About P-rails

[samba19]

hi, is there a way to select all 4 modes from a P-rail pickup using a single lever switch? If so, what would the switch have to be like? or is a strat super switch the only option? any diagram for it if so?

also, wanted to know which coil in the bridge version is RWRP and which is normal? in the neck version I assume they're opposite to that

thanks lots for info!
-s-

 

[Aceman]

Re: About P-rails

Just guessing, but I'm sure there is a way/switch and someone here will tell you. Stay tuned!

 

[Blille]

Re: About P-rails

hi, is there a way to select all 4 modes from a P-rail pickup using a single lever switch? If so, what would the switch have to be like? or is a strat super switch the only option? any diagram for it if so?

also, wanted to know which coil in the bridge version is RWRP and which is normal? in the neck version I assume they're opposite to that

thanks lots for info!
-s-

You mean if you can use all 4 modes of a prail with a blade switch that is not a super switch in a single pickup guitar? Yes, you could pull it off with the standard wiring of a 4 way switch.


And this is how they are wound (last line is bridge)

 

[samba19]

Re: About P-rails

cool, thanks!

so something like this 4-way tele switch would do the trick?
https://www.thomann.de/fi/emerson_custom_4_way_switch_oak_grigsby.htm?ref=search_prv_1

is there a wiring diagram available for the standard wiring? does standard mean that 1st position would be north, 2nd south, 3rd humbucker parallel, 4th humbucjer series? or can they be wired in any way desired?

and by the way, does magnet polarity affect the humbucking quality only or does the wiring direction affect it too?

cheers!

 

[samba19]

Re: About P-rails

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-4Way-...9:g:d6QAAOxyP4dTdj~R:rk:2:pf:1&frcectupt=true

I wonder if this type of rotary switch would work too?

 

[Blille]

About P-rails

cool, thanks!

so something like this 4-way tele switch would do the trick?
https://www.thomann.de/fi/emerson_custom_4_way_switch_oak_grigsby.htm?ref=search_prv_1

is there a wiring diagram available for the standard wiring? does standard mean that 1st position would be north, 2nd south, 3rd humbucker parallel, 4th humbucjer series? or can they be wired in any way desired?

and by the way, does magnet polarity affect the humbucking quality only or does the wiring direction affect it too?

cheers!

That would do it.

You would have them in a specific order Not much wiggle room. There's the one below or Bridge
Bridge and Neck in Parallel
Bridge and Neck in Series
Neck

And here's the wiring:

just imagine each prail coil is a pickup.

Humbucker could need to have the two coils with opposite wind and opposite polarity to have both phase and hum cancellation.

More info here: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/pickup-polarity-and-phase-made-simple

I generally avoid rotary switches.

 

[samba19]

Re: About P-rails

thanks for the diagram! I just wonder which way the 4-way switch is in there no matter which way I put it it doesn't look that that or does it matter if it 180 the wrong way?

the image attached shows how I'm seeing it on my pickguard. If someone can help - awesome, cheers!

 

[Blille]

Re: About P-rails

thanks for the diagram! I just wonder which way the 4-way switch is in there no matter which way I put it it doesn't look that that or does it matter if it 180 the wrong way?

the image attached shows how I'm seeing it on my pickguard. If someone can help - awesome, cheers!

View attachment 97008

So that would be upside down compared to the diagram.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: About P-rails

The magnets in the P-Rails are oriented like magnets in a P-90 pup...both magnets have polarity in the same direction (so they repel each other).

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: About P-rails

You mean if you can use all 4 modes of a prail with a blade switch that is not a super switch in a single pickup guitar? Yes, you could pull it off with the standard wiring of a 4 way switch.


And this is how they are wound (last line is bridge)

Not sure where you got this, but it's wrong.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: About P-rails

That would do it.

You would have them in a specific order Not much wiggle room. There's the one below or Bridge
Bridge and Neck in Parallel
Bridge and Neck in Series
Neck

That's incorrect. It would be as follows:
position 1 = bridge (P-90 coil),
position 2 = bridge and neck (P-90 and Rail coils in parallel),
position 3 = neck (Rail coil),
position 4 = bridge and neck (P-90 and Rail coils in series).

The diagram you posted is correct.

And here's the wiring:

 

[Blille]

Re: About P-rails

Not sure where you got this, but it's wrong.

THE P-RAILS WIRING BIBLE from the Seymour Duncan blog

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/the-p-rails-wiring-bible-part-1

What is wrong apart from the last line being bridge, which I assumed is a typo?

