Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

[billlorentzen]

I’m a big PRail fan, but the rail is not as nice as the P90 coil for me in the neck position. I generally go with the parallel setting instead, if I want to thin it a little. I’m not concerned about sacrificing the series hum sound as I rarely use it.

Can anyone recommend a magnet swap for the rail to produce a better “Strat” single sound?

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

It’s the same magnet. It bridges the poles and the blade.

I’ve never been impressed with these pickups. The two single coils sound too similar and the series humbucker sounds like mud. Parallel isn’t bad.


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[TVFV]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

Rotate the pickup so the rail is facing the neck.

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[billlorentzen]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

It’s the same magnet. It bridges the poles and the blade.

I’ve never been impressed with these pickups. The two single coils sound too similar and the series humbucker sounds like mud. Parallel isn’t bad.


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No ****! I assumed there were two mags.

The series hum actually sounds decent in the right guitar. I have it in an EBMM Game Changer which has a mahogany tone block, basswood body and maple cap, and it does not get muddy in the low end like alder or ash. It stays crisp in the lower register unlike any other guitar I’ve played.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

Rotate the pickup so the rail is facing the neck.

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This is probably your best bet. The coil geometry and magnetic field are pretty different from a vintage Strat single, so it's never going to sound exactly like that.

I have a P-Rail set in my SG and I'd describe the rail coil as sounding like a single coil Vintage Rails or a passive EMG-SA.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

... I'd describe the rail coil as sounding like a single coil Vintage Rails...

Which is pretty much what it is. And even then that pickup was designed to use both coils.





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[Chistopher]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

Here's the official word on the P-Rails:

A truly unique humbucker sized set that combines a Hot Rails coil with our Vintage P90 to give you unmatched tonal variety.

They also have 2 magnets in them, not just 1. I use an A8 under the rail and an A4 under the P90 in the bridge, and an A3 under the rail in the neck. Both pickups are rotated with the rails on the outside.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

I never actually had one apart so all of this is news to me. The more you know, and all.

 

[billlorentzen]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

Here's the official word on the P-Rails:

They also have 2 magnets in them, not just 1. I use an A8 under the rail and an A4 under the P90 in the bridge, and an A3 under the rail in the neck. Both pickups are rotated with the rails on the outside.

With what magnet would you replace the neck rail, to get a louder, brighter tone? I don’t care about sacrificing the series sound, which I never use.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

Possibly an A6 or (I almost hate to even suggest this) a ceramic.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

It pretty much has to be ceramic. And I’ve made ceramic P-Rails before and they’re good. It’s not like the P-90 tone gets ruined or anything. If it hasn’t already been said, make sure you’re using 500k pots.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Magnet swap for PRail rail coil?

I only said I hate to suggest the ceramic because I am personally not a fan of the sound from ceramics. But for what you want, it is probably your best bet.

After saying that, I have to admit that I have a bridge soapbar P-90 with ceramic mags in it and I love it. Especially the attack. It's probably the absolute best sounding P-90 I have (and I have lots of guitars with P-90s).