HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

[Grggtone]

Greetings all,
The title pretty much says it all. I'm looking for feedback from anyone who has used P-Rails, either by themselves or with single coils, which singles work with P-Rails, which P-Rail (bridge or neck) to use in middle position and any other insights. Wiring would be 1-vol, 1-tone, 5-way & 2 or 3 mini toggles. Also push/pull tone to engage bridge in all positions of 5-way. Yes I'm nuts, I've had too much time to think these past few weeks and I'm running out of projects.
Thanks!

 

[justFred]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

P-rail is the best pickup for what I do....but there can be too much of a good thing...use P-Rail neck with PP V&T for variants with a ‘59 bridge...that said if, give your plan a go, definitely different...

 

[Mincer]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

Well, I've used 2 P-Rails, with Triple Shot rings. I never tried 3 of them. But I'd recommend the rings, though...just because it is an elegant way to get to all of the combinations. 3 of them might be a little harder to find and get to all the sounds you like. So the only downside to 3 would be option anxiety.

 

[Grggtone]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

Well, I've used 2 P-Rails, with Triple Shot rings. I never tried 3 of them. But I'd recommend the rings, though...just because it is an elegant way to get to all of the combinations. 3 of them might be a little harder to find and get to all the sounds you like. So the only downside to 3 would be option anxiety.

I've considered the rings but I'm concerned with the thickness. I have about 5/16" between high E and the pickguard and the neck is shimmed. I can't find any dimensions for the rings. Are they the same as a std flat ring on an SG?
Thanks.

 

[Mincer]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

I don't currently have them, so maybe someone here can measure what they have- I don't see dimensions on the website. The thickness of the main part of the ring under the strings is the same as any humbucker ring, though. If you don't use the rings, there are some options available with push/pulls, but you will run out of pots to get the combos, unless you pile on a bunch of mini switches. I suppose you can test out some different combinations of coils, and hardwire the ones you really like. But, of course, that takes a lot of time to do.

 

[Securb]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

P-Rails (B), Bill Lawrence (M) and a Pearly Gates (N) with covers I love the set up

 

[dystrust]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

P-Rails set w/ Triple Shot rings.

 

[Liko]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

I have P-Rails in an HSH Strat setup. I paired them with a Classic Stack Plus, wired to always be hum-canceling regardless of how the P-Rails are set. It works really well against the singles and even the parallel 'buckers, the P-90s are a little strong but still quack well, the series 'buckers blow the stack out of the mix.

You might look at the Stag Mag in the center position if you're looking for something that can mix with any combo of the P-Rails coils; to do so, you'll need either three Triple Shots rings or 6 DPDTs, or a SuperSwitch setup for the ages.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Grggtone]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

I don't currently have them, so maybe someone here can measure what they have- I don't see dimensions on the website. The thickness of the main part of the ring under the strings is the same as any humbucker ring, though. If you don't use the rings, there are some options available with push/pulls, but you will run out of pots to get the combos, unless you pile on a bunch of mini switches. I suppose you can test out some different combinations of coils, and hardwire the ones you really like. But, of course, that takes a lot of time to do.

Thanks Dave, my initial plan was to use on/off/on minis and go with just the series humbucker sound. I think the rings will work though, thanks again.
Gregg

 

[Grggtone]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

I have P-Rails in an HSH Strat setup. I paired them with a Classic Stack Plus, wired to always be hum-canceling regardless of how the P-Rails are set. It works really well against the singles and even the parallel 'buckers, the P-90s are a little strong but still quack well, the series 'buckers blow the stack out of the mix.

You might look at the Stag Mag in the center position if you're looking for something that can mix with any combo of the P-Rails coils; to do so, you'll need either three Triple Shots rings or 6 DPDTs, or a SuperSwitch setup for the ages.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I was thinking Vintage Rails for the middle if I go HSH, leaning toward HHH with Triple Shots now, thanks.

 

[Mincer]

Re: HSH w/ P-Rails?.. or maybe three P-Rails?? ... Am I nuts??

If you decide on a Vintage Rails, it might be worth it to consider the Classic Stack Plus for the middle, too, as it is a more powerful single coil sound than the Vintage Rails, and it is still hum-cancelling.