Fender American Pro II HSS vs. SSS | The Difference a Humbucker Makes
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- Today we're looking at a couple great Fender Stratocasters from the American Professional II series-- one of which has three single coils (SSS) and the other has 2 single coils and a humbucker (HSS). The addition of the humbucker adds a whole new sonic palette that is available to the Stratocaster, but is that tone right for you? Check out the demos and tell us what you think!
0:00 Intro
0:42 Runnin' Down the Specs
12:23 Clean Demo
16:57 Overdrive Demo
21:27 Wrapping Up
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CLEAN:
14:13 SSS bridge/neck
14:20 SSS bridge
16:20 HSS coil-tap
16:34 HSS humbucker
OD:
18:22 SSS bridge/neck
18:31 SSS bridge
20:42 HSS coil-tap
20:55 HSS humbucker
Thanks man !
Maybe just me, but hard to hear much discernible difference between the SSS bridge and the HSS coil tap. Wasn't a big fan of the SSS bridge/neck combo. Rather have the HSS for clean sounds in coil split bridge and the bucker for distortion as an option. Thanks for this, because you definitely helped me make up my mind. To me, Strats are all about positions 4 & 5 anyway. Now I have to play each before making a final decision. Great post!
@@johnlogan9417 have u got your strat bro?? Which one u picked? Hss or sss?
@@alexisquiliza2468 Actually got the SSS. No regrets. Love it.
@@johnlogan9417 oh i thought you'll get the hss, anyway how close the split humbucker to the original single coil bridge on this guitar?
12:22 - this guy plays it so sweet... amazingly skilled musician.
Great video, but I wish it was edited so that the demos of the two guitars with the same pickup(s) selected immediately followed each other. When listening to the bridge HSS, I was struggling to remember the tone on the SSS.
InstaBlaster
Then i guess the difference isn’t that significant?
@@RobbenBanks153 I don't think that follows.
True
If you don’t remember what an SSS Strat tone sounds like… ;) Seriously, I paid closer attention because it wasn’t A-B but within the flow of a performance.
Great video guys - huge shout out to the playing, really fantastic, melodic lines. Also really appreciate you playing clean, along with the complex picking, it really allows us to contrast/compare. Beautiful job.
You are my favourite music instrument CZcams channel. Informative, entertaining, and all done with charm. 👍
I have the mercury HSS, and absolutely love it. I traded in a 2001 Mexican standard SSS for it and couldn't be happier. I am lucky enough to also own the pro II Tele in Dark Night to really cover all bases. This line is fantastic
I just got the tele deluxe in mercury and thinking of getting the dark knight strat, but im not sure to get the SSS or the HSS. What do you suggest?
Recently got my American Pro II Strat (SSS🐍) and this video was incredibly helpful! I’m now obsessed with the channel, great work!
I bought a PRO 2 SSS the other day and I'm loving it too much! Such a wonderful guitar.
Well done 👍
Always look forward to hearing & seeing the skilled player breaking-in the new gear 🤘 rock on 😎
Wow! I don't think you could make a better USA Pro II demo than this. This was hella fun to watch. You covered many tones.
I've been playing an early Custom Shop Fender Strat SSS since the 1980s, when most people hadn't heard of the Custom Shop! I actually haven't had a guitar with a humbucker, except for my Jazz box, for quite some time. I have to say, the bridge pickup on this American Pro II does sound good both as a humbucker and as a single coil. Good balance between the pickups both as a humbucker and a single coil. Pretty impressive. The only problem is: the HSS Strat or the Tele Deluxe. That one is just killin' it, too.
I bought the HSS a few weeks ago (Mystic Surf Green w/ maple neck). I love it.
Fantastic video. First I've watched from you guys, super informative! And great playing and talk? I'm subscribing. Great job!
Recently got my first Fender Strat. It's a candy red MiM HSS. Sounds real nice. The bridge pickup was much higher and really loud though so I lowered the pickup and raised the other two to even things out.
