but it's actually a very hot humbucker and now I think my Strat is perfect. They make other, less hot, single coil-sized humbuckers as well. Although the Hot Rail is a great pickup for high gain, I really like the way it sounds with low gain. I'm pretty sure all Fender Player and Player Plus guitars are routed for HSH pickup configuration, so you could also probably just get a regular sized humbucker installed if you also buy a HSS pickguard from Fender's website or Amazon or sweetwater. Don't quote me on the routing though, because I forgot to ask the guitar tech to take photos of underneath my new pickguard. I ended up changing my pickguard to a black one, because I love Olympic white fenders with black guards. So yea, check out "single coil sized humbuckers" and that might solve your issue. In my opinion, the strat neck and middle pickups are the best pickups ever for clean/funk/low gain type of tones, but a humbucker in the bridge position is the best. I like very mid frequency-heavy pickups, but they're not for everyone. I just think it's cool to customize my guitars, that way they're tailored for me, basically. One of a kind.
I put Fralin Blues single coils and Pure P.A.F. humbucker in my strat with volume kit, half blender pot, and split coil capabilities and it turned out incredible. Considering I'm mostly a home/bedroom guitarist, this one guitar is plenty for me bc of its incredible versatility and will easily play any genre I like and sound good doing so!
HSS can be a very good combination, if you have a well-made split. First the value of the volume potentiometer must be 500k, the single pickups must each have a 500k resistor in parallel connected to ground. Then the humbucker split must be partial so as not to sound too weak in single. At these conditions it's a good combination.
U can also put a 250K+500K Stacked Dual volume pot as well for hss which will switch between the 500k & 250k pot via. ur 5- way selector. Its the standard setup of Fender American Pro HSS Strats.
I just built one. I decided to try a double volume, master tone type. That way you can split the 'bucker with the volume pot 1, use the volume 2 for the single coils so you can have 500k for the bridge and 250k for the single coils. I also used a push/pull for the tone, using a .015 Soviet PIO cap for the default/down and a .047 orange drop for the pull option. This way you get single coil split and two tone cap options, as well as the ability to balance the volume of the bridge and singles better.
I got a Yamaha that’s HSS, the neck PU was replaced with a noiseless, which is weird but works fine (ish). It’s currently the workhorse in my collection as it’s the only guitar I don’t trust to break easily
I'd much prefer to modify a Stratocaster for heavy genres cause 1. they're insanely easy to work on, so you can chuck any pickup you want in there, and 2. If you're dropping tunings, they'll hold up a little better without changing string gauges thanks to the slightly longer scale length, so you can stick to a particular gauge to a certain extent (I like 10-52's, which hold well all the way down to Drop B, surprisingly).
I need a Low-output ( non shrill or ice-picky ) Bridge Humbucker for a Suhr Strat with Lollar Blonde's ( which I Love ) in the neck and middle. Any input is much appreciated.
so from what I can see the Lollars are 5.6K for the neck and 5.8K for the middle. I suggest you don't combine it with a vintage style humbucker but with a humbucker around the 12K range. My recommendation is a Seymour Duncan 59/Custom Hybrid or Bare Knuckle Emerald If you want a vintage style humbucker then get the Bare Knuckle Mule or VH2, but get ready to replace these single coils with something around the 4K range lol
@@Mr.Goldbar I'm loving the Lollar Low Wind Imperial or the Shur Thornbucker or the Lambertone Crema = those 3 are my top choices. Appreciate your input. oNe LovE from NYC
good god almighty. was not expecting that much chug from a strat, like ever. i was gifted an HSS pickguard with singles from a 62 and a dimarzio humbucker.
This video is so damn helpful! Thank you for posting. I have a Godin Exit-22 with a HSS pickup layout - maple & rosewood neck + fretboard, mahogany body, action is tight and crisp, and it just plays beautifully. It's so versatile. BUT the stock pickups are just a little lackluster. I love everything else about that guitar. I've been trying to decide what to replace them with, and thanks to your video, I have a pretty good picture of how to proceed. I was looking at Bare Knuckle's lineup and they actually have a list of recommended HSS combos on their FAQ page.
Just bought an American Special HSS used for $700 and a 25 year old Johnson Marquis JM60 amp which was the first ever Modeling amp that used a Tube in the Preamp. “12ax7”. 18 different amplifier models, 3 effects at once with 3 different reverb effects and a host of Modulation, Pitch, Detune, Chorus, Flange, Phase, you name it, all of which can be stored into its bank. 60 watts with an Eminence Speaker. Also the Output Is powered so adding a Cabinet sends another 60 watts to you and makes it Stereo, thickening the sound. Picked that amp up for 175 bucks off an old stoner. Im pretty sure i just got the most versatile set-up known to man.
I bought a $200 70s super distortion, 12.7 ohms for 5 bucks out of a parts bin so I made an ssh pickguard for it with 2 wilkinson hot strat pups. I think I'm going to get a push pull pot that I can switch from 500k to 250k with a resistor then add a 2nd cap on the middle/neck tone pot. Problem is my humbucker is so old, it only has two wires and a braided shield so I can't split the bucker.
