Hot Rails clean sound?

[Amplex]

I've heard from multiple people that the hot rails don't have a good clean sound.
I'm going to be installing one soon in the bridge position of my strat, and I want that metallica clean/iron maiden clean sound....

I would think surely that it could have that tone. :scratchch

Any opinions?

 

[Tor]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Well, you'll get by, but the tone is so-so. Nothing good, really. If you have other options for a clean sound, that's much better.

 

[Amplex]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Thanks, I probably only need "so-so" conscidering I play mostly distorted music.

 

[thucydides]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Splitting it would probably give too much SC sound for your purposes, however having a parallel option might work out for you. It wouldn't turn into a clean monster though, just a bit cleaner.

A push/pull tone knob would make it reversible if it sucked.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Don't have to cranked up too close to the strings and it'll be fine. And I agree, splitting it will have a nice sound.

 

[Amplex]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

What is a parallel setup?

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Thanks, I probably only need "so-so" conscidering I play mostly distorted music.

Have you looked at the Cool Rails yet ???

Might work for you !

James

 

[Amplex]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Thanks good idea, however I am only replacing my bridge pickup (due to financial limitations ) and I like to play mostly metal I just need that clean sound sometimes.

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Thanks good idea, however I am only replacing my bridge pickup (due to financial limitations ) and I like to play mostly metal I just need that clean sound sometimes.

As far as i know, you can drop the Cool Rails into the bridge pos. too.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/stratocaster/cutting-edge/cool_rails_for/

YUP, you can !!!

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/audio-samples/strat_replaceme/ - sound clips !

According to the chart it is still 10K in the bridge pos, so it will do for heavier stuff !!!

http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/22


Good Luck
James

 

[StratOman73]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Hi, I used one for years playing Country Music, splitting it of course (they're quite honkey in general) and using it as a Humbucker for more meaty sounds

 

[thucydides]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

What is a parallel setup?

Just another way to wire your HB pup. It has to do w/how the coils of the pup are wired. Standard method is series, the parallel option will have a bit lighter sound.

 

[Amplex]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

oh ok I want a HEAVY sound haha.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

The HR definitely gets a HEAVY sound. It cleans up okay, but mainly through volume control.

The HR is a HOT pickup (hence the name).

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

What amp are you using? If you have a dedicated "clean" channel, the HR will be fine. If you only have a single channel and rely on rolling back the volume to clean up, it might not be as good. It's a little too bassy and really lacks the detailed mids of a good vintage output pickup but for metal cleans it will work well.

 

[Amplex]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

k cool. Anyone here play metal on their hot rails?

 

[Amplex]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

I'm using a solid state b-52 lg100 half stack with 400w straight front cab. Yes it has a dedicated clean channel.

My amp actually takes some dialing in, but it sounds good after that. Regardless of what other people say.

 

[Metaphysical]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

I've heard from multiple people that the hot rails don't have a good clean sound.
I'm going to be installing one soon in the bridge position of my strat, and I want that metallica clean/iron maiden clean sound....

I would think surely that it could have that tone. :scratchch

Any opinions?

It's a strat. Use your neck or middle pickups for clean and switch to the bridge when you want distortion. Best part about having a HSS setup, IMO. But yeah, the HR clean sound isn't good, but I've heard worse.

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

k cool. Anyone here play metal on their hot rails?

Not anybody that i know personally, but one of the three guitarists from Iron Maiden uses a Hot Rial in his Strat !

Also, Dan from the Black Keys, uses the DiMarzio equivalent (hi-out put twin blade S/C-sized pu) of the HR in both neck & bridge pos, and they do hot-rodded bluesy stuff !


James

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Also, Dan from the Black Keys, uses the DiMarzio equivalent (hi-out put twin blade S/C-sized pu) of the HR in both neck & bridge pos, and they do hot-rodded bluesy stuff !

Would that be the Fast Track 2? I've always been curious about that PU's sound...

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: Hot Rails clean sound?

Splitting it would probably give too much SC sound for your purposes, however having a parallel option might work out for you. It wouldn't turn into a clean monster though, just a bit cleaner.

A push/pull tone knob would make it reversible if it sucked.

Parallel is another option; however, if you will be doing this yourself, I highly recommend trying parallel AND split modes to see which one you like better. Many of us here in these forums have learned that diff. pu's sound diff. in parallel mode, and depending on the pickup, it might not quite be so desirable. A lot of the time, going parallel, while it *is* clean, tends to be wayyyy too thin sounding and can actually have less output than split mode does. Split mode will also sound fuller than parallel, IME. Yes, parallel is still a humbucking mode, but if you don't like the tone of it that won't matter anyway...

Try 'em both out and see which mode you prefer - I'm sure that many more of us will likely chime in on this too - there's tons of people in here that have far more experience comparing parallel vs. split modes than me...

Good luck on your quest for YOUR tone!