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Average Price: $975
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
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Description
Crafted for musicians who crave versatility and power in their sound, the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS stands as a testament to the legendary Strat design, with a modern twist. Designed in the USA, this guitar merges the classic Stratocaster aesthetic with a powerful humbucker pickup, offering a dynamic range of tones that cater to both vintage purists and modern rockers alike.
The striking body contours and sleek finish encapsulate Fender's iconic style, while the HSS configuration (Humbucker-Single-Single) provides an expanded tonal palette. This setup includes a robust humbucking pickup at the bridge, delivering a punchy, high-output sound perfect for hard-hitting solos and heavy riffs. Meanwhile, the single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions maintain the bright, crisp clarity Fender is renowned for.
Equipped with a five-way switch, this guitar offers seamless transitions between a myriad of sonic landscapes, allowing musicians to explore everything from bluesy warmth to searing rock tones. The comfortable neck profile ensures effortless playability, making it a reliable companion for both studio sessions and live performances. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring guitarist, the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS is engineered to enhance your musical journey.
Key Features:
- Made in the USA
- HSS pickup configuration: Humbucker bridge and two single-coils
- Five-way pickup selector switch
- Iconic Stratocaster body shape
- Comfortable neck profile for enhanced playability
- Versatile tonal range for various genres
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | American Standard Stratocaster HSS |
| Finish | 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Blizzard Pearl, Bordeaux Metallic, Jade Pearl Metallic, Mystic Blue, Mystic Red, Ocean Blue Metallic, Sienna Sunburst |
| Year | 2008 - 2015 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Alder, Ash |
| Body Shape | S-Style |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Tremolo Bridge |
| Color Family | Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Red, White |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss, Metallic |
| Fretboard Material | Maple, Rosewood |
| Fretboard Radius | 9.5" |
| Model Family | Fender Stratocaster |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Nut Width | 1.6875" |
| Offset Body | Non-Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | HSS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Series | Fender American Standard |
| Wood Top Style | Opaque, Plain |
FAQs
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What does the HSS configuration on the Fender American Standard Stratocaster mean?
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The HSS configuration on this Stratocaster refers to a humbucker pickup at the bridge position and single-coil pickups at the middle and neck positions, offering a versatile range of tones suitable for various music genres.
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Is the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable modern C-shaped neck and versatile pickup configuration, which allows players to explore different tones.
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How does the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS perform for rock music?
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With its Diamondback humbucker at the bridge, the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS provides a powerful, punchy tone ideal for rock music, while the single-coil pickups offer clarity and brightness for clean and rhythm parts.
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What is the neck profile of the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS?
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The neck of the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS features a modern C shape, providing a comfortable grip for players, enhancing playability across various styles.
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Does the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS come with a case?
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Yes, the Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS includes a hardshell case, providing protection and easy transport for the guitar.
Videos
MusicStoreLive.com
Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS Tone Review and Demo
Reviews
PROS
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Smooth neck and fretboard allows for easy bending and playability
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Seymour Duncan 'Trembucker' in the bridge delivers superior sound quality
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Lightweight and maintains tuning well despite heavy play
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Versatile sound suitable for rock, blues, funk, and jazz
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Excellent intonation and resonant tone
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High-quality finish and vintage design appeal
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Comfortable contour and forward-thinking design by Leo Fender
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Pickups, especially the bridge, provide great clean or crunchy tones
CONS
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Some units have semi-dead spots on the neck affecting note resonance
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Protective film on pickguard requires complete disassembly to remove
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Single-coil pickups can be noisy
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Jack and volume pot issues reported on new units
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS.
User experience
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An owner of a 2006 American Deluxe HSS Strat praises its durability and quality neck feel, noting only routine maintenance needed over years of use.
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Owners describe the guitar as inspiring creativity, with its smooth playability and superb craftsmanship, enhancing the enjoyment of writing and exploring new musical ideas.