I had Strato SSS, I modified it to HSS, then to HH and then to HSH I could then realize one thing the best configuration is SSS, have single it is the nature of Strato and Tele I modified it and it had become another thing, the same way you would put singles on a Les Paul. I definitely went back to singles because I realized that the classic sound of the Strat and Tele masters is the majority of singles, When I talk I'm referring to people like Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mark Knopfler, Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Steve Rothery, Nile Rodgers, Curtis Mayfield, Robin Trower, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, Tin Renwick, Jeff Beck, Eric Gales, Jason Becker...
Great video !!!! Do you have only 1 same tone capacitor for the HB and the SCs ? (How is the taper on the tone?) Did you add a 470K resistor to and middle and to the neck SCs ? Actually, since the Trilogy SCs are so high, don't they need a higher volume pot resistor (e.g. 500K) ? BTW, what other bridge HB would you also recommend to pair with the Trilogy SCs ? I'm looking to install a HSS (or HSH) pickguard on a rosewood/mahogany strat. I'm trying to figure out if the Trilogy would sound good on it.
I efinitely agree with using 500K pots for the Trilogy Suites, I'd even go as far as to use 500K for all pickups regardless of outputs. As for other bridge pickups, I think the Ragnarok is the best pickup to combine with the Trilogies, Misha himself actually uses that combination on his new signature Strat. I'd definitely say it's more suited to go with high output singles than the Nailbomb
Im currently converting my AM Pro ll to hss, I like the JB trembucker wfhich is in already but still have the vmods in. trying to figure out which singles pair good w ith the JB or should I go HH with splits..leaning more toward hss anyone have any experience with the JB in HSS?
Just bought a Squier HSS hardtail and I love it. Planning to upgrade the pickups in the next year or so, still not sure what approach to take, I want a metal pickup for the humbucker and I want to upgrade the single coils for two different tones of cleans. Anyone have recommendations? What are the considerations for fitment/wiring?
Upgrade all of the pickups. Just stick with larger brands. They are tried and true. Just do your research. Honest a Seymour Duncan JB mixed with a Seymour Duncan YJMs would probably sound KILLER. Just make sure to wire it for split in the bridge if you want it. It would be a really cool guitar then
HSS i think is the best configuration, in my opinion. I want my bridge pickup to b humbucker, powerful... And neck is single coil, i love the tone of single coil in neck position. 😉
I have an hss strat and I took out the stock humbucker to replace it with a seymour duncan sh-6. The single coils are still original and sound fine for the most part, but the humbucker doesn’t sound the greatest. Any ideas why this might be or any tips?
you tried adjusting your pickup hight? I love the Duncan Distortion on my Charvel (basically an HH Strat with a Floyd). maybe you should've gotten the Trembucker version
I put an gold anodized hss pickguard on my sss fender strat. I put an 57 gibson hb at the bridge with about 8k output and 2 handwound sc about 6k output. It sound great with 2 volume pots. 1 250k pot that controls the sc and 1 500k pot for the hb. The tone pot is a 250k master tone and works on all pickups. Really versatile guitar!
My question is simply this. The 2nd position (Bridge & Middle PU) needs to sound like my regular Strat. I currently have 2 other H-S-S style Jacksons and the 2nd position does not sound like my Strat. Close but no cigar. What's a fella to do?
Does your bridge pickup has the ability to split? So I can split the bridge pickup so it sounds like a single coil and then when I put it into position 2 it sounds really, really close.
@@jjzuc well that's a bummer. I know what you mean though. I think for me I'm not super particular about how my bridge pickup sounds. Position 4 and position 5 are way more important for me when it comes to single coils.
Definitely check out Schecter’s Nick Johnston signature. I won’t usually purchase guitars with 22 frets, but I would make an exception for that one. It’s fantastic and it’s a better deal financially than the Fender Player Series.
I just ordered a Nailbomb, and the two trilogy suites for my baritone strat. I'm happy to know they will work well together. I kind of took a leap of faith hoping they'd sound good. I also got the bare knuckle 550 and 280k pots.
So I just recently installed a John Mayer big dipper loaded pickguard that I got off ebay into my American Ultra. Then I was like you know what, I never touch that bridge pickup lol. Any suggestions for what humbucker to use that would blend with Big Dipper single coils? Thanks :)... Also I'm pretty sure my big dippers came with 250k pots. Do you think 500k pots would mess up my single coil tone?
