Ever mix a 59 neck with a vintage rails?

[bubbahotep2k3]

Hi, Has anyone ever mixed a 59 neck humbucker with a vintage rails middle pickup? I am wondering how they blend for strumming non-distorted chords on a 5 way switch in the 2 and 4 position.

Just to clarify the vintage rails would be blending with a 59 in the neck and a Duncan distortion tb-6 in the bridge of my ibanez rg 570.

What kind of strumming and finger picking should I be able to get with this (I hope versatile combo of pups)? Led Zep? Cream? Metallica ala Fade to black?

I am curious what people think of this trio of pickups...

Thanks....

[Travis]

Re: Ever mix a 59 neck with a vintage rails?

Man, that does sound like a great combo, and versatile,too. I'm anxious to hear people's opinions.

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Ever mix a 59 neck with a vintage rails?

I tell you what surprised me most: the 59neck gives the most beautiful and clear arpeggios in this guitar. I now can use the rg as a bonafide acoustic composing tool... Of course the distortion shreds nicely for metal...

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Ever mix a 59 neck with a vintage rails?

Well the results are in and I'm happy.

The 59 and VR mix nicely. The 4 position of the 5-way switch has a nice acoustic strumming sound when clean. The same position distorted has a good soloing sound... The 3 position is that classic strat sound only without the hum and a little more bass. position 2 (which blends with the DD) has a useable distored rhythm sound, good for fuzz (think of Cream' sunshine of your love).

The only negative is that in the 2 and 4 positions there is a volume drop when wired in parrallel.... haven't tried the series sounds yet...

[tone4days]

Re: Ever mix a 59 neck with a vintage rails?

hey bubba (scorchin' avatar! )

i have a 59n and a duckbucker in my ibanez 540s ... as you might know, the duck and the VR are essentially the same pickup (sonically), just different cosmetics and string response ... i use the 2 & 4 positions all the time, except i usually split the 59 when i do ... yeah, the volume drop is substantial, but i use them in different applications, so it's not as big a problem ... also, i found that raising the duck very cose to the strings helps (basically as high as it can go without getting in the way of picking, strumming) ... i use it not so much for strumming, but for 'chicken pickin' and knopfler-esque solos ... with a little grit, i get a tone that's fun for SRV style jammin' ... all by itself, i like how it gets a chimey, "chicka-chicka" chord comping vibe (with a little chorus)

have fun
t4d

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Ever mix a 59 neck with a vintage rails?

what do you have in the bridge of that 540 and is it made of basswood?

[tone4days]

Re: Ever mix a 59 neck with a vintage rails?

i have a c5 currently ... and i built a custom custom custom at users group day that will be heading in their soon ... it is a trem-spaced model with A2 magnet and both bobbins have screws

for what little wood is there, the 540s is made of mahogany with a photoflame top and back ...

t4d

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Ever mix a 59 neck with a vintage rails?

and what pups do you have in your les paul that is in your avatar?