Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

[Lightninsurfer]

Can anyone tell me if there are any differences between the current model Duncan Stratocaster Hot Rails / Cool Rails and their earlier versions? I have a set of Duncan rails (Not sure if they're Hot or Cool Rails) in a Stratocaster that I recently purchased and I love the sound of them. I noticed these don't have a plastic cover but rather what looks like forbon bobbin and tape wrapped around the outside coils. I was kind of taken aback by how much I like them and would like to purchase some for my other Strats but noticed the physical differences while checking them out on the Duncan website. Any idea when these changes were made or any other spec differences? Any way to tell If they're Hot or Cool Rails? Thanks!

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

The newer ones have covers. The bobbins look a little different. That’s about it. I have one of each.


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[Lightninsurfer]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

Sorry if it sounds stupid, but, do the sound the same? I never though I'd like these. They're dead quiet but with a ton of balls... Love 'em.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

I believe the sound is the same. The construction just changed.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

it will Defifinitely kick butt on this 1 ( for Strat ) ~~> SJBJ-1b JB Jr. Humbucker

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

Sorry if it sounds stupid, but, do the sound the same? I never though I'd like these. They're dead quiet but with a ton of balls... Love 'em.

Yes they sound the same. I have a customer that puts them in all his Strats. That’s where the two I have in my shop came from


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[Lightninsurfer]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

Maybe I'll give the new ones a shot.

 

[TreebeardsAxe]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

I think the difference between the Hot and Cool Rails is really just the output. Another pup to look at from what I've heard is the Vintage Rails, but I don't really have any experience with them personally.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

the hotrails and cool rails do have different outputs but the tone is fairly different too. the vintage rails are cool for what they are. i prefer a classic stack plus if im going for a strat tone but noiseless. however if i wanted the rails look to match the other pups, the vintage rails sounds great too

 

[dystrust]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

the hotrails and cool rails do have different outputs but the tone is fairly different too. the vintage rails are cool for what they are. i prefer a classic stack plus if im going for a strat tone but noiseless. however if i wanted the rails look to match the other pups, the vintage rails sounds great too

+1

The Vintage Rails have more of a hifi sound with maybe a little more compression than a Classic Stack. I've never had the chance to try a Classic Stack Plus.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

I think the difference between the Hot and Cool Rails is really just the output. Another pup to look at from what I've heard is the Vintage Rails, but I don't really have any experience with them personally.

The Hot Rails and Cool Rails are vastly different EQs to me. Cool Rails is scooped, while the Hot Rails is a lot of mids (and hot). Both sound like humbuckers. The Vintage Rails, which is in parallel, sounds a lot more like a traditional single coil.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

The ohms on some (most? all? Who knows) old SD rail pups are pretty far from published spec as I recall

That said, you can still usually guess what it is, so measure it to identify

 

[jeremy]

Re: Differences in Duncan's current Strat Hot Rail pickups and the older versions

i have a set of newer hotrails and they are pretty much on spec. is that not usually the case?