So amazing I'm looking for this setup can you point me to a loaded pickguard with exactly this configuration eithout loosing the volume output etc like you said in the beginning 🤘
I love this pickup configuration, but some serious food for thought. Alnico 2 are the real deal for any sound, from studio, so small venue to arena. Lower output offers more control. It is easier to go up, with the overdrive channel, or pedals. Going down, thinking your volume pot will do it? No! It is like having your hot water tank on full hot. No matter how much you turn up the faucet, it is still hot. Who says this: EVH, Slash, Larry Dimarzio, Seymour Duncan, Billy Gibbons, Bonamossa, many GIT graduates. It is true. EVH specifically demanded Alnico 3 and let the amp do the work, like his guitar to amp is like keyboard to computer. He said it, not me. That means SD, Pearly Gates(Gibbons), Slash Alnico Pro 2s (Slash obviously), L.Dimarzio has 36th Anniversary pickups in his Les Paul. That leaves the single coils. Now you can go noiseless with Fender: Vintage, Hot Vintage, N3,N4, or the best Ultra. All noiseless obviously, but no 60 cycle BS. Dimarzio: Area noiseless pickups. SD: many noiseless to choose from. Of note: SD uses the exact same pickup wiring machine, as Gibson, with specs by Gibson, working together like Dimarzio/Ibanez. That makes great options and affordable. I just bought a Deluxe HSS Strat, HSS, S1, 2007, to get the great Bridge and roller nut, then I will drop in a pre-loaded Ultra HSS pickguard, which is about $360 USD, or $500 CDN. I wanted a HSS Ultra Strat. When I thought $. I can go this route, get the benefits of the Ultra, but now with the LSR nut snd Steel over nickel frets. Fender? Nickel frets on an Ultra Strat? Really? Do you want people to buy Ibanez AZ. The swaps I am making are $ friendly. I am pissed off at myself for not getting a 2010 HSS Deluxe Strat with S1. Then I could have got the compound radius neck! Do stupid of me! Live snd learn! Ugh! When all these icons screamed get Alnico 2, they can’t be wrong. I had a LP with the Slash A2Pros and it could do clean to rip, maybe needing a pedal. I felt in full control though. Just like EVH and the GIT grad/teacher noted. These are can’t lose options. I asked my guitar tech, who played one your with The Guess Who, when Randy Bachman left. On the tour was ZZ Top and The Allman Bros Band with other great following. Texas to Tennessee. All wanted A2s. That is the Gibson PAF, but, control in any sized venue. I just trust this hearing it non-stop. * The best anything is WHAT YOU LIKE for your needs. Food for thought only. This is not from me. I want info from the greats. I don’t know crap. They do! Happy playing! Be safe! All the best!
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack so I'm also thinking of throwing a nailbomb in my strat.. it was an HSS but I'm currently going single humbucker only. I have a seymour duncan 500k pot and was wondering if that would still work with the nailbomb? Just asking cause I noticed on the bkp website they have 550k pots
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack Cool! I was hoping to stick with the 500k but just wasn't sure if the 550k was more appropriate or recommended for BKPs I guess? Anywho, I really appreciate you responding especially since this is an older video but this particular video is how I found your channel which I am subscribed to :)
Fender player series hss is on point! I have played 9k customs 5k Les Pauls and everything in between and the fender hss player strat is the guitar in my hands everyday. Cost $850 and it’s great!
I wish they made the new player plus HSS strats in the color scheme he’s using in the video. They have it in SSS noiseless pickups but I’m not sure how that would work. I just started playing few months ago. I really want that “Olympic white w/candy apple red pick guard” color they sell in the SSS but in HSS. I only have a $180 Epiphone Les Paul special ii so this would be my first real quality guitar I’m buying and I’m trying to make it a do it all purchase. The new Fender Player Plus HSS looks amazing and I want the all maple neck (not a Pau Ferro fan) but the color schemes aren’t there for me yet to spend that kind of money. I think it’s the perfect quality guitar for a beginner learning especially with locking tuners and such. But for $1100 it’s an investment
I feel you, it’s hard to find all the physical specs that you want and then the color to match 🥵 what I end up doing if finding one that feels solid and the plays the best in my hands, has the neck specs I like (maple with a thin c profile) and then try to get a base color I like, if needed switch the pick guard to a color you like if it’s worth it. Keep playing and you will get the perfect guitar one day.
I know now I want an HSS set up, but I’m still hung up on the pickups. Would the Seymour Duncan SSL-2 (neck and middle) Single coils work with a Jb Humbucker in the bridge? I have stock 250k pots
I want to swap out just the bridge pu in a mim strat, and leave the stock middle, neck. I plan to use this project as a chug machine anyway, so pup imbalances arent the hugest concern to me. Have any idea if an alnico II/paf is up to handle crunchy high gain chuggy stuff? Or do I have to go with a JB?
I have a dimebucker in the bridge wich makes mine a heavy metal machine, sounds heavy but trebly and very good for country stuff clean(kinda like a tele in a way) then i have a jb junior in neck wich sound dark and its really great for clean and thick blues lead. then i have original pickup in middle positio, Wich is tex mex and it sounds really thin in strat like way , so that way i have a really versitale guitar in fact its the only one i have been playing for the last 15 years or so.
I have a mim standar strat with lace sensor gold.. which hb pickub can I use for heavier tones? (24-7 spyz kind of sound) BUT, keeping the strat tone when coil splitted. uwu
Just starting following you, I’m become a fan of you channel. I just wanted to know, instant of the bare knuckle I am more of a fan of the Dimarzio D Activator what are two single coils that would balance that humbucker?
The Lace Alumitone pickups are probably the most convenient and consistent pickups i’ve ever heard for an HSS configuration. The lace alumitone humbucker in the bridge needs a 250k pot instead of a 500k pot which makes it much easier to match with the alumitone single coils, which to my ears personally sound more like some kind of PAF style pickup possibly due to the fact that both the alumitone single coil and humbucker pickups are designed for the entire surface area of the pickup to capture the vibration of the strings as opposed to typical pole piece or rail pickup designs found on most conventional passive pickups.
The best part about them though? When you split the bridge pickup, you don’t lose volume or output. It literally gives your humbucker a single coil or P90 type tone in a way you don’t get with splitting conventional humbuckers. Absolutely worth looking into for anyone interested in an HSS configuration.
