Hot rails vs. Lil '59 vs. JB jr. for Punk rock?

[Twist3d]

Alright, so recently I acquired a Fender SSS American strat. I play in a punk band with some friends, and we play a lot of Green Day and Bad Religion type stuff. However, I was kinda disappointed with the distortion output of the single coils. I have to have my gain, middle, and treble up nearly all the way in order to get the same kind of crunch that I do with my Les Paul. I know they're 2 very different guitars, but I have to say I still expected a little more. If I had a chance to go back I definitely would have gotten an HSS, but I figured the single coils would be just fine. Between the Hot rails, Lil' 59, and JB Jr, which one would give me the best distorted tone without compromising versatility? I've heard that hot rails can sound pretty awful if you play them clean. I'll be using regular stock pick ups neck and middle and putting the new humbucker in the bridge. If anyone has experience with the above pickups I would greatly appreciate some feedback.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Hot rails vs. Lil '59 vs. JB jr. for Punk rock?

Fast track 2. The hot rails are loud but kinda... plain sounding. The little JB has more personality than a hot rail but doesnt chunk up as good I think it works better in the neck than in the bridge. Same with the little 59.

On the other hand the Dimarzio Fast track 2 it has nice grindy mids.. the highs are a bit pulled back (which is needed with this type of pickup) and a bunch of output. Its my pick when you want a hot humbucker sound out of a single coil slot.

 

[DreX]

Re: Hot rails vs. Lil '59 vs. JB jr. for Punk rock?

If you're going for a single coil sized HB, something like the DiMarzio Chopper that tries to be a lot fatter than a typical single coil, but doesn't try to pretend it's a full sized humbucker, works the best for overdrive. Pickups like the Little '59 don't have the top end clarity for a good drive sound, IMO, they're way too smooth and creamy and not aggressive sounding when you want them to be.

If you haven't looked at hot single coils, check out the SSL-3 or SSL-5, they will also get a good halfway to humbucker tone that retains a little or a lot of single coil bite that make playing a Strat worthwhile in the first place, while retaining a stock Strat appearance. I haven't been happy with the appearance of rail pickups unless the guitar is especially modern looking to begin with.

 

[Der Oberherr]

Re: Hot rails vs. Lil '59 vs. JB jr. for Punk rock?

I've got a JB Jr. in my squier strat, and it has made it amazing, so god only knows what will happen in a fender USA strat. I would recommend this pickup. On clean it is articulate with a little grit (think blues with bite), with a mild overdrive you can get a great rock tone without massive gain and on full-blown distortion it roars so beautifully that it can do some really heavy metal no problem. The versatility I just described tells me that it will not fail to provide the sound you're after, if you take the time to dial your amp/effects in well enough.

One side note: It's got a lot of treble, so if you don't like treble look away from this pickup!

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Hot rails vs. Lil '59 vs. JB jr. for Punk rock?

Dimarzio Fastrack II bridge, duckbucker middle and JB Jr neck. That combo can cover any rock/metal/punk sound. The JB Jr bridge was too bright for my tastes and the Hotrails lacked the definition I wanted.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Hot rails vs. Lil '59 vs. JB jr. for Punk rock?

Don't forget...

You can always use a clean boost for a single coil guitar, like the BBE Boosta Grande. That will keep the clarity of the single coils and not change the basic tonality. I use a DOD FX10 Preamp--and I don't leave home without it!

Or you can use something like a Tubescreamer to hammer the front end of the amp AND provide some extra mid-range fat.

It isn't always the pickups.

Bill

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Hot rails vs. Lil '59 vs. JB jr. for Punk rock?

Check to see what's under the hood and see if there's room to accommodate a full size humbucker? all you would need is a new pick guard and you'd have a ton more of options

 

[DaveThePius]

Re: Hot rails vs. Lil '59 vs. JB jr. for Punk rock?

If you're going for a Green Day sound, the JB was what "Blue" had at one point. Definitely a fan of this pickup in a Strat, as well as Epi LP Customs. Great high output without being too muddy, and very articulate. It'd be worth getting an aftermarket pickguard set for SSH to get this in there. Was gonna put a JB in my Epi LP PTP, but I like the ProBuckers too much.

I have a Hot Rails for Tele in a Tele standard (came in the guitar). A little too c*ck-rock for my taste. Not enough character. Single-coil sized humbuckers are a bit too gimmicky to me. Looking at putting a GFS Tele bridge pickup in that guitar.

Another pickup that's supposed to be in the realm of the JB is the GFS VEH. The price in this one is spectacular, and the reviews are great.