Help me. Hot stack, hot rail, or cool rail with JB.

[1lowlife]

I have a Fender 2001 MIM hss strat I bought used.
I love the strat feel. I had a epiphone lp studio that I sold to buy this one.
It has, I'm assuming, the noisy stock neck and mid single coils, that I don't care for.
It also has a Dimarzio humbucker at the bridge. Don't care much for it either.
I want all humbucker and all SD.
I know I want a JB at the bridge, a done deal.
I think I want a hot rail or hot stack at the neck and a cool rail in the mid.
I can't decide on the hot rail, or the hot stack. I like the sound of both.
Didn't really care for the vintage rail or the lil 59.
I don't really need too much strat twang for what I play, 80's, alternative, old punk, a little bit of everything.
But would like some good clean tones as well as lots of nasty dirty ones.
This is my only guitar and I want to make it as versatile as I can.
I've spent hours searching and reading the forum but didn't see my specific question.
I've also spent hours on the SD site listening and reading up on these choices I've made.
The body is the wine color with white pearloid pick guard, I'd also like opinions on white bucker w/white knobs, or black buckers w/black knobs.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Either pickup selections, where to put them n/m/b, parallel/series/split, or even wiring or pot suggestions.
I'd like to do this right the first time.
I've already installed a Callaham block with Grap Tech FerraGlide saddles.
Thank you..........

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Help me. Hot stack, hot rail, or cool rail with JB.

I have a Strat that is very simular to what you are looking for. To say that I have messed around with this guitar is an understatement. It started out as a 1997 MIA and now it has Sperzal locking tuners, a LSR roller nut, a Shaller Floyd and I've run more than 6 different sets of pickups through it.

Currently I have a JB in the bridge, a Hot Stack in the middle and a LIL59 in the neck. Use a Cool Rails if you think you'll like that better. It's the best combo for a versatile Strat that I have found so far.

I also added some wiring. I removed the rear tone pot and wired the guitar single volume/single tone. I installed a bridge pickup on/off switch into the rear tone pot hole so I can turn the bridge pickup on no matter where the 5 way switch is positioned. I also added a series/parallel switch to the JB to thin it out and lower the output for a "Strattier" tone in the #4 position. This gives me 11 different pickup selections and some seriously useable tones.

 

[1lowlife]

Re: Help me. Hot stack, hot rail, or cool rail with JB.

Thanks Robert,
I like the idea of one vol/one tone. I've read a lot of great things about the hot rails but the the stack sounded a little better to my liking. I think the cool rail is a must, much like the JB. I believe the suggested set up would have a nice progression of tones from neck to bridge. This guitar came with Sperzal locking tuners, I like them a lot. Does the LSR roller nut help keep it in tune? I seem to have a bit of a problem with that. The LP I had would stay in tune for days or weeks. I guess I'm not used to a floating bridge.
Thanks again.

 

[walt]

Re: Help me. Hot stack, hot rail, or cool rail with JB.

I have a strat that has gone thru many, many configurations. I started with a JB in the bridge and a pair of Rio Grande Tall Boys which gave me that chunka chunk in the neck position and bridge gave me the 80's tone that I wanted at that time. After a while I got tired of the 60 cycle hum of the Rios and switch to Hot Stacks in the Neck and Middle. I liked that combo a lot. I tried it with cool rails and didn't like them as much as the Hot Stacks. Hot rails I've never been a fan of. Today that same guitar now has a pair of 59s in it. All that being said, I would recommend the Hot Stacks in the neck and middle.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Help me. Hot stack, hot rail, or cool rail with JB.

Same as everyone else,i've tried all kinds of pickups in my Strat too.I know you'll like the JB,but I dont care for the Hot Rails in any position.I've tried the cool rails and liked them but now I have Classic Stacks in the neck and middle.Not having used the hot stacks ,I cant say for sure ,but if they're like my Classics but a little hotter I think you be all set.There is no way to know for sure which you'll like best though,you'll just have to make a decision and try some.I'd say ,of the ones you've chosen they would all do a good job ,they arent "radically" different.
Have fun.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Help me. Hot stack, hot rail, or cool rail with JB.

I think you'd like the JB/Cool Rails/Cool Rails. The Hot Rails isn't bad, if you just want a thick neck tone for solos, but it's a bit too murky to play rhythm with, unless it's split. A set of Cool Rails will jive with each other nicely, and match, lookswise.