My blind choice technique is to loop the demo for so long that I can't remember which guitar is which, so when I turn around to see which is my favorite I know it was my ears that clued me in. It was the HSS this time. And what a beautiful clean demo it was.
I got myself a 1997 lone star hss strat with pearly gates and Texas specials and she screams plugged in, love her with all my heart
Thanks so much for a terrific comparison where we can actually HEAR the guitars (as opposed to so many YT vids where we get to hear endless 'demos' of the pedals and OD circuits of the moment. I have tried both and still debating which . . . I suspect the SSS - I like the Neck + Bridge option for arpeggiated chordal stuff, that's a nice touch. Both gorgeous instruments. The Rosewood boards both a major plus for me . . .
Clean SSS:
12:25 Pos 5
12:48 Pos 4
13:13 Pos 3
13:36 Pos 2 (Normal)
14:20 Pos 1 (Normal)
Clean HSS:
14:41 Pos 5
15:04 Pos 4
15:27 Pos 3
16:05 Pos 2 (H Split)
16:19 Pos 1 (H Split)
Overdrive SSS:
17:00 Pos 5
17:25 Pos 4
17:46 Pos 3
18:03 Pos 2 (Normal)
18:31 Pos 1 (Normal)
Overdrive HSS:
19:03 Pos 5
19:29 Pos 4
19:50 Pos 3
20:27 Pos 2 (H Split)
20:42 Pos 1 (H Split)
20:55 Pos 1 (Full H)
I picked one of the HSS versions in Miami Blue. Stunning build and tones.
is the miami blue just as it looks in pictures, or does it have a slight greenish hue to it? im seeing some very differing pictures online, havent seen one in person
How do you like it so far man?
I desperately want the HSS in sienna sunburst. Such a beautiful guitar
The conversation was a huge part of what I got out of this comparison. It’s always skippable but you set yourselves apart by critiquing the choices, because part of this is about the strategy of buying an instrument. Great job.
I was between a Tele and a Strat, so I went for the SSS to get that neck-bridge tele sound :) if want a humbucker sound in the future I’ll go for a hot rail on the bridge position to get an even more versatile guitar without losing that awesome neck-bridge feature.
I already have a tele, so for me the more versatile HSS made more sense! I was thinking, like you, I could sell the tele maybe if I went SSS but having both is too nice (also too expensive :( ...)
Great video. Made me change my order to HSS!
Amazing playing by Cooper
No joke… when I start up guitar lessons, I’m going to show my teacher a bunch of videos of Cooper and say “I want to play like that.” Playing punk rock isn’t difficult. But switching back and forth from chords to shreddy licks is quite a talent and I while I wouldn’t do that when writing songs meant for a full band, it’s great to help you know when and where to throw in some spice during a song. Killer playing, Cooper.
I have three Strats and in the middle of building a fourth, love both of them! I say get them all haha!
I have a 2004 50th Anniversary Fender American Deluxe Strat with the S-1 switching sytem and HSS pickups. Ii’s a great guitar but I finally had to purchase a 2024 Fender Pro II SSS just because I love the aesthetic appearance of that slanted single-coli and that look is a big part of the strat identity. I have LPs when I need humbucker sound.
I have a black SSS pro 2 and it is my favorite guitar and strat.
Smooth as silk neck, great tones, love the push push feature and its beautiful.
Mine happens to be a little heavy.
The neck is what makes this a Cadillac for me. Substantial, but comfortable.
My goal is to have a vintage strat that I like along with this one and I'm good.
But this helped to discover what neck feels right to me. Not too thin, not too baseball bat, wide or sharply edged. Maple fret board.
Just right. Wonder what the rosewood one feels like.
You guys are the best!
Fender solved the balance issue in the 80’s with the Clapton strat. My Clapton strat has more output than my hss strat when cranked with the mid boost on, but cleans right up for rockabilly or country and looks like a traditional strat.
I’m expecting an HSS olympic white/maple soon, I got it to use in my school’s band. We play lots of different styles and songs to match so I went for the HSS for it’s versatility. If I desperately need the true sss sound, I always have my old 79’ strat!
