Is this a hot rail or a cool rail?

[C-Martin]

I have another thread in the guitar section about the guitar, but I'm trying to ID this bridge pickup that came in this MIJ Strat (modded by original owner in the 80s). I know it's a cool rail or a hot rail from my search, but with just the "1B" I can't seem to figure out which model it is exactly. Also the pickup seems constructed differently than all the SD rail pictures I find online.

Here's a few pics:

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Is this a hot rail or a cool rail?

Looks like a Hot Rails Bridge model. Thats not an 80's label though, more like late 90's/2000's, but someone can answer that better than me.
Also i just noticed that it doesnt appear to have the older triangle baseplate or whatever the term was.
The design changed again after this one as well, namely the cover.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Is this a hot rail or a cool rail?

Check the DCR. Hot Rails is 16.6, Cool Rails is 10.6.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Is this a hot rail or a cool rail?

Old spec. "rails" had diff. DC ratings than present, but... If it's hot, it's high.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Is this a hot rail or a cool rail?

I have an old-style Cool Rails neck that doesn't have a triangle bass plate... I wonder if that would be a way to tell the difference?

DCR would definitely get you there; I'm not 100% sure if they old and new styles have the same measurement, but they should be in the same ballpark. A Hot Rails bridge will be around 16-17K while a Cool Rails bridge will be 10-11K.

 

[C-Martin]

Re: Is this a hot rail or a cool rail?

Thanks for the input guys, I will have a look with a multimeter next time I open her up for a pickup swap, I will definitely be changing the neck and middle pickups, but I’m on the fence about the hot rail for the moment. It’s a pretty nice crunchy pickup with a distorted sound, very “hot rod”, but I’ve been going for vintage output lately on my guitars.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Is this a hot rail or a cool rail?

You don't need to open it up, just plug in your cable to the guitar and measure at the cable.