Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

[Nevada Princess]

All,

Okay, so I'm not getting much help figuring out the wiring for this here, but a DiMarzio tech has hopefully made this clear enough for me.

Now need to decide on the type of PU...

I'm planning on replacing the SC on the neck of my strat with a dual rails-type HB to give it a somewhat warmer tone for jazz. Any suggestions? I'm thinking maybe the Cool Rails SCR-1? Again, warmth of tone is what I'm after, not a screamin' demon!

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

Fast Track 1.

 

[Nevada Princess]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

Interesting. Fast Track 1 was not one of the suggestions from the DiMarzio Pickup Picker. How's the FT1 compare to the Duncan Cool Rails?

 

[KRKBAB]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

My experience with getting good warm jazz tones out of a Cool Rail in the neck of a Strat could only be described as a love affair.

Backing off of the tone knob with a Cool Rail in the neck of a Strat is an out of this world, delicious jazz tone, IMHO.

 

[Nevada Princess]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

Okay, so one vote for DiMarzio Fast Track 1, one vote for Duncan Cool Rails...are they comparable?

KRKBAB I like the sound of your post...that's what I'm really after.

 

[Jazz+]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

Duncan Cool Rail seems to be his jazziest without routing the body. He describes the Cool Rail as "Clean and warm, medium output, full size Jazz Model neck humbucker tone in a single coil rails size."

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

Actually, I'd opt for a Little '59 in the neck for traditional jazz tones. If it has to be a rail-type, though, the Cool Rails is cleaner and clearer.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

I'd say JB Jr. neck would work well for your applications, if the jazz tone you want is the classic "all mids, nothing else" tone. Just roll the tone knob back and ease the bass off your amp and you will do just fine.

 

[Jazz+]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

JB Jr for jazz?

https://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/jb-jr-strat-bridge

 

[Jazz+]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

So who would pick the Alnico Pro II or the Cool Rail if not jazz players?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

Well, like the humbucking size counterpart, the Jazz, isn't really a great Jazz pickup in most solidbody guitars (it can work in hollow and semi-hollow, though). People who might like it in the neck of a solidbody are people who like tight lows and articulation without the mush in the middle. For actual jazz music, though, I kinda like some of the mush.

 

[Toejam]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

Fast Track 1.

The FT1 has too much treble for what he wants. He wants warm, not bright.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

I don't know much about "good" Jazz tone but it strikes me the Jazz is particularly suited to rolling back tone- which I think a lot of Jazz guitarists do anyway. Granted without rolling back it has an almost Strat-like character that is not stereotypical jazz.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

JB Jr for jazz?

https://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/jb-jr-strat-bridge

Yup. There aren't too many single coil sized humbuckers out there that work for jazz, so your options are limited.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Best rail HB for jazz in neck of strat

The Bartolini 1CTA is the best humbucker I've ever used for Jazzy tones. Crystal clear and yet warm. Something to check out for Jazz, IMO.