I was NOT prepared for that beefiness when you rolled into that first riff. Hot damn
We like the riffs THICC around these parts, partner. 🤠
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack haha! I think you've convinced me to buy a player strat and beef it up!!
"And who doesn't love an El Camino?" I'm loving the Sloppy Joe channel!
I'm an HSS man myself. I currently have two Fender Stratocasters in HSS. One is a 2007 Lonestar with a Pearly Gates Plus humbucker( alnico 5 ) and two Texas Special single coils. This thing rocks and rolls!
I originally had a SSS player plus Strat, but I ended up installing a Hot Rail in the bridge position because I needed a humbucker. My strat is my #1 and it turns out that I NEED a humbucker in the bridge position to be happy lol
Nice! Did you use 250k or 500k pots? TY
@@drp2672 They are both factory and I have not had either one apart. Honestly don't know what pots are in them.
I have a tele with HSS, a 5 way, and coil tap, so 7 total tones. Its so versatile
Completely agree!!
Would that do like a tele bridge and neck together?
@Ben Larson no. I don’t make videos. And I sold that tele, to get a USA strat. Which I wired up exactly the same
@@kane6529 it didnt stock, but i added that switch yeah
Same here on 3rd Position i have a neck bridge combination and i think of an extra Switch for parallel series Mode as well.. that would make 13 different Tone options 😅
Beautiful job man! The white strat with the bare knuckles man…. Gold😢. Your man, Duncan set that up well!!! I just got an hss strat today!
Dope af vid my dude. Looking forward to watching more content from you.
thanks man. this was really helpful. now I know HSS is exactly what I'm looking for.
You explained this very well. I was debating getting an HsH or an Hss, but you've convinced me.
I have a 60's Squier Classic Vibe strat that I'm about to convert to HSS. My main reason is that I've always found the single coil bridge humbucker in most strats to be too thin and weedy for my taste, especially with the vintage low output single coils you have in the CV. I ended up opting for the Shawbucker 1 pickup as it's not too hot but will hopefully add a little beefiness to the bridge position. I'm also wiring it so that it automatically splits in the middle/bridge position; I still wanted to have access to those quacky/phasey sounds, but I was never going to play the humbucker split by itself so I didn't see any reason for a push-pull pot.
Thank you for the thourough explantion of the electronics, something I need to learn more about. Looking to get an HSS, & this video was the most helpful one I've found. New subscriber.
This answered all my questions and more. Wow! Thank you. I might just get the setup you have with a obsidian wire solderless kit and stop worrying about what goes well together.
I got an Obsidian ‘50s for my Les Paul... man you are right no worries changing pickups, I was experimenting till I got my right combination...DiMarzio Super Distortion at Bridge and Epi ProBucker A2 at Neck..
a friend of mine recommended me a Pacifica 112v for the same reason. No regret. Still can play metal on it.
I’m in the process of choosing an HSS setup for my strat right now, and from bare knuckle no less lol.
I’m not going quite this hot with them, but I don’t want pure vintage either, somewhere in between I’m thinking.
Awesome video btw, very helpful and timely for me personally.
Happy that I could help!
I'd recommend either a full True Grit set or Emerald in the bridge with Irish Tour or Slow Hand in the middle and neck
I agree that HSS is the best combination, but I completely disagree about the output matching and pot resistance.
I go the opposite route, I like the difference as extreme as it gets, as I never combine the humbucker with the single coil but I do when it's split, so I match the single coils with around HALF the output of the humbucker. If not then it defeats the entire purpose of HSS in my opinion.
the Trilogy Suite as much as I like these pickups I'll only combine them with something extreme like a Ragnarok or a Warpig. I will totally combine a 16K pickup with something vintage.
Volume drop? I have a compressor on all the time and I even hid it under my pedalboard so I can't even turn it off.
losing the sparkle? the solution is to go with 500K pots all across the board. Yes, even with the single coils. I'd also suggest a 1meg pot if you're a bit more adventurous :D
cuz why you're even go with single coils if you're just gonna make them darker?
I've got the SSS noiseless configuration in my new player plus in Olympic pearl, with a tortoiseshell pickguard. I freaking love the way it looks and sounds. It's my new #1.
I’m in LOVE with this guitar… buying my first Fender player plus and this color scheme doesn’t come in HSS 😢… wondering if I’m missing out or I’ll be happy with this. I’m very new an have an untrained ear, not to mention a terrible player. Currently playing a $180 Epiphone Les Paul special ii that’s already an HH
@@greg6162 if you like to play with gain, especially high gain, you should get an HSS guitar, because it's basically like the best of both worlds. I have a few guitars with Humbuckers, which is why I originally planned to keep all 3 single coils in my Strat, but eventually my Strat became my favorite and most used guitar, so I ended up replacing the bridge position pickup with a humbucker. I got a Seymour Duncan Hot Rail, which looks like a single coil because it's the size of a single coil, but it's actually a very hot humbucker and now I think my Strat is perfect. They make other, less hot, single coil-sized humbuckers as well. Although the Hot Rail is a great pickup for high gain, I really like the way it sounds with low gain. I'm pretty sure all Fender Player and Player Plus guitars are routed for HSH pickup configuration, so you could also probably just get a regular sized humbucker installed if you also buy a HSS pickguard from Fender's website or Amazon or sweetwater. Don't quote me on the routing though, because I forgot to ask the guitar tech to take photos of underneath my new pickguard. I ended up changing my pickguard to a black one, because I love Olympic white fenders with black guards.
