Introducing the Rail Series...

[Masta' C]

I know the BL had various versions of the L500, with ceramic and alnico, with different wires and different rails. The thickness and material of the rails seem to be an important factor.

My Custom Shop versions appear to be the same as the new "Rail" series in terms of construction (except for DCR, magnet type, and the sweet touch of MJ's magic hands!).

Pretty sure all of these different "Rail" versions are utilizing the same bobbins and rails they developed for the Jupiter series.

 

[crguti]

do they come with covers too?

 

[Mincer]

do they come with covers too?

Nope.

 

[Artie]

Do these use standard size, swappable magnets?

 

[Artie]

Interesting comparison. Looks like it is indeed higher output and brighter.

Higher output wouldn't bother me. My guitars and amps have volume controls. But I'm not sure I'd want a brighter JB or Jazz. :scratchch

 

[hamerfan]

Higher output wouldn't bother me. My guitars and amps have volume controls. But I'm not sure I'd want a brighter JB or Jazz. :scratchch

In most cases with higher volume comes also higher compression.

 

[Artie]

In most cases with higher volume comes also higher compression.

I wouldn't mind that either.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Higher output wouldn't bother me. My guitars and amps have volume controls. But I'm not sure I'd want a brighter JB or Jazz. :scratchch

"Brighter" means different things to different people, I suppose. I love the JB. It has a nice present upper-mid spike, but I feel like the actual high-end is also pretty rolled off, especially if you compare it to the '59B, Custom, Distortion, Nazgul, Dimebucker... or most of the Duncan range, really.

 

[Mincer]

Do these use standard size, swappable magnets?

Haven't had one in my hand yet. I'd imagine so.

 

[Artie]

"Brighter" means different things to different people, I suppose. I love the JB. It has a nice present upper-mid spike, but I feel like the high-end is also pretty rolled off, especially if you compare it to the '59B, Custom, Distortion, Nazgul, Dimebucker... or most of the Duncan range, really.

Haven't had one in my hand yet. I'd imagine so.

Thanks and thanks. I'd love to try a set of these, but I need to sell something first. For the sake of domestic harmony, my gear acquisition needs to be a zero sum game.

 

[quadquadquadquad]

How do these compare to the prior gen Strat Cool Rails, Hot Rails, and VIntage Rails?

Also wondering about Fralin's Split Blade.

 

[Mincer]

How do these compare to the prior gen Strat Cool Rails, Hot Rails, and VIntage Rails?

Also wondering about Fralin's Split Blade.

Well, those are current, and they are completely different models.

 

[jeremy]

the fullsize rail pups are gonna be pretty different than the single coil size, if nothing else the amount of string the pups "hear" is quite different

 

[Chistopher]

Not gonna lie, I feel in most cases rails are a step backwards. Sure it works great for really niche cases where standard humbucker spacing doesn't work, but not being able to control the volume of individual strings is a pretty big downside for me. Even Strat pickups not being adjustable bothers me.

 

[Mincer]

I rarely have need to stagger regular screws, so if rails were available for the pickups I like, I'd probably choose them.

 

[jeremy]

im fine with rails, just like im fine with strat pups

 

['59]

I don't understand who this pickup is for. What do rails do that polepieces can't? Outside of how it looks, if I want to put a JB and a Jazz in my guitar, what will steer me towards the rail version instead of the standard models?

 

[Artie]

I don't understand who this pickup is for. What do rails do that polepieces can't? Outside of how it looks, if I want to put a JB and a Jazz in my guitar, what will steer me towards the rail version instead of the standard models?

Emphasis mine. For me, that's a large part of it. It may be silly, but I love the look of a rails pup.

 

[Chistopher]

Yeah, kinda like how the blackened versions of pickups are just regular production pickups designed for people that want their pickups to looks scary.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, kinda like how the blackened versions of pickups are just regular production pickups designed for people that want their pickups to looks scary.

Is there a "Blackened" version of anything other than the BW?