Excellent tone demo,
and good advice (IMO) to focus on tone rather than output. HSS gets my vote, more variety than the Tele-esque sound’s addition.
Just bought the AM Pro 2 in Olympic White with a tortoise shell pick guard. It looks amazing in person. It is a SSS. But, I have a few Les Paul’s, SG’s, and others. But, I love my new Stratocaster. It’s exactly what I wanted in a Strat.
I have the same guitar. I was surprised how good the bridge single coil sounded with distortion,, really versatile guitar and feels and sounds great.
I currently have a 2021 FSR HSS Strat, but I kinda want a SSS version as well. It's just so classic.
Awesome playing in this video. That HSS can be a monster or it can be traditional sounding. They each have their pros for sure it helps me decide. I have a les paul and a tele but never wanted a strat until now.
I got the hss ultra strat with maple neck. Never would give it away again, such a great combination and setup ♥
how has it bees so far?
@@joshs3905 solid, no problems over time yet
14:20 VS 16:05 & 16:20 ______ 18:31 VS 20:42 & 20:55
thanks for this, I like the authentic single coil better than the split hunbucker kn the for the bridge
That mercury has strat looks stunning!
What make specifically the American Pro and Pro II awesome for HSS is that the humbucker only sees 500k pots, while the single coils have 250k ones, through some interesting design by Fender. This removes one of the main inherent issues with HSSs (sc fit better with 250 and humbuckers with 500).
Nice looking instruments! 🤙
Bridge pickup on the SSS pine sounded phenomenal
Enjoyed and helped me in deciding on purchasing a PRO II. Would like to have seen some whammy bar action to see how they stay in tune. I'm a subtle user of the bar, but occasionally do a dive. I'm a stickler when it comes to tuning.
I have the sierra sunburst pine body HSS and it is phenomenal. I have an SSS custom strat and they both sound differently killer.
I have been a G&L fan for decades, ive owned many of their guitars. I have also owned many Fender guitars ranging from MIM to upscale US models and never liked them as much as G&L. But i recently got a HSS American Pro II and this is hands down the best Fender guitar ive owned or put my hands on. Maybe its just the one i got, but its perfect. The electronics are really nice. I have no complaints. Fender surprised me with this guitar.
It’s not just the one you’ve got, sorry don’t want you to feel not special. All the Pro 2’s with HSS are amazing I’ve always stuck with SSS in strats till now because of the inherent volume disparities. But like you tried the Pro 2 loved it bought it and a week later bought the Pro 2 Telecaster.
I’m not rich and yes I’m in the doghouse with the wife but I’m a happy man. Incidentally both mine are in Olympic white love them both. enjoy my friend.
I have one HSS 2004 MIM in Agave Blue and sounds great. No problem since new! I bought it in 2004
Looking at these I'm leaning towards the SSS one more and more. I think I'm gonna get it.
Check out an ibanez AZ series. I got an AZ242F. It has dual humbuckers, but it has 10 positions! I lived with an american strat for a few years and played it a bunch and o swear my ibanez's single coul tones are way sweeter...its so much guitar its crazy.
@@kiezersosay49 Thanks for the suggestion, never had any idea about that guitar. I already have a dual humbucker PRS but I'll have a look at it. I am kinda pushed towards the Strat because of its legendary name/status.
@@Archerinho they have some HSS ibanez AZ guitars, but the dual humbuckers versions actually have one more position than the HSS models. I took to my lutier to have it setup cuz i switched string gauges...this guys a little over 50 and knows quality guitars when he sees one. It was extremely satisfying to see him clamor over it. I mean he was thoroughly impresses and also shocked in some instances. Hes worked on my jim root tele and schecter hellraiser hybrid, but didn't trip out on them like he did the ibanez... with the SS frets and roasted maple neck its basically an investment cuz it'll out last you.
@@kiezersosay49 Okay got it! I'll definitely check them when I go to the store!
