Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

[billlorentzen]

I've got a nice Godin LGX SA that has two good-sounding SD humbuckers and a 5 way switch. But, I miss the "Strat" in between sound on position 2 & 4 (these currently split the humbuckers). I'm considering adding a PRail right flush with the neck pup, which would place the Strat portion more or less in between the outer coils of the hums, AND place the P90 coil pretty close to the neck, giving me a bunch of additional sounds. Thing is, there's no going back from a rout like that. Crazy or genius?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

I love my HHH Strat, it has a Phat Cat in the middle. More useable sounds to fiddle with than only HH. You'll probably like it.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

Look up Sentell pickups; they have some "route-less" models.

 

[gregory]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

I've got a nice Godin LGX SA that has two good-sounding SD humbuckers and a 5 way switch. But, I miss the "Strat" in between sound on position 2 & 4 (these currently split the humbuckers). I'm considering adding a PRail right flush with the neck pup, which would place the Strat portion more or less in between the outer coils of the hums, AND place the P90 coil pretty close to the neck, giving me a bunch of additional sounds. Thing is, there's no going back from a rout like that. Crazy or genius?

Try it on a cheap guitar with a swimming pool route first.

I loathe the sound of the split rail by itself*, but it can work to get another coil to quack when spaced appropriately. Whether the quack sounds good is a subjective matter. Don't expect it to provide realistic Strat 2&4 positions, however.

*) Just noticed I already gave my $0.02 to you on the split rail before.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

Sounds like a pretty cool idea, but one thing you may want to keep in mind is that the P-rail is a VERY powerful pickup. The set I own is easily the loudest of all my pickups in my guitars. I would be concerned about it overpowering your bridge pickup.

While I disagree with Gregory about the usefulness of the rail coil, I definitely agree with him that it might be best to try this experiment on a guitar that’s not as nice as your Godin.

 

[Godin15]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

Have you considered a Seymour Duncan Vintage rails. I also agree with BriGuy check it out on another guitar first.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

You say the 5 way splits the humbuckers, but how? There are some quacky combos you can get, like the inside coils and outside coils- it requires a magnet flip to keep everything in phase and humbucking, however. It is reversible, though so it just might work for you.

 

[billlorentzen]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

You say the 5 way splits the humbuckers, but how? There are some quacky combos you can get, like the inside coils and outside coils- it requires a magnet flip to keep everything in phase and humbucking, however. It is reversible, though so it just might work for you.

Interesting point, Mincer. It uses a 5 way super switch, and the split goes to the outer coils which also have the screws. I could either reverse the pups or tap the inside coils instead and maybe get a quackier sound.

 

[Securb]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

I get a better Strat tone with my n-Pearly Gates split than I do with the P-Rails in the coil position. As others have said the coil is not true "Strat" that being said it is not bad sounding by any strech of the imagination.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

Interesting point, Mincer. It uses a 5 way super switch, and the split goes to the outer coils which also have the screws. I could either reverse the pups or tap the inside coils instead and maybe get a quackier sound.

Certainly worth a try. I have position 2 as the outside coils, and position 4 as the inside coils. There is a slight volume drop, as these are in parallel, like a Strat. Worth exploring, and it is free to try.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

I love my HHH Strat, it has a Phat Cat in the middle. More useable sounds to fiddle with than only HH. You'll probably like it.

What other pickups do ya got in It? I've been trying to find a good H/P90/H set, but I can't find anything I quite like.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Adding a PRail between two humbuckers

uncovered A3 Seth/Ant hybrid in the neck and JB4 in the bridge.