Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
- Thread starter TVFV
- Start date
- Status
PicoRiveraTele
New member
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
They're very weak pickups. The magnetic circuit is has a high reluctance due to their decision to use single half blades instead of two full blades. A much better idea is to buy Hot Rails and then wire them in parallel, almost the same thing, but with two full blades.
They're very weak pickups. The magnetic circuit is has a high reluctance due to their decision to use single half blades instead of two full blades. A much better idea is to buy Hot Rails and then wire them in parallel, almost the same thing, but with two full blades.
TVFV
Well-known member
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
I already have two Cool Rails in the neck and middle. I may just rewire them in parallel.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
I've heard that Cool Rails sound great in parallel, but I can't say that I've tried it.
I'm also curious as to the end result.
I've heard that Cool Rails sound great in parallel, but I can't say that I've tried it.
I'm also curious as to the end result.
TVFV
Well-known member
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
When you had the VR, did you find the output to be weak?
When you had the VR, did you find the output to be weak?
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
I have them in my Yamaha RGX TT paired with a JB in the bridge. I like them a lot. They are designed to be played in parallel but can be wired for series as well. Not as good as Bardens but a very good blade design of a low output single is your goal.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have them in my Yamaha RGX TT paired with a JB in the bridge. I like them a lot. They are designed to be played in parallel but can be wired for series as well. Not as good as Bardens but a very good blade design of a low output single is your goal.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
Yup. Despite the DCR I don’t find it gets overwhelmed by the JB. Could be some wiring magic on my guitar though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yup. Despite the DCR I don’t find it gets overwhelmed by the JB. Could be some wiring magic on my guitar though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
This. I find it very similar to the SSL-1 / SSL-2 or Classic Stack in terms of output.
This. I find it very similar to the SSL-1 / SSL-2 or Classic Stack in terms of output.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
I've had Hot Rails, Cool Rails, and Vintage Rails. Tried them all in series and parallel. IMHO, a Cool Rails, in parallel, will not sound like a Vintage Rails. A Cool Rails in parallel sounds like a humbucker in parallel. A Vintage Rails sounds more like a single coil. (If that makes sense.)
I've had Hot Rails, Cool Rails, and Vintage Rails. Tried them all in series and parallel. IMHO, a Cool Rails, in parallel, will not sound like a Vintage Rails. A Cool Rails in parallel sounds like a humbucker in parallel. A Vintage Rails sounds more like a single coil. (If that makes sense.)
PicoRiveraTele
New member
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
It literally doesn't have the output of an SSL-1 or an SSL-2. Those pickups have powerful AlNiCo 5 pole pieces, the most powerful pole pieces of any mainstream production pickup, while the Vintage Rails has one thin steel blade under each string.
A Vintage Rails is literally like a Cool or Hot Rails in parallel with one less blade. If you look at the DC resistance of the Cool Rails neck, it's 9.8k, while the Hot Rails neck is only slightly hotter wound at 10.9k. The Vintage Rails neck is 2.5k. When you put two like resistors is series, they add. When you put two like resistors in parallel, they halve. Therefore it can be deduced that all three pickups have individual coils in the area of 5k ohms. Put subjectivity aside and just consider the facts.
It literally doesn't have the output of an SSL-1 or an SSL-2. Those pickups have powerful AlNiCo 5 pole pieces, the most powerful pole pieces of any mainstream production pickup, while the Vintage Rails has one thin steel blade under each string.
A Vintage Rails is literally like a Cool or Hot Rails in parallel with one less blade. If you look at the DC resistance of the Cool Rails neck, it's 9.8k, while the Hot Rails neck is only slightly hotter wound at 10.9k. The Vintage Rails neck is 2.5k. When you put two like resistors is series, they add. When you put two like resistors in parallel, they halve. Therefore it can be deduced that all three pickups have individual coils in the area of 5k ohms. Put subjectivity aside and just consider the facts.
Last edited:
PicoRiveraTele
New member
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
Mostly your brain. Without your brain, your ears would be useless, and in the brain, things tend to get mixed up, which is why it's best to just look at the facts if you're comparing several things with definite physical properties.
I was using my ears.
Mostly your brain. Without your brain, your ears would be useless, and in the brain, things tend to get mixed up, which is why it's best to just look at the facts if you're comparing several things with definite physical properties.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
Yes, of course. But the facts are that in one pup, you have two rails that are sensing the signal from all six strings, and in the other, a rail that is attenuating the signal from three of those strings. One rail getting the low three, and one getting the high three. I would think that the harmonic content of those two coils, in those two different situations, would be significantly, and sonically, different. I simply use my ears, and brain, to confirm that suspicion.
Yes, of course. But the facts are that in one pup, you have two rails that are sensing the signal from all six strings, and in the other, a rail that is attenuating the signal from three of those strings. One rail getting the low three, and one getting the high three. I would think that the harmonic content of those two coils, in those two different situations, would be significantly, and sonically, different. I simply use my ears, and brain, to confirm that suspicion.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
When I'm playing in a decently sized venue, the audience doesn't care how I sound, just so long as I have the best gear on paper. If the audience doesn't think I have a true single coil with the proper level of output, I just don't get paid.
When I'm playing in a decently sized venue, the audience doesn't care how I sound, just so long as I have the best gear on paper. If the audience doesn't think I have a true single coil with the proper level of output, I just don't get paid.
Last edited:
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Any of you tried the Vintage Rails in the neck?
Simply because it isn't "garbage". There's some validity to it. But you have to understand all of the parameters in order to understand the few. (And I get that you do.) All things being equal, (and they never are), higher DCR equates to higher output. Within certain limitations. Change the magnet, and you change the output. More winds equals higher inductance, which becomes a natural high filter. You lose definition, but gain "girth." Theoretically. But it's not that simple. My silly ass point being, there is some correlation between DRC and output. But it's clearly not cut & dried.
Simply because it isn't "garbage". There's some validity to it. But you have to understand all of the parameters in order to understand the few. (And I get that you do.) All things being equal, (and they never are), higher DCR equates to higher output. Within certain limitations. Change the magnet, and you change the output. More winds equals higher inductance, which becomes a natural high filter. You lose definition, but gain "girth." Theoretically. But it's not that simple. My silly ass point being, there is some correlation between DRC and output. But it's clearly not cut & dried.
- Status