 

[Blille]

About P-rails

That's incorrect. It would be as follows:
position 1 = bridge (P-90 coil),
position 2 = bridge and neck (P-90 and Rail coils in parallel),
position 3 = neck (Rail coil),
position 4 = bridge and neck (P-90 and Rail coils in series).

The diagram you posted is correct.

The positions you described are the ones in my original diagram (there’s a text box with them in the diagram).

But there are two ways to wire a 4 way. The one in the first diagram or you can wire it differently and get the positions I originally described. ie

Bridge
Bridge and Neck in Parallel
Bridge and Neck in Series
Neck

https://www.fralinpickups.com/2017/03/14/4-wire-switching-tele/

So not incorrect. I think you misinterpreted my original post?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: About P-rails

The positions you described are the ones in my original diagram (there’s a text box with them in the diagram).

But there are two ways to wire a 4 way. The one in the first diagram or you can wire it differently and get the positions I originally described. ie

Bridge
Bridge and Neck in Parallel
Bridge and Neck in Series
Neck

https://www.fralinpickups.com/2017/03/14/4-wire-switching-tele/

So not incorrect. I think you misinterpreted my original post?

Well, you gave the switching explanation and then posted a diagram which was different than your explanation. You didn't refer to a different diagram (like you now post), so you were definitely wrong! No "misinterpretation". Your explanation does, however, fit this new diagram that you just posted. If you wanted this to be the diagram which you had in your mind when you posted the switching explanation, you should have posted this, NOT the diagram that you actually posted.

If you make your posts clear, you won't be "misinterpreted".

 

[Blille]

About P-rails

That would do it.

You would have them in a specific order Not much wiggle room. There's the one below or
Bridge
Bridge and Neck in Parallel
Bridge and Neck in Series
Neck

And here's the wiring:

Well, you gave the switching explanation and then posted a diagram which was different than your explanation. You didn't refer to a different diagram (like you now post), so you were definitely wrong! No "misinterpretation". Your explanation does, however, fit this new diagram that you just posted. If you wanted this to be the diagram which you had in your mind when you posted the switching explanation, you should have posted this, NOT the diagram that you actually posted.

If you make your posts clear, you won't be "misinterpreted".

Nope.

Note in my initial post the word "or" (emphasis added in this quote). So there were two different ones. I thought it was obvious because the other diagram had a text box with the other positions but apparently not. I have a tele based on the 4 positions I described and I've explained in at length in this forum. I was offering both to the OP.

Point taken though, I'll remember to bring my lawyer in the future when I write posts.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: About P-rails

Ah, you see, THAT is the problem. You "assumed" wrong.

The last line isn't the typo if the magnetic polarities are correct...the second line should then be "bridge".
However, if the last line should have been "bridge", then the magnetic polarities are incorrect...the second line should be "north" and the forth line should be "south". The magnets in a P-Rail are oriented like the magnets in a P-90...both magnets oriented the same direction so that they repel each other.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: About P-rails

thanks for the diagram! I just wonder which way the 4-way switch is in there no matter which way I put it it doesn't look that that or does it matter if it 180 the wrong way?

the image attached shows how I'm seeing it on my pickguard. If someone can help - awesome, cheers!

View attachment 97008

Your confusion is understood. Been there, done that. Not all blade switches have the same orientation. Some are like yours with the left side of the switch lower than the right side. Some have the left side higher than the right side, like in this diagram:

https://docs.google.com/gview?embed...ontent/uploads/2016/05/SCHSCHSCH_5W_1V_1T.pdf

It doesn't matter if you rotate the switch (whichever one you are using) 180 degrees, the poles will still be the same. Generally the lower left lug is the common for that side of the switch and the upper right lug is the common for that side of the switch. Position 1 is at the top of the diagram progressing to position 4 toward the bottom (position 1 on the right side is actually the second lug down, the first lug is common).

 

[Blille]

About P-rails

NM, got what you meant.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: About P-rails

.

btw ~ Doc Always knows what He's talking about

Doc chk >>> We're Dunces ----- https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?334468-Non-magnetic-B-magnet on the B-Pole Magnet

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: About P-rails

.

btw ~ Doc Always knows what He's talking about

Doc chk >>> We're Dunces ----- https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?334468-Non-magnetic-B-magnet on the B-Pole Magnet

It's interesting that when Goober finally realized that HE was the "dunce" (as he called all of us) he closed the thread and never admitted that he made a mistake. But also, the problem with the "B" string hasn't been figured out yet.

Still, I'm curious about why the "B" sting was dead. If the problem with the pup was with the "A" string magnet, something is still wrong. (He said he has been doing this **** since 1977. Well, I guess that means his work has been **** for over 40 years and he still hasn't learned some basics. Humility being the biggest one).