SSH guitars

[Dave Sloven]

I am wondering why the SSH configuration does not seem to be that common.  To me it seems like a good idea but looking around there are very few models in each manufacturer's range.  Jackson has a Soloist and the Arian Smith signature, Charvel has maybe one guitar, etc.

The Jackson looks interesting to me but I'm wondering if I am missing something? I'm thinking of guitars with the Floyd Rose type bridge.  For my next guitar I think I want something very different from my usual Gibson type guitars, and Guitar IV's review of the Sinner/MM combo got me thinking.

[Lew]

I like a single coil in the bridge and a 'bucker in the neck. Well, I always liked Teles with that set-up, anyway. But yea I'd rather have all singles or all 'buckers. Dunno why :s

[dave_mc]

I think it's partly BS on the part of guitar players ("It's not a strat if it doesn't have 3 single coils"/"If you want a humbucker, buy a guitar designed for humbuckers... wait, what d'you mean the Les Paul originally had p90s?"/"The 80s sucked therefore everything even vaguely associated with the 80s must, too") and probably also the fact that some players don't like the big mismatch in output between humbuckers and singles. Not to mention that some players see them as "Jack of all trades" type guitars (to be fair, with some justification at times- if you have 15 different guitars you might not need a guitar that "does everything").

I like HSS a lot. I like HSH too. They're probably my favourite pickup layouts, if I only could have one guitar. I think they're both unfairly maligned, though at the same time I can understand some of the criticisms of them.

[Telerocker]

I have two HSS-strats. They're ideal in a coverband. The traditional SSS-layout doesn't give me the oomphh and the fatness from the bridgepickup that I need for solo's. I have Crawler/Irish Tours and VHII/Mother's Milk-combo's. Versatile sets. 

[MrBump]

I've recently rebuilt my Charvel as an HSS.

In the '80's you couldn't move for HSS guitars - they were everywhere.

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?

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah, SSH guitars seem to be really '80s, that's one reason why they intrigue me.

Here's a photo of Mitch Dickinson with some kind of HSS guitar (can't tell the brand) during the Peel Session for Unseen Terror (1987).



I've always been curious as to the reasoning behind angled pickups - any theories?

I was thinking about the 250K/500K pot issue ... I guess you get around this by using separate pots for neck and bridge?

[juansolo]

I like a single coil in the bridge and a 'bucker in the neck. Well, I always liked Teles with that set-up, anyway.

I concur

[Mr. Air]

Ibanez might have some HSS and floyd equiped guitars. Godin has two HSS model, but neither got a floyd. I'm pretty sure Suhr got HSS with floyd on one of their models.

[Dr.Pain]

I bought a HSS Strat not long ago with a 6 point trem and I really like it.  I didn't like the idea of the vintage 6 point style trem but having one and learning to use it for a bit of vibrato, it's pretty cool.  I have a Floyd on a 7 string and it's a pain when changing strings.  I had it blocked for a while but I've taken those blocks out for now.

Maybe look at a HSS strat? They make one with a Floyd

[Philly Q]

In the '80's you couldn't move for HSS guitars - they were everywhere.

Most certainly true!  :D

I think it's partly BS on the part of guitar players ("It's not a strat if it doesn't have 3 single coils"/"If you want a humbucker, buy a guitar designed for humbuckers...)

I like HSS a lot. I like HSH too. They're probably my favourite pickup layouts, if I only could have one guitar. I think they're both unfairly maligned, though at the same time I can understand some of the criticisms of them.

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.

[gwEm]

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.

[fhn_lopes]

Yeah, SSH guitars seem to be really '80s, that's one reason why they intrigue me.

Here's a photo of Mitch Dickinson with some kind of HSS guitar (can't tell the brand) during the Peel Session for Unseen Terror (1987).



I've always been curious as to the reasoning behind angled pickups - any theories?

I was thinking about the 250K/500K pot issue ... I guess you get around this by using separate pots for neck and bridge?

I beleave it's a Fernandes guitar right there... The block logo is burried but the headstock shape reminds me of one.

I love HSS, and own one too, only VHII from BKP at the moment on her though. I think they are very versatile guitars, and a coil split switch for the bridge HB makes it even more versatile. Good all arround gutiar for covering a lot of tones when you play in a cover band, indeed.

[Dave Sloven]

I beleave it's a Fernandes guitar right there... The block logo is burried but the headstock shape reminds me of one.

I did a bit of a look on google and I think it might be a Kramer Striker 600ST



Possibly a different generation from the one above as there seem to be differences in terms of pickups and headstock.

EDIT: Actually I am sure it is either a Striker 600ST or a Focus 6000T with the banana headstock.  There's a 600T on ebay (US) at the moment: link  I also found this 6000T for sale: link

These are middle '80s models so definitely the right era for that photo.

[Afghan Dave]

I've always been curious as to the reasoning behind angled pickups - any theories?

Angled humbuckers align the Gibson space poles with the wider Floyd bridge.. simples!  :P

[Philly Q]

Angled humbuckers align the Gibson space poles with the wider Floyd bridge.. simples!  :P

Angled humbuckers sort of align two of the outer Gibson-spaced poles with the wider Floyd bridge, and the other 10 poles lie around all over the place either side of the strings.  It wasn't the most brilliant of ideas.  Glad someone came up with Trembuckers and F-spacing.