Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

[stratvet]

Hey guys, if I decide to Duncanize my Standard Fat Strat (MIM, 2006 Upgrade) HSS (Alder Body, Maple Fretboard) INSTEAD of my SSS Strat, what would be the full-sized humbucking equivalent of Cool Rails in the bridge?

If I do the SSS, I was going Cool Rails all the way-- neck-to-bridge; but I think I'm gonna switch out my HSS instead-- does anybody know what an exact substitute for the Cool Rails would be in the bridge position?

:help:

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

It would be between than 59b or the Jazz bridge.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

Yeah I'm not sure that there is an exact match, unless you want to pay Custom Shop prices. The Jazz, '59 and the PG would be the closest I would think.

 

[Travis]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

I always thought the 59 was the closest. But pretty much any PAF type pickup will gt you in the ballpark.

 

[baritone]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

I think you would like a Pearly Gates.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

Granted, this was in the neck position, but I have directly compared the CRn to the 59n, PGn, and Jazz. Saying it's somewhere between a 59 and a jazz is probably a good explanation. Even though it's ceramic, it certainly has more of an A5 vibe than A2.

It's plenty warm but not as boomy on the bottom end as the 59 can be. It doesn't offer the crystalline highs like the jazz does, either. Those would be the closest two, IME, but neither will sound just like a CR. Think about the difference in the magnetic field of a SC and a humbucker, as well as the orientation of a bridge SC in a strat compared to a humbucker.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

the cool rails uses a ceramic magnet so i think you won't find that kind of tone in an alinico pup. i think you need a duncan custom

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

the cool rails uses a ceramic magnet so i think you won't find that kind of tone in an alinico pup. i think you need a duncan custom

Nope, the Custom sounds nothing like a CR. Even though it has a ceramic mag, the CR shares more sonic characteristics with an alnico V based PAF than it does with a ceramic 'bucker like a Custom or Distortion.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

Nope, the Custom sounds nothing like a CR. Even though it has a ceramic mag, the CR shares more sonic characteristics with an alnico V based PAF than it does with a ceramic 'bucker like a Custom or Distortion.

i doubt it dude. ceramic pups don't sound like alnico period. alnico is much fuller and open than any ceramic can be. personally, i prefer alnico over ceramic any day. in fact, i've heard them both and think that the cool rails would sound something like a duncan custom with rails.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

Have you had the CR & Custom in the same axe, or are you merely speculating?

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

Have you had the CR & Custom in the same axe, or are you merely speculating?

no i had them in a strat and a jackson

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

i disagree totally, and i have played both a cool rails and hotrails neck pup. i don't think any ceramic pickup sounds like an alnico pickup. you says magnets make half the difference. in that case, it's a pretty big difference wouldn't you say? i bet out of 50 soundclips, i can tell ceramic from alnico. there's just a difference in the sound and i personally think alnico sounds much better.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

The thing is, were talking about bridge pickups here, not neck pickups. Again, have you used a Cool Rails & a Custom in the bridge slot of the same guitar?

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Cool Rails Equivalent in Full-Sized Humbucker?

The thing is, were talking about bridge pickups here, not neck pickups. Again, have you used a Cool Rails & a Custom in the bridge slot of the same guitar?

i used the cool rails in bridge position, but it wasn't as hot as i wanted so i moved it to the neck position. i used the duncan custom in my bridge for about 5 days and changed it out for a patb-1. the duncan custom is a good humbucker, but i prefer alnico pups.