Cool rails and metal

[Miron]

Hi
I've been given a Cool Rails Pickup recently.I placed it in the bridge position.I wanted to replace my single coil with a humbucker...but, frankly speaking, I don't know if I've chosen the right pickup.In fact, It's a gift and I can't just give it back .As far as I know it's good for blues , jazz etc....but, unfortunately I play mainly metal and hard rock .I wondered if somebody here uses it for metal and so on, and if it is suitable for that kind of music.

P.S. Sorry for my English

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Cool rails and metal

Welcome aboard, Miron. Your English is fine.

Don't let the name fool you. "Cool" is used in comparison to the Hot Rails. It's still a pickup I think you may like, though you aren't going to get a humbucker sound exactly. So if that's what you're looking for, you may be a little disappointed. I'd say give it a shot anyway, and if you don't like it, let us know what you want to change about it, and we'll try to steer you in the right direction.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Cool rails and metal

Welcome!

The name is a bit deceiving… the Cool Rails still has a fair amount of output for a strat replacement. Where you may run into issues is with its voicing… I find it to be a fat pickup (and very vocal). The bottom end is not quite as defined as I would like it to be for outright heavy metal, and it is a bit fat. However, depending on where you draw the line, it’s right at home in playing blues to hard rock. But like I said, it’s not the best strat replacement pickup for heavy E-String palm muting, IMO, of course.

 

[Miron]

Re: Cool rails and metal

And what pickup would you recommend for "heavy E-string palm muting"?

 

[MikeS]

Re: Cool rails and metal

First off, Miron, have you installed it in your guitar and tested it out yourself? My opinion very well may be different than yours. For a hotter, more himbucker type tone that isn't as bottom heavy as the CR, I'd consider the JB Jr, Lil' screamer, and maybe the Hot Rails. All three ought to work very well for metal (although, I've never tried the JB Jr - but own the full version, and I do not own a Lil screamer, though I have played one).

Like I said, the CR can do a lot of things, but I'm particularly not a fan of how the CR plays thrash. Old school metal, however, it works fine for. I should have been more clear I suppose.

 

[Miron]

Re: Cool rails and metal

Yes, I have tested it and I've got mixed feelings about it.Acctually, I'm also aware of the fact that , apart from pickups, effects and an amplifier are not less important and they can positively influence the sound .So, by and large, "cool rails" can be used as a "metal pickup" without a problem (but still it isn't THE best one )?

And what can you say about HR?I've heard that they also aren't good when it comes down to palm muting etc. and are better for heavier rock than metal.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Cool rails and metal

I found the HR to be fatter than the CR, actually. The HR definatly had a bigger bottom than the CR, but it wasn't too sloppy. To me, the HR lacked upper end definition and sparkle that to my ears caused a bland sound. It's saving grace is that it's a high output pickup, so the attenuated highs aren't as severe as they would be in a lower output model. I personally did not like the HR at all, and since got rid of it. It is worth stating, though, that I was not looking for a metal pickup when I bought it. It's also been a while since I had it, so I'm going off some rarely accessed memory.

 

[Istanbul]

Re: Cool rails and metal

And what pickup would you recommend for "heavy E-string palm muting"?

As a single coil, i would prefer either Jb Jr or Hot Rails..

But for me heavy E string palm muting needs a humbucker and that humbucker is SH-5 (Duncan Custom)..

If you have strat and 1 presented Cool Rail.. you could put that Cool Rail in middle position and support it by a Hot Rail in bridge and another Cool Rail in neck..

 

[Miron]

Re: Cool rails and metal

All right.The last qiestion.On the box, the text says "SCR-1b" and I think that it means that it's a bridge version .And , if I am righet. does it make a big difference if I put it by the neck??

 

[Istanbul]

Re: Cool rails and metal

All right.The last qiestion.On the box, the text says "SCR-1b" and I think that it means that it's a bridge version .And , if I am righet. does it make a big difference if I put it by the neck??

Neck pups have lower output... if you put cool rails bridge in neck than you would need a higher output pup for bridge..which would be Hot Rails... but i would put it in middle position and buy a another cool rail for neck..