Yeah SSS is the one
i Just Bought a Fender Pro 2 a couple of weeks ago. I was playing Les Paul for a long time. I'm sold on the Gibson. I did buy an SSS but now i'm thinking to buy another one with HSS configuration instead of playing My Les Paul. Its so easy to play on these Fender wow!!
I use to get the HSS models by default. Then I got my first custom shop and wanted it to be traditional so I got my first SSS. What I found was I could get the same sound out of the SSS with different settings on my amp and pedals. SO if all you have is single coils, then the SSS is the more diverse and the better sounding option IMO. But if you mix Les Pauls or other Humbucker guitars the HSS will fit a lot better in your rig. But a Humbucker Strat does not replace or sound like a Les Paul, it sounds like a Strat with a Humbucker. The noiseless are a nice middle ground, a stacked Humbucker voiced like a single coil.
That’s an interesting point you made. Most of my guitars have humbuckers so maybe the HSS strat would fit better than the SSS
@kevinwittwer5317Hey man, how’s the american pro HSS so far? I’m thinking of getting it in dark night blue, I already have the pro 2 tele deluxe in mercury
Fender don’t offer HSS in left-handed orientation, other than the occasional custom shop. I recently bought 3 lefty Fender Mexican Player Strats and have modded them as HSS, HSH and HH. Upgraded the wiring to handle the new pickups, plus added Graphtec nut and stringtree, switchcraft jack socket and Fender locking tuners. Used Fender Shawbuckers to better match the Fender single coil on the HSH. A company called Freeway offer a great 10 position blade switch (5B5-01 for SSS and 5B5-02 for HSS/HSH) which gives five further pickup options above the 5 standard positions. I used push/pull coil splits on the HH which gives 8 pickup options. I also have a Custom Shop SSS Strat with Josefina Campos pickups to which I have added the Freeway 10 position 5B5-01 blade switch.
Great playing
A little Hello from the south west of France ( 62 miles far from Atlantic Ocean), I really appreciate your reviews and I am seriously thinking to start to learn the guitare after watching your chanel...
Great video Chris! What string gauge do you recommend? & What do you think about Custom Light strings, personally?
I have a Lone Star and its pretty awesome.I have the Am Pro ll Tele Deluxe in Mercury but It sounds like I need another Am Pro ll HSS Strat in Mercury .In person the Mercury has a very deep sparkle to it .This new line of Fenders are top notch.
They both dound great helped immensely by your impeccable playing but to my ears the SSS is the one that I think sounds the best.
Nice video!
I wish you guys were in Canada. I'm learning a LOT.
Still torn between HSS and SSS. The SSS with push push adds neck pickup, so in position 2, all 3 single coils are activated. On the HSS, it's full humbucker and middle, or middle and split humbucker. I wonder if an SSS can give as much bite with all 3 coils activated vs bridge and middle.
Only Strat I bought and sold was a blue 2016 HSS. Something just didn't work sonically, but though I have a new SSS one coming, I'm betting I would like the HSS too.
I picked up an HSS for the “girthier” midrange and the ability to split out the humbucker when I want to. I haven’t found a video from you guys on the American Perforner. No love for it?
They have one just like the one Cooper is holding in a local shop. I need it.
Great video chaps, very helpful and yes, picking what you do with your knob is very funny :-)
Just got the sss love it so easy to play
Very interesting, great playing and commentary as usual, guys. But I wish each position (especially the bridge here) was put back to back with the other guitar, so that we could remember the exact tone when comparing. Also, the pine SSS did seem to sound quite different on all pickups, more lively and rich IMO. Why is that?
Hello!
Congratulations for the video !!!
I ask you could you tell me since I have no way to try the differences between Fender 75th Anniversary Commemorative Stratocaster together
and Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS apart from Humbuker of course.
Which one do you prefer and why?
Thanks and congratulations again
I have the American pro ll mystic surf green/rosewood FB SSS. Love it but that pine body strat has a great vibe.
I'm very interested in the HSS one, but the Shawbucker is of concern to me. I would run the Steve Lukather EMG config, but installing the 85 may prove tricky without replacing the pickguard or drilling holes...