So yea, check out "single coil sized humbuckers" and that might solve your issue. In my opinion, the strat neck and middle pickups are the best pickups ever for clean/funk/low gain type of tones, but a humbucker in the bridge position is the best. I like very mid frequency-heavy pickups, but they're not for everyone. I just think it's cool to customize my guitars, that way they're tailored for me, basically. One of a kind.
I put Fralin Blues single coils and Pure P.A.F. humbucker in my strat with volume kit, half blender pot, and split coil capabilities and it turned out incredible. Considering I'm mostly a home/bedroom guitarist, this one guitar is plenty for me bc of its incredible versatility and will easily play any genre I like and sound good doing so!
Hey how is the pure paf for metal music if you play it? I want to play many genres from jazz to metal so I’d like to know!
I’m building a HSS strat right now , great video , lots of good info and playing 👍
HSS can be a very good combination, if you have a well-made split. First the value of the volume potentiometer must be 500k, the single pickups must each have a 500k resistor in parallel connected to ground. Then the humbucker split must be partial so as not to sound too weak in single.
At these conditions it's a good combination.
U can also put a 250K+500K Stacked Dual volume pot as well for hss which will switch between the 500k & 250k pot via. ur 5- way selector. Its the standard setup of Fender American Pro HSS Strats.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
I just built one. I decided to try a double volume, master tone type. That way you can split the 'bucker with the volume pot 1, use the volume 2 for the single coils so you can have 500k for the bridge and 250k for the single coils. I also used a push/pull for the tone, using a .015 Soviet PIO cap for the default/down and a .047 orange drop for the pull option. This way you get single coil split and two tone cap options, as well as the ability to balance the volume of the bridge and singles better.
I got a Yamaha that’s HSS, the neck PU was replaced with a noiseless, which is weird but works fine (ish).
It’s currently the workhorse in my collection as it’s the only guitar I don’t trust to break easily
I'd much prefer to modify a Stratocaster for heavy genres cause 1. they're insanely easy to work on, so you can chuck any pickup you want in there, and 2. If you're dropping tunings, they'll hold up a little better without changing string gauges thanks to the slightly longer scale length, so you can stick to a particular gauge to a certain extent (I like 10-52's, which hold well all the way down to Drop B, surprisingly).
I used to run this guitar in B-Standard. Totally agree!
I use 10-52 for absolutely everything, mostly standard d tuning, or drop c
Thumbs up for the 10-52s
Great video man. I’m fixing to buy me a paoletti strat style guitar, and I think I’m gonna try the HSS style
I need a Low-output ( non shrill or ice-picky ) Bridge Humbucker for a Suhr Strat with Lollar Blonde's ( which I Love ) in the neck and middle. Any input is much appreciated.
so from what I can see the Lollars are 5.6K for the neck and 5.8K for the middle. I suggest you don't combine it with a vintage style humbucker but with a humbucker around the 12K range.
My recommendation is a Seymour Duncan 59/Custom Hybrid or Bare Knuckle Emerald
If you want a vintage style humbucker then get the Bare Knuckle Mule or VH2, but get ready to replace these single coils with something around the 4K range lol
@@Mr.Goldbar I'm loving the Lollar Low Wind Imperial or the Shur Thornbucker or the Lambertone Crema = those 3 are my top choices. Appreciate your input. oNe LovE from NYC
good god almighty. was not expecting that much chug from a strat, like ever. i was gifted an HSS pickguard with singles from a 62 and a dimarzio humbucker.
Joe, your videos are very user friendly. Easy to follow, information is accurate, and on point
Thank you! I appreciate your kind words 😏
Great stuff Joe. Just what I needed.
This video is so damn helpful! Thank you for posting. I have a Godin Exit-22 with a HSS pickup layout - maple & rosewood neck + fretboard, mahogany body, action is tight and crisp, and it just plays beautifully. It's so versatile. BUT the stock pickups are just a little lackluster. I love everything else about that guitar. I've been trying to decide what to replace them with, and thanks to your video, I have a pretty good picture of how to proceed. I was looking at Bare Knuckle's lineup and they actually have a list of recommended HSS combos on their FAQ page.
10:18 came for the configuration, stayed for the riff 🤘🤘🤘
Just bought an American Special HSS used for $700 and a 25 year old Johnson Marquis JM60 amp which was the first ever Modeling amp that used a Tube in the Preamp. “12ax7”. 18 different amplifier models, 3 effects at once with 3 different reverb effects and a host of Modulation, Pitch, Detune, Chorus, Flange, Phase, you name it, all of which can be stored into its bank. 60 watts with an Eminence Speaker. Also the Output Is powered so adding a Cabinet sends another 60 watts to you and makes it Stereo, thickening the sound. Picked that amp up for 175 bucks off an old stoner. Im pretty sure i just got the most versatile set-up known to man.
