Di Marzio DP217 / HS-4 (black)

The HS-4 is the vintage magnet-stagger version of the HS-3. While there is obviously a strong resemblance to the HS-3, the vintage stagger recreates the string-balance of single-coils from the 50s, producing a unique sound in the neck and middle positions with both chords and single-note soloing. And there's no 60-cycle hum. The HS-4 works very well with high-gain amps, but the classic setup is with an overdrive pedal and a Marshall amp. The pedal boosts sustain and distortion, and the sound cleans up dramatically when the pedal is switched off. Works well in all 3 positions for slightly warmer than usual Strat sound. The vintage 50s magnet stagger is a subtle change from the standard HS-3. It alters the overall balance between the individual strings, resulting in a little more clarity and string definition. This is most obvious on the unwound strings, particularly higher up the neck.