500K or 250 for a P-Rail?

[doesitmatter]

Well it's come down to this.

I'm getting a set of P-Rails for my birthday and to celebrate we're doing an all night gig. Problem is the Triple Shots look like they won't be ready until June so I'm back to using 4 push/ pulls. And if I'm going to switch out all the pots, I might as well upgrade to 500K.

Is this a good idea? I have a dark Les Paul and the 490s in it are muddy. The P-Rails should fix that problem but will the added 500K pots be too bright? I play mostly rock, going from clean arpeggios and blues to some metal tones.

Also, I know I saw a diagram for 4 push pulls and a 3 way on these boards but I can't even find it with the search. It was basically this:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2_prails_2v_2t_tspp

with each pickup separted. Can someone repost that for me?

Thanks!

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: 500K or 250 for a P-Rail?

Go 500K. P-Rails are rather dark sounding in the HB mode, and that is something I like. The 500K is perfect in my mahogany/ebony Gibson.

If you are up to the task, a person could scribe the 250K postion on the 500K pots (as measured by a multimeter), before the pots are wired up. This will give you a visual reference in the future, should you want to change the pots to a lower max value.

 

[doesitmatter]

Re: 500K or 250 for a P-Rail?

Thanks for the quick response! 500 in the volumes and tones, you think?

 

[Mark Le Comte]

Re: 500K or 250 for a P-Rail?

I agree, the prails can be a little dark so 500s all round.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: 500K or 250 for a P-Rail?

You can always roll back the 500K pot to 250K, but never the other way around.

I like P-Rails, because they actually have some latitude when rolling back the volumes. They don't muddy down like other pickups I've tried in this same guitar.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 500K or 250 for a P-Rail?

Actually, 490's are good PAF PU's, if you swap out the magents. I don't like the A2's in them; makes the neck too dark & dull, and the bridge lacks muscle & bite. I put an A5 in the neck and it comes to life, and an A4 or A8 in the bridge for better output with just enough treble to cut thru.