The Stratocaster HSS is the American Professional Strat with a V-Mod III humbucker in the bridge. Everything else new for 2026 comes with it: the cold-rolled steel trem block, the ClassicGear Radial bent-steel saddles with recessed screws, the treble bleed and the reshaped neck heel.
The humbucker is the part to look at. Fender adjusted its bobbin pitch and winding, and a push-push tone control splits it to a single coil. A switchable dual 500K/250K pot changes value with it, so the humbucker gets the 500K it wants and the split coil gets the 250K a single-coil wants, rather than one pot trying to suit both.
Two V-Mod III Strat single-coils sit in the middle and neck, on the Deep "C" neck with rolled edges and a 9.5" radius. Eight finishes on rosewood or maple. Aged Cherry Burst is an ash body; the rest are alder.
It suits a player who wants one Strat for humbucker rhythm and clean single-coil work. If you mostly play single-coil, the three-pickup Stratocaster is the simpler choice.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: USA
Body Material: Alder (Ash on Aged Cherry Burst)
Body Finish: Polyurethane
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Pickguard: By finish, as shown
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: "Super-Natural" Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face
Neck Shape: Deep "C"
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood or Maple, by finish
Position Inlays: White Dot (Rosewood), Black Dot (Maple)
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Narrow Tall
Nut: Bone, 1.685" (42.8 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: V-Mod III Humbucker
Middle Pickup: V-Mod III Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup: V-Mod III Single-Coil Strat
Pickup Configuration: HSS
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Auxiliary Switching: Push-Push Tone Control Activates Coil-Split
Treble Bleed: Yes
Potentiometers: ClassicGear Precision
HARDWARE
Bridge: 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with ClassicGear Radial Bent Steel Saddles, Pop-In Tremolo Arm and Cold-Rolled Steel Block
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Asymmetrical with Micro-Tilt Adjustment
Pickup Covers: Bridge: Zebra, Middle: Aged White, Neck: Aged White
Control Knobs: Aged White
Strings: Fender USA 250L Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges)
CASE
Case: Deluxe Molded Case (included)