Hss pickups configuration are so versatile that's why you should altlist one or 2 hss configuration guitar
I bought a $200 70s super distortion, 12.7 ohms for 5 bucks out of a parts bin so I made an ssh pickguard for it with 2 wilkinson hot strat pups. I think I'm going to get a push pull pot that I can switch from 500k to 250k with a resistor then add a 2nd cap on the middle/neck tone pot.
Problem is my humbucker is so old, it only has two wires and a braided shield so I can't split the bucker.
I had Strato SSS, I modified it to HSS, then to HH and then to HSH I could then realize one thing the best configuration is SSS, have single it is the nature of Strato and Tele I modified it and it had become another thing, the same way you would put singles on a Les Paul. I definitely went back to singles because I realized that the classic sound of the Strat and Tele masters is the majority of singles, When I talk I'm referring to people like Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mark Knopfler, Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Steve Rothery, Nile Rodgers, Curtis Mayfield, Robin Trower, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, Tin Renwick, Jeff Beck, Eric Gales, Jason Becker...
Just ordered a 95-96 Usa stratocaster hss for under 500 $ 😂 I'm so happy I never thought this is how I will get my dream guitar
I bought a squier strat and an epiphone les paul and I think I'm happy with two guitars.
Yep. Hss ALL the way mate. I was a Les Paul player all my life and now I’m Strat Hss converted 🙌
Great video !!!!
Do you have only 1 same tone capacitor for the HB and the SCs ? (How is the taper on the tone?)
Did you add a 470K resistor to and middle and to the neck SCs ? Actually, since the Trilogy SCs are so high, don't they need a higher volume pot resistor (e.g. 500K) ?
BTW, what other bridge HB would you also recommend to pair with the Trilogy SCs ?
I'm looking to install a HSS (or HSH) pickguard on a rosewood/mahogany strat. I'm trying to figure out if the Trilogy would sound good on it.
I efinitely agree with using 500K pots for the Trilogy Suites, I'd even go as far as to use 500K for all pickups regardless of outputs.
As for other bridge pickups, I think the Ragnarok is the best pickup to combine with the Trilogies, Misha himself actually uses that combination on his new signature Strat. I'd definitely say it's more suited to go with high output singles than the Nailbomb
Im currently converting my AM Pro ll to hss, I like the JB trembucker wfhich is in already but still have the vmods in. trying to figure out which singles pair good w ith the JB or should I go HH with splits..leaning more toward hss anyone have any experience with the JB in HSS?
Yes. Currently have a 1983 Kramer with. JB in the bridge. It's a really good combo.
amzn.to/3KMbKE1
I know the video is older but yes. Its very close! I have been playing 38 years and most of my guitars I always revert to HSS.
Just bought a Squier HSS hardtail and I love it. Planning to upgrade the pickups in the next year or so, still not sure what approach to take, I want a metal pickup for the humbucker and I want to upgrade the single coils for two different tones of cleans. Anyone have recommendations? What are the considerations for fitment/wiring?
Upgrade all of the pickups. Just stick with larger brands. They are tried and true. Just do your research.
Honest a Seymour Duncan JB mixed with a Seymour Duncan YJMs would probably sound KILLER. Just make sure to wire it for split in the bridge if you want it.
It would be a really cool guitar then
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack Awesome thanks for the reply!!
The video was great! But that constant change between cameras it gave me a little headache jaja. Great work dude
Just trying to make your head spin 🤯
It sure beats "Earthquake-Vision" shaky phone videos.
I have strat HSS. Pick up Humbucker : lollar imperial ,Single : lollar dirty blonde
Do a parts and installation video about the same pickups and configuration
Lol I would of I knew how to do it.
HSS i think is the best configuration, in my opinion. I want my bridge pickup to b humbucker, powerful... And neck is single coil, i love the tone of single coil in neck position. 😉
I have an hss strat and I took out the stock humbucker to replace it with a seymour duncan sh-6. The single coils are still original and sound fine for the most part, but the humbucker doesn’t sound the greatest. Any ideas why this might be or any tips?
you tried adjusting your pickup hight? I love the Duncan Distortion on my Charvel (basically an HH Strat with a Floyd).
maybe you should've gotten the Trembucker version
HSS or HSH is actually the best real world combination. That said, I am not ruining my vintage SSS Strat routes anytime soon.
I put an gold anodized hss pickguard on my sss fender strat. I put an 57 gibson hb at the bridge with about 8k output and 2 handwound sc about 6k output. It sound great with 2 volume pots. 1 250k pot that controls the sc and 1 500k pot for the hb. The tone pot is a 250k master tone and works on all pickups. Really versatile guitar!
My question is simply this. The 2nd position (Bridge & Middle PU) needs to sound like my regular Strat. I currently have 2 other H-S-S style Jacksons and the 2nd position does not sound like my Strat. Close but no cigar. What's a fella to do?
Does your bridge pickup has the ability to split?
So I can split the bridge pickup so it sounds like a single coil and then when I put it into position 2 it sounds really, really close.
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack Yes, it does split but it still doesn't sound as good as 2 single coils in that position. Close but no cigar! Ha ha
@@jjzuc well that's a bummer. I know what you mean though.
I think for me I'm not super particular about how my bridge pickup sounds. Position 4 and position 5 are way more important for me when it comes to single coils.
