H-S-H vs H-S-S. Which one do you prefer and why?

[Ephemeria]

Which do you prefer? HSH or HSS? What pickups do you use in this combination? Why do you use them pickups in this combination?

I think this would be helpful for a lot of people who mix and match pickups with these 2 pickup routings :)

[BigB]

Which do you prefer? HSH or HSS? What pickups do you use in this combination? Why do you use them pickups in this combination?

I think this would be helpful for a lot of people who mix and match pickups with these 2 pickup routings :)

Never had any of these combos, but from experience with SSS and HH, I'd rather go for HSS (now I already have two HH guitars and no more strat-like ATM so I may be a bit biased ;)).

wrt/ "which pickups", it first depends on your guitar, tastes, playing style(s), rig and whatnot, so I don't think there's any valid "One size fits all" answer. On a HSS strat I would probably go for a Crawler or VHII bridge and MM or IT singles, but the only educated choice here is the Crawler bridge which I already have (on a bright HH guitar) and really love for it's warm, rich, thick, singing yet clear and detailed tone, and overall versatilty.

[gwEm]

HSS all the way from that choice. Neck single coil gives so much cut.

[darkbluemurder]

I normally prefer HH or SSS. Of the combinations mentioned I have only used HSS, and even there I have to decide which concept I use - unsplit low output humbucker or split higher output humbucker. The first one gives you a good tonal balance at the expense of the #4 position (#1 = neck pickup alone). The second will give you a decent #4 position (depending on the pickups chosen) but you will have a significant boost in volume with the bridge pickup.

Never had an HSH. I doubt I would like it - where would you pick? And you have to make the same decisions about the neck pickup, thus making this set up the most compromised of all.

Cheers Stephan

[AndyR]

I'm the same, SSS or HH. But I'm lucky that I have different guitars to achieve what I want.

I have used HSS. And if I had to do it, this is what I would choose again. There's no way I'd swap the neck single coil out and leave the middle there.

[Telerocker]

HSS = versatile for any coverband
the neckpu provides superb tones and cut, like gwEm underlined.
I like the fourth pos. for clean/jazzy sounds
The humbucker I need for rocksongs/solo's.

I have two strats in HSS with BKP's, one with Crawler/IT's and the other with VHII/MM's.

[dave_mc]

I'm never sure which I prefer, I like each for different things.

Lot of people seem to dislike HSH, though. I love it :D If I had to pick I might go HSH.

[hellsSG]

HSH. You need humbucker in the neck for sweet leads. if you want SC sound you can always coil split.