Fender American Performer | Comparing the Stratocaster HSS & SSS

[@handrecalle]

11:32 If you want to see the comparison of both bridge pickups...

[@vladionescu8222]

Thanks stranger

[@MC-xr1np]

Some people make the world a better place

[@PedalScience]

legend

[@hesekie1]

Thx

[@SerkanBerksoy]

I bought the exact HSS one today :) Went to store, tried all ultra, elite models. Even had the budget to go with them but this one was the most comfortable and also thick and warm sounding comparably to the others. Thanks for the review.

[@fredriksvard2603]

I didnt see the point of ultra, pro etc either, they felt worse. Performer seems to be the sweetspot. Player plus, but its a very different sound imo, maybe more for someone who sticks with one guitar only.

[@prazinho3941]

Finally a truly elucidating comparison, no blabla, in so many videos you can't really hear the differences, here you can. Thank you for doing this!

[@MooreMusicGuitars]

Thank you! We really appreciate you reaching out.

[@davep1808]

Brett, I bought this exact guitar because of your indepth video. I agree with everything you said during you're review. I have a couple of high dollar strats as well as 2 vintage strats and let me tell you, they have been ignored for a while since i got this strat!. Good job. I live in central Kentucky and am going to sneak off from the wife and make the drive down to your store one day soon. Jam on Brother.

[@J0nny61]

I'm stunned by my SSS Performer, it's a brilliant instrument.

[@svogender]

The same for the HSS... Absolutely awesome guitar... Love it..! ❤👍

[@ErraticFaith]

There is none better than the Strat HSS. \m/

[@skgate]

idk, my Vintera 50s is all I need as far as strats go..

[@fredriksvard2603]

Gibson explorer :)

[@danielferrera8773]

I like the fact that even the rosewood fretboard one keeps that nice edge in the treble. Some rosewood fretboard starts have a too much mellow and warm sound.

[@danielferrera8773]

Strats*

[@danielferrera8773]

@Keith Clark I've had both and it's not a myth. But whatever floats your boat.

[@lizstorer000]

Fantastic review of both of them!!!! Purchased the HSS for versatility although I still love the high quacks pitch of an SSS.

[@Zackathor]

Would love to see a performer strat vs. Professional strat video. Getting a better understanding of the price gap between the two would be awesome!

[@MooreMusicGuitars]

I will pass that along to our Video guy, I agree I think it would be great.

[@Zackathor]

@@MooreMusicGuitars awesome!

[@adamdagosto570]

So just to be clear, the HSS doe NOT have the ability to blend the bridge and neck together whereas the SSS version can do it? Is that correct?

[@smokinjoe4709]

yes

[@lizstorer000]

Love you guys! Not too much Talk, when you do it's on point, easy to understand for intermediate like me with straightforward feedback and honest advice!!! Gone for the HSS model 2023 and I love it!!!!

[@RashithaMaduranga2022]

The American Performer Strat has a DoubleTap bridge humbucker, meaning you can pull out the tone knob out and it'll "convert" to a single coil bridge. Will this sound the same as it would if there was just a straight up SSS in the guitar or will it at least be close enough?

[@GuitarsRgood7]

I tried the HSS one in red recently. It was really really nice! Could be my next guitar.

[@emmakeyser1459]

what a good sensible vid. good amps, guitars in tune, hitting all the points of interest. great, thanks guys good job.

[@Taurex]

If these had the smaller headstock I might be interested haha.. I don't know, I just can't stand the big headstock because it doesn't look proportional to the rest of the body imo :p

[@batuksri]

It looks more proportional with white body/white pickguard Strats.

[@bradmartin152]

A great review finally, just straight shooting to the point and no wanky "Look at my lead break face" thanks guys.

[@mb300588]

Great video! Finally a real comparison. THANKS A LOT!

[@jamiew4851]

How about American Professional vs Performer HSS? Which one is better? Thanks

[@sanduthambugala6878]

Straight to the point. Loved it!

[@porcupineparty8598]

Thanks for the great demo of the Performer!

[@otaviofenderstrat4220]

Woww ...i loved the humbucker sound on high gain mode in the end of video. Powerful.

[@craniofacialsurgeon]

nice stuff guys from London , UK. I have an American Standard Strat from the late 80s, which has a tone control applied to the bridge pick up and middle pick up. ‘TBX’ I believe. I also have a Japan made Stratocaster with the classic wiring (no tone control to bridge). Love them both it’s a personal thing… agreed though that tone control to the bridge pick up should’ve been standard long time ago…

[@alexandrarosa2200]

Hello ! Une comparaison entre 2 manches rosewood aurait été plus pertinente mais c'est déjà très bien, merci!

[@cheesefrogsnail]

Tout à fait... ceci dit la penny avec le manche érable claque bien sa mère !

[@jbdecap]

Would really like to see an American Performer vs American Professional comparison too. Really enjoyed this video!

[@LoneWolfJoe]

Awesome video guys, keep this format going! Excellent explanations! These guitars both sound great in their own ways!

[@TheNoncritical1]

A "Y" cable plugging both guitars into one amp would have been helpful. Or an A-B box.

[@evks82]

is the professional 2 vs performer have almost the same fingerboard ?

[@mclw_]

does the hss bridge's pickup can play sounds like sss bridge pu? does it sound the same or no ? im confused should i choose sss or hss. thanks

[@chonlanglais]

Thanks for the video great job. I'm waiting to buy the hss version i just have one question. I already have a sss strat but with narrow tail frets what is it like with jumbo frets?

[@reneotten7376]

Jumbo frets go out of tune if you push the strings hard. You really need to adapt the strength of your left hand. I'm a hard player, I think I'm better of with medium jumbo frets.