Great Video as usual, You guys are so entertaininng and full of knowledge. Those two guitars are beautiful. Cooper, you are an amazing guitarist, you can sure fly up and down a fretboard with so much ease. . I really look forward to your videos and "Thank You" so much. I have a few good guitars and am trying to learn at an older age, it is harder for me my fingers don,t move fast any more, LOL I have no problem reccomending Alamo to any of my friends because of your great videos. keep up the fantastic job you are doing!
Brad Maier
Babylon, NY
There needs to be a disclaimer though. If you want your guitar to sound this good, you need to learn to play like this dude..damn. Very nice fluidity going from phrase to phrase.
Those both sound great
Very good intro I like
Went to my local today to try out an EC-1000 and enjoyed it. Until I played the HSS. Wow, loved the tone so came straight to your channel to see if you had a review and of course you do! And even in the Mercury colour I was hoping to see. Thanks again for helping make tough decisions easier!
I bought the HSS Pro ll because I like the versatility of having the optional tone of a humbucker pickup and also being able to split it to a single coil, which is the traditional Strat set up. As Chris said “it’s the best of both worlds”.
Great video guys as usual, excellent playing from Cooper, I was on the fence which Strat to buy, I already have a ‘91 SSS but was open to a more modern incarnation but I’m now convinced an HSS is the way to go for me, so Miami blue with a rosewood board it is!
I also am seriously considering the miami blue /rosewood HSS....but have you noticed, on some sites, like sweetwater...some of the miami blue's look very "blue", and some other ones look sort of dark seafoam greenish?? the differences are very obvious. not sure if there are variations with this finish, or if it is due to lighting, etc.....i def like the blue look, and not the ones with the slightly greenish hue
@@ronyeahright9536 yeah, I’ve also noticed that, I don’t know if it’s a light thing or not but I will choose in person or very carefully if I order it online as I don’t really care for the greener hue. The more metallic finish of seafoam green is a more attractive option in my view if green is your thing.
@@kmickp1166 ok....yeah, i like the more blue look that im seeing online
@@ronyeahright9536 Some blue finishes do that. My lake placid blue Strat does it too.
My tidepool Tele not so much. Definitely dependent of lighting/angle.
When it's dark outside, my lighting makes my Strat look green/blue. In daylight it's straight up blue.
I prefer the blue look too.
@@raytorvalds3699 I actually saw a miami blue strat in person at a store yesterday; looked "blue" ( was an SSS config tho).......I think im gonna go for it, and order the HSS on Sweetwater.
👍🔥🎸🦅 HSS sounds killer
I just bought an HSS, can't wait for it to get here. I miss my old Eric Clapton Strat.
THANKS GENTLEMEN!!!!
Excellent presentation!!HSS....4 X-mas...4Shure.💯
Nice video
OK I AM SOLD, Need an HSS Strat! yes gents, I am going for one of those beauties!
Are the neck and middle pups the same on both models? Seems like on the HSS the neck and middle weren't as chimey as the SSS.
I know you hate the "push- pull" buttons..killer silver burst!
I had the performer SSS I’m now looking to replace with a ultra HSS
I low key am a Strat purist, so I'd def would get an single coil, if I want HSS I prolly get myself an Ibanez AZ, that is if I could afford it
the real question is, how many hours will i spend getting the protective film off of my pickguard?
thanks for this video i have the hss dark knight the bridge sound sound at the end on the hss was far superior to the sss version the sss version was twangy and not very full but on the mercury hss it sounded the way it should sound which is loud full and as my dad says alive and is how mine sounds i love it my only gripe is that i got sent one in a case that was saturated in a nasty toixic glue smell the minute i opened the case to look at the guitar it stunk up my room i had to air out my room of all the toxic fumes i let the case sit out side for like 3 days which helped a little but not enough the guitar still smells i have sent the old case back to fender and will receive my replacement tomorrow in the mail hopefully it does not smell i hope the ones you guys demoed didnt stink like mine did it was god awful i plan to put my guitar in the new case and put a bag of coffee beans in with it and let it sit for while hopefully i can make my guitar smell like coffee and not glue but i am still glad i bought this guitar it sounds awesome and if what i do works it will smell a little bit like my les paul which smells like chocolate
Bro have you heard of commas and periods? Goddamn man, use them.