 

[Miron]

Re: Cool rails and metal

Now I'm thinking if I didn't aks the wrong question initially...The right one should sound:"What kind of music are standard single coils put into mexico,american strats prepared for?" And after this one I should ask-"IS CR good (I mean better than standard single coils) for heavy music?"

( I ought to thank you for all your answers...I' m a curious person and ask a lot of them )

 

[Istanbul]

Re: Cool rails and metal

Now I'm thinking if I didn't aks the wrong question initially...The right one should sound:"What kind of music are standard single coils put into mexico,american strats prepared for?" And after this one I should ask-"IS CR good (I mean better than standard single coils) for heavy music?"

( I ought to thank you for all your answers...I' m a curious person and ask a lot of them )

As i know stratocasters were designed for general use, but mainly blues-jazz and pop music.. But today you can see lots of strats which are played by heavy players also.. That is possible with some kind of modification. Changing the pickups.. because, the stock pickups in stratocaster doesnt give a sound for heavy kind of music.. They are single coils, mainly used for lower gains and especially for tube amps..

Cool Rail is a Humbucker.. but in a single coil size giving more output than a single coil making no hummsss in distortion but in a more vintage style when you consider with a Hot Rail..

Cool Rail is better than every stock single stratocaster pickup if you are thinking to play heavy... (i think thats the thing you wanna hear) because its output is more and it doesnt give hummss around which will provide you to use it with higher gained amps or digital signal processors.

Of course you shouldnt forget that Cool Rail is a Single Coil sized Humbucker..with a vintage tone characteristics.

 

[Miron]

Re: Cool rails and metal

And could you only explain what you mean by "vintage" since it's something new to me.What does it mean?I've seen this term but I haven't found a definition yet.Or when can I find some further , basic info?

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: Cool rails and metal

vintage refers to something that is either an antique or replicating an antique, i believe. so a vintage pickup would be something that replicates the sound of an early guitar (like a strat, tele, or les paul)

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: Cool rails and metal

also, most vintage pickups are less hot than most modern pickups. they are voiced to excel at cleans and overdrive or mild distortion, to my understanding.

 

[Miron]

Re: Cool rails and metal

And do you find CR suitable for Hard rock a la Guns and Roses???

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Cool rails and metal

Personally, I like the CR.

LesStrat has HR/CR/HR
<----------------

As far as the desired application, you have it in the guitar, PLAY IT!

Try different amp settings, pickup heights, etc., and see how it sounds TO YOU!

Are you interested in shredding? Then high output pickups might not get quite the definition you seek. But then again, they might. It depends on YOU.

OTOH, if you are interested in "chugging" rhythms and low, heavy riffs, I don't see a problem at all.

I would have no problem playing G 'N' R with LesStrat. I think he's well suited for it. But that's MY opinion.

Trust your ears, bro. Give it a try. Make adjustments if you're not satisfied. Try again. Make more adjustments. After all, we tone hounds are always tweaking something.

As far as using the CRb in other positions, Istanbul is right. I only add that because the CR is a 'rails' pickup, it is even less of a concern to use it elsewhere, because there is no concern of lining up the pickup posts with the strings.

 

[Miron]

Re: Cool rails and metal

Will putting a bridge CR into middle cause no problems??

P.S. Thanks LesStrat for a very optimistic and building reply ... Really encouraging

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Cool rails and metal

NO PROBLEM! As Nike says, "Just Do It"

Seriously, try some different settings with it in the bridge before you make the change. If nothing else, it will confirm your desire to change. BUT, you might find a setup that you really like.


As a wise forum brother (aleclee) once said (and used it in his signature), "There is no "best" when it comes to something as subjective as tone."

It really IS a matter of your personal taste.

 

[Artie]

Re: Cool rails and metal

Will putting a bridge CR into middle cause no problems??

I think that putting a Cool Rails bridge into the neck/middle . . . makes it a Hot Rails neck/middle.

(Check the specs.)

Artie