If you’ve ever looked at an electric guitar and seen “HSS” in the specs, you might’ve wondered what it means. It’s one of the most popular pickup combinations in modern guitars - and for good reason.
HSS stands for Humbucker-Single-Single, and it’s all about giving you the best of both worlds.
🎸 What It Means
An HSS guitar has:
One humbucker pickup (usually in the bridge position)
Two single-coil pickups (in the middle and neck positions)
That humbucker gives you a thicker, more powerful tone that’s perfect for heavier styles, like rock, while the single-coils provide clear, bright sounds for clean tones, funk, blues, or country.
🎶 Why Players Love HSS Guitars
Versatility: From sparkling cleans to heavy riffs, one guitar can cover it all.
Dynamic tone range: The bridge humbucker handles distortion beautifully, while the neck and middle pickups keep your clean tones crisp.
Perfect for beginners: You can explore different styles without needing multiple guitars.
HSS setups are common in modern Strat-style guitars, including many Fender and Squier models, and they’re one of the best all-around choices for players who want flexibility without complication.
⚡ Who It’s For
If you play anything from worship to rock, or you want a single guitar that can handle clean, crunch, and lead tones, an HSS configuration might be perfect for you.
It’s the pickup combo that keeps you ready for anything.
🛒 Find HSS Guitars at Morris Guitar Company
At Morris Guitar Company, we carry a variety of used and refurbished electric guitars featuring HSS pickup configurations - all inspected, set up, and ready to play.