Definitely check out Schecter’s Nick Johnston signature. I won’t usually purchase guitars with 22 frets, but I would make an exception for that one. It’s fantastic and it’s a better deal financially than the Fender Player Series.
I got a mim hss strat and it rocks.
What would it be the best most affordable HSS pick ups set?
Not by a mile. These pickups were not cheap at all
What size strings do you use especially to get that dark metal
I can't remember. But honestly. The string gauge doesn't matter too much. It's more the amp settings and how you attack the strings.
My first electric guitar was an S body HSS Yamaha. I’ve been considering giving it a restoration and switching out the original pickups 😂😂
I cracked tf up when you played that first riff, you would’ve thought that was a ESP running through a rectifier 😂
Spoiler alert I am the joke to my own punch lines 😂😂
How did you make bigger hole on pickguard for that humbucker?
Bought it custom from Warmoth
I just ordered a Nailbomb, and the two trilogy suites for my baritone strat. I'm happy to know they will work well together. I kind of took a leap of faith hoping they'd sound good. I also got the bare knuckle 550 and 280k pots.
So I just recently installed a John Mayer big dipper loaded pickguard that I got off ebay into my American Ultra. Then I was like you know what, I never touch that bridge pickup lol. Any suggestions for what humbucker to use that would blend with Big Dipper single coils? Thanks :)... Also I'm pretty sure my big dippers came with 250k pots. Do you think 500k pots would mess up my single coil tone?
What about filtertron in the H , And texas hot in both s positions.
Awesome video man is there any chance you could share the wiring diagram you used?
Unfortunately no, I had it wired by a guitar tech. But there is a schematic on Seymour Duncan's website for a variable split
HSS with coil split is the dream 💔 i have an HSS without coil split , for blues sometimes i feel having that coil split would make a difference
Godin “session” guitars are amazing HSS guitars.
So amazing I'm looking for this setup can you point me to a loaded pickguard with exactly this configuration eithout loosing the volume output etc like you said in the beginning 🤘
There is unlikely a pre-loaded pickguard with this set up.
I would recommend buying all the components yourself and doing a DIY thing
I love this pickup configuration, but some serious food for thought. Alnico 2 are the real deal for any sound, from studio, so small venue to arena. Lower output offers more control. It is easier to go up, with the overdrive channel, or pedals. Going down, thinking your volume pot will do it? No! It is like having your hot water tank on full hot. No matter how much you turn up the faucet, it is still hot. Who says this: EVH, Slash, Larry Dimarzio, Seymour Duncan, Billy Gibbons, Bonamossa, many GIT graduates. It is true. EVH specifically demanded Alnico 3 and let the amp do the work, like his guitar to amp is like keyboard to computer. He said it, not me. That means SD, Pearly Gates(Gibbons), Slash Alnico Pro 2s (Slash obviously), L.Dimarzio has 36th Anniversary pickups in his Les Paul. That leaves the single coils. Now you can go noiseless with Fender: Vintage, Hot Vintage, N3,N4, or the best Ultra. All noiseless obviously, but no 60 cycle BS. Dimarzio: Area noiseless pickups. SD: many noiseless to choose from. Of note: SD uses the exact same pickup wiring machine, as Gibson, with specs by Gibson, working together like Dimarzio/Ibanez. That makes great options and affordable. I just bought a Deluxe HSS Strat, HSS, S1, 2007, to get the great Bridge and roller nut, then I will drop in a pre-loaded Ultra HSS pickguard, which is about $360 USD, or $500 CDN. I wanted a HSS Ultra Strat. When I thought $. I can go this route, get the benefits of the Ultra, but now with the LSR nut snd Steel over nickel frets. Fender? Nickel frets on an Ultra Strat? Really? Do you want people to buy Ibanez AZ. The swaps I am making are $ friendly. I am pissed off at myself for not getting a 2010 HSS Deluxe Strat with S1. Then I could have got the compound radius neck! Do stupid of me! Live snd learn! Ugh! When all these icons screamed get Alnico 2, they can’t be wrong. I had a LP with the Slash A2Pros and it could do clean to rip, maybe needing a pedal. I felt in full control though. Just like EVH and the GIT grad/teacher noted. These are can’t lose options. I asked my guitar tech, who played one your with The Guess Who, when Randy Bachman left. On the tour was ZZ Top and The Allman Bros Band with other great following. Texas to Tennessee. All wanted A2s. That is the Gibson PAF, but, control in any sized venue. I just trust this hearing it non-stop. * The best anything is WHAT YOU LIKE for your needs. Food for thought only. This is not from me. I want info from the greats. I don’t know crap. They do!
Happy playing! Be safe! All the best!
And large head stocks are the best!
How does fender have a 2 tone knob option but Charvel doesn't. lol
Sorry if you’ve answered this already but did you get the nailbomb at 50mm spacing or 53mm spacing?
53
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack so I'm also thinking of throwing a nailbomb in my strat.. it was an HSS but I'm currently going single humbucker only. I have a seymour duncan 500k pot and was wondering if that would still work with the nailbomb? Just asking cause I noticed on the bkp website they have 550k pots
@@fredg91 personally I would go with the 500k but that's just me.
