Analysis Paralysis... P-Rails vs Silencer Phat Cats

[Overhead]

Any suggestions deciding between P-rails (w/ triple shots) and Phats would be appreciated.

Originally the goal was a Swiss army knife type build with an emphasis on P90's. Rethinking that now.

I mostly play hard rock, pretty much exclusively own HH guitars (aside from one tele), and could use another tool/toy to find inspiration. I'm thinking P90's might offer grit with clarity. Pickups will go into an HH routed mohagany/maple 24.75 tele deluxe style husk if that matters much...

Most P-rail reviews mention weak single coils, and the P90 might have a bit more noise when compared to a Silencer Phat Cat.

Given all this, and owning plenty of HH options, is the idea of a do-it-all guitar a less then ideal compromise, or is the versatility well worth any drawbacks?

Appreciate any input.

 

[Chistopher]

To continue to Swiss army knife metaphor, I never have a use for half the tools on them and the knife is never any good.

That's my opinion on complex guitar wiring as well

 

[Overhead]

To continue to Swiss army knife metaphor, I never have a use for half the tools on them and the knife is never any good.

That's my opinion on complex guitar wiring as well

Ha, the complex wiring comment is twisting the knife... given my failed trim pot/coil split experiment is why I've posted this!

Appreciate the input.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

To be honest, the P90 sound in the P Rails is pretty good. So if that's what you're most interested in from the P Rails, I don't agree with the analogy about the knife in the swiss army knife not being any good in this particular case.

That being said... I'm not a big fan of the other sounds. The humbucker sound is somewhat dull and fat. OTOH, the Rail coil sounds thin and wiry. Never tried the parallel sound, but maybe that one's better?

I do like the Phat Cats better, but maybe I'm the minority. The P90 sound in the Phat Cats is a bit smoother, FWIW. So if you want raunchy, maybe you'd prefer P Rails. That's the regular Phat Cats, though. Never tried the noiseless ones.

 

[jeremy]

the p90 sound in the prails is my favorite, followed by parallel. series and rail both can be useful, but i used p90 and parallel the most by far. i havent tried the silencers but i hear good things

 

[elelpe]

I'm done trying to get single-coil tones out of an HH guitar. Coil splits and pickup like P-Rails just don't cut it (I only like the P90 side), especially if I already own a Tele. I’d rather go for just Phat Cat in the neck (for a hybrid setup) or dual-Phat Cat and then maybe mod the Tele with a Strat middle pickup for those specific tones.

 

[Sam SG]

I prefer to have different guitars for different things.
An HH guitar with PAFish pups (SG). A HH with a Super D bridge paf neck (Shark). A P90 axe( LP Jr). Strat and Tele.
Each have a role.

 

[magillver]

I'm +1 for the P-rails w/Triple shots, I have them in a couple of different guitars (LP copy and Epiphone Dot) and I really like the versatility they offer. The one thing I've personally added that kicks things up a notch is a series/parallel switch between the two pickups, that way, if you find the real to be too thin you can put it in series with the other rail, etc.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm going to also suggest a good set of Fishman Fluence Classics.

The single coil sound is great in both pickups. The PAF sound is great in both pickups. The hot rod sound is great in the bridge pickup.

Or maybe even consider the Mortal Coils. Those lean probably towards heavier sounds, though, if you're into that.

 

[switchman]

Good things to say about the Phat Cat Silencers here. Grit is the exact word I would use. There are a few flavors too. Despite my obvious love for switches I've never tried the P-Rails/Triple-Shot.

 

[Overhead]

Thanks all for the replies!

I found a decent deal on a Hot Phat Cat silencer bridge and regular Phat Cat neck... so I just went the simple/cheaper route.

Curious if there is hum cancelling in the neck when the two are paired, along with the level is disparity in output. Guess I'll find out soon enough.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

No, there won't be hum cancelling in the neck or the middle position.

But I bet they will sound nice.

The Phat Cat in the neck is about the output level of the '59N. Maybe a touch hotter. It's still in vintage output levels, but it would pair with anything the '59 can keep up with, more or less. So as long as the Hot Phat Cat Silencer isn't in Duncan Distortion levels of output, they will be fine.

The Phat Cat is less noisy than average for being a single coil because of the cover.

 

[switchman]

To add..Unlike with other single coil hum-canceling, the silencers don't give access to the separate coils. It's hot, ground, and shield leads only. The dummy coills can't be turned off to achieve RW/RP with another single coil.