I need a P-rails "expert" here...

S

stuntmedia

New member
Hello Fellow Duncanites,

I've got a mahogany, hardtail strat, with a swimming pool route, that I am contemplating the future of. I am looking at possibly using 3 P-rails in it, but I have a few questions:

Is the single-coil, and the P-90 sounds good amongst those types of pickups, or merely adequate for that type of pickup. For instance, if the P-rails single-coil side were available as a pickup on its own, would it be a good pickup worth buying? Same question for the P-90, and as a humbucker?

Also, for any who have wired these before, could you tell me if this scheme is possible: I would like to put an on/on/on slide switch below each pickup (below when in playing position), with the switch set up for single/P-90/humbucker, and a standard strat 5-way blade switch for combining them. I will attach a pic of the current guitar, and a mock-up of what I'm thinking. Can you P-rails veterans think of any reason this won't work, or anything out of the norm that I would have to do to make this work?

Thanks
Paul
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

Oh, I almost forgot: In the configuration I'm working out, am I going to get decent 'quack' out of my 2 and 4 positions, when in single-coil mode? I mean, that's the main thing I miss about having three singles. If I can't get a good quack with the p-rails, I won't bother.

Thanks,
Paul
 
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Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

This should be possible, with an on/on/on switch. I've got the classic (not hot) p-rails and the rails section will give quack especially.
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

I see no problems wiring that how you want it. Should be pretty straightforward. If you want the middle position(of the slide switches) to be series, a on/off/on will work as well.
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

I have them installed in an LP. The P-90s are the real deal. The single coil mode is passable, the humbucker in series is very good and a little hot, the humbucker in Parallel is really, really nice.

I think the single coil is the weakest link.
 
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Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

Common guys - lots of new people out there, let's bring the A game for advice!
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

I edited my post to indicate PARALLEL mode is very, very nice. It is like going from a hotter humbucker when in series to a nice PAF in parallel. They mention this in the video, but when I purchased the pickup I did not think it was going to be very hot. I like PAFs so the parallel wiring option is key for me. It really give me three (plus all of the combinations) great option, and one OK single coil option.
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

Fly_with_v said:
Yeah, I am using the dual push/pull method and it works well, but had the triple shots been available I would have used them.
Click to expand...

There would really be NO reason to have a 2nd guitar, other than a backup

Too many tonal combinations. I think i just peed myself. :22:
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

I was really interested in the Triple Shot, but they don't make a version that is free of a pickup ring, and I was a little wary about trying to take one apart and incorporate it into the strat guard.

Kind of a bummer that the single-coil is the worst of the 4 pickup types represented in the P-rails. Truthfully, the P-90 sound is the one I could do without. I just saw it as a bonus. My true goal here is to have one guitar with really good Single-coil and really good humbucker tones. I have to sell my other guitars for financial reasons, but I wanted something that covered all my needs. Might be wishful thinking. Has anyone tried a Variax :-)
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

I would still try one. It may work on that guitar. After all you have a strat, I have a Les Paul. Your results may be better, especially with three pickups. I would definately give it a try. That are awesome pickups.
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

You can replicate a Triple Shot with two SPDT slide switches. It's not complicated. The hardest part would be making those rectangular holes in the pickguard. One could also use subminiature toggle switches on a bracket so only 1/8" of the toggle sticks out.
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

stuntmedia said:
Kind of a bummer that the single-coil is the worst of the 4 pickup types represented in the P-rails. Truthfully, the P-90 sound is the one I could do without. I just saw it as a bonus. My true goal here is to have one guitar with really good Single-coil and really good humbucker tones.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's the weakest link for what you're after, and especially not for a 3-pickup guitar. The Rails have great quack when used together. When used alone, most people's judgements are with the Rails inward. That puts both coils farther inward than where they'd be on a strat. But the in-between quack sound is great, and like a hybrid between a 2 and 4 position on a Strat. In your unique case, you can flip the P-Rails around so the Rails are toward the neck and bridge. You can order them Shop Floor Custom with the logos on the reverse side. That's how I would do it. I'd have the neck and bridge pickups with the Rails toward the outside, and the middle pickup with the Rails toward the neck. (matching the neck pickup) Kind of the opposite of what this guitar has:
Singlecut-Main.jpg

This Schroeder guitar has the emphasis on the P90's, and placing them in the ideal location, and the Rails tones are still awesome if you listen to his demos. But if you're saying you value the stratty tones more, I'd flip them. Problem solved.
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

Ok, the Youtube clips of that Schroeder guitar sound exactly like what I'm trying to do. Thanks for the tip Frank. I think I'm going to do this. I also just found 3 different electronic parts dealers that sell a slide on/on/on/on switch. I'll break out a ruler in a little while, and see if they're not too wide. If they'll fit in a footprint about as wide as the side of the pickup, I think I'll be in business.

Thanks to everyone for their advice on this. I appreciate it. If I end up doing this, I'll post the result on this thread.

Paul
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

It does occur to me now, that if I were bound and determined to use the triple shot electronics, I could cut away the whole non-switching side of the bracket, and mount it on the underside of the pickguard. The switch section is elevated, and could stick up through the guard as a slide switch would, and it would still have a hole at each end to mount like a slide switch. It would also have a central hole for the pickup mounting screw. I could mount the whole thing on top, but that might look a little sloppy. The guitar is really put together well, so far. I wouldn't want to half-ass it now. Just a thought.
 
Re: I need a P-rails "expert" here...

I agree with Frank 100%, especially about reverse mounting the P-Rails...neck = rail to the neck, middle = rail to the neck, bridge = rail to the bridge.

The P-90 is a very good sounding P-90. The hummer in parallel is very PAFish sounding. The hummer in series is very thick/heavy sounding with lots of output. The rail is the weakest part but sounds best when mounted as Frank said.

Also, if you want to get more meat out of the rail coil, just swap out that one magnet in each pup for an A8.

You can use the Triple Shot rings by just using the switch part of the ring. Cut off the bottom and two sides and just screw the switch to the pickguard. It's very easy to do and ends up great.
 
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