Your playing (which is fantastic btw) got more aggressive when you switched to that final bridge/humbucker position in the hss demo. This, alone, is a testament to the hss model if you want to straddle that SRV meets Hendrix line during searing leads. I love my sss but I’m really missing that sustain and depth that you get from the bridge humbucker. And yes I have a few humbucker guitars, for the purists lol
This was a great demo. I’ve now decided to sell some gear for that hss.
hey man, im thinking of getting the pro II Strat but im not sure whether to get the SSS or HSS since I just got a telecaster deluxe with 2 humbuckers
Yep, when you switched to the humbucker it really fired up your playing.
So are the SSS and HSS, for all intents and purposes, pretty much the same except for the humbucker in one of them? If you don't need the single coil bridge pickup in other words do the neck and middle pickups sound the same on both HSS and SSS?
great video!
do you have any videos comparing single coils, humbuckers, and p90's? if not, I think it would be a great idea for a video. thanks
What song are they playing to demo the guitars in clean tone? They both sound good but IMO the humbucker sounds a little bit fuller.
Old video but how does the HSS sound in bridge position with the volume rolled back? That’s how I normally play, maybe around 7 or 8.
Is a cheaper Squier Classic Vibe HSS worth it or HSS is only good with an expensive and quality Fender?
It’s an interesting concept from fender. With this “double tapping” there’s really no need for singles at all.
But then, there’s no need for brass saddles which don’t allow intonation on individual strings. I guess we do things for reasons other than “need” sometimes.
seems that the neck pickup (yes neck, not bridge) sounds slightly different in HSS vs SSS configs. The SSS neck has more sweetness, and I could only associate that on the magnetic pull of the humbucker being stronger (thus affecting negatively the harmonics)
I have two HSS strat style guitars, but no SSS. I really want a SSS, but keep gravitating towards HSS when it comes time to buy. I'm broken...
I giggled more than I should have at your sssssss and hhhsssssss 😂
HI, great demo and review Cooper. I already have a Fender HSS Ultra Strat. Ive never tried the Pro 2, I am looking towards purchasing an HSS Pro 2. In your opinion would that be a wrong move? many thanks
You know, you already have a pretty great HSS with the Ultra... however, I do love all of the Pro 2's so much, and the pickups might have different enough voicing to keep things interesting in your collection. I don't think you could go wrong building out that collection! They're great guitars.
@@AlamoMusic Thank you very very much. Thats a great help to me. I cant wait to try the Pro 2 now. Many many thanks
@@Dvdkar Did you get a chance to check out the Pro II? Which do you prefer between the Pro and the Ultra?
Ordered pro II from guitar center and ups lost it in Atlanta wherehouse! I'm just alittle pissed!
What if you had a 6 way sector that popped the bridge and middle into series?
I've got an SSS one coming in two days - because I really need 9 American Strats (going back to '74) 🙄. But man, I saw that dark night finish and the push-push, and I was done for.
AAAH! Get out of my head! I'd just been contemplating Am Pro II / Ultra / HSS / SSS.
Given that the difference between these two is the bridge pickup, I'd like to have seen more time focussed just on demo'ing the difference of the bridges and combinations (positions 1 and 2, and either split and humbucking or with and without the neck added in, as the case might be).
What I really want for the tonal versatility prize is both options in one guitar: HSS with the nicely balanced coil split demo'd here, plus another push-push to add in the neck, as on the SSS version. Have to study the 5-way wiring diagram, I guess.
SSS bridge: 13:36
HSS bridge: 15:51
HSS coil split: 16:04
Quality sound
The one I prefer is the middle Taylor one 😊
What brand guitar is the acoustic in the background?