[@psp777]

Big sexy headstock too

[@JCW86]

Aubergine is eggplant in French :D

[@beveljoint4608]

tom delonge and steve buscemi looking well

[@josephyarde-buller3587]

Does this guy know what an aubergine is?

[@bigtastyITA]

Great comparison, explanation and everything. Thanks!

[@stormjack]

Nice website, guys. Thanks for doing this video. You answered a lot of questions that I had about pickup configurations.

[@reneotten7376]

They avoid touching the tremolos so I guess those are perfect detuning devices just as on the good old Strats 😀

[@marmadukewinterbotham2599]

Very helpful video, thanks. Blimey, that penny finish is just divine! And the that neck pickup anywhere switch-in is perfect. How will I get on with the jumbo frets though? I've not been a fan of jumbo frets before. As Brett mentioned, I'd need to be gentle when chording in order not to press anything out of tune. $1,000 should be £785 here in the UK but they're £949. Hmm.... Nevertheless, I have a feeling the GAS is about to overwhelm me here....

[@taildragger53]

I actually have 4 of these Performer Strats...I was completley knocked out by the sound, the FEEL of the neck (great for those with smaller hands) and the frets aren't that much bigger than other frets but the neck profile is better IMO to those more expensive Fenders. Yes, the Penny copper finish is very similar to a Robbie Robertson Stratocaster that he had back in the 70s....But built better than his.

[@F-MK96]

american special and highway one both had tone knob with the bridge pickup for like 10+ years

[@jordanpratt3821]

my 2004 "American series" strat has it also.

[@rodrigoduran9504]

what a sound!!

[@hyp3rdr1v3]

Who wants to tell him what aubergine means haha

[@Jigglergaming]

Hey can u please tell me which is the best pick-up guitar for me to buy hss or sss , i used to play songs like abcdefu by Gale , a bit rock .

[@vyvynylification]

Humbucker seems to be a bit better for heavier genres such as (heavy) rock and metal. From what i've read, the HSS is a bit more versatile out-of-the-box. Sure you can't go wrong with either though

[@RashithaMaduranga2022]

Do the Bridge pickup (in the Bridge position) sound different with the two configurations with pull up the tone knob switch ??

[@harshabandreddi2632]

I’m still a little bit indecisive between the sss and has. Which one should I get?

[@lassesuurmunne8340]

Harsha Bandreddi if you’re able to try them both out at a store that would probably help you out the most. So you can decide for yourself. At least for me I often change my mind about guitars once I try them. Then I know what I actually like, we all have our own preferences in the end 🤔 both are incredibly well made, the necks on the performer series fenders feel better to me than most professional and elite ones do. These actually compete more with the custom shop ones to me, which sounds like a crazy thing to say I know but this line has blown me away

[@seb5542]

I prefer the hss for the versatility but it is opinion

[@zoranallen5205]

Harsha Bandreddi I wanted the HSS but it wasnt available in the Honey Burst... so im waiting for my honey burst SSS to arrive!

[@showerfreak]

These guys have the chemistry of oil and a lighter. Good video tho, enjoyed it!

[@yanikjayaram]

who's the Ed guy, he shreds

[@steveluth3139]

Well I still hope they loose the pull push and just get a small metal switch

[@TheBluesine]

I cant belive they put that old bridge on it,,,even the new range of mex player series has upgraded too 2 post!!!

[@cuneytsonmez]

That push pull thing is confusing since it gives nothing new but another path to the picks. The simple is the best.

[@ralphington8441]

cüneyt sönmez it does give you something new, it allows you to have bridge pickup and neck pickup at the same time

[@Fractalholic]

The HSS is $500 bucks more this year!!

[@mismo358]

Honestly thought it was Petrucci and immediately clicked this video since it is fender and petrucci

[@3cardmonty602]

I hate that Copper color. Reminds me of my late Aunt Mae’s lipstick color.

[@k0vae]

RIP aunt mae

[@tonyn1926]

would have been better if one person played both. Ed's playing sounds way too harsh no matter which pick he is using!

[@perfectwhine742]

Personally, I think the humbucker rids the guitar of the uniqueness. I already have a les paul and a prs that sound very comparable to the hss, I'm going single coil for the originality.

[@pablo9364]

M thinking along the same lines as you. I am about to buy. Was intending to get the hss one but I have a les Paul. Difficult to decide. Only have so much money

[@libertylizard_]

@@pablo9364 What did you decide in the end, I'm always curious as to whether people decide to gravitate more towards the heavy end or the clear. Debates about about the Shawbucker in the Pro vs the SSS config, all over the net.

[@pablo9364]

Paul Birch I’ve now got the SSS American performer strat . I’m very pleased with it. The only other guitar I have with humbuckers is the epiphone les Paul. They’re not the greatest humbucker pickups but are ok for now maybe in the future I’ll get an ibanez heavy machine HSH. Good video though very helpful, thanks. I have a telecaster player but I prefer the strat

[@libertylizard_]

pablo9364 Glad that you’re happy with your choice! In the end both setups are pretty versatile with the flex towards the dark or the light depending. Cheers for the reply 👍

[@cheesefrogsnail]

Yes i'd go even further saying a good strat has a good sound on the bridge single coil PU, if not it's not so good...

[@DisabilityExams]

If God intended the Strat to have a humbucker, he'd have added one in 1954! Bring back the 3-way switch!!

[@richardfitsell4506]

He did in the 70's, his name was Eddie Van Halen. :D

[@tanshaomala]

Aubergine is not a wine lololol

[@natepence]

Aubergine means eggplant.

[@jordanpratt3821]

The guy playing reminds me of that annoying guy thats on pawn stars sometimes.

[@jordanpratt3821]

harkensis disease lololol