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An owner switched from HSS to SSS due to aesthetic preferences, despite acknowledging the HSS's versatility.
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Use cases and applications
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The guitar is noted for its versatility, making it suitable for different playing styles and inspiring players to explore beyond their typical repertoire.
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HSS Strats are favored by those needing versatility in one guitar, covering genres from rock to blues without switching instruments.
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It's mentioned that noiseless pickups, like those from DiMarzio, are preferred in noisy environments, enhancing the HSS Strat's usability in diverse settings.
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Comparisons
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Compared to the American Special with Texas Special pickups, the American Standard HSS is brighter and slightly thinner, complementing each other in tonal variety.
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Fender's HSS Strats compete with Ibanez and Jackson models, which also offer HSS configurations, often preferred by those seeking hybrid sounds.
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Owners suggest that the Player II series offers superior pickups compared to the Standard range, with noticeable tonal improvements especially for higher quality recordings.
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Setup and maintenance
Build quality
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The Sienna Sunburst finish on the 2013 model shows a more pronounced wood grain contrast, adding character to the guitar's appearance.
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Features and functionality
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HSS Strats retain classic neck and middle single-coil tones but sacrifice the traditional bridge single-coil sound for a more powerful humbucker output.
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The American Deluxe HSS Strat has an S1 switch, which enhances pickup combinations and adds versatility, but some users find the humbucker tone slightly anemic.
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It's noted that some HSS Strats are pre-routed for neck humbuckers, enabling easy conversion to HSH setups without additional routing.
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Mods and upgrades
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Some users suggest installing Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge for a richer tone compared to the stock humbucker.
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Several owners recommend installing coil-splitting mods, like the Gilmore mod, to increase versatility, allowing for more tonal options from the humbucker.
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Owners recommend wiring HSS Strats like Suhr models using a super switch, allowing humbuckers to see 500k and single coils to see 250k for optimal tone.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 4 Reviews and 20 Ratings
397
The working Pro's Strat
The HSS pattern covers about anything. Mine is highly customized with a Fender Custom Shop rosewood fretboard neck, 902D Custom pickguiard with Dimarzio-furnished 36 Anniversary PAF, Dimarzio Area 67 in the middle, and the Dimarzio Heavy Blues II in the neck. The vintage bridge was hand-selected and expertly worked to perform flawlessly live. I also use Fender locking tuners. This one is my number 1.
Artist usage
Add artist
Hozier can be seen playing a Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS at approximately 09:42 in this video, live at KCRW. Hozier's guitar appears to be mystic red with a maple fingerboard.
0:31 into this video Devin can be seen playing on a Fender Stratocaster Sienna Sunburst.
This photo, sourced from the official site of Doyle Bramhall II, shows him playing a Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar in a black finish with a rosewood neck. He has turned the guitar upside-down.
The guitar was played in music video of A Prophecy, the guitar is visible in the 3:27-3:29 mark
Originally purchased as a regular Fender American Standard Strat HSS in black with a white pickguard near the end of 2009. Around March 2010, MAMI customized this guitar with a paint job that she designed on Photoshop. The result is the all-black guitar with a "melting ice-cream" design that you see today, painted by RADICAL BRATS DESIGNS. -SCANDAL HEAVEN
RADICAL BRATS http://www.radical-brats.com/
Currently, MAMI's HSS strat is missing the volume knob (which had been for some while, c. 2014) and she seems to leave it missing.
In this fan-shot video of Lemaitre playing their track "Continuum" live (Stereosonic 2013 Melbourne), they can be seen playing a Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar in a Sienna Sunburst finish with a rosewood fingerboard. The guitar can be seen throughout.
The item can be seen at 1:13 into this video, stating, "I have an American Standard Strat, same setup as this, except it is a Fender twin head humbucker in it." His stratocaster like he has said is modified as the pickups and pickguard have seem to be swapped.
Album Usage
The Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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