Re: All Praise to the Cool Rails Neck
I'm getting to put it through its paces with my school pep band/jazz ensemble this year. I used it on a standard ballad ("Love is Here to Stay") with the tone knob rolled back, clean and dirty blues numbers, funk chording (if I want something different from the middle position) to some kicking rock a la Zeppelin, Chicago, Sabbath, pretty much the entire gamut up to the heaviest of heavies. If I start screwing with some Slayer for kicks it has to be in the middle and/or bridge position for the extra bite.
I actually have it on in some capacity about 85% of the time, either neck only or neck and bridge. The bridge I use alone when I need extra attack and bite.
One thing I really like about the Cool Rails in the neck is how responsive it is to my playing. The EQ seems to be quite stable to my ears, no extreme bass or icepick highs. So playing with a pick sounds like a pick, fingers sound like fingers, and it's very evenly defined across the board. Everything about it just feels so smooth and responsive.
I'm so happy with this, especially with the A2 Pro in the bridge position. Like I said before, I mainly play from the neck or middle position. My middle position sounds a bit dominated by the neck (fine with me) but with a little extra bite or snap added by the bridge. Mind you this is in a mahogany bodied guitar with rosewood neck! I was initially worried the sound would be too warm since both pups were based around an A2 magnet, but the sound is just right, everything I was looking for. Sadly I got lucky and got it right the first time!
I can't speak much on other pups to complement it in the bridge, but my A2Pro in the bridge works great. The bass feels firm yet bouncy at the same time (as if that makes sense?!) and the mids are definitely there in a good way. The highs are never shrill. The real treat on this guitar for me is the mid setting. Really just by adjusting my picking I can go from rhythm to lead, it's a great setting that doesn't sound like a compromise!
I'll see what I can do about putting some clips up. Right now I'm putting the guitar back together and my schedule doesn't allow for a whole lot of recording...
