MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

[thesameage]

Some questions for you knowledgeable folk:

I've got an old MIJ strat that I've never been happy with. I love the feel of the guitar, but the output and the pickups have never quite done it for me.

That said, I found a Little '59 off of a local craigslist ad that I put in the bridge and love the sound. Love the warmth and humbuckiness of it.

I just won a Hot Rails off of ebay that I plan to either put in the neck or middle.

My question:
1. Should i put that Hot Rails in the neck or middle?
2. What other pickup should I get to round things out? I'd like to have a single coil option here, but I need something that can keep up with the other two. Any ideas?

 

[DMyers77]

Re: MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

Is the Little '59 a neck or bridge model? What about the Hot Rails?

My first thought is that you should move the Little 59 to the neck, and use the Hot Rails in the bridge.

Maybe an SSL-5 in the middle?

 

[thesameage]

Re: MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

It's a neck hot rails and a bridge little 59. Can I just switch them like that?

Also, I guess that I'm going for a combo single coil/les paul sound for psych blues rock.

 

[thesameage]

Re: MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

I should also say that I got these pickups a little randomly and didn't totally think it out... but I also got them for a good price, so that's why I'm trying to work with what I've got.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[DMyers77]

Re: MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

Your pickups have very similar specs, so you might be OK.

Hot Rails neck is 10.8K with a 4.8KHz resonant peak. For comparison, the Little 59 neck specs in at 9.86k with a 5.8 KHz resonant peak.

Little 59 bridge is 11.78K with a 4.6KHz resonant peak.

The Hot Rails is a little louder and darker than a Little 59 neck would be, but since you already have the pickups, it won't hurt to try it. I'm guessing that you'll have to lower the Hot Rails and raise the Little 59 to get them to balance out.

 

[thesameage]

Re: MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

Sounds good. I'm going to give that a shot. Still think an SSL-5 in the middle? I guess that that is where I want my single coil sound to come from. I wasn't going to split the Hot Rails or the Lil 59.

 

[DMyers77]

Re: MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

"I'd like to have a single coil option here, but I need something that can keep up with the other two."

Based on this, yes get an SSL-5. It will have higher output to help it "keep up with the other two", but still sound stratty.

 

[thesameage]

Re: MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

Cool. Thank you! I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for a used one.

 

[ponch]

Re: MIJ strat: lil '59, Hot Rails, and what else?

A cool rails usually goes with the hot rails, but IMHO I've heard MIJ strats and my bro has one with an EMG SA set and it blows most things away.