Should I get an HSS stratocaster or a SSS stratocaster?

I plan on getting an American Deluxe Fender Strat and I was wondering which I should get? They both have noiseless pickups so I'm not worried about that. I figured I should get a SSS Strat since the S-1 switch can give a humbucker sound regardless whether there's a humbucker pickup in the bridge position. Another reason I picked SSS was so that I could also have the bell like tones when I switch to the bridge pickup. Although, if I can get the HSS to produce those bell like sounds and have better distortion, then I'll probably get that.

sounds like you answered your own question.sss for sure

I'd personally go with the SSS and use your amp and/or a pedal for distortion - the best of both worlds.

Good choice, either way, on your part.

Choosing PUs is really a combination of personal prefference and what sort of music you will be playing. But the fact of the matter is a SC will never sound quite like a HB and vice versa. even HBs with coil splitters still dont sound quite like a true SC.

Don't forget that there is another tone that's useful either way: the middle PU in combination with either the bridge or neck PUs... the "quack" tone! If you do end up getting the HSS, see if it can coil split the Humbucker, so you can get the bridge-middle "quack" combo. Certainly the guitar can be modified by a qualified tech to do so if it doesn't come that way already...

I would get the hss myself so I could have the powerful humbucker when I needed it.