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack Cool! I was hoping to stick with the 500k but just wasn't sure if the 550k was more appropriate or recommended for BKPs I guess? Anywho, I really appreciate you responding especially since this is an older video but this particular video is how I found your channel which I am subscribed to :)
New subscriber here, great review of pickups bro.🎸🎼
looks like my next set up will be an HSS!
You can use 500k on the hb and the middle pot as 250k for the singles.
You still have one tone pot for 1, 2 or all 3 pups
That's actually a good point. Thank you for that. Multiple volume pots
I'd just go with 500K all across the board.
single coils are bright? embrace it or go with humbuckers :D
Looks like your links are old now. Picking a guitar as a beginner is very hard but i want an Hss system like what you have for the versatility.
What's your budget?
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack I ended up getting a fender hss affinity eventually. Thanks for the reply. Love the channel by the way
Who is El Kimino?
Fender player series hss is on point! I have played 9k customs 5k Les Pauls and everything in between and the fender hss player strat is the guitar in my hands everyday. Cost $850 and it’s great!
I wish they made the new player plus HSS strats in the color scheme he’s using in the video. They have it in SSS noiseless pickups but I’m not sure how that would work. I just started playing few months ago. I really want that “Olympic white w/candy apple red pick guard” color they sell in the SSS but in HSS. I only have a $180 Epiphone Les Paul special ii so this would be my first real quality guitar I’m buying and I’m trying to make it a do it all purchase. The new Fender Player Plus HSS looks amazing and I want the all maple neck (not a Pau Ferro fan) but the color schemes aren’t there for me yet to spend that kind of money. I think it’s the perfect quality guitar for a beginner learning especially with locking tuners and such. But for $1100 it’s an investment
I feel you, it’s hard to find all the physical specs that you want and then the color to match 🥵 what I end up doing if finding one that feels solid and the plays the best in my hands, has the neck specs I like (maple with a thin c profile) and then try to get a base color I like, if needed switch the pick guard to a color you like if it’s worth it. Keep playing and you will get the perfect guitar one day.
which do you prefer alder strats or swamp ash strats?why?
No preference for me on that. I just prefer the feel of a strat. While Swamp ash and Alder sound a little different? I like both equally.
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack whiich is better for progressive metal
@@vejichan either would be fine.
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack if you could choose only one?
@@vejichan Alder I suppose.
hi where did u buy that pickguard thanks!!
Warmoth!
thats a great sound man
I know now I want an HSS set up, but I’m still hung up on the pickups. Would the Seymour Duncan SSL-2 (neck and middle) Single coils work with a Jb Humbucker in the bridge? I have stock 250k pots
Yeah it would probably be fine.
Personally i am a fan of the 500 k pot. That's just me though
This is so cool! How did you wire the coil split?
Where did you get an hss pickgaurd that would fit a nickel covered humbucker???
Warmoth
I like hhh strats.and only use the bridge pickup
Is there noise when you split the coil for the Humbucker? Like the 60 cycle hum
Yes
Not if you use the Mojotone Quiet Coil HSS pickguard
great video, helpful when deciding, thanks.
That's what I aim for! Thank you!
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack I got a HSS mexican player.
I think I will add a humbucker in my sss strat
Thanks joe ! God bless bro
I want to swap out just the bridge pu in a mim strat, and leave the stock middle, neck. I plan to use this project as a chug machine anyway, so pup imbalances arent the hugest concern to me. Have any idea if an alnico II/paf is up to handle crunchy high gain chuggy stuff? Or do I have to go with a JB?
Vol drop bridge to neck ? May I know how u overcome. Tks b4
which series of bareknuck from the bridge?
Nailbomb
@@SloppyJoes_ShredShack thanks! 🔥
How do you wire the hb split for the tune pot?
This was helpful but the background music was way too distracting and a little overwhelming.
I have a dimebucker in the bridge wich makes mine a heavy metal machine, sounds heavy but trebly and very good for country stuff clean(kinda like a tele in a way) then i have a jb junior in neck wich sound dark and its really great for clean and thick blues lead. then i have original pickup in middle positio, Wich is tex mex and it sounds really thin in strat like way , so that way i have a really versitale guitar in fact its the only one i have been playing for the last 15 years or so.
Nice video!
“I’ll probably change my taste in like 3 months anyways”
Man i feel attacked
Hahahaha I totally did lol
I have a mim standar strat with lace sensor gold.. which hb pickub can I use for heavier tones? (24-7 spyz kind of sound) BUT, keeping the strat tone when coil splitted.
uwu
I'd suggest Duncan Distortion, I have a set of them on my Charvel and I'm surprised by how amazingly close the split sounds are to real single coils
I subbed. Now you feel real good.
This guy fkn gets it. Take note! 🤣
What values are your pots?
500k
Dimarzio rail pickups are so nice for this stuff
It's the Swiss army knife of tone....
Except Steve Vai came up with HSH...so......that must be Swiss Navy......
Just starting following you, I’m become a fan of you channel. I just wanted to know, instant of the bare knuckle I am more of a fan of the Dimarzio D Activator what are two single coils that would balance that humbucker?
Ooof. Not sure. That would take some research.
I'm not super familiar with the DiMarzio line so I apologize that I can't speak to it
the HS2 or HS3 will balance well with the D Activator if you want something noiseless
This guy talks shop ! 🎉
Thanks for sharing that.