C5/59 hybrid vs P-Rails vs both?

[sumitagarwal]

Like many I'm looking for the maximum balance of versatility and quality when running 4 knobs, 4 push-pulls to do it all without touching the amp.

Seems these two models get consistent praise for their split tones.

Which would be better? Or would it even be better to do, say, P-Rail neck + C5/59 bridge?

I like the idea that P-Rails get get a slightly more notchy inner coils tone because the design effectively reduces the center-to-center distance of the inner coils. I also like the idea of having good P-90's available but I hate noise and typicality prefer my humbuckers on the bright side, especially for the neck.

 

['59]

Then I would say 59/Custom is a pretty solid option for the bridge. I would need more info to make a neck recommendation. The P-Rail I have heard was very thick and the versatility feels like more of a gimmick.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I also like the idea of having good P-90's available but I hate noise and typicality prefer my humbuckers on the bright side, especially for the neck.

If you like versatility, P-Rails is great. If you like a good P-90, P-Rails is great. If you like a humbucker on the bright side, in series it is not so great...you'll have to wire the coils in parallel.

 

[sumitagarwal]

Thanks folks, helpful feedback and ideas here..

The wiring I'm planning on is this one, but with 4 push-pulls so each pickup can be configured independently.

My current thinking is that when I'm playing with gain (most of the time) I run a P-Rails in the neck in parallel and the C5/59 in series in the bridge, switching between the two and rolling back the neck volume for clean. Then I've got all the other options if I want to, or if the noise isn't bad, or if I'm running less gain.

The other alternative I'm still thinking about is P90 Silencers and no complicated switching, for a consistently solid clear tone that works both clean and dirty, but I'm a tinkerer who might miss having options and there are so few reviews of them.

 

[Mincer]

P-Rails is pretty versatile, but I don't think both coils in series is its best sound. And it certainly doesn't sound like a standard humbucker. I recommend the P-Rails if you love a P90 sound, but want some bonus sounds. The Hybrid is a great humbucker with an awesome split sound.

 

[sumitagarwal]

Then I would say 59/Custom is a pretty solid option for the bridge. I would need more info to make a neck recommendation. The P-Rail I have heard was very thick and the versatility feels like more of a gimmick.

Yea, looking more for usability than gimmicks. I really want the P-Rails concept to work since it's a great idea and unique implement, but if it's not right it's not right. And thick in the neck is not what I'm looking for.

I also hear the WLH splits well. I could see a scenario where that pairs well in the neck with the 59/C in the bridge. But maybe simply 59/C in the neck is also the way​​​?

I'm open to doing a PRS-style incomplete split via resistor, but would that create problems with the parallel positions?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yea, looking more for usability than gimmicks.

Then get P-Rails with Triple Shots instead of 4 p/p pots. Very easy to select just what you want.

I really want the P-Rails concept to work since it's a great idea and unique implement, but if it's not right it's not right. And thick in the neck is not what I'm looking for.

Then use the P-Rails in parallel (or just the P-90 coil or the rail coil). With the flick of just one switch in the Triple Shot you can go from P-90 to parallel (which is a great neck tone).

 

[sumitagarwal]

Then get P-Rails with Triple Shots instead of 4 p/p pots. Very easy to select just what you want.




Then use the P-Rails in parallel (or just the P-90 coil or the rail coil). With the flick of just one switch in the Triple Shot you can go from P-90 to parallel (which is a great neck tone).

Well, when I said usability I mean usable tones rather than problems with the controls. I've been using push-pulls for over 20 years now and I'm pretty comfortable with them. Recently I got an old Electra X260 (HOLY SMOKES that's a lot of guitar for $325! Such nicely rolled frets!) that has a coil split switch and I keep getting confused which direction is which since I'm so used to push-pull up for split, and push-pull position feels easier to see. Regardless, the guitar I might do this in is a PRS S2 with pickguard-mounted pickups instead of mounting rings.

That being said, the P-Rails neck parallel seems intriguing, and I would guess it has a nice output drop compared to a series bridge. I found this video comparing P-Rail tones to be super useful, but it doesn't cover the parallel sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIZqqjdZ1Hw&list=WL&index=3 What would you most closely compare the P-Rail parallel tone to?