Have you wondered or are you wondering what a Fat Strat is? If so, you are probably not alone and here I will try to give you a brief guide on exactly what a Fat Strat is. I hope you find this helpful.

Yes, there is a Fat Strat, which is also called HSS, which stands for, it’s an anagram for Humbucker, Single Coil, Single Coil stratocaster, just like on the Fender Stratocaster guitar (as if you didn’t know that already). The usual, more typical Strat has three single coil pickups. The Fat Strat has only two single-coil pickups, one located in the neck and one in the middle position, and one humbucker pickup in the bridge position. Confused?

Humbuckers give what is called a fatter sound than a single coil. They have more winding which as a direct result of this, they are ‘hotter’, in other words they achieve higher or higher output. Generally speaking, the hotter the pickup, the more prominent the midrange frequencies will be, which is why they are said to have a thicker or warmer sound with less treble. Humbuckers are what you’ll find on guitars like the Gibson Les Paul, among others.

The Fat Strat can give you more tonal options if that’s the kind of sound you’re after or are drawn to. If, on the other hand, you’re after the true vintage Strat sound, you may want to stick with the standard three single-coil variety. In the aftermarket you can buy hotter wound single coils and they will also give you a warmer sound. Many people will add a hotter single coil in the bridge position, which I suppose might give a somewhat similar sounding, if you can call it that, effect as a humbucker.

There are also HH Strats that contain 2 humbucker pickups and no single coils. You may have heard them referred to as Double Fat Strats.