Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

[TheGoodTexan]

I used to post here a couple of years ago... now I've wondered back over here.

I'm covered when it comes to classic tones from Teles, Strats and I've even got a nice Les Paul. All of those guitars are set up in a traditional manner, and they sound like they're supposed to.

But I just got one of these for fun:

Not a traditional Strat at all...basswood body & neck...set neck...24 fret....locking tuners....

And I'd like to hot rod it up with some hum-canceling progressive sounding pickups. I'm not necessarily aiming for a traditional sound at all. Especially since it's a 24 fret neck...which places the neck pup further back than the traditional Strat location.

I was thinking about loading it up with a full set of Hot Rails, or maybe a Hot Rails in the bridge position and Cool Rails for the middle and neck positions, and splitting coils with push/pulls for the middle and neck spots.

I've used a Hot Rails in the bridge about 10 years ago...when I had just one guitar...a Strat. I seem to remember liking it a lot, but I was a different player then.

Have any of you done something similar? Would a Vintage Rails be a good choice? Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

Welcome!

The CR is easily my favorite single coil sized humbucker in the neck position. Very smooth and articulate with excellent EQ balance.

As far as the VR is concerned... it matches up very nicely with a CR at the neck (perhaps better than a CR/CR at the neck & middle). Very nice notch position tone that's very clear and kinda warm. Great chemistry between the two. However, I fear that a VR in the middle would be easily over powered by HRb. With a HRb you're better off sticking to CR if you don't go for a full HR set.

I'll let someone else chime in for more HR comments - I've only briefly used on in the bridge position before I decided it wasn't for me.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

To my ears the cool rails has a vintage type sound similiar to a paf. When it is split its really nice as well. It is a *very nice* pickup and I would recommend it. It does have a kind of vintage humbucker sound to it -- and I'm not really sure that is what you want.

I've never tried the vintage rails but I am assuming its a great pickup. It has a vintage type of sound though and I thought that was what you were trying to avoid.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

I havent tried the other pups or combinatinos thereof, but I can speak for the Hotrails in the bridge. It is not my cup of tea. That being said, keep in mind that I am looking for the tone you already possess in your vintage instruments. My HRb is too hot!! When I choke it down to the pickquard, it is too far away and produces a defferent tone for which I don't seek.

I am not sorry that I pruschased the HRb, it does what is does well, AND I am now have earned experience in that area. But, mind you, it is not in the tonal bracket for my needs!!

Good Luck!!

 

[TheGoodTexan]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm feeling that the Vintage Rails is not the direction that I want to go in...which is what I thought anyway. So now I've got to decide between a full set of Hot Rails -or- Hot Rails for the bridge and Cool Rails in the neck and middle positions.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

cool rails neck, cool rails middle, hot rails bridge = SMOKIN!! I love those pickups

go with that setup, you will not be disappointed.

 

[TheGoodTexan]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

So....pros/cons of a full set of Hot Rails vs. Hot Rails in the bridge, Cool Rails for neck & middle????

BTW...I'm a funky blues rocker...in the style of Hendrix/Billy Gibbons/Joe Walsh/Robben Ford/Nuno.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

So....pros/cons of a full set of Hot Rails vs. Hot Rails in the bridge, Cool Rails for neck & middle????

BTW...I'm a funky blues rocker...in the style of Hendrix/Billy Gibbons/Joe Walsh/Robben Ford/Nuno.

hot rails in the middle and neck would be very beefy and some say muddy. The cool rails are thicker than singles, sustain better, but they still have nice punch and attack and are nice and smooth. I have to say they are one of my favorite pickups that duncan makes. I say the hotrails in the bridge cause I personally prefer a hot bridge pickup. It's hard to describe but they are excellent

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

If you put a set of three Hot Rails in that guitar, it's gonna be LOUD...which can be good or bad.

If you've already got "nice-sounding" guitars, i don't see any harm in a loud-sounding one

-X

 

[Travis]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

cool rails neck, cool rails middle, hot rails bridge = SMOKIN!! I love those pickups

go with that setup, you will not be disappointed.

+ 1

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Hot Rails or Cool Rails or Vintage Rails?

cool rails neck, cool rails middle, hot rails bridge = SMOKIN!! I love those pickups

go with that setup, you will not be disappointed.

Word.