^ Yeah I wouldn't be most keen on the looks of HSS... I only really like it on guitars with pickguards (whereas HSH and HH work either way, IMO).
I think the angled pickup thing (nowadays) is just looks, too. As the others were saying, in the 80s it was done for a reason, now it's just done because it looks more 80s :lol:
I've rewired my guitar several times to try to get it right. Maybe it's because of the compromise of using 250 or 500 k pots in order to get the right sound - the SCs in that guitar definitely sounded better with 250 k pots, the HB better with 500 k. I know that there's electrickery that can be done, but maybe it's that sense of compromise that manufacturers are trying to avoid?
Yeah that might be it- though as you said, if they really cared, they could get round it. Even using the possibly-overkill solution of using different volume knobs for the humbucker and the two singles should work (I think). Then again, that adds cost, and most companies try to cut costs where possible...
Agreed.
I can understand the "It's not a Strat..." argument, to an extent, but I do like HSS. You retain three of the classic Strat tones, and with a coil split (or even without) you keep most of that funky, quacky character in position 4. All you lose is the bridge pickup on its own, which is my least favourite Strat tone.
Personally I'm not a fan of HSH, I think the middle pickup gets in the way in that context. And with two humbuckers and a five-way switch you can get some interesting wiring combinations with series/parallel or using different pairs of coils.
Oh I agree, I really like SSS strats too- when I want an authentic strat type of tone. I'm talking about the people who act like an HSS (or HSH) strat is "wrong", even if it would suit the player in question better. Maybe it's just Ultimate Guitar (I doubt it), but any time someone posts a thread asking about HSS or HSH superstrats there are always one or two smart alecs who post responses along the lines of "Get a Gibson if you want humbuckers/A strat's supposed to have single coils". Which is daft, if you ask me. The guitar is there to suit the player, not the other way round.
Also agreed about HSS- again, a lot of people act like it doesn't sound like a strat at all, which again is daft. In the absolute worst case scenario, as you said, you have 60% authentic strat tones. To be fair, that's not good enough if you need all the authentic strat tones, but then an SSS strat isn't good enough if you also need rockier high gain tones.
I like HH in superstrats more than I used to, as you said, you can get some nice options. I still like HSH, though. :lol:
I do think an SSS strat is a beautiful thing. But I'd be the first to say that a guitar is a tool, and one should go for whatever pickup setup works with your style.
exactly :)
