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FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / HSS Strat, Which Is Considered To Be The Best?

Next 20 Messages

bluesbreak

USA

May 31st, 2012 10:17 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Just curious, which HSS Strat is viewed as the Favorite? Personally, I like warmer, but clear tone.

5Strats
Contributing Member
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Edmond/OKC

Axe Victim
Jun 1st, 2012 08:59 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
The American Deluxe HSS Strats. Nothing else comes close.

Modal Magic
Contributing Member
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MBJ, Highway Hound.

You Can't Bend It Aussie!
Jun 1st, 2012 09:05 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
The American Standard HSS Strats. Nothing else comes close.

5Strats
Contributing Member
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Edmond/OKC

Axe Victim
Jun 1st, 2012 09:34 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Sorry, but you just happen to be incorrect sir. (;oD

93greenstrat

U.S./Woodbridge, VA

Jun 1st, 2012 12:29 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I plan on getting an Amer. Dlx. HSS, but I liked to original USA Lone Star Strat. Other wise, the new American Standard HSS (with the Custom Shop Fat 50's) are great......so therefore, both 5Strats and Modal are 100% right ;-)
(This message was last edited by 93greenstrat at 10:32 AM, Jun 1st, 2012)

5Strats
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Edmond/OKC

Axe Victim
Jun 1st, 2012 12:52 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
It's a win win!

Note - I installed a Lone Star pup assembly in my 50th Anniversary Limited Ed. Strat.

Jim Bob

America

Jun 1st, 2012 03:52 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
An original mid-1990s Lonestar. An alternative for a slightly hotter tone is the California Fat Strat with its US Tex-Mex single coil and humbucker.

shg

Straya

Jun 1st, 2012 10:31 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Yeah, as far as off-the-rack Fenders go the Lone Star and its replacement the Fat Strat Texas Special were winners. I had a FSTS and the "in between split bridge bucker and middle single" tone was better than most genuine in-between-single-coil tones I've heard.

Modal Magic
Contributing Member
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MBJ, Highway Hound.

You Can't Bend It Aussie!
Jun 1st, 2012 11:43 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"Sorry, but you just happen to be incorrect sir. (;oD"

Of course it's the best, it's mine. ;-)

Seriously though, it is very subjective.

What do I like about the AmStd HSS? Mines a 2005 so it has S1 switching (I use it all the time). The Custom Staggered Tex Mex single coils are simply beautiful sounding- very glassy with an edge of TS808 being applied. The Diamondback humbucker is different, about as far away from smooth PAF as one can get, but compliment the Tex Mex pups nicely.

I have an AmDlx SSS, and would LOVE to have an AmDlx HSS to compliment it.

Stratokatsu
Contributing Member
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Miami, Florida

Jun 2nd, 2012 07:10 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
You're all wrong. Whichever one sounds and feels best to Bluesbreak is the best.

I have 3 Fat Strats, sorta. One is a Yamaha Pacifica with a push/pull coil splitting tone knob. Satin Natural body with rosewood fretboard.

Another is a parts Strat set up with high action for slide. Seafoam Green with a maple fretboard.

The last, which is my #1, It's an MIM Standard with a mini switch to split the humbucker when I want to. It's Ocean Turquoise with a rosewood fretboard.

Froggy

U.S.A./Florida

Frogs are lucky, they eat what bugs them
Jun 5th, 2012 02:49 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Any "older" Ash-bodied, with the maple neck and the DH-1 humbucker plus the LSR roller nut and the Fender/Floyd bridge is my choice for the ultimate Fat Strat or HSS model!

reverendrob
FDP Data Goon
Moderator

Hero, hero

you have done so well...
Jun 5th, 2012 07:21 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Depends a lot on what options people want - trem/no trem/Floyd/wierd, neck radius/shape, pickups, finish (color and nitro/poly), etc.

Won't even be a few answers for the same reason there's the 57/62/modern Strats in the normal line etc.

trumpet77
Contributing Member
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Columbia, SC

pink Tele? YES!
Jun 6th, 2012 08:19 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
probably the best is when you take your favorite SSS strat and put you own H in the bridge.

But I'm with 5strats, the 08 American Deluxe HSS I have is pretty sweet with the locking tuners, roller bridge, S1 switch, etc.

Dave5150

The Self-Appointed

EVH Defender Returns...
Jun 29th, 2012 12:15 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I am going to go with my alder bodied Fat Strat Floyd Rose...

Love that guitar. It was stolen... but recovered by police. I should be getting it back...

mr_sooty

New Zealand

Jun 29th, 2012 11:20 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
+1 on the 1990's Lone Stars. The Texas Special/Pearly Gates was a killer combo. Could just as easily get a new american Standard and put that pickup combo in it. I had an HSS American Deluxe, didn't really do it for me tonally, although it was a beautiful player.

Grapeshot

Alexandria, VA

Shibby
Jul 2nd, 2012 11:20 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Another vote for the Lone Star, but after the American Series switch in 2000, which would make it an American Fat Strat Texas Special (in Shoreline Gold or Candy Apple Red). In the current line-up, my favorite is the '57 Hotrod Strat.

91Stratplayer

NW of Chicago

Have fun, this is the only life you get
Jul 2nd, 2012 01:27 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Well for my Blues style playing I have a 2004 MIA version with the Tex-Mex customs and Diamondback HB and S1 switch. Has a nice bluesy edge and plenty of bite when needed.

You never get lost in the mix.

shg

Straya

Jul 5th, 2012 10:34 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Remember the bridge pickup of a Lonestar/FSTS was not a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates. It was a "Pearly Gates Plus" manufactured for Fender by Seymour Duncan, and as far as specs go it was closest to a trembucker-spaced 4-conductor 59 Model.

Rick Plays The Blues

Austria

May I try that again?
Jul 6th, 2012 08:05 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Many really good HSS Strats out there, imho.

The best I ever held in my hands (at a small music equipment trade show) was an early 90ies JB Strat - this one really kicked ass :) and made me want a US made Strat initially (or made me want a Strat in general ...)

Another one I used for a view times (even recorded with it) was an Ultra model, that I thought of being nice but did not really bond with.

Of today's options, I guess I'd go for an American Deluxe, but I did not yet play any newer model with the N3 pickups and compound radius - I played a SCN equipped predecessor SSS model that I really liked, however.

BUT: me, I did not yet get any HSS in my hands that I would have preferred over my two SSS Strats. I happen to miss something on all of them - only exception being the above named early JB, which happens to be quite hard to find however and quite expensive if you find one ...

L. Nedmundo

Philadelphia

Aug 3rd, 2012 03:06 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
My favorite I've played is probably the 90's Fat Strat Texas Special. I don't have one, but I helped a friend pick one for his 30th b'day in 1997, and it's outstanding. He also has a custom ordered Ric, but prefers the Strat.

The Duncan Pearly Gates Plus really is gnarly. I have one in a 2001 Am. Ser. HH hardtail, and it's a brash tone for sure.

I have tried a new Am. Std. HSS with the Fat 50's singles, and it's great too. I need to hear/play it more -- the lead player in my band just got it -- but so far I'm impressed. I might like the bridge humbucker more than the Pearly Gates Plus, but I want to compare back-to-back.

Next 20 Messages

FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / HSS Strat, Which Is Considered To Be The Best?

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