Have you, or are you wondering what a Fat Strat is. If so, you likely are not alone and here I will attempt to give you a brief guide on what exactly a Fat Strat is. I hope you find this useful.
Yes, there is such a thing as a Fat Strat, which is also called a HSS, which stands for, is an anagram for Humbucker, Single Coil, Single Coil stratocaster, as in 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 just two single coil pickups, one located in the neck and another one in the mid position, and a humbucker pickup in the bridge position. Confused?
Humbuckers give what’s called a fatter sound than a single coil. They have more winding which as a direct result of this, are ‘hotter’, in other words, they achieve great or more output. Speaking in general terms, the hotter the pickup, the more prominent the mid range frequencies will be, hence they are said to have a thicker or warmer sound with less treble bite. Humbuckers are what you will find in guitars such as the Gibson Les Paul amongst others.
The Fat Strat can give you more tonal options if that is the kind of sound that you are after or appeals to you. If on the other hand you were to be after the true vintage Stratocaster sound you may want to stick with the standard, regular three single coil variety. On the aftermarket you can purchase single coils that are wound hotter and will achieve for you, a warmer sound also. A lot of individuals will add a hotter single coil in the bridge position which I guess could give a somewhat similar sound, if you can call it that, effect as a humbucker.
There are also HH Strats which contain 2 humbucker pickups and no single coils at all. You may have heard these being referred to as Double Fat Strats.